Forecast Wrong: Sun Rises

Ok, ok, so maybe the world ending is a bit dramatic. But talk about getting kicked in the groin by the Bearcats of Cincy...and give them no credit, all they did was show up and not vomit all over themselves. And I don't totally blame Teel. Sure, he didn't play the best of games, but there was the usual cast of dropped passes and you can toss in a bunch of lingering injuries, and a defense that allowed a bevy of big plays...ugh. The WR's will eventually learn that the ball is a precious thing, and they need to cling to it when it comes in their general direction, and if a bad pass is floating in their direction, feel free to turn into a DB and try to deflect the pass, or maybe, gasp make a tackle on a guy who is about to streak 80+ yards for a TD.
Is there a worse penalty than 15 yards for defensive pass interference? I counted at least three times Cincy defenders were beat and just decided to tackle an RU WR, and instead of a big gain, it is just a fifteen yard and an automatic first down. One foot in bounds, and clock stopping on first down are cool college quirks, but the leniency on pass interference seems like a strategic move by a defender that is not punished properly.
Yes, the sun did rise Sunday, but only through a thick fog. My expectations for this season were 7-4, 8-3 at best, so I should be happy with the 9-1 predicament they are in, but have you ever been to Duke's football stadium or Northwestern's field? I'm not saying that the Knights of Scarlet are headed into a similar quick tailspin, but you never know. And when they are riding at 9-0 and #7 in the nation, I would rather they take advantage of the situation and go as far as they can. Don't talk about taking steps right now, don't try to give my an upbeat tone because of the laurels, right now, I am rightfully pissed that we gacked away an opportunity to be national champions of NCAA Division I football. Maybe it was a slim chance and we have 137 years of bad pub to overcome and Ohio State would have smoked us...I wanted the ride to last as long and as far as it could, and a bad effort to Cincy stings and doesn't feel like it should have ended that way. When you lose because the other team is better, still bitter, but at least legit. When you lose because you didn't show up and played poorly, ugh.So, yes, I admit, I was riding the dream wave of Buckeyes versus Scarlet Knights, only to have it dashed amidst a Bearcat "signature Big East win."
I feel weird to have the cache to give anyone a signature anything, and I should take solice in the fact that my Ohio State friend (Stiffy, you bastard) took the time to rub in the loss. Usually I would have a call of pity not derision...I guess we have come far.

Go R.U.