There is a reason Herman is in the NFL. It isn't his raw ability. It was his drive to constantly improve himself. Meanwhile, other offensive linemen have come and gone, and gone through the motions of lifting and conditioning, but without pushing themselves constantly, and have accomplished less.

Back in 2006 there was a whole team of players who wanted to win, and who believed they could win, and who relentlessly improved themselves, and who ultimately put themselves in a position where they did win. Lately I,  as a fan, haven't had the same feeling. It's more like they assume they will win, and have just been going through the motions.

This team has far more talent that the 2006 team had, but they don't have so much talent that they can coast to a MAC championship.  Do they want to win as badly as the 2006 team? Winter conditioning will answer that. By the time they get to Spring practice the die will be cast. I hope that this last season was like a warning shot across the bow, and will motivate the players this winter.

If not, it won't matter what formation they line up in, or what play they call. While not totally irrelevant, they have a lot less to do with success than some people think. Mostly I think they help, not by actually making a difference directly in games, but by adding "excitement", which in turn boosts recruiting. Thus, Ohio's move to the pistol helps by helping recruiting more than by changing in-game results.

In the end winning is still about attitude and hard work. That's why some coaches like Grobe or Paul Johnson can win just fine with older strategies (except that they may be limited by recruiting). It's also why young hotshot coaches may come and go, recruiting well, but not winning, while a limited few young coaches are able to combine excitement with a culture of hard work.
 

Winter conditioning is the start of a new season. The team knows that they have their work cut out to avoid a repeat, and that it starts now. Some people think wins are determined by play calling. I think they are determined by conditioning, and by a will to win. Last year's team came up short for whatever reason. I think this team will have a different spirit, but what will it be?

 

In a strange way, it was. Alabama has a long tradition of winning, and even of winning National Championships. Thus, after two seasons as good as any at Alabama, they had an off year. 

Ohio does not have a tradition of winning. What sort of season at Ohio does it take to be "one of the best ever"? Going to a bowl? Winning a bowl? Winning a MAC East championship? Beating a B1G team on national TV in front of 100,000? Being nationally ranked? By whatever measures you want to use, the period 2009 to mid-2012 was a very successful period for Ohio football.

Now its time to start again, but now the bar of "success" is a bit higher.

 

It's time for us to go out and win a MAC title already.  I won't speak for everyone but I know my impatience/frustration would be close to non existent had we not blown that MACC back in 2011.  It would have filled my cup for a few years and gave me something to hang my fan hat on.  My high school finally won a state title about ten years ago after several near misses.  Have not won one since.  But to have experienced even just one in my lifetime was a privilege and something I will never forget. Helped convince me that yes, it can happen. 

2012 and (and especially) 2013 would still have left a bad taste in my mouth but not as much.

I am cautiously optimistic about this upcoming season.  Our younger players will be a year older/wiser.  Those with a sense of entitlement hopefully were smacked in the mouth enough to realize they need to get after it hard this off season.  Expectations will be rather low so they may play more carefree and loose.  Too often I felt like we gave off a "playing not to lose" vibe the past two years.  If we fall flat on our face and get blown out in a lot of games next year it may be time to make some changes.  I am most looking for changes/improvement in attitude, heart, effort, maturity, and resiliency.  Something tells me that touchdowns and stout defense will follow if those things are fixed.