Asked at Big Ten media day about the criticism the Buckeyes and the league have received the past couple of years, Tressel said: "Well, I know from our standpoint where it comes from is, we played the national championship the last two years and haven't been successful, so is that fair? I think that's fair we haven't been successful. Should that paint a picture of our whole conference? I don't think so. But it also makes me feel a little disappointed that our performance in two championship games, I guess, brushes with a wider brush or whatever they say, but I don't think it's fair. But what I think doesn't matter, and what you think doesn't matter either."
Tressel wouldn't mind getting a chance to become the Buffalo Bills of college football.
"Well, if that happened again, that means we were the Big Ten champions, and I would never be disappointed about being the Big Ten champions. I would be very proud of that," Tressel said. "If we got to the game and didn't win it and didn't play as well as we were capable of playing or didn't prepare as well as we were capable, obviously I would be disappointed in that, so I guess that was a bad answer."
Quarterback quandaries
4
Many of the nation's top teams have issues at quarterback going into the season.
LSU's chances of repeating as national champion took a major hit when Les Miles suspended expected starter Ryan Perrilloux after losing Matt Flynn to graduation. Perrilloux had shown flashes last season, but Miles tired of his off-field issues and attitude.
Now the Tigers are left with sophomore Andrew Hatch along with freshmen Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.
"You've just got to learn to figure out what each can do best, and it's hard to know exactly in practice," offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said.
The debate about the starting quarterback won't be going on just in Baton Rouge. What's Pete Carroll going to do at Southern California when Mark Sanchez returns after dislocating his knee, especially if Mitch Mustain, who won eight games as a freshman at Arkansas two years ago, does well? And how is Tressel going to quiet Ohio State fans screaming for him to play top recruit Terrelle Pryor over fifth-year senior Todd Boeckman, who struggled toward the end of last season?
Road to Miami
5
The BCS title game will be played at 8 p.m. Jan. 8 at Dolphins Stadium in Miami. Fox has the broadcast rights through 2010. Though Georgia is the preseason No. 1 in both polls, not many figure the Bulldogs to get to the championship. There is little consensus as to which teams are going to get there, but given the respective leagues they play in and the schedules they play, don't be surprised to see Oklahoma and West Virginia. If that happens, Fox might want to consider a Family Guy marathon.
