Even though almost two months have passed since Ohio State was pummeled 41-14 by Florida in the BCS Championship Game, the outcome and its causes have been dissected like a dead frog in science lab.

The shocking nature of the game has continued to make it a hot topic among Buckeye faithful and alumni everywhere.

This wasn’t a four-point loss to Michigan under John Cooper when the Buckeyes entered ranked No. 1. This wasn’t a 13-point loss to UCLA in which Woody Hayes would have one final national championship. And this wasn’t a three-point loss to eventual national champion Texas.

This was a game in which the Buckeyes entered ranked No. 1 and a seven-point favorite, facing a team that lost one game by 10 points and could have, should have lost as many as four more games And they were coached by Jim Tressel, who brought a 5-1 record against Michigan and 4-1 bowl record as the Buckeyes’ boss into the game.

And they were beaten by FOUR touchdowns.

So what happened? How could something so good for more than three months go so terribly wrong in one dreadful night?

For starters, I have always viewed a football game as one big puzzle with 130 to 150 pieces, each represented by a single play. The result of one play may have a direct effect on the next one, and so on. Thus, the next piece of the puzzle either fits, or does not fit.

THE LAYOFF

Let me start with the infamous 51 days.

There was enough written on the Buckeyes’ record-breaking layoff to fill a book. Here’s how I believe it truly had an effect on the game: It gave Ohio State‘s offensive linemen time to put on weight.

As I stood on the sidelines before the game started, I couldn’t help notice that any of those linemen could have earned some extra money over the Holidays by moonlighting as Santa Clauses at any mall in Columbus (if only the NCAA allowed part-time jobs for student-athletes, that is).

It was obvious that each, from tackle to tackle, had put on some weight between the 42-39 win over Michigan and January 8. Some even bragged before the game of how many “Inn-and-Out” burgers they could eat. It is no secret that the appetites of today’s largest collegiate and NFL players would sometimes put a caged lion to shame, but there comes a time when responsibility should have prevented the men in the trenches from becoming the overweight men in the trenches.

Once they lined up against Florida’s quicker defensive ends, I am willing to bet that Ohio State’s offensive tackles had wished they would have stuck to the salad bar more often during those 51 days.

Which leads to …

THE GAMEPLANS

I think Jim Tressel would admit that he fell in love with the four- and five-wide formations, and Troy Smith’s ability in the shotgun, especially after scoring 42 points against Michigan’s defense.

If he ever admitted such things.

But the Buckeyes were not playing Michigan’s defense on January 8. Florida’s was somewhat smaller, but definitely much quicker and that should have been obvious from watching a season’s worth of tapes.

How do you attack a smaller, quicker defensive front?

You line up with two backs, at least one tight end, you look across the line of scrimmage, smile slightly and whisper, “We are coming at you. Tonight, you are going to be my personal blocking sled. Try and stop us!”

And with that, the Buckeyes should have introduced the SEC Gators to some old-fashioned Big Ten football. After all, it doesn’t matter how quick those defensive ends are when you are drive-blocking them into the secondary.

In other words, you eliminate their strength. You pound them and pound them and pound them. Then once their linebackers and safeties creep in to help against the run, you play-action over the top.

And I don’t want to hear that the first-half deficit took away Tressel’s chance to do that. When it was 7-7 or even when Florida led 21-14, Ohio State treated the running game like a leper. Remember, on that drive for the second touchdown, the Buckeyes ran the ball at will.

When discussing the gameplan, in response to criticism that Ohio State did not run enough, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman was recently quoted in the Columbus Dispatch as saying, “We’re going into the game with the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback — and we’re going to go in and not use him and run the ball?”

Well, yes.

As if that 13 ½-inch high bronzed statue is going to score points against Florida’s defense.

That’s why coaches watch tapes for hours on end. That is why you spend the first few of those 51 days asking yourself, “What got Florida to Arizona in the first place?” Well, it wasn‘t Chris Leak and the Gators‘ offense, which had struggled mightily throughout the season. The answer: The defense, which is quick across the board and could rush the passer better than any Big Ten team.

The match-up called for an unbalanced line once in a while. Two tights here and there. A guard in backfield on occasion. Or maybe even a fullback in the backfield, for gosh sakes. And then you put your Heisman winner under center, not in the shotgun, and re-introduce him to Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells. Especially, and I mean especially once your fastest player and only deep threat gets injured on the opening kickoff by his teammate, while celebrating your lone highlight of the night.

Defensively, the Buckeyes were just the opposite, ironically. They were too conservative, wanting to keep everything in front of them. Yet, Florida did not use a vertical passing game the entire season. That identical plan had worked for this defense for the first 11 games of the season, but it only works when you stop people on third downs and get them off the field. Ohio State’s defense did that for 11 games, then allowed 80 points in its final two games.

Lastly, I will never believe that the Buckeyes were not fired up for the game or in the wrong emotional state. It wasn’t that they were bored with another trip to Arizona. And it surely wasn’t because Florida had the better team.

They just went with a couple of terrible game plans (offensively and defensively), they lost one of their best players on the first play, and the subsequent pieces of the puzzle fit like a round peg into a square hole.

Lessons learned.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Dr. John Frank, originally from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio State as a tight end in 1980. During his four year career with the Buckeyes, he played in four bowl games including two Fiesta Bowls, the Holiday Bowl and the Liberty Bowl while Ohio State shared the Big Ten Championship title in 1982. In 1983, John was voted team captain and voted most valuable and most inspirational player. He won All Big Ten honors as well as Academic All-American honors and was awarded the Western Conference Medal of honor. In 1999, he was voted into the Ohio State sports hall of fame and still holds the record for the most career pass receptions by a tight end.

John Frank was drafted in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft and played five years with the San Francisco Forty Niners, during which time the Forty Niners won two World Championships. In 1989, John returned to Columbus to complete medical school at Ohio State. He went on to finish an Otolaryngology residency at Loyola University in Chicago and received board certification in 1999. Subsequently, Dr. Frank obtained additional training in facial plastic surgery and opened a plastic surgery clinic in San Francisco in 1999. In 2003, Dr. Frank shifted his focus to hair restoration and moved to New York City where he became one of the country’s most prolific hair and scalp surgeons. In 2006, after performing over 2000 hair transplants, Dr. Frank discovered a non-surgical process aimed at preventing hair loss and opened Anapelli Hair Clinic in New York. In addition, Dr. Frank continued his more formal medical endeavors and entered into a skull base fellowship at Columbia University’s St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital.

Popularity: 16% [?]

This week’s poll question is sponsored by: ClearSaleing

Contact Us if you have an idea for a poll question.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Once the Bowl game is over, the next thing Buckeye fans like to talk about is the next recruiting class and if it is up to snuff, or not. They almost forget about the guys from last year’s class or the year before that because some of those players didn’t see much playing time. So before we talk about this year’s class, let’s look at some of the guys already in the program getting stronger, faster and gaining some valuable experience under some good upper classmen.

On offense, you have to start with the QB and there are some strong candidates. Boeckman is only going to be a junior but has been in the system for 4 years and Schoenhoft is a soph but has been watching Troy and learning. They are booth big and strong at 6’5” 240 lbs. plus, with strong arms and good feet. Helton is new but more like Troy and gaining fans in the program. Receivers look good even without Gonzo and Ginn. The two freshman Robinski and Hartline look to fill the starting roles with Small, Dukes and Lyons looking to crack the rotation. With Pitt leaving it opens the door for Beanie and Maurice Wells and a couple of strong frosh. Fulllback has Dionte Johnson back but they may never use the traditional FB and elect the H-back since they are deeper at tight end. Offensive line loses some aged beef but with Jim Cordle waiting in the wings at center and a bevy of highly recruited guys like Browning, Mitchum and Connor Smith looking to join Barton, Boone and Rerig, things look promising.

On D, there is a lot of talent back. I don’t need to rename the returning stars and everybody knows who we lost. The defensive lines was deep in 2006 and add to the list these names; Abdallah, Barrow, Denlinger, Williams and Worthing to join the strong year for Robert Rose, Vernon Gholstein. The linebacker position is just one long line of big, fast, talented guys just waiting for their turn. DB’s are going to be interesting. With the exodus of three starters two years ago, it has given alot of guys some time. Look for Andre Amos, Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell to continue to gain confidence.

You noticed, no real mention of this year’s class. Well guess what, until they step on the field in scarlet and gray, know one really knows. You can look at all the film you want, check out their stats and contemplate their toughness, but when they join the team, they start at the bottom of the food chain and have to earn their keep. The class of 1986 had 23 recruits and was not listed in the top 20 of any list. Well 17 of that group played on Sunday’s and some of the “highly recruited” guys, never set foot on the field.

Relax about the recruiting class. Talk about it in a year or two because then you’ll be able to have an educated conversation. Otherwise, spend more time looking in our closets because that’s where next year’s new starts are lurking.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Jim Karsatos was born in Fullerton California, and was named California player of the year in 1981.He was OSU quarterback from 1981 to 1986 and was named Team captain in 1986 and was named to the 2nd Team All Big Ten Team MVP in 1985. Jim continued his sports career at the Miami Dolphins from 1987-1988, and was an active public speaker and a 15 year radio broadcaster for Ohio State Football. Jim is currently the President of the Central Ohio Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association as well as on the Board of Directors for the National NFL Alumni Association. Jim is on the board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital Foundation and is the President of Champions for Children at Children’s Hospital. He just finished his term as president on the Board of Directors of the Central Ohio Chapter of Alzheimers Association but still remains active in the organization. Jim was also one of the original minority owners of the Columbus Destroyers.

He has 2 twin sons (CJ and Danny) – age 6 and an older son (Nick) - age 9.

He currently is the President and CEO of Karsatos Financial Network and the managing partner of Credible Resource Management.

Popularity: 20% [?]

A graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Greg was a co captain of the 1990 Ohio State Football Buckeyes, a 4 year letterman, and a 3 year starter at quarterback. He also lettered his final two years in baseball and was a member of the 1991 Big Ten Champion Baseball Buckeyes.

Greg still remains the only quarterback in Ohio State history to throw for 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, and he is remembered for leading memorable comebacks versus LSU in 1988, Minnesota 1989 (31 points), and Iowa 1990. The Minnesota comeback still ranks as the 2nd greatest in college football history!

Greg is proud of his scholar athlete honors as well. He was a HONDA National Scholar Athlete in 1989 and 1990, and a National Football Foundation / College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete post graduate scholarship winner in 1990.

After receiving his BA from Ohio State in 1991 (English & Military History), Greg played professionally for the Ohio Glory of the World Football League, and Cleveland Thunderbolts of the Arena Football League, and was drafted in the 62nd round of the 1991 baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers.

Greg is currently a commercial realtor with Crawford Hoying Smith Real Estate Services (CHS) in Dublin. CHS is a full service real estate firm focusing on commercial and investment real estate in Central Ohio.

Greg can also be seen providing color commentary on CSN (Columbus Sports Network) covering the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League, and on ONN (Ohio News Network) covering state high school football playoffs and championships.

Football is still very much a part of Greg’s life, as he is the Offensive Coordinator at Pickerington North High School. He also trains Quarterbacks and Receivers in the football off season. Former and current students include Brady Quinn (ND), Jake Kastan (Bexley HS and Tufts University), and Connor Dietz (2006 Div 1 State Champs Hilliard Davidson).

Greg and his wife Jen reside in Bexley.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Katie Bernal was born in Olathe, KS, but spent most of her childhood in Chandler, AZ before moving to Westerville, OH where she graduated with honors from Westerville North High School in 1996; Katie received an academic scholarship to Colorado State University in Ft Collins, CO and became heavily involved in her sorority Sigma Kappa. After two years as a Ram in Colorado, Katie transferred to The Ohio State University where she finished her education in 2001 with a major in Zoology.

Katie is currently the Director of BuckeyeLegends.com, and works to increase the Legend membership, develop the website content, as well as put together and execute the promotional opportunities around the Columbus area.

Katie lives in Westerville, Ohio with her Husband Joel who is a proud member of the United States Air Force National Guard.

Popularity: 16% [?]

This week’s poll question is sponsored by: ClearSaleing

Contact Us if you have an idea for a poll question.

Popularity: 21% [?]

George Lehner served for over twenty years as sports director at WTVN Radio in Columbus, Ohio; responsible for all sports programming on WTVN and two others of the six affiliated Clear Channel stations in the Columbus market.

George anchored a dozen sports broadcasts every day during drive time in the morning and afternoon. In addition, he was responsible for all phases ofo WTVN’s award winning pregame and postgame broadcast coverage of Ohio State University football, including anchoring ninety minute programs before and after each game, and, a weekly two hour listener call in program. Also, for several years, he cohosted a daily sports talk radio program. George has covered Ohio State football from virtually every major college stadium in the nation, along with bowl games in Florida, Arizona, Texas and California.

He directed the stations coverage of high school football and hosted a one-hour high school football scoreboard show each Friday night during the high school football season. He has also anchored live coverage from the Super Bowl, the NFL draft, the World Series, the baseball All-Star game, major league baseball spring training, The Masters Tournament in Augusta, and The Memorial Tournament.

During his tenure, WTVN was named the Best Sports Operation in the state of Ohio; he was named Broadcaster of the Year in the state of Ohio multiple times and was honored with UPI’s Regional Broadcast Award for Best Sports Reporting. George voted in the prestigious Associated Press College Football and Basketball polls for over ten years, the only broadcast journalist in the nation asked to vote in both polls. He also voted for the Heisman Trophy. George was inducted in the Radio and Television Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame in Ohio in 2006.

George lives in Columbus and has three children.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Jeff Snook is a freelance writer who has written seven books on college football, including three on the Ohio State Buckeyes. His latest book on Ohio State football history, soon to be titled, will arrive in bookstores in early September, 2007.

He is the author of “What It Means To Be A Buckeye,” published in 2003.

Snook, a 1982 graduate of the Ohio State University School of Journalism, has written about college football since covering the Buckeyes for The Lantern during the ‘81 season.

From 1982-84, he covered the now-defunct Southwest Conference for the Baytown (Texas) Sun. He then covered the Florida State Seminoles (1984-90), Florida Gators (1991-93) and the Miami Hurricanes (1994) as a beat writer for the Palm Beach Post.

Snook lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, and has an 11-year-old daughter, Savanna.

Popularity: 14% [?]