I spent some time, as I'm sure many of you did as well, trolling tOSU fan boards on Saturday night and Sunday. Even managed to post on Eleven Warriors. Geez, that sure felt good. I wasn't a complete asshole, though: I avoided the very real temptation to throw gasoline on their "TRESSEL/PRYOR/NOT-HAVING-A-REAL-OC SUCKS" treatise.

The not-quite-GED-qualifying-because-the-world-needs-ditch-diggers-too-Danny fan base is up in arms down there, if a bit in disagreement, over one or more of the following: 1) Jim Tressel is the biggest loser to ever be associated with the Scarlett and Gray, 2) JT had better get himself a "real" Offensive Coordinator, (aren't all coaches employed by Ohio State "offensive", by definition?) because "college football has passed him by" and, perhaps most venomously, 3) Tyrelle Pryor will never - EVER - be a "real, big time, QB."

Here's my take on Tressel, Pryor and Saturday's game plan against USC, (since I have a hole in my ass, and its pointed at the ground, I'm entitled to my opinion, too): if it could have been possible for both teams to lose, that's what I would have rooted for. Admit it: you feel the same way. I could be all magnanimous and believe that, "I root for OSU when they're not playing Michigan because they're in the Big 10, too, and it counts."

Bullshit. I come from "Old School" Wolverine Football loving tradition: "I have two favorite teams: Michigan, and whomever is playing Ohio State."

I have to admit, though, I do have respect for Tressel. The man has had UM's number for the better part of a decade. He's not the most imaginative play-caller, mind you, but he's not about "three yards and a cloud of dust", either. He's won a BCSNC, and had won consecutive NC's at Youngstown State prior to his move to Columbus.

So, the limited imagination shown in Saturday's Xs and Os, and the week earlier against Navy, really had me scratching my head. The Buckeyes "D" made USC's offense look ordinary (and even less) for 95% of the game -- and that was with a bevy of new starters. But the OSU offense was beyond offensive.

Then, it hit me: it's Pryor. Lots of folks have commented about how he has got problems with his nerves. I think there's more to it. If it were all about nerves, Tressel would be designing plays that take advantage of his freakish physical abilities and what he does most naturally. Except for a couple of designed runs and roll-outs, though, the offense is plain jane.

I think the limitation is in his gray matter. He's been the starter for nearly a year already, over two seasons. Yet, he's still making simple mistakes, (a delay of game penalty ... IN THE TWO MINUTE DRILL?!? WTF???) Plays are taking to long to develop, he's getting rattled, he's not progressing through his keys and missing the coverages and open man. He may yet progress, a la Vince Young. But right now, he's singing that Zeppelin tune, "Dazed and Confused".

Which brings me back to the Word of the Day, (I'm glad you hung in there with me). In the play "Avenue Q", a character named Gary sings the song, "Schadenfreude". The opening lines are:

    Right now you are down and out
    And feelin' really crappy.
    And when I see how said you are,
    It sorta makes me happy.

Ahhhh, better already.