Ohio State's win attributed to weight loss

Submitted by m1817 on

From the WSJ - Ohio State's coaches believed the key to stopping Oregon's offense was for their defense to lose weight in order to improve their endurance and increase their speed against Oregon's up-tempo offense.

Defensive players, particularly those on the defensive line were tasked to lose 5 pounds in 10 days.  Players were given weight targets and weighed before the game for compliance.

The effects may have been more psychological than physical but the Ohio State's defensive believed they were leaner, lighter and faster.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-ohio-state-diet-that-cooked-the-ducks-1…

 

It's interesting to note that a few of the comments at the end of the article were from Buckeye fans who are more obssessed with Harbaugh than they were with celebrating the national championship.

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Clarence Boddicker

January 13th, 2015 at 6:33 PM ^

Oh the irony...

"It's interesting to note that a few of the comments at the end of the article were from Buckeye fans who are more obssessed with Harbaugh than they were with celebrating the national championship."

And this makes how many posts about Ohio State on our Michigan board over the last 24 hours? 50? 200?

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Clarence Boddicker

January 13th, 2015 at 7:13 PM ^

"There was exactly 1 college football game played in the last week, and it involved Ohio State.  WTF do you WANT us to talk about?"

Uhhhh, University of Michigan sports teams? For instance, we're apparently hiring Mike Zordich to coach DBs and recruit Ohio. Does that mean Manning is out? But nah, screw that--how about another post detailing Urban Meyer's new tattoo?

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Clarence Boddicker

January 13th, 2015 at 7:32 PM ^

The problem is the sheer number of threads that have popped devoted to Ohio State and the game. I commented here, as I said, because of the irony of a remark that OSU fans are obsessed with Michigan when we've got 60 billion OSU threads on every bit of buckeye manutia imaginable.

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blueday

January 13th, 2015 at 6:35 PM ^

If surveyed,how many people across the country hold this opinion. I guarantee at the bball game, they will do something to rub it in our face versus celebrate. That defines ohio.

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JMac

January 13th, 2015 at 6:38 PM ^

I'm not positive but 5 pounds in ten days for 290 pound men is not really that hard to do and I agree with the whole psychological vein of thinking.  It is why they are what they are.  A very well trained and cohesive football team. Everybody going in the same direction.  I don't like them as a rival but I was totally impressed by their effort and performance.

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CoachBP6

January 13th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^

I swear there must be a bunch of closet Ohio fans on this board. Let's talk about Michigan. Fuck that team down south. We have plenty to talk about regarding Michigan.

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aratman

January 13th, 2015 at 8:21 PM ^

Back in the day OSU was our rival but it was built on mutual respect.  They deserve respect as they worked hard enough, were coached well enough and had enough talent to be national champions.  I have been as bad as everyone about them but maybe we should tone it down, you know hail the victors.  They are the victors this year. With enough work, coaching and talent we will be chalanging them soon.  Right now they get the credit they have earned.  They still can go have violent intercourse with themselves, but they won give them theirs.

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CoachBP6

January 13th, 2015 at 8:33 PM ^

Im all for them getting "theirs", but when there are numerous threads, it gets a bit redundant, and old. I'd rather be talking about which QB fits Harbaugh's offense best, or which RB will emerge as a beast, instead of talking up Ohio. This is a Michigan blog, if you want to continue to congratulate them, go ahead, but I'll be focusing on my team and what they need to do to become a playoff team.

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Two Hearted Ale

January 13th, 2015 at 9:20 PM ^

There must be dozens of articles about unique things Meyer does to get an edge. He wants RAWK music and night games, he wants his defence to lose weight. I'm sure there are more. I don't know if he really thinks that stuff gives them an advantage but they sure think they do. I've heard multiple OSU players say with confidence they would be the best prepared team, not the best team which is fairly common rhetoric. Meyer is an exceptional motivator. His peers in that regard seem to be Saban, Dantonio, and thankfully Harbaugh. There are probably more (Pete Carroll) but those ate the guys I'm familiar with.

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UMgradMSUdad

January 14th, 2015 at 12:43 AM ^

The victory could also be attributed to the injury of JT Barrett.  Barrett's a really good QB, but I really don't think that with him playing OSU would be able to dominate Wisconsin quite the way they did nor beat Alabama.

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