Not very special Buckeyes in Gator Bowl

If the Ohio State special teams were,say average,instead of "special",the whatever.com Gator Bowl might have turned out better for the men from Columbus.
Instead a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown and a kickoff that was returned for another six points were allowed by the special teams and Florida defeated the Buckeyes 24-17.
Braxton Miller threw for both Buckeye touchdowns.
Ohio State will begin their season of probation on September 1st against the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in their first game under Urban Meyer..

Buckeye Leaves

1) Special teams have been an issue all season and as noted,they were again in this loss.
Some of this comes down to this edition of Buckeyes simply not being as fast as teams in the past,but other issues might have been connected to the issues regarding the offensive line.

2) Which have been less than stellar as well.
Braxton Miller was sacked six times and rushed many times more than that in a performance that shows that Urban Meyer's first two recruiting classes better produce some quality linemen!

3) One positive from this game-I will NEVER have to write about a Jim Bollman offense again!
YES!!!!

4) Seriously,although I am thrilled to rid of Jim Bollman,the offensive game plan was an issue as it always seems to be.
Bollman's idea of an game plan is a variation of handoffs and telling a unpolished freshman QB to make something happen.
Well,that is the type of game plan that results in 6-7 ball clubs.
Ugh.

5) One more smack on Jim Bollman.
Usually bowl games are the time that teams put plays in for because this is the best time to try things.
In addition,Bollman knows that he is not returning,so who cares on what happens-have some fun,you know?
Not Bollman,who continued to call plays with all the enthusiasm of Sean Hannity at the Democratic National Convention.

6) Two of ten on third down for Ohio State on this day.
That number will seldom result in a win...

7) The biggest loss of the season (that occurred on the field) was defensive end Nathan Williams,who missed almost the entire season due to injury and was expected to go into the NFL Draft.
Williams announced that he will be back next season,which helps the Buckeyes,but also will help Williams draft value go up if he plays an entire season...

8) Tight end Jake Stoneburner missed the game and could go into the draft,but I think he would be better suited to return.
Stoneburner's size and hands make him a nice fit in the new offense and more passes to him will answer any questions about his catching ability.
Stoneburner also could profit from the season that former Buckeye tight end Jake Ballard had with the Giants after being similarly underutilized by the Jim Bollman (there's that name again!) offense...

9) Devier Posey finished his career with a less than great game.
On the one play that Posey did make,he coughed up the football ending a scoring threat,although Posey had gotten wide open on what should have been a touchdown before a Braxton Miller overthrow.
Posey will have plenty of questions before the NFL Draft.

10) Sorry,national media,this OSU is still winless against SEC teams in bowls because of vacating last seasons win simply will not hunt.
You can take out of the record book (Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas),but you cannot take it off the field.

11) So it's over.
A season filled with mistake after mistake from President Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Gene Smith.
From mishandling the initial Tattoogate incidents,to looking too soft and then (Arguably) too hard on Jim Tressel,from waiting so long to deal with the issue that Luke Fickell was forced into a job that he was not ready for,to consistently trying to soft pedal possible punishment instead of hammering themselves so the NCAA did not and most of all-costing next years team a bowl in order to send a 6-6 team to Jacksonville of all places.
It has been a rough year for Buckeye fans,but I feel the right man is in charge and the situation is not in the same hemisphere as the programs that Jim Tressell inherited from John Cooper.
Next season should be a great one and when a BCS level team sits at home-remember the names Gordon Gee and Gene Smith as the people that will keep the Buckeyes at home.
Go Bucks.

Back later with the Devils overtime loss in Ottawa.

Photo Credit-AP Photo