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J.J. Watt couldn't hold it back any longer.
Wisconsin's 6-foot-6, 292-pound defensive end, the Lott Trophy winner, broke down during the postgame Rose Bowl press conference after being asked how tough the 21-19 loss to TCU was.
"We know how much this means to everybody, to everybody involved," Watt said, with tears streaming down his face, shoulders heaving and his voice struggling to overcome the devastation written all over his face. "We work 365 days a year for this, and then we come out here and don't execute."
Watt then buried his face in his hands and wept.
This was a tough loss for Wisconsin, but it was also a brutal loss for the Big Ten and, most likely, Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee and his crusader campaign against the Little Sisters of the Poor. After all, the Big Ten went 0-5 on Saturday, losing to Florida, Alabama, Texas Tech, Mississippi State and TCU. That's 0-3 vs. the Southeastern Conference, 0-1 vs the Big 12 and 0-1 vs. the Mountain West Conference, for those keeping track. And there are plenty who are.
After those horrific New Year's Day performances by the Big Ten — throw in current Big 12 member and future Big Ten newcomer Nebraska's loss to Washington in the Holiday Bowl if you like rubbing salt into wounds — the overall reputation of the conference took another huge nose dive on Saturday.
After today, does anyone have confidence in Ohio State beating Arkansas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl?
It's an uncomfortable feeling, and unfortunately, a recurring feeling. While football fans have made the Big Ten football program a national punchline, often undeservedly, the controversial decision by Ohio State to play five players in the Sugar Bowl now has serious implications.
Ohio State has jumped the shark, a trick the SEC has performed masterfully because while they do frequently suspend players, they also win with or without them on the field. Ohio State is treading in treacherous waters because, in all honesty, a win means the Buckeyes sacrificed their supposed ethics for a "w."
A loss means they can't beat the SEC while fielding players who most fans think shouldn't be playing on the field in the first place. This constant emotional beatdown by other conferences has to be taking a toll on the players, but amidst all this Big Ten hand-wringing and angst, the bigger picture remains unchanged.
A loss hurts. It can reduce behemoths to bunny rabbits in the blink of an eye. J.J. Watt's reality caused our probing eyes to avert from a monstrous, talented lineman in tears after giving it his all and losing to a horned purple creature from a "cupcake" conference. It was unbearable to watch.
When asked if he would come back for his senior year, Watt suffered yet another tidal wave of emotion.
"I haven't made my decision, but if I'm back, if I go, the Wisconsin Badgers will be back in the Rose Bowl," Watt said haltingly. "No doubt about it, the Badgers will be back. They'll be back better than ever. When they come back, they'll win."
There was no "we" in that answer, was there? And who can blame him?
