AFTER GREEN Bay got off to a rocky start last season, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told the team’s fan base to R-E-L-A-X.

Ohio State fans should also heed that same message.

Chill.

The Buckeyes simply lost a football game Saturday. No loved ones were lost. Columbus was not attacked by terrorists.

Moreover, they were defeated by a good team. Michigan State is one horrible officiating call at Nebraska from possibly being ranked No. 1 in the country. If the Spartans defeat Penn State and Iowa, they will be a lock for the Final Four.

It was less than a year ago, Ohio State won the national championship. It was the best of times in Scarlet & Gray land. That was followed by a 10-0 start this fall.

Hopes of a national championship repeat saturated the mindset of the Buckeye Nation. The Buckeye bubble burst on a windy, cold and wet day at the ‘Shoe on a last-second field goal.

Did the Buckeyes play well? Obviously not. They simply lost to a better team that day, a day in which the Ohio State offense was inept. Meanwhile, Sparty got it done with backup quarterbacks.

It didn’t take long for venom to be spewed by two Buckeye players.

I always considered Ezekiel Elliott a class act. All it took was a loss after 23 straight wins for the star running back to display his goon side.

The former Heisman Trophy hopeful ripped the team’s play calling and his lack of touches. He quickly added he will bypass his remaining eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

Elliott’s criticism was accurate. His forum and delivery were not. Such talk should stay in-house.

Quarterback Cardale Jones also voiced his displeasure. He said he is also moving on. His void will be easily filled.

Meyer inherited a tradition-rich program. In his four years, he has raised the bar to possibly unrealistic heights. Meyer is 48-4 as Ohio’s State’s head coach. That is a remarkable record.

The Buckeye faithful needs to wake up and smell the coffee: A national football championship is not in the cards every year. The college football landscape features too much parity for that to happen.

Alabama lost early to Ole Miss at home this year. Tideland did not spiral into discontent and despair. Rather, Nick Saban simply went back to work and has piloted Bama into national title contention once again.

Meyer needs to regroup the troops, head to Ann Arbor and beat the “Team Up North” and let the playoff chips fall where they may. An 11-1 season and a win over Michigan are not too shabby of a season.

HORNETS BUZZING

EMPORIA STATE made the long trip to Mankato, Minn., a historic one Saturday. The Hornets, with two Ohio Valley natives on their coaching staff, pocketed their first-ever Division II football playoff win by defeating Minnesota State, 51-49.

Emporia improved to 10-2 and will face Henderson State at noon Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark., in the second round. Minnesosta State was last year’s Division II runner-up.

The Hornets’ staff features a pair of brothers from Shadyside. Matt and Bryan Nardo – St. John Central products – are Emporia’s coordinators. Matt is the offensive coordinator, receivers coach and recruiting coordinator while Bryan is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Henderson State is 11-1. Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for the Division II crown.

FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

IT IS somewhat surprising to see that the Steubenville-Youngstown Ursuline Division IV state semifinal game is being staged at Boardman. That makes it a short jaunt for Ursuline. It won’t be a factor, however, as Steubenville will repeat its earlier blasting of the Irish.

SPEAKING OF the prep playoffs, Wheeling Park will be facing an acid road test against No. 2 Point Pleasant, a team that averaged 60 points a game in the regular season. That lofty total doesn’t faze me or the Patriots. Park will flex its own offensive muscles in punching a ticket into the state finals.

MAGNOLIA MAY have cleared its biggest hurdle to a Class A state crown in slipping past defending state champ Williamstown, 14-13, last Saturday. The Blue Eagles should be able to terminate Moorefield Saturday afternoon at New Martinsville. Magnolia’s biggest threat, in my opinion, was Wheeling Central. The Maroon Knights were eliminated at East Hardy, courtesy of some very questionable officiating. It’s tough enough for the Knights to make the four-hour trek to Baker, let alone have some shaky penalty calls doom your season.

BUBBA BITS

OUR CONDOLENCES and prayers go out to the family of Christy Mencer. She was a Harrison Central junior high girls’ basketball coach killed in a car accident Saturday. Mencer was in her sixth season coaching the junior high girls’ basketball team. She was also an assistant coach on the high school’s girls’ soccer team.

PREP HOOP junkies, Friday is your day. That is the day The Intelligencer-News-Register basketball preview hits the streets as well as The Times Leader boys’ hoop tab.

I RECEIVED an invitation to attend the Brendan Ferns’ celebration Monday in conjunction with the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The St. Clairsville grid standout received his jersey for the prestigious game at a very classy event. Four U.S. Army representatives were in attendance along with a bowl official. St. C. school officials did it up right with Superintendent Walt Skaggs, head coach Brett McLean and Ferns, himself, all speaking, with the entire senior class in attendance. The St. C. High band also provided several selections. Congratulations to Ferns on a great honor and to the St. C. administration for putting on an impressive program.