[martyup]

I've been called a "serial optimist" on this board.  Yesterday's performance was very hard to swallow.  I do believe that we have elite talent on our team.  These boys will win some games.  But it takes more than talent to make a championship team.  It takes a collective will to win.  Once a team's talent and skills are in place, then it is a mental game.  If a team can harness that mental will that causes every player to give his maximum effort to win his assignment on every play, that team will optimize its chance for success.  The best coaches can bring that out in their players, season after season and from program to program.  Urban Meyer did it at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and now Ohio State. 

Can David Shaw inspire his players to play at their optimum?  Five games last year and one game this season cause me to doubt that he can.  Sometimes players step up to be the motivators for their team.  I suspect that Shaw has benefited in past seasons from players stepping up and playing that role.  Shayne Skov was one such motivator.  IMO, the teams of 2012 and 2013 won games despite Shaw's conservative game plans by sheer will to win.

Assistant coaches can be strong motivators for a team.  Perhaps Shaw needs to hire a pants-on-fire assistant that can rally the troops.

If someone can step up and motivate this team, then I think we can win enough games to make a bowl.  If not, this team is in big trouble.

[martyup]

I've been called a "serial optimist" on this board.  Yesterday's performance was very hard to swallow.  I do believe that we have elite talent on our team.  These boys will win some games.  But it takes more than talent to make a championship team.  It takes a collective will to win.  Once a team's talent and skills are in place, then it is a mental game.  If a team can harness that mental will that causes every player to give his maximum effort to win his assignment on every play, that team will optimize its chance for success.  The best coaches can bring that out in their players, season after season and from program to program.  Urban Meyer did it at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and now Ohio State. 

Can David Shaw inspire his players to play at their optimum?  Five games last year and one game this season cause me to doubt that he can.  Sometimes players step up to be the motivators for their team.  I suspect that Shaw has benefited in past seasons from players stepping up and playing that role.  Shayne Skov was one such motivator.  IMO, the teams of 2012 and 2013 won games despite Shaw's conservative game plans by sheer will to win.

Assistant coaches can be strong motivators for a team.  Perhaps Shaw needs to hire a pants-on-fire assistant that can rally the troops.

If someone can step up and motivate this team, then I think we can win enough games to make a bowl.  If not, this team is in big trouble.