Looking on the bright side:

Submitted by FatGuyTouchdown on

In 2008, Urban Meyer led his Florida team to great heights just two years after he won a championship while beating his biggest competitor, Alabama in the biggest game of the year. Meyer also signed one of the best recruiting classes in the country while Alabama was relegated to the Sugar Bowl.

In 2016, Urban Meyer led his Ohio State team to great heights just two years after he won a championship while beating his biggest competitor, Michigan, in the biggest game of the year. Meyer will likely sign one of the best recruiting classes in the country, while Michigan will likely be relegated to the Orange Bowl.

Both Harbaugh and Saban were in their second years at programs that were historically great but fell on hard times. College Football changes fast, keep the faith, and don't ever stop believing. Go Blue!

 

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ijohnb

December 4th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^

fact that this took place with a program is in itself relevant as well. I think Meyer's relationship with his players is exclusively a football one. I think he has such a compulsive single minded focus that there isn't that much of a foundation just below the success. I think he builds flashy bit wobbly programs. And it is noteworthy that their offense is beginning to look "dated." I think the jury is still out as far as staying power under Meyer.

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Ghost of Fritz…

December 4th, 2016 at 9:11 AM ^

My guess is the thing that is most likely to bring OSU a bit back to earth is just not finding the next QB that works for them. 

Barrett is a shifty and elusive runnner.  He has gotten third down conversions with his feet in so many close games.

Haskins appears to be next in line for OSU.  He has a different skill set, so maybe Meyer will have a slighlty modified set of base plays.  But if Haskins (or whoever) does not pan out, suddenly OSU starts losing 3 or more games per year. 

I am actually not super impressed with OSU this year.  For sure they belong somewhere in the top 6.  The media lazily thinks they are great and should be ranked no. 2. 

But they have had difficulty in so many games this year.  They are as close to being 8-4 as they are to being 12-0.  But they got the long end of the stick against Michigan, Wisconsin, and MSU, and therefore finished 11-1. 

 

 

 

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Goggles Paisano

December 4th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^

In my opinion, I think he didn't work as hard at recruiting as he does now.  After Tebow graduated, the talent left on the team after he walked away was not that high.  That is why they have struggled since.  It was also a hard lesson he learned which is why his recruiting classes now are so darn good.  

From here on out as long as all three are in place, the Saban-Meyer-Harbaugh trio are the elite of the elite and will be battling for 3 of the 4 playoff spots every single year.   

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Ghost of Fritz…

December 4th, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^

But where is the evidence that Meyer slacked off in recruiting at Florida? 

Here are Florida's 247 composite class rankings from 2006-2010...

2nd, 1st, 6th, 7th, 1st.

Florida started to underperform in Meyer's last year, exactly when their highly ranked recruiting classes should have been the main contributors on the field. 

Only thing that occurs to me is that their post-Tebow, Florida's QBs just never lit the world on fire  and/or did not work out well in Meyer's system.  Jeff Driskol and John Brantley.

Locker room issues could have been a factor too. 

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Bodogblog

December 4th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^

He had incredibly highly rated classes, and those recruits started to feel entitled by many accounts.  Didn't work, felt like they should be starters, didn't listen to upperclassmen or coaches.  Allegedly, all of this.  Doesn't anyone remember this?  Meyer couldn't contain them, didn't have a QB, kept getting players thrown in jail, couldn't beat Saban, and peaced out. 

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burtcomma

December 4th, 2016 at 7:35 AM ^

Look, sometimes you just get beat by your own mistakes and the referees. It happened. All we can do is go win our bowl game and finish 11-2. That's another step forward after 2015. Our weaknesses that were well known at the beginning of the season at QB and OL led to us losing 2 games by 4 total points. The QB will be back next year, the OL remains a question mark, RB depends upon a redshirt freshmen and the incoming class. The defense is assumed to have drop-off, but we don't really know how much. We get MSU and OSU at home, we get PSU on the road. We'll see how Harbaugh's first two full year recruiting classes fill in the gaps. Onward and upward.

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Optimism Attache

December 4th, 2016 at 7:27 AM ^

Of course, if you dig enough, you can always find nuggets of optimism in history. Still, the comparison is apt.

This led me to look up Saban and Harbaugh's ages, just to see how long the arc of history would support our march to domination in the future. Was surprised that Saban is so old (65)! I knew about how old Harbaugh is, but wasn't sure. He's only 52--so really we can hope for many, many more years of good football here. Plenty of time to build dynasty!

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ohioNblue33

December 4th, 2016 at 8:00 AM ^

have better talent coming in now then before. kids who have ivy league offers, kids who have every school wanting them. Harbaugh is picking smart and talented kids. Wilton will be back next year. We will be like Ohio St this year. Young and talented with a vet QB. Go Blue!

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M-Lemon

December 4th, 2016 at 8:11 AM ^

In all likelihood, Clemson and Washington will lose in the first round and OSU will be annihilated by Alabama.  Our guys bask in the sun and romp over an Orange Bowl opponent.  Clemson, Washingon and OSU fans will be sad in January 2017.  We'll be happy.

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mGrowOld

December 4th, 2016 at 8:46 AM ^

That wiould be good for us therefore cannot happen.  I'm not sure yet what the worst possible outcome for Michigan can be yet cause I havent seen the pairings but whatever they are, rest assured the final outcome will be the most horrible thing for us imaginable.

That's just how things work.

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Don

December 4th, 2016 at 9:13 AM ^

Looks like some of you are going to be sad miserable little fucks every year you don't get the playoff cookie you think you deserve. Considering where we were in December 2014, this petulant piss-moaning is pathetic.

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lhglrkwg

December 4th, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^

The bright side to me is that Harbaugh went into the Shoe with an average O-line and an injured 3* RS Soph QB and still outplayed Urban. Of course the defense helped a great deal with that but the offense was moving the ball for much of the game.

The defense will come back to earth on average but will still be very good as long as Don is here. As the offense improves, this team will only get better. We have better times ahead

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BradyCarrbaugh

December 4th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^

Harbaugh mentioned in same sentence as Saban and Meyer? Can't we wait until he wins something? We all agree that this years squad was loaded. We "finish" great season by losing 2 of 3, and "finish" a must win game by putting up 5 yards in the 4th quarter ('cause OSUs offensive line was holding). Demand excellence = get excellence. Pretend "pretty good" is excellence? Get pretty good.

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btn

December 4th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^

Meyer and Saban have both won national titles at two different schools.

Harbaugh should not be mentioned in the same breath, especially after he choked away a win again once of them just a week ago.

I love Harbaugh, he's a great coach. He is not elite, not yet.



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SpikeFan2016

December 4th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^

Sorry, but he is objectively not there yet by any possible measure.

 

Urban Meyer has an 86% win percentage as a college head coach (92% at OSU); Saban is at 78% overall (87% at Alabama); Harbaugh is at 71% overall (80% at Michigan). 

 

Nick Saban has 9 conference titles as a head coach: 6 in 10 years at Bama, 2 in 5 years at LSU, only coached at Toledo for one year but won the MAC that year. Did not win a Big Ten title in his 5 years at MSU. 

Urban Meyer won MWC conference titles both of his two years at Utah, SEC titles 2 out of his 6 years at Florida, and so far 1 Big Ten title out of his 5 years at OSU (although that comes with an asterix because there is little doubt in my mind Ohio State would've beaten a terrible Nebraska team in the 2012 title game were they eligible; OSU was 12-0). 

 

Jim Harbaugh has zero conference titles at FBS schools (0 for 4 at Stanford, 0 for 2 at Michigan). He won the Pioneer League 2 out his 3 years at FCS San Diego. 

 

Meyer has three national championships, Nick Saban has five national championships. Both are playing for one in a few weeks. Jim has zero and will not be playing for one this year. 

 

Jim is 0-2 head to head against Urban Meyer; he has not played Nick Saban. 

 

Jim Harbaugh has a very good chance to get to that level someday, but he is not there yet. Let's hope he is soon. 

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SpikeFan2016

December 4th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^

Sorry, but he is objectively not there yet by any possible measure.

 

Urban Meyer has an 86% win percentage as a college head coach (92% at OSU); Saban is at 78% overall (87% at Alabama); Harbaugh is at 71% overall (80% at Michigan). 

 

Nick Saban has 9 conference titles as a head coach: 6 in 10 years at Bama, 2 in 5 years at LSU, only coached at Toledo for one year but won the MAC that year. Did not win a Big Ten title in his 5 years at MSU. 

Urban Meyer won MWC conference titles both of his two years at Utah, SEC titles 2 out of his 6 years at Florida, and so far 1 Big Ten title out of his 5 years at OSU (although that comes with an asterix because there is little doubt in my mind Ohio State would've beaten a terrible Nebraska team in the 2012 title game were they eligible; OSU was 12-0). 

 

Jim Harbaugh has zero conference titles at FBS schools (0 for 4 at Stanford, 0 for 2 at Michigan). He won the Pioneer League 2 out his 3 years at FCS San Diego. 

 

Meyer has three national championships, Nick Saban has five national championships. Both are playing for one in a few weeks. Jim has zero and will not be playing for one this year. 

 

Jim is 0-2 head to head against Urban Meyer; he has not played Nick Saban. 

 

Jim Harbaugh has a very good chance to get to that level someday, but he is not there yet. Let's hope he is soon. 

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lilpenny1316

December 4th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

This is an annoying Sparty hot take.  It's just as dumb as saying we're in the same position as Sparty this year because we didn't win the conference and go to the CFP.  2008-2014 happened.

Good coaches put their teams in position to excel at the highest level.  He's done that everywhere he's been and done it quickly.  Also, how do you think OSU would've done with banged up Barrett for The Game?  Or what if Browning got hurt for UW three weeks ago?  Do you think they go on the road against a Top 5 team and play to OT?

The last time we played a meaningful game of national importance was 10 years ago. 24 months ago, we were hoping the Harbaugh rumors were true and folks said it would be 3-4 years before we're playing for something meaningful even if we got him.

Sometimes this can be the most insufferable fan base in all of sports.

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M-Dog

December 4th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^

I remember when Sports Illustrated had a multi-page article in the late '00s about how Florida was an unstoppable recruiting dynasty, that their advantages were structural and would never go away, and wondering how anybody else would ever have a shot.

The kind of article you would write today about . . . Alabama.

Things do change, and they are most often driven by coaching changes like we just had. 

 

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FLwolvfan22

December 4th, 2016 at 10:34 AM ^

4 team playoff is dumb, wish Obama had pushed them further to make a real playoff and not this dumb invitational. There is no more "integrity of the traditional bowl system" left to maintain, people are cord cutting and have thousands of different media/entertainment options on Jan 1 as on any day, this isin't 1977 where you have ABC, CBS, and NBC so the whole country focused ono these games. They can't even get people to buy tickets to most of these lousy games. A playoff of 8 or more teams? Many will watch this, it will be compelling just as March Madness is.. Not many want to watch teams play in an imeaningless bowl, it's about as relevant as the Pro Bowl. This will likely be reflected in the television ratings this year as these numbnuts try to find compelling matchups among the wreckage that is the SEC /ACC/ BigXII and Pac12 dumpster fire this season.

Wooo Cotton Bowl, who is pumped up to watch Western in this game? Now, Western vs. PSU or Clemson in a playoff game? THAT would be entertaining.

The playoffs need to be an 8 team playoff NOW not in 2018 or some dumb crap. I suspect it was the SEC that lobbied for the 4 team playoff thinking they would get two teams in every year just like with the rigged BCS.

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