Ohio State A Play From Being the Buffalo Bills: ClayNation Starting 11
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Read the full column here.
Thanks to my wife, I root for Michigan.
It's a fringe benefit of marrying into fandom, I get to watch Big Ten games with a rooting interest, but experience none of the pain if Michigan loses. Such was the case on Saturday. While I sat in Neyland Stadium and watched Tennessee's season unravel around me, I occassionaly got a cheery update on the progress of the Wolverines. By 8PM, my wife was upbeat; I was despondent.
But I wasn't alone, I had Oklahoma State fans accompanying me down the primrose path of shattered dreams. Same thing with Notre Dame fans. If opening weekend Saturday was an eye-opening jaunt into the welcoming embrace of college football season, this past Saturday was the day when the cruel hard hand of reality pimp-slapped many of us. Doubt me? Ask Ohio State fans how they feel this week. In fact, let's play a game inside the ClayNation Starting 11, what if Miami doesn't get flagged for pass interference in 2003?
1. Then "THE" Ohio State Buckeyes are college football's Buffalo Bills, even more so, right?
Ohio State would have lost the 2003, 2006, and 2007 title games. They already lost the big game at home to Vince Young and Texas in 2005, the big game to USC in 2008 and now 2009, the big game to Texas in 2008's Fiesta Bowl. Think about this for a moment, absent that one single, belated penalty, Ohio State is the untrammeled master of failed expectations. Jim Tressel isn't a genius in a sweatervest who owns the Big Ten, he's just a guy in a sweatervest who is the best of a bad lot of teams. The guy in charge when Michigan switched identities.
If Buckeye fans think they have it rough now, just imagine what happens if that flag doesn't come out of that official's pocket at the last possible instant.
2. Funniest quote from the weekend. As we watch highlights of Michigan upsetting Notre Dame, a former UT football player puts his arm on my shoulder and sighs wistfully, "Do you know how much ass Tate Forcier just got with that pass?" he asked.
Yeah, a lot.
Another question, how much does the last name Forcier redeem the first name Tate? As is, Tate Forcier is an awesome name. Brent Musberger is already salivating at the thought of pronouncing it on air. But imagine if his last name is Smith.
Tate Smith? (Ed: We apologize to New Mexico's Tate Smith and invite him to discuss the shortcomings of the name Clay Travis. Or his thoughts on peanut butter and jelly in the same jar. Your move, Lobo.)
That's right up there with Casey Dick as names go. He probably doesn't even end up a quarterback. (Ed: Except in New Mexico, America's goober grape state) In fact, Tate Smith doesn't even get selected for the fraternity he wants to join.
But Tate Forcier? The last name redeems his entire future. Do you think his parents had this debate? I'm picturing the mom being completely behind Tate and the dad agreeing only because the last name somehow combines with the first to make the name awesome.
3. On the South Carolina-Georgia game, how much would have you wagered if someone had said, "I'll give you an over/under of 77 in that game."
I probably would have put my house on the line.
Seriously.
Read the rest here. Labels: ohio state buffalo bills claynation starting 11
Posted by Clay Travis at 9:45 PM
 
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