Tressel's Talent

During the month of February college football comes back to life for a short period of time. For college football fans, this time of month is huge for their favorite team. February is know as “college football recruiting month.” Coaches spend years recruiting athletes to their schools and it all comes down to National Signing Day, February 7^th. Signing day is where the nation’s top football high school seniors decided where they will play their next four, sometimes three, years of football. Every February 7^th is filled with heartbreaks and shocking decisions.

I personally keep watch on Ohio State’s recruiting classes year round. This gives me an idea of how talented the Buckeyes will be each season, and how they stack up against other recruiting classes and future teams.

Since Jim Tressel took the head coaching job at Ohio State, the Buckeye’s recruiting classes have strongly improved. With Tressel as head coach, excluding this year’s class, the Buck’s recruiting has always been in the top 25, if not, in the top 10. With commits like Tedd Ginn Jr., Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Chris Wells, Anthony Gonzalez, etc. I would say Tressel is a VERY good recruiter.

That brings us to this year’s class of ’10. This year was the first time I can remember Ohio State not having a top 25 recruiting class (according to Rivals.com, Scout.com or ESPN.com). As I read outside blogs about the Buckeye recruiting class of ’10, I find myself reading a lot of negative feedback towards Tressel and his “lack of aggression” in this year’s recruiting.

The Ohio State University and Jim Tressel would never recruit an athlete that wouldn’t benefit the team. Although the Bucks didn’t draw in any five stars (considered best athletes in the country) in this year’s class, Tressel has created more five stars then he has recruited.

In the 2005 class, Tressel used two scholarships on two three-stared athletes. James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins. Both of these underrated football players were drafted in the first round and were HUGE influences on the Buckeye defense. A.J. Hawk and Santonio Holmes are more examples of underrated athletes that coach Jim Tressel has turned in to five star prospects.

No matter the ratings or the stars Ohio State recruits receive, I will always trust Tressel’s decision when it comes to recruiting.

Looking ahead

Over the past thirteen years or so that I’ve watched Ohio State football, I can’t remember the Buckeyes playing on any day other than Saturday. It’s been a tradition for many years that Ohio State always plays their football games on a Saturday. Well to open the 2010 Ohio State football season (September 2^nd), the Bucks will host Marshal on a Thursday night in the Shoe! The Buckeyes playing on a Thursday night!? Yep that's right. “Why a Thursday night?” many Ohio State fans have asked. In my opinion the decision to play on this Thursday was very strategic benefitting the Buckeyes.

September 2^nd marks the opening day for college football, meaning excited football fans all over the country will tune in on this day to watch the opening games of the 2010 college football season. However, in the past, big name colleges (Ohio State, USC, Alabama, Texas, etc.) almost never open their season on this Thursday, leaving the smaller college games on television to bore people. Not this season. The Ohio State Marshal game will, most likely, be the most viewed football game on September 2^nd. With the Bucks in the top five preseason rankings, this Thursday night game gives Ohio State the stage to themselves to, hopefully, win big and look excellent over the Marshal Thundering Herd bumping them up in the polls.

Let’s look forward a week to Ohio State’s second game of the 2010 season. Miami of Florida! Any Buckeye fan can tell you the last time these two football teams met up. With a 13-0 record, during the 2002 season, the Buckeyes entered the National Championship game underdogs to the powerhouse, undefeated Miami Hurricanes. In double overtime the Bucks’ were able to pick off Ken Dorsey’s last pass of his college career sending the ‘Canes home with an L and the Buckeyes home with a crystal ball. September 11^th, 2010 will be the first meeting between these two college football teams since the National Championship game in 2003. Miami won’t forget the upset and will come to Ohio Stadium looking for redemption. Luckily the Buckeyes will have two extra days to prepare for the ‘Canes due to their Thursday night game the week before!

Although playing on a Thursday night is not an Ohio State norm, the decision was in the best interest of the football team. The extra practice time and attention Ohio State will receive because of the September 2^nd game will, hopefully, improve their chances for a win over the bitter ‘Canes and a run at the crystal ball once again.