Believe me, I know as well as anyone here, that this defeat leaves a terrible taste in our mouths. But let's be real; this team was not really ready to compete for a national title this year. Hell, a Big Ten East title would be an incredible accomplishment. We're realistically a year away from really competing again.
Last year should've been our year -- at least in the Big Ten. We had the best team in the league --- by far, but couldn't get it done against an inferior OSU team. Bad officiating aside, and it was bad, Harbaugh was outcoached by Urban Meyer, just as he has been outcoached by Dantonio in the two defeats we've suffered to MSU. And I'm not just saying that because we lost those games. No, I say it because of how we lost those games. Those coaches had inferior talent, but found ways to utilize their talent to do enough to win the games. They also used creative playcalling to isolate weaknesses in order to win. That's something we rarely do.
But I'm getting away from my basic point, which is that, we need to put our criticisms and angst aside and remain objective. And objectively, we should realize that this team was too young to be taken seriously on a grand scale. We've been doing it thus far with smoke and mirrors. The defense has been (and is) very good. But even it has weaknesses which MSU was able to exploit today (Mike McCray). Next year though, there will be no excuses. Harbaugh's butt will be squarely on the line next year.
NJW
Last year should've been our year -- at least in the Big Ten. We had the best team in the league --- by far, but couldn't get it done against an inferior OSU team. Bad officiating aside, and it was bad, Harbaugh was outcoached by Urban Meyer, just as he has been outcoached by Dantonio in the two defeats we've suffered to MSU. And I'm not just saying that because we lost those games. No, I say it because of how we lost those games. Those coaches had inferior talent, but found ways to utilize their talent to do enough to win the games. They also used creative playcalling to isolate weaknesses in order to win. That's something we rarely do.
But I'm getting away from my basic point, which is that, we need to put our criticisms and angst aside and remain objective. And objectively, we should realize that this team was too young to be taken seriously on a grand scale. We've been doing it thus far with smoke and mirrors. The defense has been (and is) very good. But even it has weaknesses which MSU was able to exploit today (Mike McCray). Next year though, there will be no excuses. Harbaugh's butt will be squarely on the line next year.
NJW
