With the first Buckeye loss of 2011 behind us – which only counts as our 18th loss in eleven regular seasons – one can only think that there are more losses to come this year, considering how poorly we played.

If you didn’t notice, our beloved Buckeyes only completed 4 passes throughout the entire 60-minute game. To add salt to that wound (or should I say, carnage), Miami’s defense spent a good portion of the game sticking 8 and 9 in the box, which left our receivers in one-on-one coverage.

How can you win football games when your first, first-down completion through the air occurs on the last play of the game? Well…you don’t. One Heisman Trophy winning Troy Smith threw only 4 completions in the 2007 loss to Florida in the BCS National Championship Game. Ironically, the 35 total yards thru the air, that horrible game in Arizona, came in coincidentally equivalent to Ohio State’s 35 yards against Miami on Saturday night.

Rather than beating this up (and depressing myself) any further, let’s discuss a little about what’s going wrong, from a big picture standpoint…because, well…it could’ve been worse, right? Man…it could’ve been a lot worse.

Like any corporation, success starts at the top. Look at Steve Jobs, for instance, who took a struggling Apple, Inc. from average sales to a company that has more income than the US Government. Fortunately for Apple, Steve Jobs, as the Chairman and CEO, was allowed to do whatever he felt best for the company, consumer, shareholder, and ultimately profits.

At Ohio State, Fickell can’t even dictate what shirt he wants to wear (I’ve received inside information that Fickell can’t stand the new coach’s polos, which is why he keeps wearing the black jacket you see him in, on the sidelines each game….even when it was 99 degrees against Akron).

Point being, Fickell is handcuffed by Gene Smith, Ohio State, and the overall athletic department. Why can’t he choose his own shirt? Well…because he’s the “Interim” Head Coach. It’s the same reason he can’t pick his own assistant coaches or make any other more/less important decisions on his own.

You make a coach “have to win” in this manner, and it adds a new facet to how the game is played. Who do you start at quarterback? The 5th year Senior, who will be gone after this year, no matter what…or the true freshman, with more athletic ability – the QB of the future? In practice, Braxton Miller has been turning the ball over significantly more than Joe Bauserman – which is likely the single biggest deciding factor why Miller has spent most of his time on the sidelines.

So…it doesn’t matter how much energy Braxton brings to the game and thus, the “chances” of making big plays with his athleticism or uncanny arm. What matters most is to NOT MAKE MISTAKES! Sound familiar?

Bauserman, being the more conservative QB, might’ve been the better mistake-free choice, but you have to wonder. When things get as bad as they did on Saturday night, why not let the QB of the future take over. Again, Bauserman’s out after this year – why not get the new guy some experience so that we can start next year, screaming up the AP Poll? The answer, again, is job security. I don’t blame Fickell – he’s in a tough place.

Imagine trying to replace a car engine with no power tools – just a wrench & screwdriver – it would be a tough, long project, no doubt. This is like a coach trying to win with a young team and suspended players, all the while with his hands cuffed from the top of the food chain.

What would YOU do to keep YOUR job? One thing is for certain…it’s going to be a long year for Buckeye players, coaches, and fans alike.