IT'S A SAD, SAD DAY AT OHIO STATE

I awakened this morning to the very sad news that Jim Tressel, coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, had resigned his position due to the ongoing scandal regarding discounted tattoos and sold championship rings and the like.

While I don't condone the activities of the players, what business is it of the NCAA if tattoo parlors want to give marquee players a discount? Frankly, my long-held belief is that universities make a veritable fortune from their football programs and the players who are, granted, getting a fine education for free, still have expenses during their college careers for which, quite honestly, they should be paid. They shouldn't be put into the position of grubbing around for nickles and dimes but rather should be free from the financial pressures during their college experience. That way they can and should concentrate on their school work (as Tressel insisted they do - to his enormous credit), might not be tempted to bolt to the pros early, and it would leave a school free to concentrate on educating all of their students and administering a successful athletics program, without the fuddy-duddy, antiquated NCAA breathing down their necks.

Here's a thought - why not tell the NCAA to go stuff themselves? Their investigations are NEVER EVER conducted in a discreet fashion and even when the allegations and charges are baseless - and they have been in many cases at many schools - the school is forever tainted by the rooting around of the NCAA investigators who try to justify their salaries by painting everyone with the same guilt-brush!

Granted, I am an OSU Alumni and more than a little biased (unlike the MSM, I admit my bias), but that's how I see it.

THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT

Congratulations to the University of Wisconsin at Madison for their defeat of the Ohio State Buckeyes at home last Saturday.

Breaks my heart to say it, but they so richly deserved the win!

See, I can be classy when I want to be!

OHIO STATE CLIMBS TO #1 IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

And am I a happy girl or what? Saturday's 38-10 victory over Indiana was a splendid game and OSU's quarterback, Mr. Pryor, is astounding.

Coach Tressell is building and has built a solid and praiseworthy program that is a credit to the State of Ohio and all the OSU alumni!

And on top of everything else, there's the OSU Marching Band - justifiably honored for its spectacular abilities!

O - H - I - O!

OHIO STATE 45, MARSHALL 7

I didn't get enough sleep last night and this is why! It was a good night! Pryor is a magnificent quarterback.

AND SO IT BEGINS

Tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network, Ohio State will embark upon its quest for yet another National Championship against Marshall in the 'Shoe!

It should be a terrific game and you can be assured that the Buckeyes will not in any way underestimate the skill and commitment of any of its opponents this season. Jim Tressell is not in the habit of permitting his players to be smug, arrogant or lazy - on or off the field. That is why I admire the program so very much.

I am a proud alum of The Ohio State University (and UCLA and Pepperdine - I love going to school) and will be watching the coming season with great enjoyment and anticipation!

GO BUCKS!

GUESS IT WON'T BE THIS YEAR EITHER, EH?!

Of course a miracle could happen. I don't think a national championship is in the cards for the Buckeyes. Also, I think Columbus, Ohio fans are unrealistic in their expectations of the Ohio State Buckeyes - and what idiot scheduled them against USC so early on anyway?

Nevertheless? GO BUCKS!!!!!!!

NICE DREAM, NOW OVER!

The Ohio State Buckeyes is a team comprised of relatively inexperienced players and, as such, were not expected to do much this season. Instead, the team confounded the pundits and made it all the way to the National Championship game last night, where they lost to LSU in what was a really enjoyable football game.

I lived (until May 2007) in Columbus for 13 years and I can tell you that the entire city is in mourning right now, but their love affair (and my own) with the Buckeyes football team will continue. Any city where the classical music station plays the OSU fight song frequently is a city irrevocably in love with its University and that University's football team. So CONGRATULATIONS to LSU. They earned their victory and should enjoy it to the utmost.

There's always next year, folks! And whatever else you can say about OSU football, it's a very dependably strong franchise with a GREAT coach in Jim Tressell!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OSU BUCKEYES ON A SUPERB SEASON - SO FAR!

Of course, if you understand the Columbus, Ohio mentality, you'd know that if Tressel doesn't win the Michigan game, he'll be booed at the first game of next season, even though the team is 9-0 right now!