One of the things that makes college football fun to watch is that you get a chance to see how young men respond to pressure and opportunity in a relatively unspoiled environment. They aren’t yet jaded by the business of sports, so their emotions are genuine. And sometimes their emotions allow them to play at a higher level than their talent would suggest.

Take my second favorite team, the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy. It’s not just that they beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963, or that they did it in South Bend against so-called 5-star recruits. It’s that they played above their ability and persevered when they could’ve folded. That’s character. It doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter that they beat Notre Dame in a down year. They got Notre Dame’s best effort. As they move on to careers as officers in the Navy and the Marine Corps, and probably for the rest of their lives, the Midshipmen will be able to talk about a win over the Golden Domers because they didn’t quit. I know they made a few my old ring-knocker shipmates from USS Sterett very proud.

Take the team up north as another example. I normally don’t like to say kind things about Michigan, but any fan of college football has to recognize the job that Lloyd Carr and his Wolverine team did this year. After arguably the most embarrassing loss in the history of the game, followed by a second consecutive loss to Oregon, the entire Michigan football program was under fire. Carr was close to being run out of town, and the season was written off as an unmitigated disaster. Fast forward to week 10 and things look a little different, don’t they? Carr is now being praised for holding his team together in the face of incredible adversity. And led by their talented seniors, the team has played with emotion and purpose. This weekend’s dramatic win over Michigan State was symbolic of their entire 2007 campaign. If they win their remaining two games, they probably won’t get to the national championship game. But they will be long remembered for their character.

After coming from behind to beat Wisconsin, Ohio State must also be designated, along with Navy and Michigan, as a leader in the character category this year. It wasn’t easy. As a result of the Florida debacle, no other program has been so insulted and maligned by pundits and coaches alike. Success against a soft schedule only provided additional material for the critics. So when Wisconsin played well for a few quarters, you could almost hear the snickers coming from the Southeastern part of the country: “Ohio State finally played a real team and see – they’re a mediocre team in a weak conference.” A lesser team would’ve developed an inferiority complex by now. But that’s not how Ohio State responded. Down by 7 points in the 3rd quarter and looking a little shaky, the Buckeyes put together a methodical comeback. By the end of the game, the Badgers were completely demoralized and Ohio State won going away.

And that’s the story of the season so far. Carrying the burden of redemption for the Florida game, the 2007 Buckeyes have surprised everyone except, probably, themselves. They still have 2 more games to go. But regardless of what happens from now, Buckeye fans should be proud of this team for its character.

My thoughts on the Wisconsin game:

  • The Opponent – A-. As always, Wisconsin played Ohio State tough. I can’t figure it out, but as Jim Karsatos noted, the Badgers just seem to have Ohio State’s number. Unlike most teams the Buckeyes face, they don’t get intimidated by the Ohio State mystique. They just play like they’re supposed to win. And they usually have great athletes. Quarterback Tyler Donovan looked sharp for most of the game, and the defense shut down Ohio State’s Bruce Lee offense for two and a half quarters. Add a healthy P.J. Hill, and who knows how close this one could’ve been.
  • The Defense – B-. It took a few perfect passes and great catches, but the Wisconsin offense exposed a few flaws in the Ohio State secondary. Thankfully, the defensive line was relentless, sacking Donovan 10 times. In the end the defense finally overwhelmed the Badger offense, but not before a few tense moments. Illinois and Michigan will watch plenty of game film, so look for them to try to replicate the big play success they saw with Wisconsin—especially the short drag route underneath that ended up into a big play. If the Buckeyes are going to have a shot at another National Championship game, Malcolm Jenkins is going to have to step up and play like an All-American in the final two games this season.
  • The Offense – B. After an impressive first drive, the Buckeye offense stalled for two quarters. And for the first time this year, Boeckman looked a little frustrated as he faced a well-coached Badger defense. The Wisconsin secondary played an effective cover 2, taking away some of the passing firepower we’ve seen in previous games. Then in the 3rd quarter, the offensive line and Beanie Wells took control of the game. As the rest of the country is starting to find out, Beanie has all of the five skills required for a great running back: quickness, speed, power, vision, and patience. He also has the ability to shift gears and get to top speed faster than any big back I’ve seen since Bo Jackson.
  • The Special Teams – B-. It didn’t turn out to be significant, but a blocked Pretorius field goal in the 3rd quarter appeared to be a critical mistake. In a tighter game, the mistake could’ve been disastrous. The rest of the special teams play was competent if not productive. Ray Small looked explosive on a long punt return that was called back (although he needs to watch out for the turf monster). And A.J. Trepasso finally got to break a sweat in a game with a solid punting effort.
  • My Favorite Play. I had to watch it a few times to see exactly what happened, but Brian Robiskie’s 4th quarter, one-handed touchdown catch was a thing of beauty.
  • Game Ball. Beanie Wells.

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