Imagine you have been a C student all your life, if you got a B on a test there was cause for celebration in your household.
You struggled early in class you were enrolled in, even flunked the first quiz of the semester, which put you in a big hole. Throughout the year though you got better. You started getting solid Bs on more of your quizzes and you are going to pass the class.
When the final comes up, no one is expecting much, if you got a B that would be considered a success and but to the surprise of everyone including your own family your final comes back and you get….
100% A+
Your mom and dad probably would cry tears of joy, this wasn’t expected especially after you flunked an earlier test. Your younger sister who normally hates you is giving you props.
All summer everyone talks about how smart you are and how next year everyone expects you to be at the top of the class.
Now the new semester starts, your parents who were happy with Bs and Cs are now expecting As on every test. Your professors have all heard about how you aced your final last semester so they are judging everything you do more harshly.
You are in the spotlight, you can’t hide, other kids wants to do better than you and are looking at you funny because of all the attention you got last semester.
The stress of expectations are now weighing heavily on you, it was much easier when people didn’t expect much.
Welcome to the world of……
THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
As most of you should know I am alumni and I don’t see it as myself being a fan. I consider OSU part of my extended family.
When I see other alums, we always shake hands and chat. When I saw Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliott in a few social settings this offseason we hugged, it is just the way it is when you are alumni. Once a Buckeye always a Buckeye.
Since Urban Meyer took over at Ohio State, you knew eventually they would be a threat, but no one expected it to be last year. The first year they went undefeated but were still on probation so no championship game or bowl game. The second year was solid 12-2 season but losses in the Big 10 Championship and bowl game led people to believe they were still a couple of seasons away. The third year looked promising to start, but then Braxton Miller hurt his shoulder, followed by an awful loss to Va Tech and everyone assumed it was a lost season.
Even when they rolled off a string of victories, no one expected them to in the NCAA Playoffs, they were an afterthought. They were stuck behind some teams and then JT Barrett who became one of the best players in the country broke his ankle against Michigan.
At the Big 10 Championship the thought was that there was a very small chance OSU would make playoffs. Many thought Wisconsin would win the game. I was there covering and I thought Melvin Gordon might run for 200 yards.
What happened shocked everyone, because it was the first really complete game Ohio State played all year and they just demolished and embarrassed Wisconsin 59-0.
When they made the playoffs most thought it was more about TV ratings than anything else. As I made my way to New Orleans to cover the Sugar Bowl, I can honestly say NO ONE felt confident they could beat Alabama.
The best way to explain it is like this. Bama fans knew they would win, OSU fans hoped it was competitive. When they were down 21-6 in 1st half, people just assumed it was over. Then a light turn on and from that point they manhandled Bama and rarely does anyone manhandle Bama.
As I made my way to Dallas for the National Championship game. Once against there was more hope than confidence, but even while being -7 underdogs and playing sloppy (4 turnovers) OSU was clearly the better team and just beat up Oregon.
It was like getting your paycheck and seeing an unexpected bonus on it.
But, this year people will be expecting that bonus. Fans are always a bit on edge, but when you are expected to be good, that stress is compounded.
Va Tech is unranked but OSU fans are scared to death of what might happen tonight.
No one knows how the team will react to being champions. A lot of these kids went from just being known on campus to being major celebrities in the span of few months. Will they be as hungry, motivated and dedicated to go back to back?
As a pretty level-headed alum, I have been stressed almost from the day after they won the championship because I knew the expectations would be through the roof.
I am unbiased even when it comes to my school, I want the best team to win and as long as they win fair and square I am not going to lose any sleep over it, but I can’t lie and say I won’t be nervous when I flip on the TV tonight at 8pm.