Word From The Wise -- Special Edition

Unlike last year when I was able to post to Word From The Wise in a more-frequent blog style, this year's version is more structured. My new superiors want me to publish only on Friday, so after watching Craig James and Doug Flutie's post-game remarks regarding Ohio State's 28-6 defeat of Penn State Saturday, I couldn't help but have this reaction, all brought to you in a special extra bonus format for you on a Sunday:

I know it's part of our nature to root for the underdog and find chinks in the armor of our top-ranked teams. I didn't argue when many said OSU was an unconvincing preseason No. 1, even after its season-opening victory over Northern Illinois and right up until kickoff at Texas on the second weekend. But the Buckeyes dismantled the Longhorns and have since won by decisive margins the last two weeks. Many were hopeful to rank OSU No. 1 and Notre Dame 1A, until the Irish were blown away at home last week by Michigan. And did you see them call on another divine miracle last night at Michigan State?

So after Saturday's late 14-6 OSU lead turned into a 28-6 final score with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns, the best that James and Flutie could come up with was skepticism about OSU's offense, that maybe it wasn't as dominant as people thought it would be, as if to blame Jim Tressel and his troops. And that was the end of the analysis.

What Flutie and James should have mentioned was this:

Ohio State has officially overcome the loss of nine defensive starters, all of whom were on NFL rosters when the season began two weeks ago. Everyone and their brother and uncle and stepson makes mention of the nine lost starters from a year ago at the top of each broadcast, during every game and in the midweek analysis. By now, it's tremendously tiresome. But thanks to ABC newcomer Paul Maguire, who referenced the nine a few times yesterday ... FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON, I think we know now the Buckeyes had some defensive holes to fill. And guess what? They've filled them, so quit talking about it.

The defense held Penn State to two field goals, and save for a Malcolm Jenkins roughing call on the last play of the half Saturday, it would have been one.

Remember when Tressel won games by scores like 16-12 and 13-9 in 2002? Those were near blowouts by his standards, as he played an offensive style that revolved around ball control and field position. His offense didn't boast two Heisman Trophy candidates like it does this year, but those Bucks in 2002 won the national championship. So in addition to a defense that is now officially outstanding, probably equal to the defense of 2002 as well as last year's, Tressel now has an explosive offense that simply seemed quiet yesterday because the game was played on a wet track and Penn State offered a decent defensive showing as well.

Ohio State is the best team in the country, and not because Notre Dame lost eight days ago. It's because the Bucks' defense is typical Tressel, the offense has numerous weapons and a mammoth o-line and the kicking game is getting better. This is the end of the story.