I believe we played with some remaining jetlag, or let down effect from the OT loss to Wisconsin.We as a team put everything we had into winning that game, knowing if we won, we controlled our destiny, at least in the west. The way we lost, leaving points on the field, and knowing we were just as good as them, but failed in our execution in several areas, yet still almost won in overtime.
Going back to before the wisconsin game, whether you were one of our coaches, or a player , or just a fan, as the season progressed,and we had run off 4 or 5 wins, you could look ahead at our schedule,and optimistically say 'we can play with, or we can beat Wisconsin', while on the other hand I doubt there were too many who felt we had a a legitimate chance against Ohio State. We just aren't at that level with our talent, plus we have been decimated by injuries.
That reality, and lack of confidence going into the game tonight, allowed for the team to come out a little flat, and as we got down in the game early with the pick 6, the wheels began to come off, and in a lot of ways, we didn't look like the team we had seen up to that point at all. Ohio State got a momentum boost from the defensive score, and the worse we played, the better they looked.
When Tommy got knocked out of the game, it was all over in the teams mind, and their poor effort after that was really almost predictable.
I felt we were going to beat Wisconsin, and know we should have, but I never had any thought that we could play with OSU.
I do feel that if the team can rally, and support each other, we will win out the regular season, even if Tommy cant play in the game next week. We can be 10-2 going into a what should be a very good bowl game.
I like that scenario much better than sneaking into the CCG, and getting throttled again by Ohio State, or even worse, Michigan.
Going back to before the wisconsin game, whether you were one of our coaches, or a player , or just a fan, as the season progressed,and we had run off 4 or 5 wins, you could look ahead at our schedule,and optimistically say 'we can play with, or we can beat Wisconsin', while on the other hand I doubt there were too many who felt we had a a legitimate chance against Ohio State. We just aren't at that level with our talent, plus we have been decimated by injuries.
That reality, and lack of confidence going into the game tonight, allowed for the team to come out a little flat, and as we got down in the game early with the pick 6, the wheels began to come off, and in a lot of ways, we didn't look like the team we had seen up to that point at all. Ohio State got a momentum boost from the defensive score, and the worse we played, the better they looked.
When Tommy got knocked out of the game, it was all over in the teams mind, and their poor effort after that was really almost predictable.
I felt we were going to beat Wisconsin, and know we should have, but I never had any thought that we could play with OSU.
I do feel that if the team can rally, and support each other, we will win out the regular season, even if Tommy cant play in the game next week. We can be 10-2 going into a what should be a very good bowl game.
I like that scenario much better than sneaking into the CCG, and getting throttled again by Ohio State, or even worse, Michigan.
