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Why It Is So Frustrating Being a Buckeye Fan

Very good thread. I cringed reading the paragraph about tOSU beating ASU in the 1997 Rose Bowl and ruining our opportunity at a national championship. I've always remembered tOSU for that game, since that game was played when I was a freshman at ASU. Thanks for that horrible memory.

Be happy that your team wins on a consistent basis. I know every ASU fan dreams of it and we would probably sacrifice body parts to have a national championship.

tOSU fans kind of remind me of Phoenix Suns fans except for that fact that tOSU has won a title and the Suns haven't, but the frustration and yearn for a title every year and nothing else is good enough. Now the Suns have been dismantled due to high expectations. Enjoy what you have because you might not have it forever.
 
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LordJeffBuck;1356841; said:
As mentioned above, Michigan's upset victory in the 1969 version of The Game cost Ohio State a consensus national championship. However, on five other occasions, a Buckeye loss (or tie) in the annual rivalry game took them out of title contention. In 1973, the unbeaten Buckeyes traveled to Ann Arbor to face the unbeaten Wolverines in one of the most closely matched battles in the history of the rivalry. To an outside observer, the end result - a 10-10 tie - was fitting, but it cost each team a chance at a national championship, as both Notre Dame and Alabama finished the regular season with perfect records and bids to the Sugar Bowl; Notre Dame won that game in dramatic fashion, 24-23, and took home the AP title[sup]1[/sup]. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes went to the Rose Bowl and turned in their greatest performance ever in that game, waxing the Southern Cal Trojans by the score of 42-21 ... but that blow-out on hostile soil wasn't enough to overcome the tie in The Game, and Ohio State finished second in the AP poll despite having a nearly-perfect 10-0-1 record.

John Cooper's legacy at Ohio State will always be this: 2-10-1, which of course was his record against Michigan. Three times, Coach Cooper entered The Game undefeated and with a chance at a national championship, and each time his team lost: in 1993, the Buckeyes were shut out, 28-0, in a game that wasn't even that close; in 1995, Eddie George, Terry Glenn, Orlando Pace, and Bobby Hoying couldn't match the offensive firepower of Tim Biakabatuka, who rushed for 313 yards in the Wolverines' 31-23 victory; and in 1996, Shawn Springs slipped in single coverage, and Tai Streets caught a short slant pass and raced 68 yards for the only touchdown in a 13-9 contest.

Unlike his predecessor, Jim Tressel's legacy is being built on his success in The Game, where he currently enjoys a 7-1 record against That Team Up North. However, Tressel's only loss to date was in the 2003 contest, which eliminated the Buckeyes from the national title race[sup]2[/sup].

Although we like to think that all of the bad luck in The Game belongs to us, our Buckeyes have crushed the Wolverines' title hopes on many occasions as well. In 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1974, Michigan's only blemish of the season came at the hands of Ohio State, and each loss (or tie in the case of 1973) not only ended the Wolverines' chances for a national championship, but also prevented them being invited to a bowl game. In addition, Ohio State ended Michigan's perfect season in 2006 with a 42-39 triumph in The Game.

While Ohio State and Michigan have a long history of raining on each other's parade, the Florida State Seminoles have had far worse luck in rivalry games than either of the Big Ten powers. From 1987 to 2000, the Seminoles finished in the top 5 of the AP poll a record fourteen consecutive times, winning two consensus national titles along the way. However, Florida State had many more chances during its incredible run, but losses to their in-state rivals, Florida and Miami, cost them seven more championships: 1987 (11-1-0; lost to Miami, 26-25); 1988 (11-1-0; lost to Miami, 31-0); 1991 (11-2-0; lost to Miami, 17-16; lost to Florida, 14-9); 1992 (11-1-0; lost to Miami, 19-16); 1994 (10-1-1; lost to Miami, 34-20; tied Florida, 31-31); 1996 (11-1-0; lost to Florida, 52-20, in national championship game); and 1997 (11-1-0; lost to Florida, 32-29). Now that is about as frustrating as you can get ... but Florida State's misery doesn't do anything to relieve our pain.
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[sup]1[/sup] Alabama won the pre-bowl UPI title in 1973, so Ohio State's monumental victory in the Rose Bowl had no effect on the outcome of that poll.
[sup]2[/sup] Ironically, in 1973, 1996, 1998, and 2003, the Buckeyes rebounded from their setbacks in The Game and won their subsequent bowl match-ups. But even those big victories on the big stages were not enough to propel Ohio State back to the top of the college football world, as the Buckeyes finished in second place in the AP poll in 1973, 1996, and 1998, and fourth in 2003.

It would be interesting to see the numbers of other great rivalry games. I would like to see the winning percentage of Tenn against Florida. I don't think this section should be part of the discussion on frustration. If you do not lose to your rival once in a while, it is not a rival. I don't think minnesota is much of a rival. Penn State is a rival because it has an even match up since they have been in the Big Ten. Have we lost to our rivals more than other schools?
 
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I don't have frustration being an Ohio State fan at all. They are consistently good. That's more then any fan should ask for. People who honestly believe "we" should win the national title game every year is only setting themselves up for disappointment.We aren't coaches or players. We sit in the stands and cheer or at home.(preferably over a huge plasma with HD :))

What some people fail to see is that there are "great"teams all over the nation. Just because you watch OSU every weekend doesn't mean OSU is the best team on tv. If that hurts someone's feelings to accept,then grab a tissue.

I never have felt the media or anyone in particular is "out to get OSU". Not everyone is going to like a team. When you play in the big ten,and it's down,then it hurts credibility. Just like any other conference who doesn't have the heavy home run hitters for that particular year or group of years. That's a major reason I always support Big Ten schools in bowl games.

The lack of people who accept that a team is better on that particular day is frightening. I have seen a lot of people act beyond childish in defeat."if this didn't happen,take away this play,and this happens" or a total turn around and start pissing on the team,because of a bad performance.A gigantic list of excuses is usually brought up right after a fact is exposed as making OSU not appear as good as other teams. I HIGHLY doubt Jim Tressel is standing in the locker room saying "guys let's take this play away that was a huge turning point and we were right back in that game"..He is ALWAYS giving credit where it's due..Opponents,coaching,and his very own players. That's the way it should be IMO.
 
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LordJeffBuck;1356835; said:
I have set forth all teams that have played for a national championship from 1968 to 2007, followed by their record in national championship games; their winning percentage in such games; and the years in which they participated in such games, with bold type indicating a victory.
Notre Dame......... 3-0 (1.000) (1973, 1977, 1988)
Penn State.......... 2-0 (1.000) (1982, 1986)
Louisiana State.... 2-0 (1.000) (2003, 2007)
Pittsburgh........... 1-0 (1.000) (1976)
Clemson.............. 1-0 (1.000) (1981)
Brigham Young...... 1-0 (1.000) (1984)
Georgia Tech........ 1-0 (1.000) (1990)
Washington.......... 1-0 (1.000) (1991)
Tennessee........... 1-0 (1.000) (1998)
Southern Cal........ 5-2 (.714) (1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Florida................ 2-1 (.667) (1995, 1996, 2006)
Nebraska............. 5-3 (.625) (1970, 1971, 1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001)
Miami.................. 5-3 (.625) (1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002)
Oklahoma............ 4-3 (.571) (1974, 1975, 1985, 1987, 2000, 2003, 2004)
Michigan............. 1-1 (.500) (1970, 1997)[sup]6[/sup]
Colorado............. 1-1 (.500) (1989, 1990)
Alabama............. 3-4 (.429) (1971, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1989, 1992)
Florida State....... 2-3 (.400) (1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Texas................ 2-4 (.333) (1969, 1970, 1977, 1983, 1990, 2005)
Georgia.............. 1-2 (.333) (1976, 1980, 1982)
Ohio State......... 2-7 (.222) (1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2002, 2006, 2007)
Texas A+M.......... 0-1 (.000) (1992)
Arizona State...... 0-1 (.000) (1996)
Virginia Tech....... 0-1 (.000) (1999)
West Virginia....... 0-2 (.000) (1988, 1993)

It is interesting to see how the "home team" does in these contests
Notre Dame......... 3-0 Irish fans everywe
Penn State.......... 2-0 dunno
Louisiana State.... 2-0 Sugar bowl
Pittsburgh........... 1-0 fluke
Clemson.............. 1-0 fluke
Brigham Young...... 1-0 fluke
Georgia Tech........ 1-0 fluke
Washington.......... 1-0 fluke
Tennessee........... 1-0 fluke, I still count OSU
Southern Cal........ 5-2 Rose bowl
Florida................ 2-1 Sugar bowl
Nebraska............. 5-3 cotton bowl
Miami.................. 5-3 Orange Bowl
Oklahoma............ 4-3 Cotton bowl

Michigan............. 1-1
Colorado............. 1-1
Alabama............. 3-4
Florida State....... 2-3
Texas................ 2-4
Georgia.............. 1-2
Ohio State......... 2-7
Texas A+M.......... 0-1
Arizona State...... 0-1
Virginia Tech....... 0-1
West Virginia....... 0-2
So the Irish seem to have home field advantage everywhere they go. Just ask NBC.

Some other teams (LSU, Miami, and USC) play in home stadiums for some of their championship games.

What jumps out at me is Texas loosing when the Cotton Bowl counted and OSU's 2-7 mark. Take out the last two championship games losses weren't played at the Rose Bowl and OSU is 2-5. (I know I am forgetting 2002 in Tempe but let's both ignore that for dramatic affect) This is ironically the inverse of USC's 5-2 mark in the Rose Bowl.

I imagine an alternate universe where the USC's, Miami's and LSU's play bowl games in the Shoe, the Big House and Happy Valley. I wonder how different this list would look.
 
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Well, as Tallahassee is closer to New Orleans than Gainesville, and as FSU knew it was going to the Sugar to face the SEC champ before we won the game, I don't think that the Sugar favored us more than FSU. I call that a draw. I was there, and it was certainly not a larger Gator fan presence than Nole. Bill?

Regarding Miami and the wins at the Orange Bowl? You are spot on. They had a huge advantage. But the number of first round NFL picks on Miami was the biggest thing it had going for it
 
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Tresselbeliever;1357069; said:
Why is it frustrating? I think it has to do with the lack of offense. It's like having great pitchers but never managing to get out of the ALCS.

Are you hearing yourself?? How is that NOT frustrating. Frustration does not equal lack of explanation. Even though you know the problem it's still frustrating as hell.
 
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Tresselbeliever;1357090; said:
Where did I say it is not frustrating? I simply offered an explanation for why it's frustrating.

Yeah the context was lost on the first sentence of what I quoted from your post. I took it as you were asking what is so frustrating about that, not that you were asking a rhetorical question to the previous poster, much the same way I asked you in my post. :biggrin:
 
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redbenn;1357099; said:
this definitely puts into perspective the emotions my dad ('78 grad) had after the '02 NC... he said to 'enjoy it, because who knows how long the next one will be'

great analysis

My dad said the EXACT same thing. I brushed it off like he was crazy but here we are almost 6 years later and we've had great teams...no NC. He waited 34 years. If I am only 6 years into a 34 year waltz through the gates of hell, I just may invest in a lifetime supply of Jack Daniel's.
 
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Great stuff LJB. Really great stuff. I'll be thinking about your points and conclusions for a while.

Just one question...

LordJeffBuck;1356818; said:
...If a team wins at least eighty percent of its games, then it should contend for a national title...

It seems that a lot (all of ?) of your analysis and the main conclusion rests on eighty percent number. I've actually read your whole set of posts three times over and I haven't been able to trace back why you chose this particular cut-off point. I realize that some kind of a baseline number has to be used to try and establish which seasons were ones where we were NC contenders, and I realize it's an important figure in terms of our all-time win/loss record, but otherwise, I'm not sure how to process it.

Seems unfair, after all of your writing to pick out this one thing, I know, but I can't help but ask.
 
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