killer_ewok;795910 wrote:Additional motivation could be playing for Fickell if they like him and want him to stay on as coach.

Great point, didn't even think about that.

thedynasty1998;795897 wrote:I think to use a lack of motivation is a very poor excuse. These guys quit after they lost to Wisconsin last year? They are still playing for pride, for each other and for themselves. A lot of these guys want to play in the NFL so they are not going to bring it every week because they can't play in a bowl game? I don't buy it and I certainly hope this isn't an excuse we hear throughout the year.

Its maybe an excuse, but it is what it is. How many of those guys are NFL guys out of the 100 or so they have? How many college guys, studs, who are headed to the NFL, do you see give lack of effort each week on TV? I see it every week. Even at that, again, we are talking about a small percentage. And they need competition each day to get better. Its not the games where the lack of motivation is an issue. Its the weekly grind in practice where it will take it toll. You get better in practice, not games. Each day they are walking into practice knowing, there is no pot at the end of the rainbow. I have played and coached. That pot is HUGE motivation. It does not even have to be mentioned. Again, that motivation may be there on occasion..but to do it each and every day, the entire season/off season knowing nothing is there...will certainly affect this team. And it will catch up to them in certain games. OSU is obviously the target of the Big Ten since they have completely dominated it this past 10yrs. Teams will be licking their chops to get their shots. And some will succeed. As for Fickell...there is an old coaches saying that you only have so many bullents in your holster during a season. And you pick and choose when to use them. It doesn't work every week. I hope I am wrong...but doubt I am with this. So many thought USC would not miss a beat. Well..8-5 is missing a big beat.

If you coached and your motivation a championship and that's the only way you could motivate your players, you were a poor coach.

These guys are uber competitive. You don't play for OSU and lack motivation. Plus what do you think motivates guys at Heidelberg every day? How about Indiana? It's about pride. It's about your teammates. It's about your school.

I'm SHOCKED that you, or anyone, think these guys will lack motivation. What a pathetic thought.

thedynasty1998;796434 wrote:If you coached and your motivation a championship and that's the only way you could motivate your players, you were a poor coach.

These guys are uber competitive. You don't play for OSU and lack motivation. Plus what do you think motivates guys at Heidelberg every day? How about Indiana? It's about pride. It's about your teammates. It's about your school.

I'm SHOCKED that you, or anyone, think these guys will lack motivation. What a pathetic thought.

Excellent post, and I agree 100%...I have played and coached as well, and beating your opponent is motivation unto itself. You play a sport TO WIN, and you coach a team TO WIN--period.

The season cant get here fast enough

vball10set;796451 wrote:You play a sport TO WIN, and you coach a team TO WIN--period.

I thought it was for fun? #CYO

Tobias Fünke;797143 wrote:I thought it was for fun? #CYO

ahhh, the good old days of every kid having to play an equal amount and not keeping score, even though everyone in the gym knew what it was and how many points their kid scored--and mom's yelling " that's not fair"!!! lol

centralbucksfan;795761 wrote:You and others need to wake up. A team playing for absolutely nothing is what we will be dealing with. To run the table is completely unrealistic. Look at USC last year. Playing for nothing. They would show up for one game, the next game, a no show. 8-5 season. That is what we will be looking at next year, and possibly beyond. Fickell will have his work cut out to motivate this team week in, and week out. It won't be easy. He is not in a real good position right now.

Sorry, but I don't buy the fact that these guys won't be motivated. They've been beat down by the media all summer, and they have the opportunity to go out and show the college football world that you cannot hold Ohio State football down. That may be a bigger motivating factor than winning a National Championship. I've won championships and I've done things to prove that I could when people doubted me, and that was more satisfying(to me), than any championship I ever won. Also, these guys are playing toward NFL dreams. They will play for Coach Tressel. I can't imagine this team not being motivated.