Since Urban Meyer returned to Ohio State's sideline Sept. 22, the coach has often struck an anguished pose: hands on knees, head bowed, eyes cast down.
Meyer spent much of last Saturday's game at Purdue in the dejected stance, watching the second-ranked Buckeyes implode in a 49-20 loss to the 3-3 Boilermakers. All of the Buckeyes' bad habits, ones they had found ways to overcome until last week, showed up against Purdue, leaving Meyer to admit afterward, "The glaring shortcomings we have were exposed."
There are big-picture questions swirling around Ohio State and Meyer, whose health and future as coach beyond this season seem very unknown.