Originally Published: Oct. 15. 2011 OPINION Disheartening Loss Puts Buckeyes At Crossroads It will be interesting to see where the wound up being amplified by the fact the But Fickell also has to know that barring Ohio State football team goes after its epic offense couldn’t muster any kind of punch something miraculous this will be his final collapse at Nebraska because a game like the at all. season as a coach in his hometown. Ohio Vol. 31, No. 6 one the Buckeyes let slip away in Lincoln can The Ohio State defense is a unit populated State will accept its NCAA punishment, move Oct. 15, 2011 put a team on one of two paths. It can become by youngsters and first-time starters, but that on to Urban Meyer or some other so-called a rallying point or it can crush the very life excuse begins to ring hollow six games into big name, and Fickell will be like millions www.BuckeyeSports.com out of you. the season. The message for those players of other Americans – on the unemployment The 2002 national championship team – indeed any starter on a 3-3 team – is to line. Buckeye Sports Bulletin (USPS 705-690, ISSN 0883-6833.) is published 24 times a used a 31-28 loss in the Outback Bowl at the grow up quickly or get out of the way for I have no doubt he will resurface else- year (weekly September through November, end of the previous season as a rallying point. someone else. where quickly, perhaps as a defensive coor- biweekly mid-March through May and Same with the 1994 team that got taken to dinator. And when sufficient time has passed, January through early March and monthly the woodshed at Penn State to the tune of a some university will give him another chance June through August and December) by: 63-14 shellacking. John Cooper’s team that EDITOR’S at being a head coach. Columbus Sports Publications year responded with three straight victories But Fickell will likely never again get an 1350 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 30 to finish the regular season, including a rare NOTEBOOK opportunity to coach at Ohio State – in his P.O. Box 12453 win over Michigan. hometown, at his alma mater, in the place Columbus, Ohio 43212 Mark Rea (614) 486-2202 You can go as far back as the 1957 season where his children were born. when Woody Hayes’ team was shocked by And that’s a shame. Periodical class postage paid at TCU in the season opener and used that loss With the 2011 season now at the midway Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address chang- as a pivot point to win its next nine games, point, all anyone can say with any certainty is Some Final Thoughts es to: Buckeye Sports Bulletin, P.O. Box including a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon, that the Buckeyes remain a work in progress. • I don’t understand why Carlos Hyde 12453, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Subscription and capture the national championship. That is a bitter pill for fans who have experi- doesn’t get more carries. After running for rates: $74.95/year. No one believes the 2011 Buckeyes can enced almost nothing but success since 2002, 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the PUBLISHER rally to win the national championship, of but reality is reality. first three quarters, Hyde got exactly four Frank Moskowitz course. Three losses pretty much puts an Following the debacle in Lincoln, Ohio attempts in the fourth quarter when things end to that discussion before it begins. But State travels to Illinois, a team that has started were slipping away from the Buckeyes. ASSISTANT PUBLISHER EMERITUS Karen Wachsman 1944-1999 the fact remains Ohio State can not only be 6-0 for the first time since 1951. Even during Meanwhile, Bauserman threw seven times. competitive, it can win more than its share of the recent past when the Fighting Illini were Seems like letting Hyde run a few more MANAGING EDITOR games during the back half of the season. struggling, they always seemed to play the times would have slowed down Nebraska’s Mark Rea The promise of what kind of team the Buckeyes tough. That includes a 28-21 shock- charge and allowed OSU to take a couple of ASSISTANT PUBLISHER Buckeyes can be was on full display for 2½ er in 2007 when OSU was ranked No. 1. breaths. Becky Roberts quarters at Nebraska as OSU rolled out to a Two weeks later, after an open week, the • The most impressive thing about 27-6 lead. Not only were the Buckeyes win- Buckeyes host fourth-ranked Wisconsin, a Miller’s first-quarter throwback screen to PHOTOGRAPHY Sonny Brockway Terry Gilliam ning the game, they were physically dominat- team playing as well as any in the nation tight end Jake Stoneburner was the way the Kevin Dye Josh Winslow ing the Cornhuskers as several NU players right now. offensive line blocked it to perfection. The had to be helped off the field during the first November opens with a home game vs. final piece in that puzzle was supplied by CONTRIBUTORS Bill Armstrong Bob Roehm half. Indiana, a team that has lost 16 in a row center Mike Brewster, who ranged far to his David Breithaupt Julie Roy Despite some serious holes on both sides to Ohio State, but the following week the left to pick off NU cornerback Andrew Green, Rich Exner Mark Schmetzer of the football, Ohio State has a lot of talent Buckeyes must travel to Purdue, another springing Stoneburner to the end zone. Matthew Hager Steve Siegfried in a lot of places, and when things are click- team that gives OSU fits for no particular rea- • How effective was Miller against the Marcus Hartman Stacey Stathulis Rich Leonardo Jeff Svoboda ing, the Buckeyes can be an entertaining and son. The Boilermakers have won two of the Cornhuskers? He ran 10 times and six of Craig Merz Mike Wachsman efficient team. previous five games in the series, including a those attempts resulted in first downs. Four Eric Loughry Ari Wasserman Obviously, a lot of that excitement cen- 26-18 upset in West Lafayette two years ago. of those were third-down conversions, and a ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES ters around freshman quarterback Braxton Finally there is the regular-season finale fifth resulted in a 29-yard scramble that set up Toni Daniels Jan Jager Miller, for whom the light seemed to burn at Michigan against a team feeling extreme- a field goal right before halftime. Ron Friedman Jack Woodworth brightly against the Cornhuskers. The offen- ly rejuvenated under first-year head coach • Lost amid the defensive meltdown in sive coaching staff finally figured out a game Brady Hoke. Yes, the Buckeyes have beaten the fourth quarter was an excellent game 2011-12 PUBLICATION SCHEDULE (VOL. 31) No. 1 Sept. 10 No. 13 December plan tailored to Miller’s strengths, and the the Wolverines nine of the last 10 years, and turned in by sophomore tackle Johnathan No. 2 Sept. 17 No. 14 Jan. 14 result was a three-touchdown lead over U-M’s defense still isn’t where it needs to Hankins, whose quickness belies that of a No. 3 Sept. 24 No. 15 Jan. 28 Nebraska that looked ridiculously easy. be. But does anyone seriously believe OSU guy listed at 6-3 and 335 pounds. In the sec- No. 4 Oct. 1 No. 16 Feb. 11 No. 5 Oct. 8 No. 17 March 3 Unfortunately, when Miller went out with can outscore a Denard Robinson-led attack ond quarter, Hankins moved far outside the No. 6 Oct. 15 No. 18 March 17 an ankle injury late in the third quarter, the especially if Miller’s ankle injury lingers for hash marks to chase down Nebraska receiv- No. 7 Oct. 29 No. 19 March 31 Buckeyes had no backup plan when fifth-year the remainder of the season? er Tim Marlowe from behind and hold him No. 8 Nov. 5 No. 20 April 14 senior Joe Bauserman struggled. Sophomore And yet with all of that uncertainty there to a meager 2-yard gain. Hankins finished the No. 9 Nov. 12 No. 21 May No. 10 Nov. 19 No. 22 June third-stringer Kenny Guiton was available is hope – hope because of the way Ohio game with six tackles, including two for loss No. 11 Nov. 26 No. 23 July and presumably ready to play – he donned State toyed with overmatched Akron, hope and a sack. No. 12 Nov. 30 No. 24 August a headset and relayed offensive signals from because of the way the Buckeyes responded • I have often heard that Nebraska fans The next issue (Oct. 29 cover date) will the bench to the OSU huddle all night – but to late adversity vs. Toledo and hope because are among the most polite in college football be mailed on Oct. 18. head coach Luke Fickell indicated there was of the way the team clicked on all cylinders and I have to agree. Following the game, no thought of ever putting him in the game. for the first 2½ quarters at Nebraska. when dejected Ohio State players were filing Buckeye Sports Bulletin is a privately From a fan standpoint, that seems ludi- Make no mistake, though. During put- back to their locker room, several NU fans owned newspaper and is not affiliated directly or indirectly with The Ohio State crous. If Guiton or redshirt freshman Taylor up-or-shut-up time, hope won’t get it done.