Ohio State Football: Devin Brown says, “Burn the boats!”

Earlier this week, Ohio State football quarterback Devin Brown tweeted a cryptic message to Buckeye Nation that had many confused. Once the tweet was explained, it became perfectly clear what Brown was saying, and the mood in the fanbase instantly flipped.

The painting that Brown tweeted was that of multiple ships burning in a harbor. The idea of burning ships comes from the year 1519, when according to history, Hernan Cortes arrived in the “New World” with a crew and army that was tired, hungry, and in despair.

It was obvious that they were in no mood to fight, but they had landed in modern-day Mexico, and the Aztec empire was not going to allow him or his men to conquer them easily. Cortes, realizing he needed to change his men’s attitude quickly, ordered the ships to be burned, leaving them no choice but to fight for their lives.

The realization of there being no possibility of turning back must have sunk in quickly for the Spaniards. The exit of 12-1 starting quarterback Kyle McCord from the Ohio State football team’s roster must have had a similar impact on Brown, who is now competing for an opportunity to win the vacated starting position.

It’s that never-say-die attitude through one simple cryptic tweet that has Buckeye Nation believing Brown could be the right man for the job. It’s not as if Brown’s statistics as a backup this season are impressive. In fact, his career numbers with the Ohio State football team are 12/22 passing for 197 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He has also added 20 rushing attempts for 36 yards and one score to his total.

Those are not exactly National Championship-level stats. But it isn’t the numbers that have Buckeye Nation ready to become Brown supporters. It’s his attitude.

Too many times this season we witnessed McCord appear unenthused. There was one specific moment in particular that sticks in my craw when after he threw his first interception in The Game against Michigan, the FOX television cameras caught the Ohio State offense huddled up together on the sideline in their particular position groups while McCord sat by himself on the sideline staring into the abyss.

I’m sure after making a major mistake like that, sometimes people want to be left alone while they regroup. But this didn’t appear like McCord was regrouping but rather was lost in a moment of doubt and despair. Not exactly the kind of look that gives you confidence that he will lead the team to a come-from-behind victory on the road in a hostile environment against a team who has defeated you two consecutive seasons in a row.

There was no fire from McCord this season. Too many times he would come off the field after an unsuccessful drive and you could tell Day wasn’t happy. A quick comment or question from the head man would then be followed with McCord slowly walking back to the bench with his tail tucked between his legs in defeat.

Only one time this season did I ever feel like McCord was managing the huddle with confidence, and that was during the Notre Dame game-winning drive. This offense never felt like it was McCord’s team, but rather, it was a team full of stars who were dragging the quarterback along with them for a successful ride.

Regardless of whether Brown is able to produce on a level similar to C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, and or Dwayne Haskins, if he can just show fire, grit, determination, and leadership, this fanbase will rally around him in support like he is the second coming of J.T. Barrett. Speaking of Barrett, that might be more of the kind of style of play that Brown has more so than Day’s three previous first-round draft picks at the position.

Barrett might not have been able to throw the football down the field with pinpoint accuracy, but he was a leader. He had fire! It seems like Brown might be more like Barrett than anyone realized, which is why he has burned the boats in his head. There is no turning back for the Draper, Utah nativewho might be getting his first start as an Ohio State football player later this month in the Cotton Bowl.