COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Darrell Hazell’s first coaching job was at Oberlin, a place where he learned that winning was nothing to take for granted.
The Yeomen went 4-16 in his two years there as the coaches struggled not only to win games but to find something positive to emphasize each week.
Twenty-some years later, even though he’s the assistant head coach and receivers coach at No. 13 Ohio State, he still considers victories – and, by extension, Big Ten championships – to be precious commodities.
“Every win I would cherish, because we weren’t going to get that many,” said Hazell, in his sixth year with the Buckeyes. “We were going to get three or four or five wins if we were lucky. Every win we get here, I cherish it. No matter who we’re playing. If we win by one point, it’s huge for us.”
against Illinois.
He believes there are many who don’t realize what an accomplishment those championships are.
“Winning is hard,” he said. “Every single game is hard to win. We don’t think about winning Big Ten championships; we’ve got to win each week. We don’t think about long-term things.”
Ohio State fans are notorious for their lofty expectations. The Buckeyes have been booed more than once for not winning by a big enough margin. Some of the semi-faithful are critical of the fact that their favorite team shared the conference title in 2005 and again last year.
It’s a tough climate in which to succeed.
On one hand, the fans’ fervor helps fuel a money machine that pays coach Jim Tressel more than $3.5 million a year, with his coaches also making handsome salaries. Ohio State sells the equivalent of the gross national product of many countries in merchandise, tickets, parking and concessions every season.
But at the same time, there is a segment of fans for whom winning 10 games every year isn’t enough. They expect the Buckeyes to win the national title every year – after they’ve locked up the Big Ten crown.
“I’m sure there’s some people that take (Big Ten titles) for granted,” Tressel said. “Anyone who’s played in the Big Ten doesn’t because they know how hard it is. They know how hard it is to win a conference title – that’s a difficult task.”
to make sure that his players don’t just expect championships to fall into their laps.
“Hopefully it’s not any of those guys in that locker room,” he said. “Because if they do they’ll catch it with a left hook under the chin. This is a task that’s going to take everything they’ve got.”
Only two teams in Big Ten history have captured five titles in a row: Woody Hayes and the Buckeyes won six in a row from 1972-77, and Michigan did it in from 1988 to ’92.
Illinois provides a prime example of the pitfalls that stand between the Buckeyes and yet another title.
The Illini have won three of the last four and seven of the last 10 games they’ve played in Columbus. Led by talented but enigmatic quarterback Juice Williams and a quirky defense unlike any other in the conference, the Illini have ruined Ohio State’s hopes before. In their last trip to Ohio Stadium in 2007, they stung the top-ranked Buckeyes 28-21.
The Illini (1-1) barely showed up for their opener against Missouri and were pounded 37-9. They beat up on FCS opponent Illinois State 45-17 two weeks ago, then spent two weeks healing while listening to critics enumerate their disappointments.
Beleaguered coach Ron Zook said his approach has not changed.
Five years ago, no one cared. Now people care. This is not our football team. This is the University of Illinois football program. Obviously it is our job to make them happy and to make our football team happy. That’s what we all want. If people are upset, I don’t blame them. There are some things that I am upset about as well. It’s our job to make sure we get it corrected.”
Even though Ohio State (2-1) is ranked and remains a dark horse national contender, it has also taken some shots from critics – many of whom may just take those championships for granted.
After the Buckeyes lost at home to Southern California 18-15 two weeks ago, Tressel was ripped for his conservative offensive style and play-calling. He countered by calling a segment of Ohio State’s fans “miserable” and “sad.”
A lopsided win over Toledo last week has eased the heat, but the Buckeyes still feel the pressure to meet those high expectations.
“(We) don’t come in expecting to win Big Ten titles,” fifth-year senior tailback Marcus Williams said. “People have earned this, they’ve worked. It’s the guys in the past who’ve done that.
“People might start expecting that, like you just show up and it’s going to happen. The coaches drill it into us: Listen, this is rare, this doesn’t happen. This is like something special that you’re a part of. You need to realize that and you need to do your part to add to the legacy.”
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