Cheer up, Buckeye football fans.
Ohio State is still expected to win the Big Ten and go to a bowl game. That's almost a given. But that's not the same as claiming a national championship, is it?
The Buckeyes are still counting the days to the Michigan showdown, a game in which they should have no trouble at all winning. The Rich Rodriguez-coached Wolverines are pathetically horrible.
About Saturday night, though.
Embarrassing, 35-3?
No, it was downright humiliating, and the whole world - or at least the whole United States - saw it on prime time national television.
Frankly, if you were scarlet-faced and had switched the channel at halftime to "Gilligan Island" re-runs, no one would have blamed you at all.
NCAA Division III powerhouse Mount Union College could've given Southern California a better game than Ohio State University did.
No football team in America could've beaten Southern Cal Saturday night.
To be honest with you, the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns might've also had problems with the Trojans, who are truly that good.
Heck, Southern Cal looked good enough to win the Super Bowl.
Right now, in the poll, Ohio State shouldn't be ranked much higher than West Virginia University.
If Buckeye fans didn't see Saturday night's fiasco coming, then they all need to make eye appointments.
Remember, Southern Cal had two full weeks to prepare for this game. Ohio State had one. That's not an excuse, but a fact.
Also, historically, Ohio State always seems to start its season with "gimme wins," and this year was no exception. Youngstown State? Ohio University? C'mon, give me a break. The Buckeyes were very fortunate to beat the Bobcats - and everyone knows it.
The Buckeyes are to be commended for wanting to compete against in-state schools at the start - but it certainly didn't toughen them up for the trip out to the West Coast, did it?
OSU would've been better off kicking off the season at Southern Cal. At least, Chris "Beanie" Wells would've played.
Ah, Beanie Wells.
Some diehard Buckeye fans might believe that if he'd played Saturday night, it might've been a different story.
Different story, maybe, but same ending.
Get real, people. Football is a team sport, and if Ohio State is relying on one player then it's in big trouble and has no business battling for a national championship.
Give OSU head coach Jim Tressel credit. He made the right call in not playing the injured Wells. It is after all only September, and the Buckeyes are still planning on playing in January, 2009 - somewhere.
As for alternating two quarterbacks during the game Saturday night, Tressel needs to be questioned on that one. He really should settle on one or the other - and Todd Boeckman would not be my choice. He's got a decent arm, but he's too slow.
Freshman QB Terrelle Pryor showed a lot of promise Saturday night, and should in future games be given every opportunity to take center snaps - on a full-time basis.
This upcoming Saturday, OSU is scheduled to host Troy University. Troy who?
It's another gimme win, and the Buckeyes should bounce back, and at least beat these Trojans (2-0) of Alabama (not California).
You can almost count on it.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com.
