HINYG8
You never come back from Copperhead Road
...and change is in the wind.
The media campaign and the NCAA carousel have packed up and headed for warmer spots...but we are left to continue churning in the tide of their wake.
Will Braxton become the face of the program? Can Luke do enough to keep the job he cherishes? If Urban is truly interested does it even matter what we do from here this season? Is Brionte in or out? When will we get Nate back? Will Posey and Boom be the force we expect? Will the staff get aggressive with the game plan now that we are in 'go for broke' mode? Will Gene Smith keep his job? So many questions around a team that might have been the most stable program in the nation less than a year ago.
We can spin and debate, talk about the importance of the TSUN game and speak about a 12 game season..but the next four weeks are clearly a cross road for Braxton, Fickell, and the entire circus we find ourselves in.
4 wins: Fick likely becomes a hero and the bulk of fan base unites behind him as the HC of the future. Brax likely did enough to become a legend (assuming he is the QB for each of those wins) and we are BACK..even though we never really left.
3 wins: Solid...Fick becomes a real long term option in the eyes of many, but likely Buckeye nation would still be wondering about life with Urban. I think 3 wins is enough to keep Luke in play...but now it will truly be a 12 game season. A loss in the next four weeks will require a win over TSUN and probably a bowl win to keep the fans from screaming for Urban or another big name.
2 wins: Probably a reasonable result given the circumstance..but likely viewed as unacceptable by many of the fans and perhaps the administration who are accustomed to 10 win seasons. I think Luke will really feel the 'interim' tag if we split the next four...and the depth chart probably experiences all kinds of turmoil and second guessing. Will be tough to hold the team together as guys return from suspension and people start to second guess much about the team and the staff.
1 win: rut row. The sky is falling crowd starts to scream about the end of the program. The fans divide, turn on each other..and the players might do the same. It gets real ugly real fast. Through the scandal we had our differences, but remained bound together as we collectively hoped for the best. a 1-3 run to open conference play and we split wider than the Grand Canyon. It gets dark and drumbeats for a coaching change become LOUD NOISES.
0 wins: the wheels come off....and the AD/BoT may need to do something drastic and before the end of the season to save recruiting, limit transfers....and keep the boat afloat.
Every game matters..but there is a lot at stake over the course of the next 4 Saturdays, and of course the NCAA is likely to close the book on our NOA..so it looks like we have a lot of closure coming before our bye week arrives.
I am preparing for the worst, hoping for the best (both on the field and from the NCAA) and feeling like we are finally entering the rinse cycle.
The team is young..but there is probably too much talent and expectations to think Luke can survive anything less than 9 wins..and 9 would likely be considered on the bubble. In fact, if Urban has expressed interest then 10 might even be a bubble result. Either way..the pressure is clearly on for the MSU, Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin games..and there isn't a clear W on the list.
All the questions may not be answered..esp. if we go 3-1, but we could see resolution of our course if there is a 0 or a 2 in the win or the loss column for the next four games. Here it comes...brace yourselves for some cold weather. The fourth quarter is coming early for this coaching staff..time to man up or give way.
See you all on the other side where I will be screaming O!H! no matter what happens next.
The media campaign and the NCAA carousel have packed up and headed for warmer spots...but we are left to continue churning in the tide of their wake.
Will Braxton become the face of the program? Can Luke do enough to keep the job he cherishes? If Urban is truly interested does it even matter what we do from here this season? Is Brionte in or out? When will we get Nate back? Will Posey and Boom be the force we expect? Will the staff get aggressive with the game plan now that we are in 'go for broke' mode? Will Gene Smith keep his job? So many questions around a team that might have been the most stable program in the nation less than a year ago.
We can spin and debate, talk about the importance of the TSUN game and speak about a 12 game season..but the next four weeks are clearly a cross road for Braxton, Fickell, and the entire circus we find ourselves in.
4 wins: Fick likely becomes a hero and the bulk of fan base unites behind him as the HC of the future. Brax likely did enough to become a legend (assuming he is the QB for each of those wins) and we are BACK..even though we never really left.
3 wins: Solid...Fick becomes a real long term option in the eyes of many, but likely Buckeye nation would still be wondering about life with Urban. I think 3 wins is enough to keep Luke in play...but now it will truly be a 12 game season. A loss in the next four weeks will require a win over TSUN and probably a bowl win to keep the fans from screaming for Urban or another big name.
2 wins: Probably a reasonable result given the circumstance..but likely viewed as unacceptable by many of the fans and perhaps the administration who are accustomed to 10 win seasons. I think Luke will really feel the 'interim' tag if we split the next four...and the depth chart probably experiences all kinds of turmoil and second guessing. Will be tough to hold the team together as guys return from suspension and people start to second guess much about the team and the staff.
1 win: rut row. The sky is falling crowd starts to scream about the end of the program. The fans divide, turn on each other..and the players might do the same. It gets real ugly real fast. Through the scandal we had our differences, but remained bound together as we collectively hoped for the best. a 1-3 run to open conference play and we split wider than the Grand Canyon. It gets dark and drumbeats for a coaching change become LOUD NOISES.
0 wins: the wheels come off....and the AD/BoT may need to do something drastic and before the end of the season to save recruiting, limit transfers....and keep the boat afloat.
Every game matters..but there is a lot at stake over the course of the next 4 Saturdays, and of course the NCAA is likely to close the book on our NOA..so it looks like we have a lot of closure coming before our bye week arrives.
I am preparing for the worst, hoping for the best (both on the field and from the NCAA) and feeling like we are finally entering the rinse cycle.
The team is young..but there is probably too much talent and expectations to think Luke can survive anything less than 9 wins..and 9 would likely be considered on the bubble. In fact, if Urban has expressed interest then 10 might even be a bubble result. Either way..the pressure is clearly on for the MSU, Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin games..and there isn't a clear W on the list.
All the questions may not be answered..esp. if we go 3-1, but we could see resolution of our course if there is a 0 or a 2 in the win or the loss column for the next four games. Here it comes...brace yourselves for some cold weather. The fourth quarter is coming early for this coaching staff..time to man up or give way.
See you all on the other side where I will be screaming O!H! no matter what happens next.
