We are about to hit the stretch run of the season and it is going to be wall to wall Buckeye football. There are a couple of other football related topics that I want to discuss with you.

I think the biggest problem the Browns have is Randy Lerner. He is making bad decisions on coaches then dumping them before they can fix what is wrong. 4 coaches in 10 years? Are you kidding me??? How are you supposed to build something when he pulls the plug before anything gets going? Look at the coaches he has hired after they left the Browns. The only one that has had any success since leaving is Davis. Palmer was next an OC, fired, then has been in several jobs as a position coach. Crennell was never more than a position coach before he became the Browns DC then head coach. He is not in football right now from what I can tell. He gets rid of Crennell and brings in a guy that wore out his welcome in three short years in Eric Mangini. It has been proven that when organizations can't turn themselves around it goes back to bad management from the top down. Lerner is making bad decisions. Everyone knows that I am a Steeler fan. My Dad was a Browns fan. My closest friends are season ticker holders. I have no hate in my heart for the Browns. I do have hate in my heart for the state of the franchise. There is nothing to build on. How many current players would you keep if it was possible to sweep the lot out? What a mess. Lerner wants to fix what is wrong? Sell the team to someone that knows what they are doing.

I am always amazed at how Buckeye fans treat Kirk Herbstreit. I looked up his bio on ESPN. I was surprised. Based on what I hear from too many Buckeye fans, I expected to s ee "Buckeye cheerleader" under his job title. I was shocked to see "College Football Analyst." Why do fans expect Herbstreit to step up and defend the program? It is not his job to defend Ohio State. It does not matter that some of the attacks on the Buckeyes are unwarranted. In particular Mark May. If every football fan on the planet said Ohio State was the best team they had ever seen, I believe Mark May would say we were overrated. It is still not Kirk Herbstreits job to take him to task in public. Not May, and not anyone else. When I argue this with rational people they come back to the fact that Herbstreit himself attacks the program. So he can't say what he thinks is wrong? Why should be not speak his mind about the state of the program. A former player, co-captain, and team MVP can't speak his mind? I don't get that. Someone explain it to me.

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Comments (19)

Herbstreit
written by shockosu, November 03, 2009

Duane,

For me its not that Herbie attacks OSU, its the way he does it. I'll never forgive him for saying in a national broadcast that if he were an offensive player why would he even look at OSU (said around 2004ish). Had he said our offense was bad, fine, it was. I could be wrong by I don't recall him attacking other schools (especially non-big10) like he attacks us. He flies the non-bias flag, which is what he supposed to do as an analyst, however, when it comes to critical comments, I think he feels he can be more critical because of his affiliation with the school. In the end, it just makes us look worse that need be.

Just to be clear, I've heard him say other schools are bad, real bad. But never have I heard him say recruits should not even think about going to another school.

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written by wolfbuddy, November 03, 2009

I have no problem with Kirk speaking from the heart on OSU. My problem is that he only speaks from the heart when things are going bad. He never gushes when things are going good. Maybe out of fear of looking like a homer.

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Great Subject
written by Ron Krumm, November 03, 2009

Let's take an honest look at what Herbie said. The truth is that there are some positions that an athlete should not look at Ohio State. Why would a five star linebacker want to come to OSU. We are loaded with great young linebackers. On the other hand, if you are a great offensive lineman, do you consider Ohio State. We have some good linemen already here(supposedly) but they are not being developed properly. The same for quarterbacks. It seems we do a better job with lower rated quarterbacks. Whether the expectation level is lower, or the level of talent is not so high, but we get a better QB from a Troy Smith vs. a Justin Swick, Terrel Pryor. And then we get to wide receiver. I don't think we have ever had as many high quality receivers in the fifty years I have been watching OSU football. It will be interesting to see how many of them don't stay for four years.

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written by O-State, November 03, 2009

Give me a break, Duane. Herbstreit licks balls as an analyst. Literally. Flip on one of USC's rose bowls. He's sucking Pete Carroll's c*ck on air.

Forget what he says about Ohio State. He's a crappy analyst with no backbone.

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written by Playmea, November 03, 2009

I agree with Herbie. How could I look anyone in the eye and tell them that if I had a family without any OSU affiliations or ties, and my son was an offensive recruit, that I would advise my son to become a Buckeye. No way. Historically under Tressel we have averaged something like the 65th ranked offense over his tenure. Thats the bottom half and not worthy of OSU let alone what I would want for my son to be profiled in. So logically, why would anybody tell their kids to go and play for OSU? Thankfully, parents allow their kids to make up their own minds and those kids have seen the value in becoming Buckeyes.

But in good conscience, I simply cannot disagree with Herbie.

I am mad at Herbie for likening Pryor to Clarrett within weeks after his commitment and the kid hadn't even been assigned a number yet. THAT was irresponsible and cruel. And it was speculating on a kid with no evidence to back it up. And I expect more from a grown man in his position in the CFB world.

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written by dumbme, November 03, 2009

I say anyone who gets their panties in a bunch over what any tv or radio personality says needs to grow-up and/or get a life. I want to slap silly those who start bucknut threads with "Did you hear what Colin Cowherd said..." I don't give two sh!ts and you are a pathetic person for caring. I have enough things to deal with in my life w/o caring about someone's opinion.

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written by shockosu, November 03, 2009

My point is that its not about agreeing or not agreeing with Herbie. Its that he doesn't go near as negative about anyone else as much as he does on OSU. If it was his local show, I really wouldn't care because he's talking to the OSU community at that point. It's that he'll dog OSU nationally much worse that I've ever heard him dog anyone else.

I don't expect or want a Pom-Pom cheering Herbie, because that lends to no credibility for him or OSU. I believe he takes negative comments about OSU to the extreme, and that shows a lack of class. This is not a recent trend and its been happening since the Mo C years.

The next time I hear him saying he wouldn't want a recruit going to another school, I'll let it go.

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written by RipsManifesto, November 03, 2009

I agree with Herbie. How could I look anyone in the eye and tell them that if I had a family without any OSU affiliations or ties, and my son was an offensive recruit, that I would advise my son to become a Buckeye. No way.

Depends on the position my son plays on offense, if all we're talking about is football production and/or the chance to teach my kid to be a solid pro. I mean, if he's a RB or a WR, why wouldn't I want him to consider OSU? We've put some great players into the NFL at both positions, and many have come during Tressel's tenure. The other positions, sure, I'd have to say maybe not. But Herbie's statement was a slap in the face at the time, and a blanket statement that I think was incredibly subjective.

I don't really have an issue with Herbie. He's always been a big fan of big offenses, and he loves USC. But there's a lot to like about USC, so you can't really blame him.

I will say that I think Shockosu has a valid point though. Herbie's praise of OSU has always been very tempered, and I like that, but I don't feel his criticism is equally tempered. But I don't really care all that much on the whole. He has a job, and if ESPN is breathing down his neck to be critical for ratings, well, that's that.

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written by OSU Matt, November 03, 2009

I completely support Duane's view on Herbie. And unless one of you out there happened to captain an OSU team, I doubt you care as much about Buckeye football as he does. If he displays one scintilla of being a homer, his job is as good as gone, because the entire country hates OSU, and they will direct that hate onto the most visible Buckeye in the country, after Tressel, and that is Herbie. And note that after the 2002 national title game, the cameras caught Herbie cheering, and he was universally disparaged for that slip-up in showing his fandom. His family relies on his continued employment, so I don't think anyone here would risk their jobs just so other Buckeye fans thought you were "loyal" enough.

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written by cfabuckeye, November 03, 2009

Duane,

What's your opinion of Herbie's infamous 'if I'm an offensive recruit, I don't consider OSU?'

Do you think that crossed the line?

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written by deflection, November 03, 2009

I think the whole May deal has to do with Holtz and his teams.

What is the only program May dogs more than the Buckeyes? You guessed it.

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written by punt on second down, November 04, 2009

Everything Herbstreit has ever said about us is true. He hasnt said anything positive recently because for 9 years the offense has sucked...bad. The couple of years it was remotely watchable was when we had 3 first round pick WRs, a Heisman trophy winner at QB, and Beanie Wells and Antonio Pittman at RB. Tressel sucks, Im sick of being bored watching Ohio State and Im sick of him playing scared, afraid of turnovers. Attack the opposing teams defense Tressel!!! He plays scared against Ohio U and YSU, and they laugh at us. I cant wait to watch the trash offense he throws out this week against Penn State. Sorry to be so negative, but I am sick of Stresselball.

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written by Hilltopbass, November 04, 2009

I can understand the need for anybody in Herbie's position to temper thier comments when they speak of a program they are identified with. Your either a homer or hater, His personal opinion robbed him of that ability some time ago. Thanks to the forum he works in it stings a little to hear him talk about the program at all, given my opinion of espn (the true evil empire) it play's into thier agenda.

Having said that I don't get how bent some peple are about him, he is a talking head and nothing more. I wouldn't allow anyone the satisfaction of being able to get under my skin like that.

I know something about thick skin being a 23 year Cleveland season ticket holder I've grown some, I thank you for your support Duane. I think it say's it all when the same fans who wanted to hang Modell talk about how they miss him. My only hope is Randy will act like the spoiled brat he is and do something to protect the toys he's been given. Browns fans have demonstrated how powerful they are when motivated, no other fan base has ever forced the hand of a league front office like they did the NFL. Randy knows our sights are set on him.

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written by beenthere77, November 04, 2009

The word on the street is the staff at tOSU refers to him by the nickname "Judas". Got to be doing something wrong for a former captain to acquire that kind of disdain.

I'm even hearing that when he goes into the hall of fame, he's going to wear a USC jersey.

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written by Duane Long, November 04, 2009

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written by cfabuckeye, November 03, 2009
Duane,

What's your opinion of Herbie's infamous 'if I'm an offensive recruit, I don't consider OSU?'

Do you think that crossed the line?

I have a problem with it because I think it is wrong, not in the fact that he said it. Who is putting more receivers into the NFL? Backs are ending up in the NFL. To say they should not come here says to me he thinks offensive players do not develop here. That is not true. We have not done well with some positions. That any offensive player coming here will never live up to expectations is just not true.

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written by iconoclast9, November 04, 2009

What I'd like to know is how Herbstreit rose like a meteor in the business. I heard him when he first started at 1460 and he was so bad it was hard to listen to. Then all of a sudden he gets the coveted Game Day gig?

Look at the other Bucks on ESPN/TV - Dr. Bob, Spielman, Carter, Eddie - they were all big time college players. Kirk was mediocre to not very good here, one of the weakest QB's we've had in the last several decades.

I have heard that for some reason the Wolfes really pushed him and if true I'm baffled as to why. I have nothing against Kirk but it just puzzles me - why him?

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Let it go..
written by GO Bucks, November 05, 2009

Why does everyone get so bent when an analyst points out our OBVIOUS flaws? The played quarterback at OSU...he deserves more than anyone to speak his mind. Our offense has failed to adapt, PERIOD. You going to want to bury Chris Carter too when he complains about the team not being able to score against crappy opponents???

Herbie bleeds scarlet and gray. Let the man do his job and stop the crap that makes everyone who isn't a buckeye hate our fans..

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written by cfabuckeye, November 05, 2009

Duane,

So you don't care what he says.

You'd prefer it was factually correct... but you really don't care if he slanders a program. Why is it ok? Because it's "his opiniion".

I actually prefer this example of slander to the cowardly silence he displayed during the 04 Alamo / Troy-gate.

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written by hman13, November 05, 2009

Herbie's biggest problem is staying out of Erin Andrews pants. Great family man. Well known that ESPN ordered a ceast and desist for those two a couple of years ago.

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