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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2009 > September > 11
Friday, September 11, 2009
Is Ohio State just too boring to win?
Here’s the thought from The Wall Street Journal:
Can USC beat you with their Hollywood-like stage show as much as their hard-hitting defensive play?
In the dour confines of Ohio Stadium, the constant drumbeat of the USC band, the cheerleaders with the sultry sweaters, the celebrity coach with the pearly white teeth and the parade of massively recruited running backs will make a spectacle the likes of which Columbus has seldom seen. In contrast, Ohio State’s discipline, its Midwestern humility, its work ethic may suddenly seem small.
Could the Buckeyes, in fact, be on the down side of things because Ohio is, well, more boring that LA?
Psychologists argue that teams with mystique like USC can be intimidating to opponents. “Athletes are reluctant to admit it,” says Saul Miller, a sports psychologist based in Vancouver who has worked with college, pro and Olympic athletes, “but there’s no question: Some people are intimidated, whether it’s playing in a round with Tiger Woods or against an athlete with celebrity status. It’s a real phenomenon.”
I guess what they’re saying is: If you’re going to the game as an Ohio State fan, don’t show that you’re impressed by the USC theatrics. That’s just what they want.
Don’t give in to Will Ferrell and Snoop Dog.
