The Crier

Despite Dismal Start, Blue Still has an Opportunity to Finish Strong

A win at State would be the first step on a path to redemption

Lloyd Cargo · Sport · Oct 30, 2007

If not for the horror that was Appalachian State, this team would be in (mythical) national championship contention. Sure, we all know they wouldn’t really deserve it, but goddamnit they could be there. I could be excited. Well, I could be more excited. I’m still looking forward to ruining Ohio State’s run, or at least the opportunity to, but just to know that a chance for more, an encore to last years eleven week dream run, hinged on a field goal from Jason freakin’ Gingell kills me.

Those parabolas dropping into the hands of Mario Manningham are so bittersweet.

Those parabolas dropping into the hands of Mario Manningham are so bittersweet. Why can’t those perfect bombs be the first image this season conjures up? We’ve run the Big Ten so far, and yet I can’t get Dennis Dixon off my mind. Every time some shifty quarterback runs through the middle of the line I nearly go into seizures, and every time the other team, no matter how awful (see Minnesota), scores in the first quarter I anticipate another epic loss.

I want to believe in this team, but I don’t want to get my heart broken again.

This next game against Michigan State will be something of a test. All of this weeks results ought to be irrelevant. Chad Henne and Mike Hart should start and the defense hopefully won’t enter the game against our instate rivals looking so flat. Even against a team like State with a pulse, we should win, and win big. Hart should rush for 200 and Mario should have his fifth game in a row of 100 plus receiving yards and we should roll. All that doesn’t mean we will.

I want to see us put up 21 in the first quarter. I want the starters to play until the end. I want us to score 75.

I don’t mean to take away from the performance of Ryan Mallett, Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown. While each started slowly, they all performed well and instilled a bit more confidence towards 2008. But still, I don’t want to see any of them on the field next Saturday. I want to see us put up 21 in the first quarter. I want the starters to play until the end. I want us to score 75.

It won’t happen. We’ll probably win by a touchdown or two, but our frustrating tendency to play down to our opponents will prevail and it’ll be too close for too long.

One of my few remaining hopes is that Mike Hart can bounce back into Heisman contention. I know it’s a long shot (how many Heisman winners have missed two games?), and maybe it’s shameless homerism, but he’s still my frontrunner. If each of the last three games live up to his own heroic standards then that statue is well within his grasp.

So here’s to hoping we win out, Lloyd Carr retires and we’re perennial national championship contenders well into November. Mike Hart deserves at least that much.