I find it's much easier to write about the game a few days after a tough loss. I guess it's not so bad making it to the big game two years in a row, and three out of six years. After careful reflection, here are my top five reasons the Buckeyes lost to LSU in the 2008 National Championship Game.1. The game was closer than the score. You might be able to say this about most games, but this game really hinged on ~5 plays. If these plays turn out in OSU's favor instead of LSU's, the Buckeyes likely win the game. You already know the plays: 1) the roughing the punter call, 2) Robiskie dropping the TD pass (it was IN HIS HANDS!) which would put OSU up 17-10, 3) the subsequent blocked FG, 4) Roy Small letting the LSU cornerback take the ball away from him (in soccer we call it a 50/50 ball--win it!), and 5) the one-sided nature of the the officiating. 5 personal foul calls on OSU?!? Maybe the face mask on Laurinaitis it legit--although it didn't look that bad, the only other one I remember them showing on replay was a hit out of bounds, and it was borderline at best. It's shocking that LSU, the #2 most penalizied team in I-A football, had one penalty called on them the entire game? Looked like some holding going on upfront to me, but what do I know?
2. The #1 ranked defense didn't look the part in the first half. They did settle down in the second half, but too little too late.
3. The offensive play calling, with the exception of the Brandon Saine pass play in the first offensive series, lacked creativity. Is Walt Harris available to coach the offense?
The future: It's good to know we only started three Seniors this year--the Buckeyes are young. Boeckman and Beanie will be back to lead the offense, and the receivers are a year older. The D is always solid. I do like our chances in 2008-2009!
See you in Miami in January 2009!
