Another Win, Another Cycle Almost Complete
I usually post something immediately after a win or loss when it incites emotion. This one, was a little different. I hate to even post something on one hand because I know it just fuels the OSU Apologists fire who think I'm some misreable cynic SOB. However, after digesting this thing for a few days...it finally hit me. While this win was important for rivalry and Big10 purposes, it embodies the problems many of us have with Tressel...which were also displayed in the previous week's game against Iowa.
First, my general epiphany is this, Tresselball's famous style of game planning is so damn conservative, if he doesn't have exceptional talent on both sides of the ball, he'll never win a big time match-up against even talent (we've all know this to be true, but here's the science behind it). Tresseball conservatism works great against lesser talented teams, it's like investing 100% of your 401k earnings into money market accounts or savings accounts. That's the lowest risk investment possible so you almost always come out ahead because it's so conservative. However, you never get far enough ahead in asetts so you are truly comfortable, you're ahead, but a sudden loss or fluxuation can really hurt you because it's takes you so long to amass what you have. Tress is happy if he's up by 1 point, that's all he needs in his book. It's the whole risk/reward principle...the greater the risk, the greater the reward - the lower the risk, the lower the reward. Tress (and many Tress apologists) would much rather have a 10-win season with a win over Michigan rather than try to take some risks to really tweak out his offense and go for the glory against top matched teams (like taking some of your 401k and putting it into high-risk/high-reward mutual funds instead of leaving it in a crummy savings account). Most people diversy their investments so they have some in low risk and some in high risk, Tress is the type of guy that puts all 100% in low risk investments, because he has better control on it and knows for the most part, what the outcome will be. He's always ahead from where he started, and finishes ahead of most people that go all high-risk, but just about NEVER finishes ahead of the top earners because the laws of logic are against him.
Take the Michigan game for example (Iowas was an even better example, but this one works too)...we won by 11 points (21-10) against a team that finished the year 5-7. Seven of those eleven points were handed to us by Michigan via a fumble in their endzone that our defense simply had to strip & pounce on (NO offense involved). Now, let's take away those 7 points from the 11 we won by for offensive discussion, that puts our offense at plus 4 points in this game over Michigan. In addition to the free fumble/touchdown they gave us, Michigan threw 4 interceptions to boot. You mean to tell me that we could only muster up +4 points over Michigan who pretty much sucks, and gave us 4 interceptions? To be fair in the discussion, we did score 2 touchdowns that comprimised the +4 points in offensive scoring, but that still sucks in my book. The reason it sucks that if Forcier wouldn't have forgotten what color jersey his team was wearing, the Bucks would've had their back against the wall because Tressel DOES NOT CHANGE. He manages the game to win by 1 point, and when you do that, you're too close to the edge of losing which is why this team has lost every big game they've played in for the last 6+ years.
The apologists can call me a glass "half-empty" kinda guy, and that's OK. I like to think of it in more neutral terms, "there's a glass of water filled half-way". I'm happy as hell they won and that the players (as well as the apologists in all their mom's basements plus Mark May) get to celebrate another Big10 title . But, Tress has done NOTHING to prove that he's corrected the problems that caused HIM to lose every big game he's played in recent years (I say "HIM", because the players have changed...he has not). Again, I emphasize, NOTHING. So the vicious cycle will most likely repeat itself again, unfortunately. I'll sound like the same old broken record predicting the same exact results. Beat up on a downtrodden Big10, lose against any top ranked team, go to BCS Bowl and lose to (insert name here) high profile coach and a bunch of apologists call the supporters of this site crazy because all the "glory" Tress has bestowed upon OSU. We might even get a lesser quality team in a BCS bowl...giving us a chance to squeak one out every once in a while, that'll really make us look "stupid" on this site.
Go Bucks!
First, my general epiphany is this, Tresselball's famous style of game planning is so damn conservative, if he doesn't have exceptional talent on both sides of the ball, he'll never win a big time match-up against even talent (we've all know this to be true, but here's the science behind it). Tresseball conservatism works great against lesser talented teams, it's like investing 100% of your 401k earnings into money market accounts or savings accounts. That's the lowest risk investment possible so you almost always come out ahead because it's so conservative. However, you never get far enough ahead in asetts so you are truly comfortable, you're ahead, but a sudden loss or fluxuation can really hurt you because it's takes you so long to amass what you have. Tress is happy if he's up by 1 point, that's all he needs in his book. It's the whole risk/reward principle...the greater the risk, the greater the reward - the lower the risk, the lower the reward. Tress (and many Tress apologists) would much rather have a 10-win season with a win over Michigan rather than try to take some risks to really tweak out his offense and go for the glory against top matched teams (like taking some of your 401k and putting it into high-risk/high-reward mutual funds instead of leaving it in a crummy savings account). Most people diversy their investments so they have some in low risk and some in high risk, Tress is the type of guy that puts all 100% in low risk investments, because he has better control on it and knows for the most part, what the outcome will be. He's always ahead from where he started, and finishes ahead of most people that go all high-risk, but just about NEVER finishes ahead of the top earners because the laws of logic are against him.
Take the Michigan game for example (Iowas was an even better example, but this one works too)...we won by 11 points (21-10) against a team that finished the year 5-7. Seven of those eleven points were handed to us by Michigan via a fumble in their endzone that our defense simply had to strip & pounce on (NO offense involved). Now, let's take away those 7 points from the 11 we won by for offensive discussion, that puts our offense at plus 4 points in this game over Michigan. In addition to the free fumble/touchdown they gave us, Michigan threw 4 interceptions to boot. You mean to tell me that we could only muster up +4 points over Michigan who pretty much sucks, and gave us 4 interceptions? To be fair in the discussion, we did score 2 touchdowns that comprimised the +4 points in offensive scoring, but that still sucks in my book. The reason it sucks that if Forcier wouldn't have forgotten what color jersey his team was wearing, the Bucks would've had their back against the wall because Tressel DOES NOT CHANGE. He manages the game to win by 1 point, and when you do that, you're too close to the edge of losing which is why this team has lost every big game they've played in for the last 6+ years.
The apologists can call me a glass "half-empty" kinda guy, and that's OK. I like to think of it in more neutral terms, "there's a glass of water filled half-way". I'm happy as hell they won and that the players (as well as the apologists in all their mom's basements plus Mark May) get to celebrate another Big10 title . But, Tress has done NOTHING to prove that he's corrected the problems that caused HIM to lose every big game he's played in recent years (I say "HIM", because the players have changed...he has not). Again, I emphasize, NOTHING. So the vicious cycle will most likely repeat itself again, unfortunately. I'll sound like the same old broken record predicting the same exact results. Beat up on a downtrodden Big10, lose against any top ranked team, go to BCS Bowl and lose to (insert name here) high profile coach and a bunch of apologists call the supporters of this site crazy because all the "glory" Tress has bestowed upon OSU. We might even get a lesser quality team in a BCS bowl...giving us a chance to squeak one out every once in a while, that'll really make us look "stupid" on this site.
Go Bucks!
I was happy to read this as I, too, was thinking we won at Michigan by the skin of our teeth. I predicted 24-18 with a late Michigan TD and two point conversion, and then a defensive stand by OSU. Pretty darn close. And, of course, in the ultimate WTF TRESS! irony: Both offensive touchdowns for Ohio State occurred on plays the Vest didn't want! The counter run was a signal screw up, and coach wanted a timeout on the screen TD--I don't know, so he could see that everyone's shoes were tied or something. I may have a different desired outcome than you (don't want Tressel fired but want a bona-fide offensive coordinator) but it's hard to argue with what is an obviously sad offense on the field. Ohio State's offense plays just well enough to win in the Big Ten. No more. No less. What that will mean if they need to move the ball, score some points against Oregon (likely the Ducks) is anyone's guess. The Defense is one of the Vest's very, very best, and my sense is that he want's to ride that horse all the way home.
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Also, don't forget that OSU's 1st offensive TD of the game came off of a wrong play-call. The graduate assistant on the sideline wrote the wrong play down on the dry erase board. The players were a bit confused, snapped the ball and Saine went for a 29 yard TD on a misdirection. That means the best play of the game came off of a classic case of mismanagement. That means, they simply went out there and scored on talent alone. That means had they done what they were supposed to do, it wouldn't have worked. That's because Michigan, 5-6, knew what Jim Tressel was going to do.
This team has so much talent and speed, it could potentially be like the Miami teams of the 80s and late 90s, where they just score at will. Instead, they're put in situations that are not intended to set up scores.
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well said! all teams know what tress will do--and it makes it easy for "good teams" to defend--all the points made against a good team are due only to the talent level--tress gives them a "squirt" gun offense to battle against an enemy with a machine gun and a copy of the plays he will call--tress is set in his ways---he will not evolve to the next level of modern football--he can't risk a 4th & short or ice a game against a "good" team with a strong drive and "play to win" attitude--because he really does not know how!! he simply has no real creative schemes for run or pass--and a top ranked defense knows--in any situation--all they need is to stuff the run--bring pressure--and the DB's play press coverage--so it does not matter if we try a quick pass or play action--none of it is very creative and no top defense fears our passing game--period--tress knows it too--the look on his face when iowa came back to tie the game said it all---he had no ability to risk and "play to win"--only to eat some clock and play D---it did not work and he looked "sick"--but he got lucky in OT--thanks to our D talent for bailing him out---his belly is full again--and he is very lucky Florida or Texas is not the next game--I think the Vest will have his hands full with Oregon--but GO BUCKS!!
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2012. I predicted months ago that if OSU beat Michigan this year (which they really didn't do, michigan beat themselves), it will be the last year Tressel beats Michigan for the next several years, and OSU fans will finally have to admit he's not a big-game coach.
Please God lose to Michigan so we can get another coach.
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Howdy all. Back from vacation in beautiful Lake Tahoe. If you've never been, put it on your list of places to see before you die. Truly.
It will come as no surprise to the Tressel backers and apologists that I largely agree with BigM's assessment. An excellent object lesson in the applications of risk-reward. To add my thoughts; Jim Tressel risks very little in his conservative game-planning because he has the luxury (usually) of having superior talent. This strategy is exposed when he faces similarly talented or superlatively coached teams because his nature prevents him from risking anything but what he perceives to be the safest of options. Put simply, The Vest has experienced much reward for risking very little so his "reward" system has been reinforced to be conservative, even in the face of obvious failure.
THIS is the crux of what we've been arguing about and what galls us most about Tresselball !! ... t is a low risk strategy built to play the percentages. In some games, such as golf, there is often nothing wrong with playing the high percentage shot, they tend to pay off more than not. This is because the variables don't change much. However, in football, the variables are many and changing constantly. Personnel, playing conditions, plays being called, time, distance, weather ... they all factor into what is happening on the field from one moment to the next. Football is arguably one of the most complex teams sports played. Sure, a conservative approach to game planning can provide a measure of stability to guard against these complex variables but it also effectively precludes any adaptability. One of my LONG STANDING complaints about Tressel coached teams has been the apparent lack of creativity, be it in play calling or uninspired play on the field. The current and former Buckeye teams have had an annoying tendency to be, well ... bland. As I've said many times before, to any who would listen, Tressel never lets his players "play"! You can see it on the face of Terrell Pryor when he's called off the field on 4th and short. HE wants to go for it, The Vest wants to punt it, to no one's surprise. Why is this a problem? Because when the time comes to risk something, not one person on the field or the sideline has any confidence that 1) they can pull it off 2) that the reward outweighs the risk. It's a kind of self-defeating approach, we're not sure it'll work and it has a low chance of succeeding so we're probably gonna fail. They're doomed before the ball is ever snapped. It has long been my opinion that Tressel coached teams are incapable of adapting because HE is incapable of adapting nor does he allow his players the luxury.
Tressel fails in the big games because he fails to risk the win, rather he plays not to lose. THAT makes for some pretty uninspiring football to watch and to cheer. The old saying goes: It is better to have tried and failed than to not have tried at all.
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People want to knock on Tress but the fact of the matter is he wins. No matter by how much a win is a win. College football has become about style points and to me that is not football. A win is a win. Lets not forget that he won a national title and numerous big ten titles. Do you want Cooper back, he lost big games and games to Michigan teams we should have beat. I don't think the problem is with Tress I think it is with the big ten. We don't get tested and I think that is why we lay eggs in big games. Not coaching I think the team plays all year with better talent then everybody else then when they meet somebody with the same or better talent they are surprised. The game plan is not the problem. Pryor overthrew Posey twice in the Michigan game when he was wide open. Is that Tressel's fault to? If Pyor hit them it would have looked much different at the end, at the same time a win is a win isn't it? We beat Penn State and Iowa this year, both good teams. The USC game was a close and that is because of coaching, the play on the field is what cost us that one. Pryor is not ready to be a big time qb so we have to run the ball. Tressel is not stupid and he sees his team everyday and knows what they can and can not do. Pryor can not throw deep. If he could he would have hit Posey twice against Michigan. Why keep throwing the ball if you can't complete it. We can however run for over 200 yards, that is what made Ohio State what it is anyway. We have always been a power team and that is what we need to be until we have someone that is more accurate with the ball. I think Pryor is going to be good but it takes time, he is used to being the best athlete on the field and it is just not that way in college so he has to adjust. So for people that want to blame Tressel, they need to open there eyes to what is going on. We have lost a lot of good players and to still go to a BCS bowl like we do almost every year is outstanding. Look at USC, Oklahoma, Miami, Flordia State, and countless other programs that have a good couple years then have a down year. Since Tressel has been here we have had pretty good success and everybody is counting on what has happened lately. We have had problems but they have been some good teams and it is not coaching it is playmaking.
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Sorry, a "win isn't a win"...just like a "loss isn't a loss", ask the national media about that. Another words, the but kickings Ohio State took in the 2 National Championship games damaged the teams credibility and prestige proving a "win isn't a win and a loss isn't just another loss".
Illinois got SPANKED by Cincinatti...I used to think that people were overblowing that state of the Big10, but I actually tend to agree with the haters, the Big10 SUCKS right now. After watching Illinois get their butts kicked and watching the dismal OSU vs Iowa & Michigan games...I believe those wins were anything but meaningful outside of another Big10 title.
Big10 titles are about as worthwhile as the bumper stickers for parents promoting the fact that their kids made the honor roll. It was kinda cool and prestigious for a little while, but right now they're useless and people make fun of you for having them rather than congratulate you.
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Jeremy - Thanks for contributing! Some excellent points and I mostly agree with you, however I'd like to point out a couple of things...
Firstly, as BigM stated, a win isn't just a win any more than a loss is just a loss. HOW you do either is important to the AP-ESPN voters, and it's been that way for some time now. Maybe it's not right, but it is how things are and it DOES matter. For example, about 10 years ago, pre-BCS era, Penn State was #1 and went undefeated but because they beat Indiana narrowly late in the season, Florida State jumped them in the polls and Penn State got shut out of NT discussions. Mind you Penn St. didn't lose, they just only won by a few points over an "inferior" team. Style points mattered BIG, cost them a NT.
Now, I agree that the Cooper-era was not all great but he did regularly win 10 games a few B10 titles when it meant something. Sure, he had more than his fair share of Michigan & bowl embarrassments but he sure as hell could recruit and he DID win the last Rose Bowl the Bucks were in. I say this because it's important for perspective. Tressel might be doing the things Cooper couldn't but then Tressel is earning his share of bowl embarrassments and high profile beatings too. The only difference is one NT and a few more Michigan wins.
I also agree a large part of the problem is the Big10 is weak compared to the B12, SEC and Pac10 right now. Thus, the Buckeyes don't really get tested in conference (Purdue loss aside) and as a result, maybe don't know how to dig deep in big games. But this is where we part company, it's my belief this is mostly Tressel's fault. A great coach can get his players mentally & physically prepared for any opponent and furthermore he should be adaptable enough to make the necessary tweaks from one game to the next to ensure his team has the edge. The Vest fails utterly at this in big games, he is regularly out-coached.
I also disagree about Pryor. Frankly, it's my belief he and Tressel are two guys who don't trust each other. Tressel doesn't trust Pryor to make plays on the field so he dumbs-down the offense. Pryor doesn't trust Tressel to give him plays he can succeed with so the two of them expect the the other to fail. It's a no wonder the offense looks dysfunctional, because it is. Further, long pass plays tend to fail more than they succeed but you keep going to that play to stretch the field & get the LB's off the line of scrimmage. Sure Pryor overthrew Posey, but you have to try it more than twice or it's a non-factor in the minds of the defense. Lastly though, I think Pryor has more than enough time to prove himself and "get it", he's been the starting QB for nearly two years. Tebow won the Heisman as a sophomore and Colt McCoy was winning big games and leading Texas to NT contention as a freshman and sophomore, and Matt Barkley will be deadly next year. It's possible TP is not a starting QB but instead just a damn fine athlete better suited to WR or another skill position.
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Throw out the nat'l championship ring for Jim, those were cooper's players. There's one big difference between them tressel isn't smart enough to recruit from texas, florida, and california. He wants to get all the ohio boys to play for him. I understand the argument, I really do; but we could get better players.
When cooper was coach, was his best o-lineman a transfer from michigan? Hell no.
When cooper was coach, did he ever hire the locker room janitor as qb coach? Hell no.
Tressel is able to beat inferior opponents, which he does every year by winning the big10. The big10 is bad, really bad. Need to come to grips with that.
But the usc game, tressel's conservative style went a long way to doom the buckeyes. 4th and 1 against navy and he goes for it, 4th and 1 against USC and he punts. Crazy.
Tressel's big game coaching is the very definition of insanity - doing the same things but expecting different results.
Please Notre Dame, hire Jim Tressel
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cw - some good points, thanks for sharing with us.
I disagree about "better players". Ohio HS football produces some DAMN FINE athletes who can compete at any level, with anyone. This is backed-up by the fact Buckeye recruiting classes are regularly in the top 10 nationwide ... last two years top 5. Ohio State is not short on talent, at any position. And for what it's worth, the current roster has more than a few players from places like Texas, Calif and Florida.
For me, the difference has always been coaching, it's why I either want Tressel out or forced to give up some control. You alluded to it in his choice of QB coach. Ohio State doesn't need to take chances on unproven coaches. It's OHIO STATE for crissakes!! As we've said here many times before, given equal talent, a great team wins because of it's coaching. This is also true for losses. I love examples as a way of making a point. Imagine if you will, that Pete Carroll was coaching the Buckeyes rather than USC. What do you suppose the outcome of that game might've been?
Precisely.
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Well.....get ready Buckeye fans. Oregon runs the kind of offense that could potentially really embarass our beloved Buckeyes and expose Tresselball - once again! Oregon aims to score alot of points and play a little bit of defense. Tressellball does not produce alot of points by its very nature. I hate to say it, but prepare for another disappointing Bowl game loss. Hopefully, another loss will force Gene Smith to make Tressel make some staff changes.
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And when you fire JT and have a HC that doesn't own Michigan you'll start up another site.
Absolute morons on here. Dominate the conference, 1 NT and all those wins against UM.
Sit and spin.
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Calm down Jason - lol. I don't mind Tressel as a head coach, he's a damn good HC. But, he needs to hire someone to reinvent the offense. As a fan, I want more than a team that dominates the conference, I want a team that dominates college football and OSU has the talent to do that every year.
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Spin?! you want spin?!
SPIN is avoiding the INCONVENIENT FACTS of 41-14, 0-5 against top 5 teams, 35-3, losing to a 1 win team, single-handily destroying the reputation of the big ten conference and oh... what more do you want?
Tressel hasn't won a f*cking bowl game in my 3 years at OSU. I'm graduating this year and am pretty sure I'll never celebrate a bowl win (of ANY type) while at school here. CHEERS MATE
AT LEAST WE BEAT MICHIGAN RIGHT?
(oh wait, so did d-1AA app. state? ... *UNCOMFORTABLE FACT* * DELETE FROM MIND*)
FIRE JIM TRESSEL
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Jason- We appreciate your feedback and for visiting the site but honestly, if all you intend to do is call us names then frankly, don't bother.
Calling us morons for having an opinion that differs from yours frankly only highlights your ineffective ability to mount a counter argument any better than …
- Jim Tressel won a National Title
- He beats Michigan
- He wins 9,10 or 11 games every year
Yeah, yeah. We know. And that has been addressed ad nauseum in previous posts. So until you can do better than calling those of us on this blog morons, save it. To use a hackneyed sports phrase … you're gonna have to bring a better game bro.
And what say you drop the childish insults.
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Tressel is the best thing that happened to Ohio State. He has an outstanding record, beats Mich. and takes care of his players. What he teaches and how he handles himself is a model for all who wacth. I do wish that he would get more creative at times and put more point up, but he does such a great job with his players and his overall sucess is one of the best in the Nation. Tressel is Great!!!!
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...So make him a guidance counselor and bring someone else in as coach
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Jim - Thanks for weighing in!
We largely agree. It's terrific Jim Tressel coached teams have won as many games as they have and have been competitive as the Buckeyes have during his tenure. Tressel handles himself like a true gentleman and has largely kept his players out of trouble and off police blotters; on those counts he has been exemplary.
However, where we part company is on the idea he's the best thing that has happened to Ohio State. The performance of Tressel coached Buckeye teams in key bowl matchups and high profile games has been horrendous; I doubt anyone could argue anything to the contrary. Because the Bucks have dominated the B10 then gone on to fall apart in big games has only lent further credence to detractors who claim the B10 is an overrated conference. For better or worse, the Buckeyes fate and the fate of the B10 have become somewhat inexorably linked. This idea of poor performance in big games has been one of our recurring themes here and an absolute key criticisms of The Vest.
Now I haven't seen the odds on the bowl matchups yet but I'd bet dollars to donuts the Buckeyes are already a 7 point underdog to Oregon and frankly the matchup with the Ducks worries me greatly because we simply don't have the offensive firepower to get into a shootout with them and although our defense is terrific, they simply cannot be asked to hold down that Oregon offense all night long waiting for the offense to pull it's head out of it's collective butt.
So it begs the question that if the Buckeyes get embarrassed yet again in a BCS bowl, just what do the odds drop to that we'd even get a fair shot at another NT as long as Tressel remains firmly in control of the offense? Poll voters are a curious and stubborn lot and unfortunately their votes count for a great deal in who is number 1 & 2 at the end of the season and consequently who plays for the championship. Do you suppose a potentially undefeated Buckeye team next year gets any kind of consideration for number 1 or 2 or do those voters justify sending someone else based on Tressel's past performance?
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Something else comes to mind that bears mentioning (and repeating from previous posts) ... You can't give Tressel credit for doing his job.
The fact is, Jim Tressel is handsomely compensated, $3.5MM per annum, to do precisely the things his apologists cite as reasons why he's a great coach and those of us who dare to criticize him are malcontents.
Jim Tressel is paid over $3 million a year to:
- Win the Big Ten
- Beat Michigan
- Coach his players
- Keep is program and players out of trouble
- Be the model head of a nationally recognized football program
The simple fact is doing those things is Jim Tressel's job, not something exemplary to be necessarily lauded. My position is that we should laud The Vest for winning BCS bowls and maybe one or two more NT's and while we're at it, at least 50% of his key, top five matchups. Similarly it's my belief his failures on the national stage will not only be the death of Ohio State's reputation (see Florida State, Nebraska, Miami & Michigan) but will further damage the reputation of the Big Ten.
It is his stubborn refusal to recognize that the game has changed thus requiring changes in his program that rankles. And looking for reasons to forgive his failures only serves to further the enabling. Jim Tressel doesn't deserve extra credit for doing his job when he arguably isn't doing ALL of his job.
I've asked this before and will ask it again ... Where do YOU draw the line? How many failures and embarrassments must YOU witness before you see what is painfully obvious to many here? We've stated our position many times ... when The Vest removes himself from the offense and entrusts it to someone who knows what they're doing then we will shut up. Failing that, The Vest must go before the damage gets too severe us Buckeye fans have to suffer what Michigan and Notre Dame fans are living through now.
When is enough enough?
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Hey Jimbo,
Good post, thanks for checking in. You hit the nail the head with most of your comments. My only issue is that I've been waiting & screaming for a true O-Coordinator after the Florida & LSU Debacles. Watching history repeat itself over and over, and seeing how die-hard stubborn Tress is leads me to believe he'll probably never change-up his ways.
I heard Ditka talking once about coaches being stubborn to a fault. This was the first time I ever heard a coach openly admit their incredible stubborness in public. He brought up the 85 Bears, as many know...they lost one game that year. They outscored their opponents 91-10 in the playoffs and Superbowl. The only game they lost was to Miami. Anyway, Ditka mentioned that he was so cocky, he refused to change up to a zone defense and give up man coverage (or vice versa), because he thought they were good enough to beat them without changing it up since his defense was awesome that year. Anyway, he basically admitted that he screwed up the possibility of an undefeated season because he was too stubborn to change up the defense just to try and prove a point.
I'm not saying Tressel is Ditka, but I am saying he's probably equally as stubborn as are many head coaches. They got to where they're at by coaching "their way", so many great coaches fall by the wayside because they're too stubborn to adapt to changing atmospheres.
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A good story and example of how being stubborn can blind you to the reality of the situation at hand. A lesson we all could stand to learn.
I'm reminded of a fable about change, you may have heard this one before.
Several chimps are placed in a cage and a pile of fresh fruit is placed in the cage with them. However, every time one of the chimps goes for the fruit, all of the chimps get hit with scalding hot water. Sure enough, before long no one goes for the fruit. Shortly thereafter, a new chimp is introduced to the cage, fruit is placed in the cage and we wait. Of course the new chimp goes for the fruit but before he gets there, the other chimps beat the crap out of him, for fear of the scalding hot water. One by one, the older chimps are replaced with new chimps but in each and every case, the chimp gets beaten every time someone goes for the fruit. Not one of them knows any more why going for the fruit causes a beating, it just does. The point of the lesson is just because something is done "the way it's always been done" doesn't mean there's a valid reason for it.
I suppose that is the heart of wisdom; knowing when it's time to make changes to survive or continue to succeed. Bravado may be a young man's game but wisdom is applying the lessons of the past to the situations of the present and knowing the difference.
If Jim Tressel is as smart a man as purported, that shouldn't be a surprising lesson to learn.
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Yuck. Sorry guys. I made kind of a hash of my grammar and sentence structures on a couple of those last posts.
Not up to my standards but that's what happens when you rush through something. Sorry! But I suppose I got my points across which was paramount.
Take care.
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Amen Jimbo! To all of your posts. The definition of stupidity is continuing to do the same things and expecting different results!
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