“This is what college football is supposed to look like!” That was my prevailing thought while watching the Oregon-Oregon State game last night. An intrastate rivalry between two teams that truly dislike one another, and the Rose Bowl on the line. A game in which Oregon ran through, around and away from Oregon State for a 37-33 victory and  a trip to Pasadena to face the Big Ten champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

I’m going to start by saying I’m not from Ohio, I grew up in Atlanta to be specific. I have no allegiance to either Oregon or Ohio State. I don’t have any emotion to either team, but I do watch Oregon and I love college football.  When I watch the Buckeyes and I feel like I’m stuck in Anthony Sowell’s House of Horrors. Everything for Ohio State is button-down, professional and conservative. Everything Oregon isn’t and doesn’t want to be.
The two teams are more similar than people think on the field. Oregon with their wide open offense is first and foremost a running team. They piled up 288 yards on the ground last night, and super freshman running back LaMichael James has 1,476 yards rushing this year. Everything Oregon does is predicated on the running game. The Buckeyes’ offense also totally revolves around the running game, but it’s so boring to watch. Three yards here, five yards here, grind it out until we’re in scoring position and then we can always kick a field goal. I think that’s the official motto during the team’s week of preparation.
Oregon spreads you out, three and four receivers with shotgun formations and then proceeds to ram the ball down the other team’s throat. It’s done with a panache and excitement that escapes the Buckeyes. Jim Tressel trots out his two tight ends and fullback and proceeds to ram the ball down other team’s throat too, but it’s just not the same. The goal of Oregon’s offense is to score in bunches. The goal of Ohio St’s offense it seems is to just not lose the game.
Terrelle Pryor came in to Ohio St. as one of the most exciting players in high school football. The number one recruit in the nation. He was, apologies to Dominique Wilkins, a human highlight waiting to happen. He had an arm that would make NFL players blush, and could run like Mike Vick before he went to jail. So, what happened? Well, he came to Ohio State where the halfback dive has 82 different variations in the Buckeyes playbook. The offensive coordinators don’t know how to use him. They’ve never had a quarterback like this, rather than adapting to his talents and devising a game plan for him, they choose to force his square-peg quarterbacking into their round hole.
Put him in an Oregon uniform or even a Penn State uniform and who knows how he would be developing by now. Instead, he’s stuck in mediocrity, learning how to hand off and throw halfback screens. To say he’s not being used to the best of his ability would be an insult to his ability. He still has that talent, it just takes someone who isn’t afraid to take chances to bring it out in him. But that will never happen with the Buckeyes, they do what they know. Who can blame them? It’s guided them to two straight championship games and a Big Ten championship this year.
Speaking of uniforms, how about those beauties the Ducks rolled out last night? Those helmets looked so much brighter and yellower in high def, and the green jerseys were a great complement. The Ducks have about 10 different uniforms, some better than the others, but it’s always fun to see which one they’re going to break out for that specific week. The Buckeyes roll out their throw back uniforms and it looks exactly like the ones they wear now! I know this has nothing to do with the football field, but that’s the difference between the two programs. One is 1950’s Leave It To Beaver, and the other is 1990’s Married With Children. If you’re a fan of neither team, Oregon is must see TV and Ohio St is must watch only if there’s absolutely nothing else on!
Make no mistake, I respect Ohio State, but because I have no allegiance to either team I can look at this from an outsider’s point of view. Ohio State fans and people in Big Ten states will watch and root for their beloved conference and team.  I like the other 90% of college football fans will watch and root for Oregon, because they play the game how college football should be for us as fans, exciting to watch.

Sean Coleman / ProFootballinsight.net

What are your thoughts?  We want to hear them.  Feel free to post your thoughts or opinions below!

Like what you see and want instant notification of new article postings?  Become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.  Visit our homepage and look for the Facebook and Twitter widgets!

** Photo Credit-Broadstreetsports.com **