It's back. Football season has officially returned with the first NFL preseason game in the books. And with the NFL season underway, that means that before we know it, college football season will be back.
HALLELUJAH.
There are few things more painful than the seemingly unending drag of the football offseason. Yes, there's things to keep you somewhat busy. Basketball, baseball, the summer - it's great and all, but there's nothing quite like the feeling of controlled American chaos that football brings about. Modern day gladiators battling it out in total chess-match warfare. I feel like I'm 10 years old and my mom just told me she'll buy me a new video game.
Now that football is rearing its head like the changing color of the leaves and pumpkin spice everything, it's time to take a look at our beloved football team - the Buckeyes. Last year's resume and the returning talent qualifies us (or at least it should) for a #1 overall ranking. Most of our starters are coming back, and we have the stage for the biggest question analysts and fans alike are asking: who will be the starting quarterback?
Urban Meyer has made it clear that even he doesn't know yet, so it's pointless for me to debate who it will be. Cardale and JT are both qualified, they're both capable, and they're both beloved by fans. Instead, I want to address probably the biggest threat to the Buckeyes this year. And no, it's not the SEC, Michigan State, or TCU.
It's themselves.
To call last year's journey a "Cinderella Story" is an understatement. Cinderella stories happen occasionally, and while they are certainly exciting, no story comes to my mind that is as unprecedented as the Buckeye's most recent national championship victory. I mean, c'mon - they won with their third string QB. WHO DOES THAT? No one! If I ever have the pleasure of coaching a little league football team one day, I will forever preach their story as a testament to growth and development.
However, there's a catch.
The hype that Ohio State is receiving right now is almost unprecedented as well. Yes, the SEC has been the subject of hype for the last decade. But look to social media now to see the level of attention the Buckeyes are incurring. Whenever one of the players tweets something, there's immediately countless articles about the exchange. Sports analysts are acting like crazed paparazzi. In tandem with that, several analysts are talking, tweeting, posting, and all of the other verbs for social interaction through a screen-ing about OSU's level of talent.
Mike and Mike (@mikeandmike) tweeted on July 28th, "It's scary how good Ohio State is going to be this year."
Of course, all of the players are hearing this. They're hearing the hype, they're hearing ESPN sing their praises instead of the SEC, they're seeing all of these articles online about their superiority. Hell, they're even hearing the students and fans they interact with every day practically EXPECT a repeat.
Do you even know how tough it is to attain repeat national championship success? The last to do it was Alabama, in 2011 and 2012. Before that? Nebraska in 1994 and 1995. Take a look for yourself here.
My point here is that the Buckeyes have the talent to win. All of the coaching is there, all of the players are there, and the planets seem to be aligning themselves to be victorious once again. That being said, complacency is the enemy. Believing that you're the best is a good thing. Exuding confidence allows you to make big time plays and play at a high level. But to believe that you're the best, yet refuse to keep working to assure your spot at the top? It's nearly an assured guarantee to lose your spot.
One thing is clear: Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes have to do a lot of work to make sure they're always hungry.
