scarletngray
Gold Pants
This whole year will be remembered as a year of missed opportunities from top to bottom. We learned in February of missed opportunities to do the right thing from a handful on Seniors who early on in their careers chose to ignore NCCA rules and put themselves before the team. Missed opportunity to do what was right. Who knows what would have happened if they put the team first. What kind of season would we have had this year?
We also saw a missed opportunity for our HC to report the violations to the NCAA. Though his reasoning for not reporting is certainly understandable, one can only wonder what would have happened IF the violations were reported. Certainly not the downward spiral that has happened to our football program and the media circus that quickly ensued. A hard choice for Coach to make, for sure, but a missed opportunity none the less.
We then saw a missed opportunity on the end of the boosters and administration to stick with our HC even in the midst of the most unbelievable, ridiculous media attacks in the history of sports. They were put in the firing pan and wanted out of the heat. In my opinion, a missed opportunity to stand by a great coach and person who was the best thing to happen to tOSU in a very long time. One has to wonder what this season would have looked like with Tress still on the sideline.
We then saw a number of other student/athletes receive benefits for work not done, which resulted in even more suspensions that hurt the program and the reputation of the school. Again, another missed opportunity to do the right thing.
In addition, we saw multiple missed opportunities to win on the football field. Whether it be youth, inexperience, off field distractions, coaching or a combination of all the above, we could have and should have beat Sparty, Nebraska, Purdon't, Pedo State and scUM. Even with all the adversity listed above WE SHOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE WON every one of those games.
But because of one missed opportunity after another, whether it be on Offense or Defense, a breakdown here or a brain fart there, we lost these games that we should have won. Missed opportunities.
In retrospect, the Coaches also had a missed opportunity when they could have started Braxton Miller from the get go. Yes, he made Freshman mistakes which were clearly seen in today's game, but you have to wonder what this season would have looked like should Miller had started since day one. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I have to think...a missed opportunity.
We also saw a missed opportunity on the part of numerous fans to stand by Coach Fickell even though he was placed in a nearly impossible situation. Instead, name calling, finger pointing, whinning, disrespect, etc. took place throughout the season. AND YET, here is a guy through all the mess, was given an opportunity to do what was right and he did it. He took on the challenge with a Buckeye heart. Knowing that he was playing against a stacked deck, knowing it was against all odds, he put pride to the side and put the team and school first.
Yes, in a season that will be known for missed opportunities, LUKE FICKELL, is a man who did what was right, tried his best and held his integrity through it all. Even when the school he loves allowed info to be leaked that Urban Meyer was going to be the next HC, (DURING M*cg*g*n week mind you!!!) Luke still stood tall. He still put his team first and he still tried his best. And for this, let us not miss our opportunity to appreciate what he did in an otherwise year of missed opportunities.
GO BUCKS!!!
:osu:
We also saw a missed opportunity for our HC to report the violations to the NCAA. Though his reasoning for not reporting is certainly understandable, one can only wonder what would have happened IF the violations were reported. Certainly not the downward spiral that has happened to our football program and the media circus that quickly ensued. A hard choice for Coach to make, for sure, but a missed opportunity none the less.
We then saw a missed opportunity on the end of the boosters and administration to stick with our HC even in the midst of the most unbelievable, ridiculous media attacks in the history of sports. They were put in the firing pan and wanted out of the heat. In my opinion, a missed opportunity to stand by a great coach and person who was the best thing to happen to tOSU in a very long time. One has to wonder what this season would have looked like with Tress still on the sideline.
We then saw a number of other student/athletes receive benefits for work not done, which resulted in even more suspensions that hurt the program and the reputation of the school. Again, another missed opportunity to do the right thing.
In addition, we saw multiple missed opportunities to win on the football field. Whether it be youth, inexperience, off field distractions, coaching or a combination of all the above, we could have and should have beat Sparty, Nebraska, Purdon't, Pedo State and scUM. Even with all the adversity listed above WE SHOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE WON every one of those games.
But because of one missed opportunity after another, whether it be on Offense or Defense, a breakdown here or a brain fart there, we lost these games that we should have won. Missed opportunities.
In retrospect, the Coaches also had a missed opportunity when they could have started Braxton Miller from the get go. Yes, he made Freshman mistakes which were clearly seen in today's game, but you have to wonder what this season would have looked like should Miller had started since day one. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I have to think...a missed opportunity.
We also saw a missed opportunity on the part of numerous fans to stand by Coach Fickell even though he was placed in a nearly impossible situation. Instead, name calling, finger pointing, whinning, disrespect, etc. took place throughout the season. AND YET, here is a guy through all the mess, was given an opportunity to do what was right and he did it. He took on the challenge with a Buckeye heart. Knowing that he was playing against a stacked deck, knowing it was against all odds, he put pride to the side and put the team and school first.
Yes, in a season that will be known for missed opportunities, LUKE FICKELL, is a man who did what was right, tried his best and held his integrity through it all. Even when the school he loves allowed info to be leaked that Urban Meyer was going to be the next HC, (DURING M*cg*g*n week mind you!!!) Luke still stood tall. He still put his team first and he still tried his best. And for this, let us not miss our opportunity to appreciate what he did in an otherwise year of missed opportunities.
GO BUCKS!!!
:osu:
