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They looked bad. Real bad. The Buckeyes tonight were totally outclassed, outcoached, and outplayed, losing to Florida 41-14. They lost big, suffering one of the most embarrassing losses I’ve ever seen a team — any team — suffer. Utterly atrocious.

Troy Smith looked fat and slow. So did the rest of the team. They looked as if they’ve been partying for the last 51 days. At one point, the camera focused on Bucks’ defensive end Jay Richardson, and he was panting furiously for air, sweat pouring down his face like a water spigot on full blast, like he couldn’t get enough.

Tressel looked totally confused. Talk of him renegotiating his contract after winning his second National Championship in four years, was fruitless. In fact, Tressel doesn’t deserve it: he has to go back to the drawing board with this one.

In fact, he screwed the pooch tonight: now his recruitment task is that much harder — how are you going to draw the best talent when you let one of the biggest games in school history fall from your grasp before you even take the field?

Now, you can say that a 51 day layoff hurt. Probably. In fact, I think the NCAA has to change that rule immediately. But that’s not the reason the Bucks were pounded tonight.

Heismann letdown? Possibly.

Michigan letdown? Maybe. I doubt it, though. But beating Michigan is the highlight of the 2006 season.

My prediction: Buckeyes fall to No. 5 — or lower — in the final BCS standings. Which is generous, when you consider that they didn’t even look like they even belonged in the Top 25.

Grrrr…..

So, anyway… “Denim ‘n Dinge” returns to the Bend tonight: it’s not complete, as I haven’t had time to totally test it, so if there are a few unvarnished spots I apologize. I’ll get to it as soon as I can…