So, we’re watching some of the BCS title game preview on ESPN last night.  In addition to the usual crew of Fowler, Corso, and Herbstreit, they have brought in Penn State alum Todd Blackledge to add his two cents.  And if you’re counting, that’s two guys from the Big 10 and 0 from the SEC on the set.

Blackledge spouted off a lot of useless stuff, but then he made a comment that really stood out to us.  He said…

“You hear so much talk about the speed; LSU has more speed; more speed in the SEC.  I don’t buy that.  Ohio State has just as fast of athletes [as the SEC], but the difference is, do they play as fast?  They did not play as fast as Florida in that game last year. They’ll play as fast as LSU will tonight, um, in this game this year.”

There are so many things wrong with this idiotic statement that we don’t even know where to begin.  First, we don’t even have a clue what he means that they are fast but did not play fast.  Why didn’t they play fast?  Is there a reason?  It was the championship game - one would think that if a team was fast, it would use its speed in the title game.  But apparently, according to Blackledge, they did not play as fast in that game - even though they were capable of it.  (What Roy?  It was stupid the Lions didn’t score 40 in that game?)

Second, how he can so confidently say that Ohio State will play as fast as LSU tonight?  What piece of evidence could possibly lead him to that conclusion?  As far as he can tell, the Buckeyes did not play as fast last year - why would this time be different?  What has Ohio State done against its pitiful schedule to make Blackledge think that Ohio State “fast” athletes will all of a sudden play as fast as an SEC team this year?

Could it be Jim Tressel’s 0-3 record versus the SEC in bowl games?  Could it be that Ohio State is 1-9-2 all time against SEC teams not named Kentucky or Vanderbilt?  Could it be the fact that Ohio State lost to the only team on its schedule (Illinois) with an semblance of speed?  Could it be that last year’s Florida team did not look so amazingly quick during SEC play but looked like 22 versions of Carl Lewis against the Buckeyes?

We have our own theory, Todd.  The speed of the SEC is not a myth.  Last year’s Ohio State team did not have athletes as fast as Florida.  And once again this year, the Buckeyes will not have athletes that can handle LSU.  The only hope for the Buckeyes is Les Miles.  He is the only one who can keep this game close.

And unlike Mr. Blackledge, we have plenty of evidence to back our theory up.