Buckeye warriors

The Buckeyes lost again to Florida in another big national championship game. The first was terribly shameful but the recent one was not as bad.

Heading into the January 8 college football national championship in Arizona, the Buckeyes were a heavy favorite after such a dominating, undefeated run in 12 games. The Ohio State football team had the best offensive cast starting from its quarterback and 2006-2007 Heisman winner Troy Smith. He was surrounded with Ted Ginn, Jr. Anthony Gonzalez and Antonio Pittman who were excellent catchers and runners.

In a quick turn of events, the Florida Gators shut down the Buckeyes with a shocking 41-14 to emerge as the national champions.

About three months later, the Buckeyes secured the first slot to the championship game and Florida shortly reappeared on the scene to defend its basketball NCAA National Title. This time, Ohio State was clearly the underdog against the formidable Gators line up. True enough, the Gators were highly skilled and resilient to successfully reclaim the hard court supremacy. Greg Oden essayed a monstrous performance with some help from his long time buddy Mike Conley, Jr. but the rest of the Buckeyes were too lethargic especially against Florida's 3-pointers raining all over every now and then.

The football loss was shamefully tragic but the basketball defeat wasn't totally disappointing.

The football team failed to exploit its collective talent that it has showcased in memorable games of the past. It wasn't able to make significant adjustments when it was being clobbered to submission. Most of all, it failed to prepare. The team was too drunk of its victorious record and Heisman trophy. The team has conquered defeat numerous times but it couldn't handle triumph.

I was extremely disappointed with the football team not because they lost. It was a shameful, tragic loss because the Buckeyes didn't put up a fight.

That is the main difference with Greg Oden and the rest of the Ohio State basketball team. The buckeyes lost but they went down swinging. The key to Florida's win was its accurate shooting (55.6% vs 17.4%) beyond the arc. However, if you look at the 3-point stat sheet, the Buckeyes actually made more 3-point attempts (23) than Florida (18). Ron Lewis and the rest of the Buckeyes simply lost their 3-point magic that has bailed them out in previous nail-biting wins. At the very least, the Buckeyes have displayed their will and some erratic skill.

Florida was aggressive all throughout the game with some brash on-camera antics. The Buckeyes confined their own valiant, well-mannered offensive spurts to the basket. As in boxing, they may not know the finesse execution of jab, hook and uppercut but they did come back swinging when shoved and pushed to the wall. They didn't just easily crumble like the lame Buckeyes football team during the final siege in Arizona.

In these two biggest, crucial games in the grandest stage, my most poignant recollection comes from that football debacle. As a promdi Pinoy, I was excited to belong to the most populated university in the US. I wore my own Buckeye gear to the Schottenstein gym to join the crazy football fans in anticipation of another historic national championship crown. As the game unfolds, the dream turns into a nightmare. Several people bolted their seats in horror long before the game was finished. I decided to stay until the end just like many other Buckeye fans. There was an eerie silence after the clock expired to etch the final score. The closing music was played and we stood shoulder to shoulder to sing the final Ohio State song. I looked around and I saw tears falling everywhere.

I came to Schottenstein hoping to see on large screen TV some heroics of Troy Smith and company towards the championship crown in Arizona. What I saw instead were the grieving fans who nevertheless chose to square off with such crushing defeat face to face. That was such a profound act of support a football fan could give especially to such underperforming football team.

In those swollen eyes, I saw the true Buckeye warriors. Blood pulsating in scarlet and gray. The football game was as real in Arizona as it was fierce in Columbus but it was in the bleachers of Schottenstein that I saw the true Buckeye warriors, not in Glendale football field. The Buckeyes fought their own internal battle with such valiant, indomitable spirit that hangs on until the last breath, until the last tick of the clock, until the last tear drop, until the last song.

I am proud I stood with them.

...
written 04.08.07, posted at istoriami.