OT: Did Ohio State Cheat during the Rose Bowl?

Submitted by Hoken's Heroes on
Interesting article about how Oregon coaches believe their signals were stolen during the game. And yeah, I realize this isn't something new and happens all the time. But could explain how and why Oregon looked pathetic out there in contrast of how they performed during the regular season. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2010/04/oregon_football_duck…

cbuswolverine

April 17th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^

I don't see a single word from that coach that constitutes whining. This is the only quote regarding signals being stolen: "“There were a couple times last year when we kind of felt like our signals were, maybe, compromised,’’ offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said." You take this quote out of context and squeeze it in between a couple of paragraphs that mention Ohio State and there you go.

Tater

April 17th, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^

I can't imagine OSU cheating at anything. I can't imagine one of their alums offering Drew Henson an overpriced, "take it or leave it" baseball contract to keep him from playing his senior year at Michigan. I can't imagine them paying Maurice Clarett tons of money while giving him hookers, "tutors," and a truck. I can't imagine Terelle Pryor "agonizing over his decision" and sandbagging UM until there weren't any elite QB's left to sign. I can't imagine them intentionally injuring the starting QB and RB in the last MNC game that they actually won. No, OSU would never cheat at anything. They are just "misunderstood."

GOBLUE4EVR

April 17th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^

i don't understand why you think that OSU intentionally injured willis mcgahee... how he got hit happens hundreds of times in a game, and i'm sure that it wasn't the first time in that game he got hit like that... it was unfortunate that on that one hit his knee exploded, but thats the game of football... OSU and there fans might be classless, but i highly doubt that tressel or any of his coaches told any of those players to got out and try to end someones career...

Carcajous

April 17th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^

Why do you characterize stealing signals as "cheating"?? If one team can figure out the other team's signals, good for them. The signaling team has other options (they could shuttle in plays, old-school style).

JimBobTressel-0

April 17th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^

Remember in the third quarter when Masoli and Blount exchanged a spectacularly sloppy handoff that resulted in the ball bouncing out the endzone for a touchback? Remember Kelly calling for a field goal on 4th&1 late in the game, near the 50 that sailed wide right? Instead of having Masoli or Blount, or Kenjon Barner, convert it? No, of course not. Oregon, you got your ass beat. Accept it.

energyblue1

April 17th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^

It's great to say this in hindsight right.... as though you didn't realize it happened during the game.... Oregon looked very out of sync, but it wasn't like ohio st dominated every single play and oregon didn't have their chances,oh wait they did and it was what they use the term FAIL for these days.

SysMark

April 17th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^

I dislike Ohio State as much as anyone but there isn't one shred of evidence in that article that they "stole" signals. More like sour grapes.

allezbleu

April 17th, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^

"So this spring, Oregon is instituting a new system of signals. In addition to the gesticulations from the sidelines, members of the team will be holding up poster-board-sized placards, each containing four images. Those images can seem a bit peculiar. One is of the planet earth, another is a shamrock, another is the face of Shaquille O’Neal, another of a sprinting wild animal. To the untrained eye, there is no rhyme or reason to the images, but to the Ducks, they are signals that are easier to see and harder for opponents to decipher. "

jmblue

April 17th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^

It's not really "cheating," but I hope it's true because it would help to explain Oregon's so-so offensive performance. I watched that game hoping to look at UO as an example of what a mature RR offense would look like against an elite D. It was a little disheartening that they didn't move the ball that well (although turnovers were an issue, too). If OSU was stealing their signals, then that game basically proved nothing.

michelin

April 17th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^

We do not have proof that OSU intentionally injured McGahee. However, such intent may not seem entirely implausible to many people, since OSU was indeed already caught in a more obvious attempt at cheating the next year with many of the same players. Remember when Robert Reynolds was caught choking the Wisc QB, Sorgi? UM RB Chris Perry that year also suggested that OSU was intentionally trying to injure him, in a game that UM won. So, whether one believes they intended to injure McGahee--I personally am not convinced that they did--the point is this. When OSU is engaged in such behavior, they invite people to question other events.