It's appropriate that Luke's last name is Fickell, because he and the team are about to find out how aptly that word describes way too many Ohio State Fans, and the piranha press corps that cover them. The last strains of Carmen Ohio hadn't even finished reverberating through the stadium when too many of the wags in press row started pounding on their keyboards their criticism - of a win! Too predictable an offense - and too vanilla - several wrote. Both quarterbacks should have played. Special teams a mess. Blah Blah Blah. Clackity Clack Clack. And of course as justification for their thinking, they confirmed what I was afraid I was hearing on television, printing that some Boo Birds were nesting in Ohio Stadium yesterday. Apparently, their annual migration is starting a bit early this year.

To which I say Bull Crap.

Give me a break. Sure it was a win ugly day. Is their plenty to work on? Yep, yep, and yep. But let's remember. We are young, green, and right now, thin! We sent eight starters from last year to the NFL. Seven current players are still suspended. At one point yesterday, Nate Williams, John Simon, and Philly Brown were all out with injuries. And every one of the guys missing is a major contributor. Now you name me any team in college football where you can take its ten most talented players off the field and it won't miss a beat. So I'm just celebrating a win and not judging on style points right now. As long as Luke can keep them winning, I don't care if he does it by putting a chicken in the backfield, if that chicken can get us more touchdowns than the opposition.

I mean look at yesterday. Coach finds out on the eve of the game he is loosing a shut down corner and a talented and versatile run-pass player out of the backfield. He will never make excuses for it, but look me in the eye and tell me that didn't blow up Saturday's game plan. Tell me that, combined with all the youth, doesn't affect what plays you can call with confidence, doesn't affect how complicated you can make the playbook, even who you put on the field when.

We have two young quarterbacks trying to find their way. We have a young group of guys who have been through a whole lot and are doing their damnedest to hold this thing together. They deserve our support. The last thing they and Coach Fickell need is a bunch of armchair quarterbacks - and the press - piling on. Yellow flags and 15 yards to the Boo Birds. You are the worst, and you bring out the worst, in all the Stories of the Stories of the 'Shoe.