Even though the Cincinnati Reds can’t sell out playoff games, Ohio still has the greatest sports fans in the country. Though this special breed of spectators is not blessed with the greatest luck.
For most of these ill-treated Ohio sports fans, Ohio State football serves as the common thread. Sure, you have your O’Malley’s and McCarthy’s rooting for Notre Dame and your O’Idiot’s and McStupidhead’s cheering on Michigan, but for the most part, the tie that binds residents of the sixth-largest state together is Buckeye football.
Although the leader went by the name of Cooper, OSU’s football teams over the past 13 years felt the wrath of Murphy’s Law. What can go wrong, did go wrong.
Perhaps it was because his tenure was 13 years that John Cooper’s teams never seemed to have the ball bounce their way, or maybe it was because the shape of a football does not make it conducive to bouncing. Nevertheless a consistent theme was evident in the mindset of all watching Buckeye games while coach Coop roamed the sidelines: “How are we going to blow this game?”
And for the most part when the season was on the line, OSU did something to blow it. Not to stir up any bad memories or anything, but the list includes: 1993 at Michigan, 1995 at Michigan, 1996 at home against Michigan and 1998 at home against Michigan State.
In that same six-year span at a little school in northeast Ohio, coach Jim Tressel led his Youngstown State team to three national championships. And before you say “that was at the Div. 1-AA level,” let me remind you 1-AA uses a playoff system. You know, a playoff system, one similar to the wildly popular tournament employed by NCAA college basketball. But that’s a whole other issue.
Anyway, from 1993 to 1998 Jim Tressel was 12-0 in playoff games. During those six years in “playoff” games in Buckeye nation (the Michigan game and bowl games) coach Coop was 5-7.
Like many Buckeye fans I’ve criticized Cooper to no end. I’ve maybe even called him a bad coach on an occasion or 137. But he could not have been that bad. That bad to go 2-10-1 against Michigan? That bad to go 3-8 in bowl games?
Is Jim Tressel that great of a football wizard to be 22-3 in playoff games over the last decade?
No.
A wise man once said, “it is better to be lucky than it is to be good.” While Cooper had a good record during his time at OSU, he had an unlucky 13 years.
As a resident of Youngstown, Ohio, I was lucky enough to watch the Penguins of Youngstown State play on a regular basis. Watching their games was remarkably different from watching Buckeye games. You just knew, somehow, someway the Penguins were going to win. Down 13 with the other team on your four-yard line and six minutes to go? Not a problem. Up by two with the other team kicking a 30-yard field goal with three seconds to go? He’ll miss it.
So next time you’re watching a Buckeye’s play in a close game, don’t worry. They are going to win.
Dave O’Neil is the Lantern sports editor. He thinks the only thing that sounds better than “Bucks win” is Craig David’s album. Reach him at [email protected].
