PMT DB
PMT DB
Jim Tressel on Grit, the Punt, and the 2002 National Title
Grit Week 2016 continues to roll through the Rust Belt as Big Cat and PFT Commenter pull the RV into Youngstown for a rare bonus episode. The journey from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati was fueled by questionable decisions and even more questionable fast food. PFT managed to find what he believes is the nadir of the American dining experience in Columbus, involving a customer fighting over moldy bread and a cashier with no voice coughing directly onto the tater tots.
PFT CommenterThe Arby's in Columbus is the worst fast food restaurant in America
Arby's is a questionable choice to begin with. This one particular Arby's was probably the worst fast food restaurant in America... We knew we had a problem when the guy in front of us was complaining about soggy, moldy bread that he got a week ago, and he wanted a free sandwich, and they were fighting him tooth and nail for a $5 free sandwich.
Before sitting down with "The Senator," Big Cat and PFT Commenter broke down the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs look unstoppable in Cleveland, while the Raptors look like they forgot how to play basketball the second they crossed the border. PFT compared the Toronto squad to a historical military failure to explain their inability to win on the road.
PFT CommenterThe Raptors are the Russian Army of the NBA; they defend their home well but get smoked once they travel abroad
The Raptors, they're only good in Canada. They're like the Russian army. They can defend their homeland really well. But the second you send them over like the Kush mountains into Afghanistan, they're getting smoked.
Big Cat is already looking ahead to the Finals, fully prepared to see LeBron James take on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, though PFT was quick to point out that counting out the Warriors might be premature.
Big CatThe Cavaliers will beat the Raptors and face the Thunder in the NBA Finals
So we got the Cavs are going to win. They're going to most likely face the Thunder. [PFT: Oh, you want to get in this?] No, let's do Tressel, then we're going to get to it. I'm just saying that was a bold statement you just made.
The Godfather of Grit
President Jim Tressel welcomed Big Cat and PFT Commenter into his office at Youngstown State for a conversation that lasted way longer than anyone expected. Known for his sweater vests and "Quiet Time" tweets, Tressel opened up about the DNA of the Rust Belt and why suffering is the only true way to build grit. He didn't hold back on the Big Ten either, specifically calling out Penn State's stadium architecture for lacking any soul.
Jim TresselPenn State is the toughest Big Ten stadium for opponents but it looks like an erector set with no character
Probably Penn State when they're playing well is a difficult one because it's like an erector set, and it's huge... it doesn't, in my opinion, have that much character. It just looks like it got added onto and added onto another erector set.
Big Cat, a Wisconsin alum, had to bring up the 2002 National Championship and the legend of Craig Krenzel. Tressel defended his quarterback, arguing that Krenzel’s mental toughness and sheer will to win outweighed any concerns about his NFL-caliber arm talent.
Jim TresselGrit is more important than athletic ability for a quarterback
That's why I think grit's more important than ability is because Craig Krenzel was not the most talented quarterback in the nation... but he did the one thing that you're supposed to do if you're the quarterback, and that's win every game.
In a shocking turn for a man who loves the three-yard cloud of dust, Tressel absolutely buried the fullback dive. He described the play as a "pillow fight" because there isn't enough of a running start to actually generate a meaningful collision.
Jim TresselFullback dives are not gritty; they are essentially a pillow fight
No [fullback dives are not gritty]. Fullback dive is kind of like a pillow fight. You just run up in there. I mean, it's either you get a lot or you get nothing because you don't get any movement. You don't even have enough running start to have a collision in a fullback dive.
The Most Important Play
If you want to see Jim Tressel’s eyes light up, don't ask him about touchdowns; ask him about the punt. He views it as the ultimate game-changer, capable of delivering either pure exhilaration or total devastation. He can still recite specific blocked punts from decades ago that give him nightmares to this day.
Jim TresselThe punt is the most important play in football
I've said it's the most important play... the impact that the punt play makes in the game is incredible. If you get one blocked, it's devastating. If you block one, it's exhilarating. It's kind of like a relationship.
Tressel also addressed the controversial finish to the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. While the rest of the world remembers the late flag for pass interference in overtime, Tressel insists the game never should have even gone that far. He points to a missed call in regulation on Chris Gamble that would have ended the game right then and there.
Jim TresselThe 2003 Fiesta Bowl was won by a bad call in regulation, not the controversial pass interference in overtime
Go back to the film and look at the end of regulation when they said Chris Gamble didn't stay in bounds or whatever. The game should have ended in regulation. So the real bad call was that one... I think if you look at it [the PI call], the guy was mugged.
Done or Finished?
After the interview, Big Cat and PFT Commenter dove into the "Done or Finished" debate regarding the Golden State Warriors. With the Thunder taking a commanding lead in the series, Big Cat isn't just saying they're in trouble—he's declaring the season over for the 73-win team.
Big CatThe Warriors are done and will not win the Western Conference Finals
I have the Warriors as done. They are done this season. The Thunder are going to win this series. They are not finished, and the window is half closed.
PFT took it a step further, looking at the long-term implications for the Golden State dynasty. He believes the championship window isn't just closing; it might be slammed shut if they can't land a certain superstar free agent this summer.
PFT CommenterIf the Warriors lose in the playoffs and don't sign Kevin Durant, their championship window is closed
No Kevin Durant plus a Warriors exit this year. Windows closed.
The show wrapped up with a look at Michael Wilbon’s recent claims about who likes analytics. Big Cat isn't convinced it's a demographic issue; he thinks it's a "nerd" issue. According to him, the average fan at a bar doesn't care about Wins Above Replacement when they can just talk about home runs and RBIs.
Big CatNo one actually likes advanced analytics except for nerds
I just want to know who likes analytics. I'm not talking black, white, Asian, whatever. No one likes analytics. Nerds like analytics. Have you ever had someone walk up to you and be like, hey, man, have you looked at the recent war that each player has? No.
Just remember, if this show wasn't our best work, it's a bonus episode and doesn't count against our permanent record.
