I do not know that there’s a downside with the Ohio State Buckeyes, however I am additionally not sure there is not one.

And earlier than we begin: no, this is not an over-reaction to shedding a sport. It is a response to shedding THE sport, which in their very own phrases, is a failure … and it is a response to the distractions going through faculty soccer.

Ohio State retains its locker room closed to the media, so I can not say this with an excessive amount of certainty. However I’ve a hunch that the altering local weather in faculty soccer is popping what was one of many hardest groups in America beneath Coach Meyer into one which has extra of a rustic membership really feel to it.

One of many greatest questions that faculty soccer coaches must ask themselves when recruiting gamers proper now could be “does this man like enjoying soccer, or does he like being a soccer participant?” There’s a HUGE distinction. It is work ethic vs. notion. 

More often than not, Ohio State will get it proper. However I’ve heard that the OSU locker room is rather more like an NFL locker room than most faculty ones. Possibly there are too many guys in there that like being soccer gamers – they like the general public persona and the particular issues that include enjoying on this stage, however possibly a few of them aren’t all-in.

I am all for student-athletes with the ability to capitalize on their Identify, Picture and Likeness. However in a reasonably quick period of time, we’ve raced down a really slippery slope and I’m wondering if that is the place Ohio State is trending the fallacious route within the rivalry sport.

The Buckeyes are a finesse group. Their are moments they seem like a strong, robust group, however they principally got here towards groups that could not match them blow for blow. They’re constructed to win within the School Soccer Playoff, with pace and explosiveness. I firmly consider you possibly can drop Ohio State within the SEC and so they’d be proper there on the prime of the league yearly.

They’ve all of the flash, all of the 5-star expertise. A number of their stars have large NIL offers, the flamboyant fits and the costly automobiles. Life is fairly good. However when it got here time to indicate that they had been truly scarred by what occurred final November, they crumbled.

Ohio State is a program that’s happy with it is custom in placing gamers into the NFL. It ought to be! It is actually arduous to constantly get youngsters to the following degree. Ryan Day and his employees do not have an issue in recruiting expertise – the recruiting rankings again that up.

However are they getting the hardest youngsters along with those which have elite expertise? Are they really partaking in the fitting recruiting battles on a regular basis?

They are not far off. Tommy Eichenberg, Cade Stover, Mike Corridor, Steele Chambers, J.T. Tuimoloau, Miyan Williams, Chip Trayanum … these are guys I would like in my nook if I get in a avenue combat. Each soccer group in America would clear a scholarship spot to convey them on board.

I am certain there are others, but it surely takes greater than only a couple dozen dudes to go beat Michigan.

There have been two different issues this week (one pregame and one postgame) that are not sitting properly with me.

I had an issue with Ronnie Hickman saying on Tuesday that Saturday’s sport can be the final time he performs a sport in The ‘Shoe. Addressing that subject coming into rivalry week is out of bounds for me. Even in the event you’re requested a query in a press convention setting, I might have dealt with that in a different way and mentioned I have never made up my thoughts but. I did not ask him that query and admittedly do not wish to know that reply at this level.

You possibly can specific your gratitude for taking part in right here later. For those who’re all in regards to the group and all about profitable, you are not placing out into the world that you just’re shifting on to the NFL earlier than you are about to play the most important sport of your life. 

I used to be additionally a little bit disenchanted in what C.J. Stroud mentioned postgame.

I do not wish to decide on him. I like C.J. lots. I believe he is a real younger man, he is humble, he retains his interior circle fairly tight and he works actually arduous. He is clearly received huge expertise and every little thing we hear about him from coaches to teammates to scouts is that he works arduous.

However he mentioned one thing throughout his postgame press convention Saturday that missed the mark.

Whereas answering his very first query, Stroud mentioned on the podium after shedding to Michigan, “I do not suppose one sport defines us.”

Sure, he additionally mentioned how a lot they wished this sport and the way a lot he poured his coronary heart into it, leaving no stone unturned and the way he mainly stopped his private life to attempt to make it occur.

However when he mentioned this loss would not outline him, I could not consider it. Possibly he simply slipped. Possibly this is not honest. However does he get it? Does he truly perceive this rivalry? It is the one definition Ohio State followers care about. The one factor. It’s actually THE DEFINITION of your season. Beating Michigan is all that issues. That is an enormous a part of what units aside this program and this rivalry from another ones across the nation.

Now, whether or not or not that is a wholesome quantity of strain or if that is a wholesome perspective is a unique dialog. And to his credit score, I do not suppose Stroud’s efficiency was why the Buckeyes misplaced yesterday’s sport. However he selected to come back play right here. He wasn’t born into it, he selected that degree of strain and expectation. No person compelled him to be a Buckeye. Dropping yesterday’s sport ABSOLUTELY defines your season.

And whereas he would not straight reply a poorly-timed query on if this was his final sport in a Buckeye uniform, the best way he left the rostrum by saying thanks, love ya’ll and it is a blessing to be right here (I am paraphrasing {that a} bit) along with his household by his aspect certain felt like he was exiting stage left.

Stroud is the face of the 2022 Buckeyes, the Heisman-candidate who tried to steer them again from a humiliating loss in Ann Arbor final 12 months. However possibly he is additionally the face of an period of Ohio State soccer gamers that involves Columbus with the intention of creating into an NFL participant and never ones that wish to be part of the most important rivalry in sports activities.

So the place will we go from right here?

I do not know what the teaching employees has to alter in recruiting to start out higher filtering which guys are reduce from the fitting fabric and which of them aren’t. But it surely certain is a tricky job. The photoshoots, the social media circus, the NIL cash and strain from exterior forces to deal with faculty soccer prefer it’s an expert sport shouldn’t be wholesome for its long-term success. It is half of what’s driving some coaches away from the sport, as a result of it is more durable than ever to get it proper.

Ryan Day and his employees actually perceive what’s in entrance of them. They might not say it publicly, however that is unquestionably the toughest a part of their jobs. I like Day an terrible lot and I believe he is the fitting man to steer the Buckeyes. I do not suppose he’s “on the recent seat” and if I am Gene Smith, I am not making use of any extra strain on him. He will get it. However they have one other lengthy 12 months in entrance of them, one which begins by ensuring they nail the upcoming class on nationwide signing day – no matter no matter reward nationwide recruiting rankings ship their method.

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You might also like:

Why The Buckeyes Misplaced To Michigan – And What They Ought to Do About It

Ohio State Failed On It is Greatest Stage, Buckeyes Do not Deserve Shot At CFP

Watch Ryan Day’s Postgame Press Convention After Ohio State’s Loss To Michigan

Ohio State’s Spectacular Collapse Ends Common Season In Crushing Loss To Michigan

Ohio State’s Ryan Day Has As Many Losses To Michigan As Jim Tressel, Luke Fickell, City Meyer Mixed

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