Turns out, John Cooper didn't need those final eight wins after all.
Cooper was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, joining a class of 13 players and two coaches - Cooper and Lou Holtz.
Cooper was fired from Ohio State following the 2000 season, leaving him with 192 career victories. He never hid the fact he really wanted to reach 200 career wins, which in his mind would cement his election to the Hall of Fame. On his second try, Cooper made it in anyhow.
"I thought it was going to happen, because you go in based on your record," he said. "Still, when it does happen, you have to pinch yourself."
Cooper is the only coach to take a Pac-10 team (Arizona State) and a Big Ten team to the Rose Bowl. He also won nine conference championships and appeared in 14 bowl games.
Critics will argue - and I might agree - that Cooper doesn't deserve election. His awful 2-10-1 record against Michigan cannot be dismissed, no matter how much time passes. Neither can the fact that he never coached in a national championship game - largely because he couldn't beat Michigan.
Not to spoil a good party or anything, but given the amount of talent he brought to Columbus, Cooper's teams vastly underachieved. For me, underachievers don't go into the Hall of Fame.
The whole election process, though, is baffling.
Current Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was inducted for his time as a player with the Wildcats, but Chris Spielman was shut out. To me, Spielman is the greatest linebacker to come out of a school known for producing linebackers. If he can't get in the Hall of Fame, Fitzgerald certainly shouldn't be in there.
What happened to Wally?
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is coming to the correct conclusion that he can't count on Wally Szczerbiak for much of anything.
Szczerbiak was awful against the Wizards in Game 5 Wednesday night. He was beaten badly off the dribble by Caron Butler, who finished the first half with 16 points, thanks mostly to Szczerbiak's defense. He was 1 of 6 from the floor and turned the ball over four times.
Finishing with as many turnovers as points is a good way to get benched, which is why Szczerbiak didn't get off the bench in the fourth quarter.
His sharpshooting days seem to have passed him by. Now Brown needs to do the same. Devin Brown is a much better fit in the offense as it's currently constructed. If Brown doesn't start tonight, he needs to play the bulk of the minutes in place of Szczerbiak.
Hot tickets
Ohio State's alumni association has a new policy for season tickets. All members applying for tickets will be entered into a random drawing for random games. Game selection will no longer be predetermined.
In addition, two single members who lived in one house are now eligible for separate applications. Previously, they had to share an application.
All active dues-paying members of the alumni association have until May 31 to apply for the lottery. Beginning in 2009, paper applications will not be accepted. All applications must be made online.