Can Tressel & Co. break the bye-week trend?

[jlb1705]

Jim Tressel is 1-3 at Ohio State after a bye week:

2001: at UCLA - L
2002: Kent State - W
2003: at Wisconsin - L
2004: at Northwestern - L

Now, you could argue that each of these situations are unique - each of the three losses can be attributed to all kinds of different things (Tressel's first season, The Choke :-(, Krenzel's first game back from injury, or inexperienced players replacing 14 NFL draftees.)

There is a common thread here though, and it's disturbing. 1-3 after bye weeks. All three of those losses were road games. The two most recent were night games. Guess what lies ahead in two weeks...

I know Tressel is gonna prepare like crazy, and it'll probably be a tough game. How concerned should we be as fans of this "common thread" though? How big of a factor do you think it will be in two weeks in Happy Valley?

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Jim Tressel is 1-3 at Ohio State after a bye week:

2001: at UCLA - L
2002: Kent State - W
2003: at Wisconsin - L
2004: at Northwestern - L

Now, you could argue that each of these situations are unique - each of the three losses can be attributed to all kinds of different things (Tressel's first season, The Choke :-(, Krenzel's first game back from injury, or inexperienced players replacing 14 NFL draftees.)

There is a common thread here though, and it's disturbing. 1-3 after bye weeks. All three of those losses were road games. The two most recent were night games. Guess what lies ahead in two weeks...

I know Tressel is gonna prepare like crazy, and it'll probably be a tough game. How concerned should we be as fans of this "common thread" though? How big of a factor do you think it will be in two weeks in Happy Valley?

I and many others have been saying this for quite a while. I for one am very leery of this game not because of PSU but because of all the intangibles. Everything you pointed out above PLUS the fact we always struggle @ Happey Valley.

I'll be happy as hell to get out of there with a 1 point W even though by all rights we should punish them.

[BuckBackHome]

Of the last two post-bye week games, who did we play the week before and how did the team look in that game? I was very pleased with most everything today and think the team showed dramatic improvement from last week. If we had struggled today I would be more concerned about PSU in two weeks. Right now I am just moderately concerned.

[Sdgobucks]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

I know Tressel is gonna prepare like crazy, and it'll probably be a tough game. How concerned should we be as fans of this "common thread" though? How big of a factor do you think it will be in two weeks in Happy Valley?

We should be very concerned. Every year except 2002 we have looked rusty, and lethargic after a bye week. If that doesn't change then we will lose to what I think is a very good PSU team. If we come out fired up on D, and the offense comes out and executes then we will be fine. Call me pessimistic, but we don't play particularly strong the the road period, at night, or after a bye week. My V cash will be on PSU, maybe I can jinx them.

[JXC]

Bye week doesn't bother me because of how strong we looked this week. We have 2 weeks to avoid a hangover from doing so well this week. The team isn't going to lose momentum or confidence, instead they are goign to want to get out there again and kick some more butt. Also...Northwestern is a tough game to get up for, and the Wisconsin game was just a tough game in the rain and it was just our time to lose. The team will get up for Penn State...they will want to prepare, they will be focused. I am glad we have a bye week...I think it helps us. Penn State instead has to focus on Minnesota and can't look past them...they are going to have a rough game next week. GO BUCKS!

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by BuckinMichigan

Of the last two post-bye week games, who did we play the week before and how did the team look in that game? I was very pleased with most everything today and think the team showed dramatic improvement from last week. If we had struggled today I would be more concerned about PSU in two weeks. Right now I am just moderately concerned.

2001:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30">W/L
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="80"> Date
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PF
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="180">

Opponent

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PA
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="165">

Location

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="170">

Notes

</th> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> W
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 09-08-2001
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 28
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Akron (OH)

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 14
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Columbus, OH

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td> </tr><tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> L
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 09-22-2001
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 6
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

UCLA

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 13
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Los Angeles, CA

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td></tr></tbody> </table>
2002:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30">W/L
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="80"> Date
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PF
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="180">

Opponent

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PA
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="165">

Location

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="170">

Notes

</th> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> W
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 08-24-2002
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 45
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Texas Tech

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 21
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Pigskin Classic

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td> </tr><tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> W
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 09-07-2002
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 51
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Kent St. (OH)

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 17
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Columbus, OH

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td></tr></tbody> </table>
2003:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30">W/L
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="80"> Date
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PF
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="180">

Opponent

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PA
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="165">

Location

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="170">

Notes

</th></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30">W
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 09-27-2003
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 20
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Northwestern (IL)

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 0
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Columbus, OH

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td> </tr><tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> L
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 10-11-2003
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 10
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Wisconsin

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 17
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Madison, WI

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td></tr></tbody> </table>
2004:
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30">W/L
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="80"> Date
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PF
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="180">

Opponent

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="30"> PA
</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="165">

Location

</th> <th bgcolor="#a00020" height="25" width="170">

Notes

</th></tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="665"> <tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30">W
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 09-18-2004
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 22
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

North Carolina St.

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 14
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Raleigh, NC

</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="170">
</td> </tr><tr> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> L
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="80"> 10-02-2004
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 27
</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="180">

Northwestern (IL)

</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="30"> 33
</td> <td bgcolor="#e1d2d2" height="18" width="165">

Evanston, IL

</td></tr></tbody> </table>
Good point about the lead-in game. The only instance out of the four where Ohio State has led into the bye playing this well was 2002. Then again, that was also the only instance where the bye week follow-up was at the Shoe, and it was against the weakest opponent of the four.

[tedginn05]

we faced UCLA in 2001?


wow i didn't know that, must be because i didn't pay attention to OSU until the beggining of the 2002 season, but neverless i never knew that

[jlb1705]

Yep, they came to the Shoe for a night game in '99, and the Bucks went out to the West Coast to play 'em in '01.

The Bucks shoulda won that game (funny, you could say that about all three of the losees in question.) DeShaun Foster fumbled about 5 times in that game.

[DBZMerciter2005]

Hey, we may have this trend going on, but consider this, out of the past three coaches, only Trussel has gotten us a national championship! I saw Penn State beat Northwestern and, after realizing that we had a bye week, began to fear a little. Penn State is better than they were in the past few years, but I think we can at least make it out of there with a win. I don't think Trussel should be canned. It's a long break, and who WOULDN'T be rusty after that?

Well, even then I don't care, as long as we win. If we lose to penn state, i will cry, if we lose to Indiana, i'll cry more.

[tedginn05]

i may be crazy but i think this just gives us a extra week to prepare for our next game

[Steve19]

This is not a team that is weak, living below expectations and worried about losing their first game. They lost to Texas and would not have with some luck and another game with Smith under their belt prior to the game. I really would like to see that rematch.

I am not worried about Penn State. I rue night games but this team knows they have everything to play for and they are still to really get the kinks out. I would look for a real offensive show and some real swagger.

My greatest fear is the equality in the other teams. If they all lose a couple, then it really hurts us in the power ratings that affect the BCS. The team will know that and that we really need to beat people, so then again, that equality could be our greatest ally.

[Bestbuck36]

Originally Posted by DBZMerciter2005

....Trussel has gotten us a national championship! I saw Penn State beat Northwestern and, after realizing that we had a bye week, began to fear a little. Penn State is better than they were in the past few years, but I think we can at least make it out of there with a win. ...Trussel should be canned. It's a long break, and who WOULDN'T be rusty after that?

Well, even then I don't care, as long as we win. If we lose to penn state, i will cry, if we lose to Indiana, i'll cry more.

Welcome to the board but I hope these were just typos!

[osustamm]

This stat is very suprising to me. Besides the first half against the gamecocks JT has impressed me in every bowl game he coached for us. He always seems to outcoach and get our team to outplay who ever we play. It seems like with an extra week to go over PSU we could be even better( more rested, and better prepared).

2-3 in 2 weeks

2001: at UCLA - L
2002: Kent State - W
2003: at Wisconsin - L
2004: at Northwestern - L
2005: at Penn State - W

[sandgk]

One other factor - undecided in its scope - to what extent will Penn State's squad be eroded by the time October 8 rolls around? Next up for them are the Gophers - and you know Mason will be trying to ram the ball down their throats all day. Could get ugly in there.

[Buckin' A]

This is definetly the game that scared me when I looked at the schedule. Playing a night game in their house is never a gimmee. These guys find a way to play us hard every time.

I have 5000 vcash dollars for any BPer who will break into the stadium and steal the audio track of that damned lion roar. They will play that atleast 1000 times during that game...and I for one cannot stomach it!