Ohio State v. Kent State: Oh, Joy!
Posted October 13th, 2007 by George Thomas
Kent State University Coach Doug Martin could have allowed sportswriters to have some hopes and dreams that we'd have a competitive game today. Then he had to open his mouth.
For the record Martin told reporters earlier this week that he wouldn't be playing his front line players because he wants to save them for the final games in the MAC. Oh that's just ducky. So instead of a Waterloo, we get to witness a Little Big Horn. How do I contain my enthusiasm?
Nevermind that this "game" comes in the middle of the conference schedule, but it's against the Kent State Golden Flashes. That in itself assures that I will need mega doses of stimulants to stay awake.
In reply to Martin resting his players, OSU Coach Tressel adopted the philosophy that if "you rest, you rust." That means his front line players will be in the game until KSU is suitably beat into submission.
For anyone sitting and watching this, it could be a long afternoon. Of course, the broadcast will have one saving grace - it's on the Big Ten Network. Not many folks will see it.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:48 am
[...] Original post by George Thomas [...]
October 13th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I've got to question Martin's judgment.
First, what does resting his starters say to potential recruits–Yes, we play some big time schools but if you're any good you won't get to test yourself against the best?
Second, huge upsets do happen, and what is he saying to the players currently on the team–just quit when the odds are against you?
October 13th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I don't know, larry. It made some sense to me. They played Kentucky, and were torched by 36. Last year they played Virginia Tech, and lost by 23. It won't affect recruiting, who in their right mind goes to Kent State because they're a dynamo on the football field? Please don't say "Jack Lambert," that guy was never in his right mind.
The game meant absolutely zilch for Kent State. Oh, except for that tiny little irrelevant fact with respect to that measly miniscule $650,000 they get to put into their coffers for not having to do a goddamn thing but load some kids into a bus for two hours. Four hours if you include round-trip.
However, I do agree about the coach announcing his plans beforehand. Seemed kinda cheesy to me. He might as well have just come right out and said, "Hey, fellas, whatcha say we just skip the game, and then you folks can simply wire the funds into my athletic director's account. No fuss, no muss."
October 13th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I don't know, Alan. If I were an 18-year-old recruit with the choice of going to Slippery Rock or Kent, a chance to play in the Horseshoe might be a factor in my decision. If I were making an official visit to Kent this weekend I might read the papers and think, 'Hey, Slippery Rock's got a pretty nice campus anyway.'
October 13th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
larry, that's a poor argument. Ohio State's schedule is already set through 2010, and Kent State's not on it. Now, if you were talking about Youngstown State as opposed to Kent State, you might have a point. Youngstown State happens to be on the 2008 schedule, and the game is being played in Columbus. But no Kent State football recruit is going to be anywhere near any horseshoe for years to come, unless you count the horseshoe-shaped beer bong that some Kent State kid is sucking down as I write this.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Are any major conference teams on Kent's schedule in the next four years? Would any recruit who expects to star at Kent State rather play in those games, or sit on the sideline?
October 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Nah, it won't make a difference. They used starters against Virginia Tech and Kentucky. All they'll need to get over the "we only played the better kids for a little over a quarter against Ohio State" recruiting hump is to simply show their parents all the pretty Cybex and Nautilus machines they were able to buy with all the money they stole by simply showing up.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
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