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Cooper sends wrong message
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 10:09 PM
Ohio State head coach John Cooper recently signed a new five-year contract that will guarantee him at least 1.1 million dollars a year. Apparently that job security gives him the freedom to tell his players they can't win. Cooper dropped the following bombshell this week about Ohio State's upcoming game versus Penn State and I quote, "I think it's pretty obvious that if we play our best game and they play their best game, and neither team makes any mistakes, they'll probably win the game." In all my years around the game, I've never heard a coach tell his team it couldn't win. I'll give Cooper the benefit of the doubt and hope he's just trying to motivate his players, but this tactic may well backfire. This game is not that big of a mismatch. Penn State is a good football team but has shown weaknesses. The defense that was so ballyhooed at the start of the season is allowing 325 yards a game, and Ohio State will have some success moving the ball. Michael Wiley has been efficient averaging 6 yards a carry; he simply needs to get the ball more. Look for Penn State to pound the ball with Eric McCoo against a Buckeyes' defense that has been horrible, allowing 400 yards and 23 points a game. I'll take the Nittany Lions in a squeaker. In another big Big 10 game, unbeaten Michigan State takes on Purdue. The Spartans found out last week they could stop the run, holding Michigan to 6 yards rushing. This week, they'll find out if they can handle Purdue's potent passing game. State defensive coordinator Bill Miller says he's real comfortable with his two starting corners, Renaldo Hill and Amp Cambell. But he realizes he'll need 6 dbs to play well. This game will be high scoring, but the Spartans will continue their perfect season. Another team looking to stay unbeaten is Virginia Tech, which takes on Syracuse. Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster told me "Syracuse as a team is even better than last year, because of its defense." But don't look for a Tech letdown. Coach Foster says the Hokies' loss to Temple last year taught this team a valuable lesson: Take no one lightly. Virginia Tech is loaded with seniors who realize the special opportunity that lies ahead. They'll beat the Orangemen and stay undefeated. Trev Alberts is a college football analyst for CNN/SI and appears on CNN's College Football Preview, Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET.
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