In less than 48 hours, Ohio State fans went from being disheartened to displaying ecstatic enthusiasm.
On Saturday, for the first time since 2003, the Buckeyes lost to their archrival Michigan in a 40-34 slugfest. For a year full of setbacks for the Buckeyes program, it was only fitting that they lost to the state up north and consequently finished the season with a .500 record (6-6).
However, feelings of despair didn’t last long in Buckeye Nation as the university put weeks of rumors aside and finally named their next head football coach, Urban Meyer.
The former Florida coach accepted the position Monday and was introduced at a press conference later that day.
All of a sudden, what seemed like a season in distress now transforms into a glimmer of hope for the 2012 season.
Whether the NCAA will enforce stricter penalties on the football program remains to be seen, but it seems evident right now that the OSU athletic department is determined to quickly turn around its image and the program itself.
Ohio State grabbed Urban Meyer at just the right time. There weren’t many options out there to choose from and failing to get Meyer to come to Columbus would have only added to the distress that Buckeye Nation has been going through this year. Luckily, they got their guy and the best outcome Ohio State could have hoped for rebuilding in its program.
Meyer is the perfect choice for the Buckeyes. Not only did he grow up in Ohio, but he also coached there as a graduate assistant from 1986-87. He also has a pedigree of winning, coaching Bowling Green, Utah and Florida to a combined 104-23 record.
He is perhaps more impressive in the postseason, amassing a 7-1 bowl record while also winning two national championships at Florida.
Even though NCAA sanctions have come down on Ohio State that will limit the amount of recruits that come to Columbus, Meyer is a masterful recruiter and will still bring high-profile athletes that fit his system.
He brought many five-star recruits to Florida and will do the same at Ohio State. And of course many high-profile athletes already appear on the current roster.
True freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, who impressed many this year with his clutch performances and running ability, will fit in nicely with Meyer’s potential spread-formation offense. On defense, he has talented players such as Travis Howard and Etienne Sabino.
The future appears bright for the Buckeyes and if Meyer can stay healthy, this program could be right back where it left off two years ago, an annual national title contender.
