SOD’s One-Sided Interview with Urban Meyer

Being that I am just Some Other Dude with a whopping 90 followers on Twitter, most of whom are random Twitter accounts fishing for followers themselves; 2 followers of my college football blog, one of whom is me; and 2 likes on my SOD CFB Facebook page; with no access to anyone who has anything at all to do with FBS college football programs, the only kind of interviews I can do are one-sided. But, hey, I thought, why should I let the fact that my intended subject is not, and never will be, available to me stop me from asking the questions and letting you, the reader (yes, singular, maybe someday that can be plural) fantasize about his or her or its answer?

So, here in the first of many one-sided interviews, I am not joined by the Head Football Coach of the reigning National Champions, Ohio State Buckeyes, Urban Meyer.

SOD: First of all coach, thank you for not joining me and congratulations on your success last year and best of luck with preparing to defend your title in the upcoming season.

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: Coach, last year, of all the teams to make the inaugural FBS Playoffs, your Ohio State Buckeyes certainly had the most precarious route to the Final 4. In realistically looking back on last season, was there ever a time when you thought that, perhaps, the playoffs might not be in the cards for your team and when, if ever, did you get the sense that you guys were destined for this historic playoff?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: Thank you coach for such an honest and insightful answer. Now, as you prepare for this coming year, every analyst and prognosticator has already penciled the Buckeyes into the 2015 FBS playoffs and most of the talking heads suggest that your most challenging opponent this year is going to be the potential complacency of your own football squad. What, as a coach and coaching staff, if anything, do you do to battle this opponent week in and week out with such high expectations on your team?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: Very interesting. So, even before fall practices start, you have disciplined 4 high impact players on your team for violating team rules which includes being suspended from your opening game against a very tough Virginia Tech squad – the one team, by the way, that beat you last year and almost derailed your trip to the National Championship. Now, I understand and appreciate that this is an internal matter and you are not going to get into the details of this decision, but, is the behavior of these four football players in any way an indication of complacency already sticking its ugly head into your locker room?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: I understand. Now coach, you have had a very successful and very impressive first three years at Ohio State including a combined record of 38 wins and 3 losses and culminating, at this point, in the 2015 National Playoff Championship. But, your tenure at Ohio State started after a well-documented, somewhat surprising and somewhat controversial, early retirement from the ranks of Head Coaching for personal and health reasons. You have vowed to continue your coaching career with a bit more “balance” between your coaching and personal life, and, what I think our reader would like to know is, how is that working out for you? You are in the spotlight once again at a very prominent university with higher than life expectations year in and year out; are you maintaining that sought after balance? Do you have any fear of returning to that unhealthy place where you found yourself in Florida?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: I am glad to hear that coach. Now on to 2015. One of the reasons why Ohio State sits at the top of everyone’s pre-season polls is because you return so many of the players, on both sides of the football, that took you to the pinnacle last year; can you tell us about any of the fresh, new faces we might expect to see play a prominent role on your team this season?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: Thank you coach, and, to no one’s surprise, the QB position is not one of those where a new face will shine. You have been quoted as saying that Ohio State has “an embarrassment of riches” on their football team and that is certainly no truer than when it comes to the QB position; what are you in position to share with us about this position as you start your fall practices?

COACH MEYER: Not available for comment.

SOD: Well, coach, we thank you for not taking the time to join us today and allowing our reader to fantasize about how you might have answered all of our questions. We wish you and the Buckeyes the best of luck this year in defending your title and look forward to following your Buckeyes throughout the year.

So there you have it, our first one-sided interview of the 2015 College Football year. We look forward to conducting a number of these interviews throughout the year. Certainly it will be easy to schedule and conduct such interviews when we are not burdened with the problem of having the subject actually answer any of our questions. If you have any people or topics that you would like to see us cover in these interviews, please let us know.

And, who knows, when our viewership exceeds 2 people a day, maybe we can actually entice someone to be our first two-sided interview. Thanks for reading and … if you can’t spike the football, then spike the lemonade.

Can Urban and Jim be Another Woody and Bo?

Woody Hayes coached football at the Ohio State University for 27 years, from 1951 – 1978.  Bo Schembechler coached football at the University of Michigan for 20 years, from 1969 – 1989.  The ten years that these men shared in common at their respective universities, helping solidify an already heated rivalry, is known as the Ten Years War.  The drama played out between these two coaches and these two teams during that time is legendary.  Teacher and student, squaring off against each other in a season ending game that usually would determine the Conference Champion, a trip to the Rose Bowl, and, in some cases, the National Championship.

Although there was a kinship, respect and admiration that these two men shared for one-another, these traits were masked by the theater of the rivalry and the typical significance of the outcome of this end-of-the-year clash.  The Big Ten, during these years had become the Big Two and the Little Eight.  It seemed the Ohio State / Michigan game was looked forward to every year as soon as the previous year’s game had ended with roses in the teeth of the victor and tears in the eyes of the defeated.  The games played prior to this matchup each year, were just warm-ups to the game that really counted.

During the Ten Years War, this rivalry achieved national prominence and helped turn these two coaches into legends who will remain linked to each other throughout the pages of history.  Buckeye fan, Wolverine fan, or just college football fan, you hear the name of Woody Hayes or Bo Schembechler and you cannot help but think the name of the other.

The Ohio State / Michigan rivalry has survived the retirement and subsequent passing of these two coaching giants, but the luster of the Ten Years War and the personas behind the campaigns has not since been matched.  Each university has had 5 coaches since the throne was passed on by each legendary coach, but, even the greatest fan would have a hard time naming the counter-part to the coach from the rival school.  Some success was achieved by Earl Bruce, John Cooper and Jim Tressell, at Ohio State; and, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke at Michigan – but, certainly nothing to make you forget the names of Woody and Bo.  And, throughout the years, the Big Ten has caught up with Ohio State and Michigan – and, is no longer the Big Two and all the rest.

Here lately, Ohio State has become the bell-weather program and Michigan has hit some program lows, but both programs still have the promise of regained glory shone on top-notch programs.

Urban Meyer was coaxed out of a short retirement to replace a lost season with Luke Fickell at the helm following the crash and burn end of Jim Tressell’s coaching career at Ohio State, just when it looked like Tressell was on his way to his own legendary status in Columbus.  Meyer’s three years at Ohio State, so far, have been nothing short of spectacular, culminating with the National Championship trophy in the inaugural year of the FBS Playoffs format and a cumulative 38 – 3 record in that time.

It seems every one of Michigan’s coaching hires since Bo’s retirement has been met with a tinge of controversy sprinkled with lots of high expectations only to end in disappointment – although Lloyd Carr had a pretty good, 12-year run at the helm.  The two most recent regimes, however, have been nothing short of catastrophic.  So, in rides Jim Harbaugh on a horse of high expectations, with the moxy and  pedigree to pump hope back into the hearts of all good Wolverines.  And, one might wonder, do we have the potential of the next version of Woody and Bo on our hands?

Both Woody and Bo made names for themselves at Ohio State and Michigan.  Neither coach entered their position with fame and fanfare.  Their reputations and their place in football lore were earned during their time at the respective universities.  Urban and Jim, on the other hand, arrived at Ohio State and Michigan already having earned a high degree of success and accompanying fame – but, such is the way of the world today as opposed to the football landscape back in the 1960’s.  And, the Meyers / Harbaugh relationship does not include any path-crossing, teacher/student kinship along the way.  I think that the animosity these two coaches are sure to develop along the way will be rightfully earned and not simply a façade created by the rivalry.  But, the potential is there to rekindle a Bo/Woody-like mystique and allure with these two.

We are far from it today – but it is an interesting comparison to fantasize about.  Urban has already shown his appreciation for the rivalry, even with Michigan suffering lean years during his short time with the Buckeyes.  Having QB’ed the Wolverines from 1983 – 1986 when the rivalry was still riding high, there is no question Jim Harbaugh appreciates the intenseness of this rivalry, although it would be just like him to downplay it a bit while he tries to get the Wolverines back in championship form.

It will be interesting to watch.  Whereas, I don’t think you can ever recapture the dynamics and intrigue that Woody and Bo created during their Ten Years War – a newer version of the Ten Years War has some appeal and some promise with these two personalities in charge.  Of course, the rest of the Big Ten will have something to say about that, too.  And, the landscape has changed quite a bit.  With Ohio State and Michigan now playing in the same division, the best the rivalry game can do is determine the East entry into the Big Ten Championship Game – no more roses in the teeth – although tears in the eyes is still possible.

I, for one, will never forget Woody and Bo – but, I do want to see Urban and Jim restore the luster to this rivalry and do so for a long time – at least ten years, any way.

30 Random Thoughts for the First Post on a New College Football Blog

1) The last thing the world needs is another blog on College Football.
2) Especially, a College Football blog written by a schmuck with no business writing a College Football Blog.
3) Starting a new College Football Blog on January 23 is about as stupid as it gets.
4) Since Braxton Miller has already graduated and does not have to sit out a year if he transfers – I think he should transfer.
5) Remember that Russell Wilson did number 4.
6) Even though almost every analyst I hear is saying Marcus Mariota is a can’t miss NFL prospect – I think he can miss.
7) I hope Jameis Winston grows up.
8) I bet the Baltimore Ravens don’t trade up to get Jameis Winston in the draft – or ever.
9) I think the Big 12 is making a Big mistake if it doesn’t expand to Championship-size.
10) I bet Bo Pelini doesn’t coach at Youngstown State for more than 1 year.
11) Just to keep things cosmically balanced, the Pac-12 should add Colorado State and Utah State to become the Pac-14.
12) Notre Dame and BYU need to join a conference.
13) Boise State should be in a big boy conference.
14) TCU still has good reason to be upset.
15) I am available to be a member of the Playoff Selection Committee – just say’n.
16) Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh have the potential of being a modern day Woody Hayes and Bo Shembechler. And, that would be cool. (Although Woody and Bo had a secret admiration for each other – I’m not sure Urban and Jim will develop that.)
17) Washington Huskies v. Boise State Broncos is a GREAT Week 1 match-up for 2015.
18) Becoming eligible for bowl games again; getting scholarships back; and getting wins re-instated is no excuse for Penn State to not follow up on lessons learned from the Jerry Sandusky tragedy.
19) The SEC is still a powerful football conference – with or without an ESPN bias.
20) I know I’m a nerd, but, I like the Kirk Herbstreit / Lee Corso dynamics.
21) I know I’m a nerd, but, I hate the Lou Holtz / Mark May dynamics.
22) I’m a nerd.
23) The winner of the 2015 Heisman Trophy will not be on the list of leading candidates going into the season.
24) Oregon and Florida State will not be in the Playoffs next year.
25) Ohio State and Alabama will be in the Playoffs next year.
26) Mississippi State and Ole Miss will not be in the Playoff discussion late in the season again.
27) TCU and Baylor will be in the Playoff discussion late in the season again.
28) I was impressed with Cardale Jone’s Press Conference announcing he is returning to school. I hope he does get his degree.
29) The odds of me keeping this blog going are 100,000:1.
30) The odds of anyone actually reading this blog are even greater than that.