There is something to be said about 'moral victories' and 'winning a game after a certain point,' but enough already.
It's time for the Bulls to put together a 60-minute performance against the nation's top competition.
Enough taking positives out of defeat. The first quarter counts.
Even if the Bulls don't leave Waco, Texas, with a victory Saturday, I'd like to see a consistent performance - one in which fans don't have the opportunity to lash out against the team on Twitter because of its first-quarter inefficiencies.
Last season against No. 6 Georgia, Buffalo found itself down 24-6 late in the second quarter. From that point on, the Bulldogs outscored the Bulls by only four points. We were led to believe the Bulls had an outstanding performance - one that showed heart and resolve.
This season opened with a similar result.
Last week, Buffalo outscored No. 2 Ohio State 20-17 after the first quarter. We know that because it's been driven down our throats. The final score, however, was still 40-20 in favor of the Buckeyes.
What's the common theme of these games, besides a loss? The fate of the game was decided before the comeback began.
Buffalo's comeback efforts, though notable, were futile.
The other team knows that, too. Does anyone actually believe Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer began to sweat the possibility of his team losing that game? An early deficit gives the Bulls an opportunity to come back. But that was only a possibility because of their early mistakes.
Credit Buffalo for ceasing those opportunities, but let's not go overboard.
This week against Baylor, a large deficit before halftime would seal the same result as the Georgia and Ohio State contests - a defeat.
I can't tell you if it's pressure, being outcoached or intimidation of a hostile environment, but for whatever reason, the Bulls appear to come out flat in these nationally televised games.
I don't want to hear one more Tuesday press conference discussing the Bulls' will to fight back.
I don't expect a victory this weekend against Baylor. Not many do. But I would like to see the Bulls play a full 60 minutes for a change - a performance I can be proud of.
I'm sick of sitting down with my friends and saying, "Hey, after that third touchdown they surrendered, the team really settled down and impressed me."
Forty-five-23 and 40-20 - those are 22- and 20-point defeats, respectively. It looks like a blowout in the box score because when you look impartially, that's exactly what it was.
Celebrating 20-point defeats hasn't seemed to do much for this program, especially because most of the national audience has probably changed the channel after the initial blowout and returned just after the Bulls' "comeback" had calmed down.
Sixty strong minutes. That is what we need to truly put this football team on the map.
Email: owen.obrien@ubspectrum.com
