spit and tears

Whatever I might have said on or about 9/1 about Sam... strike that. I'm an idiot. He still has accuracy issues, but his decision-making is waaaaaayy better than last year. I think having an improved OL also helps in this regard--he has a little more time to process what's going on. I don't think he's going to play every game like he did yesterday, but if he can be reasonably efficient, avoid mistakes, and occasionally give us a good run, it's much better than last season. I haven't been able to read much this week... but I am more curious about how did the game-planning and called the plays. Didn't think Tim Beck had this in him...

RON PRINCE swept us.

Ohio State vs Rutgers. Interested only because I will be there--tbh probably won't even be that interesting in person, plus it might be taking place in a monsoon. Otherwise Texas/Tulsa--though it's almost disconcerting how quickly I became disgusted with Texas this season--and Clemson/aggy.

I was left with the impression that Texas is just sort of okay. The game looked like two .500-ish teams clawing it out (which is what I suspect it will be at season's end). I know we've supposedly had pretty good to great recruiting most years recently... but honestly not sure I see that. On offense, who is the guy that defenses go "oh shit we can't let HIM get loose?" Duvernay? Humphrey? Anybody? Our WRs have size but honestly look slow to me; at least they play slow. Running back may have some promise, though if Beck continues to cycle through 4 of them a game, and if ANY of them are Kyle Porter, the ceiling is not that high. I don't think we have a real play-making QB. The defense has some new faces and I expected them to struggle at the outset some--though all the penalties are really concerning; that is something about Herman's regime (and Charlie's before him) that I did not expect. In short, I forget exactly how DKR phrased it but "we're as average as everyday wash." IMHO, anyway.

Pretty much this. Problem is, there's not really a QB on the roster who's proven that he CAN win a game on the line. I missed most of the game--got home in time to see the part after the weather delay, and today watched a condensed version on BTN. Seems to me they were trying to make Sam a "touch passer" when fitting passes in tight windows really is not his strength. Hell accuracy is not his strength. And, at some point, you have to pay attention to the fact that he's contributed highly to about 4-5 losses now. But who's the replacement? Buechele is brittle and we know won't survive a season. Do we start to work in Rising and/or the other guy?

This is the other thing... I am aghast that ESPN gave a national platform to a serial abuser so he could blame the victim.

I hope you're right--tOSU is my "second" alma mater.... this whole situation nauseates me. Gene Smith should've been gone a long time ago, but Urban needs to be cut loose too. Fuck the money. It's not like tOSU's ADept will ever be hurting for cash--the program is a brand much much bigger than any one person.

Ever since Mack left I've gone into each season expecting about 7-5, and we've come up short. So... 7-5. Too many question marks and potential limitations to expect more, though.