Geetz Romo

Being forced to play in the Championship game, and then sitting "the guys who need rest" would never be what Lanning or the players would want to do because the consequences of losing that unwanted extra game could easily result in not getting a 1st round home game. So if Ohio St loses and we're forced to play in the championship game, then we would need to fully commit to win it against what would then be the #1 ranked and undefeated Indiana - and if successful, we would have avenged our only season loss AND get a first round bye AND get a home game in the second round. So, no, I really don't want to be forced into that dangerous extra game, but if that's the way it turns out, then we will have to commit absolutely EVERYTHING to winning it!

Joe Klatt's sort of longwinded explanation on The Herd got it right: Yes, OBD did get screwed, but not by the Committee.They got screwed by the decision made last year to give 1st round byes to the four highest ranked conference champions. That resulted in Boise State and Arizona State having to be placed in the top 4 by the Committee which in turn pushed Texas & Penn St back to 5 & 6. But in any case, I think we should line up behind Dan Lanning and be as deliriously happy as he was on Saturday to have gone undefeated in the regular season and won the Big 10 Championship. This season is already a great success no matter what happens in the crapshoot of a single elimination playoff, though another victory over Ohio St in the Rose Bowl would be extremely sweet!

I am a northern CA based 49er fan, and last weekend I had the pleasure of watching Lenoir tackling Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving after a nice gain.

My sense of Dan Lanning is that he either tells the truth or says nothing. I can't find the link, but earlier this season when asked about his goals, he said, " I want to win a national championship," ( here comes the significant part), "and I want to beat Mike Bellotti's career wins as Oregon coach." I think that second goal, pronounced out loud, tells us everything we need to know on this subject. Note: Mike Bellotti was Oregon's head coach for 14 years (1995-2008) and won 116 games. So I figure that will take Lanning at least nine years.

I don't believe Lanning going for the score had anything at all to do with "help out the fans" if that means covering the spread. In fact I'd bet on it! I think he let the offense go for it because they had such an unproductive 2nd half - only a FG - and he wanted to give the players, and maybe himself, the small extra satisfaction of strong and productive final drive.