Message board 2nd hand account of JT halftime speech

[JCoz]

Can't attest to the accuracy, but I know writers from certain bucks sites have at least confirmed that several pieces of this were accurate from what they heard off the record; others are saying many liberties have been taken, you decide.

Longtime member (1999 or so), frequent reader, infrequent poster...FWIW, will never know if this is the real deal or not, but I received it from someone who I deem a very credible person and Buckeye fan and thought if nothing else I would share and leave it to you to decide the validity. As a side note - I'm overseas and flying back to States in a few hours, so won't be in position to respond until late Friday...regardless, I have little to no color to provide on the summary other than my ability to post it. Apologies if already posted and I missed it. Happy T-giving and Go Bucks!


Having spoken to a number of people who were present during the halftime speech of the PSU game, I have a really good feel for how things went down. JT used language that is NOT JT LIKE and he called some people out in front of the team....definately NOT something he does. I am going to do my very best to outline what happened at halftime, but posting about it does not do it any justice....you'd really have to hear it from those that were there:


Once the team got into the locker, he politely asked all recruits to step outside for a few minutes. He asked a student assistant to get a cup of water. The assistant comes back 30 seconds later with Gatorade. JT flipped and screamed: "I've got a room full of football players that are not doing much right, dont tell me I have student assistants not doing things right...GET ME A GLASS OF WATER NOW." Student assistant comes back 10 seconds later with a cup of water and a face more red than a stop sign. More on that later.

JT asked the captains to walk to the center of the room and face a mirror (the locker room is full of mirrors). Once the captains were standing and facing a mirror, he asked them if the coaching staff did a good enough job preparing the team last week for the game. "Captains, if we failed as a coaching staff, I want to know right here, right now. C'mon...tell me. We have 20 minutes to get things fixed, but I need to know." Silence. "OK, silence is consent. So now I ask you this: look in the mirror and tell me what you see." Silence. "OK, maybe I did not make myself clear...that was a QUESTION that requires an ANSWER." Still silence....finally, Cam said, "coach, I see a guy that is not playing his best football." JT shot back, "Its November, Cam....its God d*** November! This isnt the God d*** spring game...ITS NOVEMBER and we are playing at home with the Big Ten Championship in our hands! Hey B-Rolle, what do you see?" Rolle: Coach, we are not doing a good enough job of leading this fooball team right now and I accept full responsibility, sir." JT: "B-Rolle, how many Big Ten Championships have you won and how many of those were handed to you?" I've won 3 and none of them were handed to me, sir." JT: "NONE....NOT A GOD D*** ONE OF THEM. Captains, please sit down with the rest of your teammates."

Next, JT went on about a 7-8 minute tirade...here are some of the highlights:

"This is NOT Ohio State football right now...this looks like a rag tag operation that's looking to skate by because of what they've done in season's past. 2008 and 2009 are not going to help you in 2010."
"ESPN is not here because of you, they are here because of HIM (Paterno)."
"That team is not on the same level as you, but they are good enough to take the game unless something is done about it."
"We spent all week with brave men & women that have served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice...they are here today as guests and we honor their service with a horse (bleep) performace like that?"
"We are not losing this game. Absolutely not. Every single time we lose to that team, t-shirts are made. Not here, not today."
"If you play for 30 minutes, we will coach for 30 minutes and we will not let up until the clock reads zero."

At the conlusion of his speech, he looks at the captains sitting in the front and says, "thanks, guys...now I have to go to church twice tomorrow."

After the game in the locker room, JT called the student assistant to the middle of the room in front of the team and apologized to her and presented her with the game ball.

[statmasta]

I read somewhere that the entire thing is a hoax.

[danwismar]

There are too many players and coaches who have given first-hand accounts of what went on to media people to say this is a hoax...they at the very least confirm that it was an un-Tressellike profane tirade.

[JCoz]

I read somewhere that the entire thing is a hoax.

Well I've had people I trust confirm several elements of it, so I kindly disagree.

Just as I prefaced it, there are likely some embellishments, but this is no doubting that portions are true.

[smalls1129]

FWIW, LB confirmed at least the essence of this today on KNR.

[tired]

Thanks for posting this JC !!! I believe it. What a different team they were 2nd half. We can't be doing this against Iowa !!!

[FUDU]

Did it work?

[GodHatesClevelandSport]

I bet all he did was stand in front of them with hands on hips, say, "All riiight, now I promise you we will coach you for the next 30 minutes like you've never been coached before. All I am asking is that you play for the next 30 minutes like you've never played before. Now who's with me? What? I can't hear -- WHO'S WITH ME? WHO IS WITH ME?? OK, clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."

[Cease]

I heard he told his players that he would defeat Paterno with with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse and then finished the speech with a slow clap to crescendo ala Coach Norman Dale.