Bellisari No. 1 in some circles

The old television program "Laugh-In" had a running gag called the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award.
It was usually given to some sad sack whose lot in life was such that he or she was either the object of great derision or great pity, and sometimes both.
Which brings us to the case of Steve Bellisari, the oft-maligned signal-caller of The Ohio State University football squad, who's had some performances over the past 21/4 seasons judged worthy of the award, if not the appendage it was named after, offered by angry fans in the Horseshoe.
Saturday, Bellisari quarterbacked the Buckeyes to a 27-14 victory over Indiana, a program that's had its share of quarterback issues too.
And so today, Buckeye fans have the attitude that, in so many words, is "OK, we won, but Bellisari ... (insert verb here)."
Because, depending on the result each Saturday, the opinion of Bellisari changes every Sunday.
Reviled: Last week, after the Buckeyes' 13-6 loss to UCLA, it was a pretty universal opinion that Bellisari was either, a) probably the worst quarterback in Ohio State history, or b) absolutely the worst quarterback in Ohio State history.
Granted, 5-for-23 wasn't anything to phone home about ... OK, it wasn't even worth picking up the receiver (can't pick up the receiver, get it?) That was Bellisari's completion rate in the Rose Bowl, in a performance so replete in its stinkiness that it was the subject of virtually every talk show, column and Internet site around the state throughout the week.
Throughout his career, Bellisari's only area of consistency has been his maddening inconsistency. On one play he looks like Steve Young and the next like Brigham Young (the statue, not the man).
And after every loss, every misthrown pass, every fumble, the criticism comes raining down on Bellisari like pigeon droppings on ol' Mr. Young.
Saturday against the Hoosiers, Bellisari completed 15-of-21 passes for 194 yards in Ohio State's victory.
He didn't throw for any touchdowns, but he didn't toss any passes to the guys in the wrong-colored jerseys either. And he didn't fumble.
And let's be honest: Indiana's defensive players will never be confused with the Monsters of the Midway. It wasn't a performance that's going to get him any Heisman Trophy votes, but first steps should always be small ones.
(And it sure didn't hurt that Lydell Ross rushed for about a gazillion yards. Funny how an effective running game helps slow down the pass rush.)
Vote of confidence: Two days before the game, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel announced Bellisari would start against Indiana. In his remarks, Tressel said, in effect, that Bellisari wasn't the only offensive player to perform poorly against UCLA. He added that he wasn't sure what a demotion would do the psyche of Bellisari, who is a senior and a team captain.
As it turned out, Tressel's public vote of confidence probably did as much good for Bellisari as another week of repetitions in practice.
If anyone should know Tressel, it's Mahoning Valley football fans. We've followed the guy for 15 seasons; he didn't win four national championships by allowing his heartstrings to interfere with his brainwaves.
Next weekend, the Buckeyes will play host to Northwestern, a team with an infinitely better offense than Indiana's but a defense just about as porous.
It will be another test for Bellisari, but one that he can ace. He's a kid whose self-confidence rises and falls with each game, and perhaps, just maybe, back-to-back solid efforts can be a steppingstone to the second half of the season.
Buckeye fans can hold their own with any other booster club in the country when it comes to poormouthing their own team. But keep in mind, despite all the shortcomings, actually and perceived, this team is still tied for first in the Big Ten Conference.
And if Bellisari can turn his season around, maybe those fickle fingers pointed in his direction will switch to the one beside the thumb.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write him at todor@vindy.com.