Because you'll either laugh or you'll cry

(And yes, I'm responsible for these ...)

Top Ten Buckeye Excuses:

1.) The Buckeyes showed up for the Fiesta Bowl, as scheduled, on Jan. 1, and there were these two other teams playing.

2.) In hindsight, perhaps the "Be the Ohio State Defensive Coordinator During the BCS Championship Game (presented by Dr. Pepper)" promotion betrayed a touch of overconfidence.

3.) Let's finally just be out with it: Jim Tressel can neither read nor write, and "doesn't really follow football." They just let him stand on the sidelines because he's "such a sweet guy."

4.) Pre-game motivational speech by Matthew Mcconaughey.

5.) Misunderstanding led Buckeye offense to prepare for game against actual alligators. These guys were actually much faster.

6.) The distractions of playing a game in glamorous Glendale, Arizona.

7.) Team unable to concentrate due to impending prospect of an explosive new season of "24"!!! Catch all-new episodes starting Jan. 14 on FOX!!!

8.) Pre-game, all-you-can-eat turkey buffet was probably a bad idea.

9.) Gameplan to have Teddy Ginn score all the team's touchdowns on kickoff returns got off to a promising start, but went downhill from there.

10.) Team's "secret weapon" at running back was unable to escape from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.