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Welcome to OSUMB.net, the Community Forum for Ohio State University Marching Band Members, Alumni, Fans and Friends.
This is a privately owned and run site. This site is not affiliated in anyway with the Ohio State University, the Ohio State University Marching Band, or any Ohio State alumni associations. We reserve our right to moderate any and all information posted here by any and all parties. Please respect the members of this community and we welcome your participation.
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Posted By quint
- 2009 October 15
- 6:21pm
- 0 comments
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#7 Ohio State at Purdue
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, In
Kickoff: 12noon
TV: BTN
The Buckeyes are in trouble. The offensive line again failed to protect quarterback Terrell Pryor and did not hold blocks long enough to open holes for the running backs. Darn good thing the Buckeye defense is really scary good and was able to bail out the sputtering offense. Purdue is a big disappointment this season at just 1-5 and despite their offensive numbers, can’t seem to catch a break. The Boilermakers have the leading quarterback in the Big Ten, a running back ranked among the best in the conference and one of the top wide receiver in the country. Purdue just can’t hold on to the ball. The Buckeyes are on a three game “easy street” playing Purdue, Minnesota and New Mexico State before ending the season with a rough stretch of contests against Penn State, Iowa and Michigan. This offense has three games to get it together because if it doesn’t, ending the year 0-3 is a real possibility.
OSU “O”
Here’s a question to stir the pot: No one questions the talent of Terrell Pryor so why isn’t he improving? Is he a bust or is the coaching staff doing a lousy job teaching and developing him into the quarterback he should be? Hard to say if the crappy offensive line continues to leak linebackers like a sieve. I think these kids are trying their best and giving full effort, so what’s holding back their success. Youth? Coaching? All we can hope for is a fast turnaround or the season will end on a sour note.
OSU “D”
Purdue’s record is misleading. Quarterback Joey Elliot leads the Big Ten in passing, running back Ralph Bolden is second in the conference in yards per game and wide receiver Kevin Smith is second in the Big Ten in receptions and yards per game. The Boilermaker’s problem is they can’t hold on to the ball and have turned the ball over 20 times so far on the season. The Buckeye defense has 14 takeaways this year are will be looking for more. Purdue has lost four of the last five games by less than four points but his weekend they face a scary…really scary Buckeye defense.
Summary
The game comes down to the Boilermaker’s 410.2 yards of total offense per game against the Silver Bullet’s 271.8 yards of total defense. The Buckeye defense will keep the Purdue offense off the field giving the OSU offense control of the game.
Prediction: OSU 37 – PU 6
Why OSU will win:
Purdue is a turnover machine. The Silver Bullet will score at least one touchdown.
Purdue can’t stop anyone and the Buckeye offense is talented enough to put up some big numbers.
Why OSU will lose:
Turnovers and poor offensive execution.
Purdue finally catches a break and wins a close one.
Bold prediction for the game:
Not really a “bold prediction” but Tressel could keep this game close with some ultra-conservative play calling. The score will either be 37-6 or 13-6.
Crazy stat of the game:
Think things are bad in Columbus? Purdue is going into this contest with a 19 game losing streak against Top 25 teams.
Last time they met…
The OSU offense sputtered in a sad looking 16-3 victory in Columbus. Purdue did not allow the Buckeye offense a touchdown.
Boilermaker players to watch:
Senior QB #14 Joey Elliot
Sophomore RB #23 Ralph Bolden
Junior WR #8 Kevin Smith
Senior WR/KR #17 Aaron Valentin
Sophomore K #37 Carson Wiggs
Junior DE #94 Ryan Kerrigan
Senior CB #9 David Pender
Senior DT #92 Mike Neal
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Posted By quint
- 2009 October 08
- 11:26am
- 0 comments
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 #8/9 Ohio State v. #25 Wisconsin
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 3:30pm
TV: ABC
Wisconsin is enjoying a great start and come into Columbus with a 5-0 record and a national ranking. Ohio State is steadily rising up the rankings in their quest for a shot at the national title. Both teams are in control of their Big Ten title destiny and a win on Saturday will give some separation to the victor. Ohio State and Wisconsin seem to is always a classic game to watch and with early Big Ten title implications, this one will surely live up to the hype.
OSU “O”
Is Terrell Pryor maturing? Sometimes it looks like has finally has it down and other times you see him throwing off his back foot or “shot-putting” the football. He showed some signs of maturation last week but he still has a long way to go. The tough Wisconsin defense lead by sack machine O’Brien Schofield will eat up the offensive line and send Pryor into scramble mode if the line can’t establish itself. Chris Maragos has a nose for the ball and leads the Badgers with three of the team’s eight interceptions this season. Pryor will have to continue to mature and make good decisions or the Badgers will burn him. Running back Brandon Saine looked great last week and Jordan Hall is showing that he belongs on the field. The running game must be effective if OSU is going to win this game. If the Buckeyes can’t keep the chains moving and score in the red zone on the ground they will have to play catch up all day.
OSU “D”
Wisconsin has always been a “run first ask questions later” team and running back John Clay seems to fit that mold however quarterback Scott Tolzien is having a spectacular year and could be the decisive piece of the puzzle to put the Badgers on top. Clay is averaging 116 yards per game and is coming off a 184 yard game against Minnesota last week. Tolzien is having a fantastic season for his first full year starting. He is averaging 208 yards per game with 9 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions for the year. The OSU secondary will have to keep their heads on a swivel as Tolzien spreads the ball out nicely to his three favorite receivers, Issac Anderson, Nick Toon and Garrett Graham, who all average more than 50 yards per game. The OSU defense is ranked 10th nationally against the run and will have to rely on it if they have a hope of winning the game on Saturday.
Summary
Wisconsin is scoring a lot of points but is also giving up quite a few; 24.6 per game. The Badgers have won 4 of its five games by eight points or less and had to go to double overtime to put Fresno State away, but Wisconsin is no pushover. The Buckeyes and the Badgers always play a nasty physical game and this seasons contest should be no exception. It’ll be a tight game but the Buckeyes will pull this one out in the end.
Prediction:
OSU 23 – Wisconsin 13
Why OSU will win:
The Buckeyes need to create and capitalize on turnovers.
The Buckeyes have to score touchdowns in the redzone.
Defense must stay stout and be prepared for both a hard hitting ground attack and long passes.
Why OSU will lose:
Badger running back John Clay is 6-1 248 pounds. The Buckeyes haven’t seen a running back like this guy all season.
The flu bug might keep Buckeye lineman Mike Brewster out of the game. This would be a big hit for the running game and Pryor’s safety.
Crazy stat of the game:
Wisconsin has only allowed two sacks so far this season.
Last time they met was…
2008: Terrell Pryor led the Buckeyes to a late fourth quarter touchdown for a 20-17 final.
Wisconsin players to watch:
Junior QB #16 Scott Tolzien
Sophomore RB #32 John Clay
Senior TE #89 Garrett Graham
Sophomore WR #1 Nick Toon
Junior WR #6 Isaac Anderson
Senior DE #50 O’Brien Schofield
Senior S #21 Chris Maragos
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Posted By quint
- 2009 October 01
- 9:42am
- 0 comments
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 #9 Ohio State at Indiana
Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
Kickoff: 7pm
TV: BTN
The question of the day will be: How will Indiana react to getting jobbed by the Michigan friendly referees in the “Big House” last week. That was one of the biggest BS calls I have seen in my many years of watching college football. Indiana should file a formal protest with the Big Ten and remove those referees from ever calling a Big Ten game again. That said, will the Hoosiers come out with a chip on their shoulders or will they pack it in for the rest of the season? The Buckeyes have one of the best defenses in the country having held USC to only 19 points and posted back to back shut-outs. On paper, Indiana just doesn’t have the horses to keep up with the Buckeyes but with their outstanding performance against Michigan one might wonder.
OSU “O”
The game plan was simple for the Buckeyes, it’s raining…a lot…keep it on the ground. They did and the Buckeyes controlled the game from start to finish. With Indiana, it shouldn’t be too different as the Buckeyes will try to minimize injuries while giving the offensive line a lot of practice run blocking. Quarterback Terrell Pryor is starting to get comfortable in the pocket which should send a collective chill down the backs of the other schools in the Big Ten. He’s got work to do yet but it’s starting to show. Hoosier linebacker Matt Mayberry leads the team in tackles with 26 and fellow linebackers Tyler Replogle (24) and Will Patterson (22) aren’t far behind. Lineman Greg Middleton is a sack machine with three so far on the season. However, the Indiana defense has not been able to keep opposing offenses out of the endzone and is giving up and average of 22 points and 327 yards per game. This game will be another boost for Pryor’s confidence. Eclipsing the 372 total yards of offense Pryor had last week is not something that is expected but it could be a huge day for the young man.
OSU “D”
It might not be the biggest surprise but this Buckeye defense is shaping up to be something special. Linebacker Brian Rolle is taking full advantage of the outstanding play by Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward, Dexter Larimore and a carousel of defensive linemen. Through four games, Rolle has a 39 yard interception, an interception for a safety on a two point conversion and leads the team in tackles. He’s the newest OSU star linebacker and he’s only going to get better. Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell is having a very good year with 944 yards passing and three touchdowns on the season. Chappell’s favorite target is wide receiver Tandon Doss who is averaging just shy of 120 yards per game while running back Darius Willis had a breakout game against Michigan last week with 152 yards rushing. The game plan should be pretty straight forward for the defense; stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. Two things this defense is very good at so far this season. Expect to see Chappell running for his life on a frequent basis this Saturday.
Summary
This should be just another day at the office for the Buckeyes. It’s a night game and I can’t remember the last time Bloomington hosted a game under the lights. The players and student body will be frothing at the mouth (could be the liquor, could be the excitement, could be both) but after a quarter or two the Buckeyes will have let the entire stadium know who’s the biggest dog in the Big Ten. Don’t be surprised to see Indiana score first but after that they won’t be able to muster much offense against the Buckeye Silver Bullet defense.
Prediction: OSU 28 - Indiana 10
Why OSU will win:
Offensive ball control.
No turnovers.
Swarming, disruptive defense.
Hoosier turnovers leading to points (hopefully touchdowns).
Why OSU will lose:
The team misses their exit and end up in West Lafayette.
The Indianapolis Colts show up in Hoosier uniforms.
Bold prediction for the game:
After having a fantastic 152 yard game against the Wolverines, Darius Willis will get held to under 100 yards by the Buckeye defense.
Crazy stat of the game:
The Buckeyes have won 14 straight contests against Indiana dating back to a 41-7 Hoosier smack down in 1988.
Last time they met:
2006, OSU 44-3
Indiana players to watch:
Junior QB #4 Ben Chappell
Freshman RB #28 Darius Willis
Sophomore WR #2 Tandon Doss
Sophomore WR #88 Damarlo Belcher
Senior LB #34 Will Patterson
Junior LB #46 Tyler Replogle
Senior LB #43 Matt Mayberry
Senior S #20 Austin Thomas
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Posted By quint
- 2009 September 25
- 10:15am
- 1 comments
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 #13/11 Ohio State vs. Illinois
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: ABC
The Buckeyes were #1 in the country when the Fighting Illini came into Columbus in November of 2007. The Buckeyes tasted defeat for the first time that season as the Illini shocked OSU 28-21. It’s been two years since the teams have faced off but the sting of that loss is still fresh in the minds of Buckeye Nation. The Illini are coming off a much needed early season bye week. Several key players sat out their last game and the week off allowed them to heal up. Illinois owns Ohio State in the ‘Shoe winning 4 of the last five and seven out of the last ten. It’s time to buck this trend.
OSU “O”
Quarterback Terrelle Pryor continued to improve but still displayed poor decision making by throwing into traffic and getting picked off twice. I’m also a little worried about Pryor’s mechanics. He still doesn’t look confident in his arm and jumped or threw off his back foot more than once. He also tried to throw the ball too much. On a broken play, an athletic quarterback needs to tuck the ball and get the first down and not sort of think about throwing the ball. Be decisive. The Illinois defense hasn’t been world beaters but they are a disciplined unit and will find holes in the soft and squishy Buckeye offensive line. If the line does its job the Buckeyes will control the clock and win handily. If the offensive line continues its recent tradition of missed assignments, implosive effort and weak play, Pryor will be running for his life and the running backs won’t have a chance to move the ball. This is the start of Big Ten season and this unit better get its act together. The Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl are still in our future and Saturday kicks it all off.
OSU “D”
This defense is shaping up to be something special. Yes it was Toledo but anytime you get a shut out against a Division 1 team is an accomplishment. Toledo came into the game ranked the number one offense in the country and the Buckeye defense made them look silly. Illinois is coming off a bye week and it’s a good thing it happened so early. Quarterback Juice Williams was banged up in the second game of the season and had to sit out and watch backup Eddie McGee put up some good numbers. Along with Juice, the Illini have seen injuries across the board including wide receiver Arrelious Benn, running backs Dan Dufrene and Jason Ford, and linebacker Matez Wilson. All but Wilson are expected to play this Saturday. The defensive key to the game for the Buckeyes is to get to Juice and knock him out of his game. He’s a serious threat on the ground and if he gets into a throwing rhythm he can be unstoppable.
Summary
The Illinois offense sinks or swims depending on Juice Williams and with the way the Ohio State defense has played so far this season the edge has to go to the Buckeyes. As long as Ohio State doesn’t beat themselves they should be able to handle the Illini and bring the Illibuck back to Columbus.
Prediction: OSU 30 – Illini 17
Why OSU will win:
Terrelle Pryor is maturing each game into a great quarterback.
Defense shuts down Juice.
Why OSU will lose:
The only way the Buckeyes lose this game is if they beat themselves with turnovers and a hurried offensive attack.
Bold prediction for the game:
The Illibuck is coming home to Columbus. Hopefully we won’t keep him in a bathtub again.
Crazy stat of the game:
The Illini own Ohio State in Columbus winning 7 of the last 10 games in Columbus.
Last time they met…
It’s been a few years but the memory of last time these two teams played still stings many Buckeye faithful. In 2007, Illinois defeated #1 ranked Ohio State in Columbus, 28-21. OSU won last year in Champaign 30-20
Illini players to watch:
Senior QB #7 Juice Williams
Junior WR #9 Arrelious Benn
Sophomore RB #21 Jason Ford
Senior WR #16 Michael Hoomanawanui (I just like the name)
Junior WR #11 Jarred Fayson
Sophomore LB #38 Ian Thomas
Junior DB #20 Garrett Edwards
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Posted By Rob Hammersmith
- 2009 September 20
- 8:41am
- 2 comments
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 For those that weren't aware, OSUMB.net was a victim of a hijacking and extortion attempt. The domain name "OSUMB.net" was first registered with ExpertSRS.com. Every year as the annual subscription needed renewed they would email me to renew, which I did for 3 straight years (2005, 2006 and 2007). But for some reason in 2008 they never emailed me to let me know to renew and the registration expired. They on their own bought the expired domain for a full year and expected me to pay hundreds of dollars to buy it back from them. I refused. A year went by and their annual subscription expired so I used GoDaddy.com to get the new registration for $9 (instead of hundreds of $). And GoDaddy has a setting for "automatic renewal", so when the registration expires it will automatically charge me $9 for a new year subscription. ExpertSRS.com is a bunch of crooks. Don't ever use them. So far I like GoDaddy.com, but you never know with these kinds of companies. |
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Posted By quint
- 2008 March 27
- 5:08pm
- 0 comments
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Ohio State announced today that they have scheduled a home and home with the Tennessee Volunteers starting in 2018. The Buckeyes will travel to Knoxville on September 1, 2018 and Tennessee will return the favor in Columbus on September 7, 2019. The last time the two schools met was in the 1995 Citrus Bowl with the Heisman winner Eddie George’s Buckeyes falling to Peyton Manning’s Volunteers 20-14. (Remember the cleat scandal?) This will be the first time the two schools have met in the regular season.
Last seasons embarrassment of a schedule and the flack the university endured from the local and national media has prompted the athletic department to step up the regular season opponents. For the next ten years the Buckeyes will play USC, Miami (FLA), Virginia Tech, Cal, Oklahoma and now Tennessee in the pre-season.
I absolutely love the fact the Buckeyes will be playing in premier games. It makes for good ratings, great exposure and is invaluable to recruiting. The games will likely be in prime time so the entire nation will be watching including young men who may rarely get to see the Buckeyes play. I don’t expect Ohio State to win every one of these games but it will certainly go a long way for recruiting and the national reputation and respect of the university.
I just hope the Big Ten Network doesn’t screw up things and make it impossible for anyone to see these games.
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Posted By quint
- 2008 February 21
- 6:56am
- 0 comments
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Posted By quint
- 2008 February 18
- 9:13pm
- 0 comments
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Part 3
Wisconsin Badgers
Pregame Hype: Wisconsin is the only Big Ten team Coach Tressel has a losing record against and you could tell by his press conferences leading up to the game that he wanted this one badly. At the beginning of the season, back to back Penn State and Wisconsin games gave many fans cold sweats but after the disposal of Penn State coupled with P.J. Hill being banged up, things were looking bright for the Bucks.
The Game: OSU 38 – Wisconsin 17 Wisconsin gave the Buckeyes everything they had but eventually they couldn’t keep up with the explosive Beanie Wells. Beanie ran for 169 yards and three touchdowns on a good Wisconsin defense while James Laurinaitis tallied a Chris Speilman like 19 tackles for the day.
The Verdict: Even when Wisconsin was up 17-10, the Bucks didn’t blink and stuck to their gameplan. It was a veteran performance from a blossoming team. The buckeyes were still #1 in the country and fans were looking forward to the season ending match-up with the Wolverines.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Pregame Hype: Some reporters warned the masses about the potential for an upset here. Few listened as preparations for house parties or trips to Ann Arbor were being organized. Juice Williams can’t throw, their running game is average and the defense hasn’t been the same since Simeon Rice played there in the 90’s.
The Game: Illini 28 - OSU 21 In the past few years, scrambling quarterbacks have given the Buckeye fits and Juice Williams is a heck of a scrambler. His arm has been in question all year but he was spot on this day. The Buckeye defense didn’t make any adjustments for him of the brilliant Ron Zook gameplan. Three turnovers helped the Illini solidify the victory and we saw the worst out of Todd Boeckmans decision making surface.
The Verdict: You might talk about the referees being questionable but the fact of the matter is that the Buckeyes were out played by an inferior team. The Illini played the Buckeyes down to the wire in 2006 and it shouldn’t have surprised anyone that they were ready to play. The Buckeyes seemed to be buying into the fact that they were good and thought they could sleepwalk through the game into Michigan undefeated. A lesson earned I hope.
Michigan Wolverines
Pregame Hype: Nothing will ever live up to last years #1 versus #2 match-up in Columbus but this is still The Game and Ohio State goes for a rare four game winning streak against their biggest rival. Michigan seniors Jake Long, Mike Hart and Chad Henne try to salvage their collegiate careers with a victory over the Buckeyes while the impending retirement of Lloyd Carr looms over the program.
The Game: OSU 14 – UM 3 Bitter cold and high winds didn’t help either offense to succeed, overall a pretty sloppy game by both offenses. The Buckeye defense held Michigan to 91 total yards and Todd Boeckman was effectively benched in the fourth quarter as Tressel wouldn’t let him do anything except hand the ball off to Beanie Wells. Victory was sweet but Boeckman looked to take a step back in the game.
The Verdict: Four in a row! Henne, Hart and Long will never know what victory feels like against the Buckeyes. Carr retires on Monday after the game and the Buckeyes are headed to the Rose Bowl to play Arizona State or USC. There are 50+ days of waiting before the next Ohio State game. Something has got to be done about the long layoff.
LSU Tigers; BCS National Championship Game
Pregame Hype: While the Buckeyes were waiting at home to see who they were going to play in the Rose Bowl, a funny thing happened; LSU, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and USC all LOST. So the Ohio State Buckeyes leaped from #7 to #1 in three weeks of being idle.
The Game: LSU 38 – OSU 34 Up 10-0 early in the first quarter, the Buckeyes seemed worthy of their station and seemingly had LSU on the ropes. LSU proceeded to pop off 31 straight points as the powerful SEC embarrasses the Buckeyes again. Was Tressel out coached? Was LSU that much better? Did the Buckeyes over prepare? I think it was simply a butt kicking of grand proportions. The Buckeye were not prepared for the Mac truck that hit them.
The Verdict: Should the Buckeyes have been there in the first place? Probably not. USC, Georgia and West Virginia all were worthy and likely better teams than the Buckeyes but Ohio State did everything the BCS asked them to do; win a lot and lose few. In the end there were only two one loss teams and one undefeated team before the bowls in 2007. Who is to say that LSU, with two losses, should have been there over Kansas or Hawaii? Was Georgia the best team in the SEC? The finale of the 2007 season was a surprise and a letdown at the same time. No one expected the Buckeyes to get this far but getting there is no fun if you can’t finish, just ask the new England Patriots. For the foreseeable future, we may have many more of these kind of seasons and scenarios, that is until the conference presidents get their heads on straight and come up with a Division-1 playoff. But hey, it’s been almost two months and we’re still talking about the 2007 season and we’re certainly looking forward to 2008. Wasn’t it Walt Disney that said, “Always leave them wanting more?”
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Posted By quint
- 2008 February 18
- 9:10pm
- 0 comments
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Terrell Pryor said a whole lot of nothing today when he "narrowed" his schools down to a firm four; Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Oregon. According to Rivals.com, Pryor was set to sign with the Buckeyes on February 6th but his father wanted him to give Penn State a shot. Apparently giving Penn State a good look also means that you visit Oregon and keep Michigan on you list of schools.
I won't get too down on Pryor, this truly is a life changing decision and he needs to make the right one (ohiostate). I applaud him for keeping everything in perspective (ohiostate) and wanting to take his time making the right choice (ohiostate).
I have two points of concern I would like to make;
1) This is the second time I have heard him say in a press conference that he didn't want all the attention the media is giving him. If he is tired of all the attention and wanted to be left alone then why is he calling press conferences to tell the media he didn't want to talk to them anymore? He certainly wanted the attention when he had someone develop a website to showcase his football skills (www.terrellpryor.org) and now when it's no longer fun he gets cranky. Sorry to bring this up but the media isn't going anywhere and it's only going to get worse from this point on.
2) In the Rivals article, Pryor goes into a short tirade about the media criticizing his decision to hold off on his signing to explore all options. He singled out Mark May of ESPN saying, "(He) is criticizing me on national television and he doesn't even know me. That kind of stuff really bothers me, when people who know nothing about me are talking about me like they know anything." While I will rarely side with Mark May on anything, I have to say that he was just doing his job. He's a talking head that's paid to spout his opinion on television and he did just that when he spoke about Pryor. This kind of sensitivity worries me. What's going to happen if Terrell signs with OSU and he has some bad games? Columbus media and some of the OSU fan-base won't necessarily give him a pat on the back and say, "Go get 'em next time, tiger." Terrell needs to grow some thick skin quickly with no matter which school he signs.
Link to Rivals.com article http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=775796
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Posted By quint
- 2008 February 10
- 12:17pm
- 0 comments
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Part 2
Minnesota Gophers
Pregame Hype: After the shellacking of Northwestern, Ohio State fans were starting to believe that this team would certainly be a contender for the Big Ten title. Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan loomed late in the season and OSU fans were hopeful that Coach Tressel could keep everyone focused on each game individually.
The Game: OSU 30 – Minnesota 7 Minnesota must have left their rushing attack back in Minneapolis. The Buckeye defense had their way with the Gophers and easily manhandled them. Beanie Wells racked up 116 yards on the ground and Brian Robiskie had 99 through the air.
The Verdict: “Set the team on cruise control Tressel,” was the predominate sentiment around Columbus “and keep them focused!”
Purdue Boilermakers
Pregame Hype: Purdue and their Big Ten leading offense hosts the Buckeyes and the Big Ten leading defense. Fans are giddy at the fact that they might have a fun “unstoppable force / immovable object” game on their hands. The primetime TV slot insures that the student body and the fans at home are properly sauced by kickoff.
The Game: OSU 23 – Purdue 7 The defense showed up big allowing only 4 yards net rushing. Purdue played from behind the whole day a turned one-dimensional, pass happy offense. Todd Boeckman showed signs of being a first year starter and threw three interceptions in the game. Beanie Wells was gimpy with a sprained ankle.
The Verdict: A win is a win but the offense was not clicking this day. There is no doubt about the defense anymore as detractors finally started giving the Silver Bullets due respect.
Kent State Golden Flashes
Pregame Hype: The Big Ten added a 12th game to the schedule but for some reason it won’t be a conference game. The Buckeyes are again criticized for the cupcake in-state opponent. Fans are getting tired of shelling out more than $64 for these kind of games.
The Game: OSU 48 – Kent State 3 A huge game from Brian Hartline and Todd Boeckman calmed a lot of Buckeye nerves. Fans got to see the NCAA football equivalent to a baseball cycle; punt return, interception, rush and pass all for touchdowns. First time I can remember that EVER happening in Ohio Stadium. Hartline’s 90 yard punt return was the longest in Ohio Stadium history.
The Verdict: The Buckeyes dominated a team that they should have dominated. Fans saw a glimps of the future as Brandon Saine got plenty of touches as Beanie Wells was limited with an ankle sprain.
Michigan State Spartans
Pregame Hype: This has been the craziest football season in recent history and all of a sudden Ohio State (preseason #16-ish) has risen to the #1 ranking in the country. No one in Buckeye Nation expected to be this high this season but here they are. Former defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio will face the Buckeyes for the first time as the Spartan’s head coach.
The Game: OSU 24 – MSU 17 This game was out of hand until the Buckeyes turned the ball over late in the third. The score was closer than it indicated but the defense was able to put the clamps on when it most needed before the Spartans could turn the game in their favor.
The Verdict: Todd Boeckman still looked like a first year starter and many wondered when he would start making better decisions with the ball. Not all passes that work against YSU and Kent State will work against Big ten defenses. Beanie Wells is a monster as he racked up 221 yards and a touchdown for the day.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Pregame Hype: First Washington was going to be a test for the Buckeyes and then Purdue was supposed to be a challenge. Both turned into busts as the Buckeye defense decimated then in nearly every aspect. Now a trip to Happy Valley is the first true test for the Buckeyes in 2007. The Bucks have only won twice at Penn State since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993.
The Game: OSU 37 – PSU 17 After an early deficit, the Buckeyes took control of the game on both sides of the ball. Outside of an interception, Todd Boeckman looked great and Beanie Wells came to work and racked up 133 yards on the second best defense in the Big Ten.
The Verdict: This victory felt really good. Any victory over PSU is a good victory but with the way the offensive line manhandled the Nittany Lion defense it was extra special. Most fans and media members are now expecting the Bucks to go undefeated into the Michigan game.
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Posted By quint
- 2008 February 10
- 11:40am
- 0 comments
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Most of the preseason magazines had the 2007 Buckeyes rated third in the Big Ten behind Michigan and Wisconsin and somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Top 25. Nobody argued the preseason prediction as OSU was replacing XX juniors and seniors including their starting running back, both starting wide receivers and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith. However, things did have a positive outlook for the Buckeye nation as a light preseason schedule coupled with a weak Big Ten gave hopes to many of earning another conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Youngstown State Penguins
Pregame Hype: The national and local media along with many fans lambasted the athletic department and Coach Tressel for allowing this type of game to happen. “YSU (a Division 2 team) shouldn’t be on the same field as the Buckeyes,” many said and the University faced great nationally scrutiny as the teams took the field.
The Game: OSU 38 – YSU 6 The Buckeyes took care of business and beat the Penguins convincingly without blowing them away. Lots of fresh faces saw action as the Buckeyes were able to go three deep on both sides of the ball without missing a beat. Biggest downside to the game was the broken leg starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson suffered that ended his promising season.
The Verdict: It wasn’t even a good warm-up. Even from C-Deck, the Buckeyes were noticeably bigger than the Penguins. Even with the stupid safety, there wasn’t a doubt from the opening kick-off on what the outcome would be. Best thing about the game was seeing the Alumni Band come out of the tunnel with 600+ strong.
Akron Zips
Pregame Hype: Another cupcake on the schedule gets the Buckeyes in more heat for not having a tougher non-conference schedule. In state Akron is happy to trade a walloping for a big paycheck.
The Game: OSU 20 – Akron 2 A less than impressive showing by the young Buckeye offense was outshined by a fantastic performance by a veteran defense. Beanie Wells got it going late in the game and the starters didn’t see much of the fourth quarter.
The Verdict: We knew the defense was going to be good and the schedule lined up perfectly for the young offense to be able to gel together. Thankfully a lot of underclassmen got to play.
Washington Huskies
Pregame Hype: The first challenge for the Buckeyes of the 2007 campaign. Mobile quarterback Jake Locker is a real threat as Washington brings a good defense to the table to test the untested young Buckeye offense.
The Game: OSU 33 – Washington 14 An exciting first half turned into a second half route. The Buckeyes took control of the game despite an outstanding performance from Locker. Great offensive line play allowed Todd Boeckman to play far beyond his on field experience. Beanie Wells wore down the defense as he punished Washington with his physical style of running.
The Verdict: The win convinced Buckeye nation that they were surely going to be undefeated going into the Penn State game. Rumblings of a trip to Pasadena started to make their rounds.
Northwestern Wildcats
Pregame Hype: The final game in the Y.A.W.N. stretch. Finally a Big Ten opponent; too bad it’s the Wildcats. The Bucks still get crap concerning the schedule.
The Game: OSU 58 – Northwestern 7 The defense really made a statement this week and could have pitched a shutout if they had left their starters in the entire game. The offense scored on their first three possessions making it 21-0 in the first quarter. The Wildcats collapsed after Vernon Gholston picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
The Verdict: We all knew that Ohio State was going to win this one but no one thought they would so completely dominate the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. Many Buckeye fans started looking ahead at the schedule and believing that they could go undefeated into the Penn State game in mid-October.
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Posted By quint
- 2008 January 14
- 6:39pm
- 1 comments
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Do my eyes and ears deceive me? Can it be true?
Returning for their senoir years as Ohio State Buckeyes are
Malcolm Jenkins
Marcus Freeman
Alex Boone
Brian Robiskie
AND
James Laurinaitis
UNBELIEVABLE!
2008 should be another great year to be a Buckeye! |
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Posted By quint
- 2008 January 05
- 6:14pm
- 0 comments
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#1 OSU v #2 LSU
Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Kickoff: 8pm
Very few Buckeye fans could have predicted or even dreamed of the success that Jim Tressel has brought to the program. With all the statistical jibber jabber being tossed around, by far the most impressive is the fact that this will be Tressel’s third national championship appearance in five years with the Buckeyes. It’s been a long time since any program has been that good over such a short period of time. With all of that said, outside Columbus, Ohio, few experts are giving Ohio State a chance against the vaunted LSU Tigers and their SEC speed. Many even lament the fact that the Buckeyes are even playing in the game. So what gives? Why is the media so down on the Bucks this season? Is it their weak schedule, a down Big Ten, perceived lack of speed, late season loss to an unranked team, the butt-whooping Florida laid on then last year? There’s plenty of mud to sling at the Bucks this season, honestly did any of you really think this was the year OSU would be back in the championship game, but that’s exactly what this team needs, disrespect. Disrespect from every angle and every direction. The Bucks aren’t the fat happy team they were last year when Florida handed them their jock straps. No, this is a pissed off Ohio State that’s ready to get dirty and nasty. Their reputations are on the line, their pride has been damaged and they want nothing more than to prove once and for all that Ohio State is no joke.
Unlike most of my colleagues, I will tell you with utter confidence that Ohio State will win or lose the game on Monday because of Todd Boekman. Many have said that if Beanie Wells has a great day that the Bucks can control the ball and grind out a win. While that’s a sound observation, if Boeckman has an off night LSU will simply load the box, stop the run and allow the secondary to play man to man. Tressel needs the pass to set up the run in this game. LSU head coach Les Miles like to blitz a lot, especially the safeties. To counter the constant blitzes, OSU must come up with an effective short yard passing game to soften or slow down the pressure. Middle screens, short out patterns, and quick slants will throw off the rhythm of the LSU defense allowing the offensive line to dig in and open up holes for Beanie Wells and Brandon Saine. I think LSU is too fast at linebacker to run a lot of outside running plays so you have to attack them up the gut with a powerful Beanie Wells running between the tackles. This defense has been scorched by both Kentucky and Arkansas with tough inside running and the Buckeyes have the horses to do so. It still starts with the pass. I’m not talking deep balls and fade routes. I’m talking about the simple frustrating short game that was so effective for Florida last year.
The Ohio State defense lines up very well with the tigers. LSU has an above average offensive line but they aren’t world beaters and they won’t keep Vernon Gholston and James Laurinaitis contained. Tailback Early Doucet has blazing speed and quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux seem to have the same contrasting styles as Chris Leak and Tim Teabow last year and they will score but this is the best defense the Tigers have seen all year. If they get too full of themselves the Buckeye defense will take charge and shut them down.
Both teams were pretty banged by the end of the season. Glen Dorsey nursed a knee strain for the last four games of the season, Beanie Wells suffered from ankle and wrist sprains, Brandon Saine sat out due to knee problems and Lawrence Wilson season ended with a broken leg the first game of the year. With the long layover, all but Wilson will be back to 100% for Mondays contest and both sides are ready to give the other their best shot. Athlete to athlete, Ohio State and LSU are evenly matched. The advantage goes to the Buckeyes because of Jim Tressel. Tressel is still bitter about being out coached last year by Urban Meyer and Tress wants to right the ship. Les Miles has been criticized this season for several questionable play calls at critical times and I expect his ego will get the better of him as he calls something like a run play on fourth and eight in the second quarter. Tressel is a superior coach and few will argue that point but this game being a virtual home game for the Tigers will certainly bend favor to LSU early in the game. The number one goal of this game is for Boekman to manage the game and not turn the ball over. Tressel will coach a fine game and the defense will play lights out but if Boeckman gets flustered, starts under throwing his receivers and turning the ball over, the Bucks will not prevail. It all rests on the arm of Boeckman. I know you can do it.
GOBUCKS! OSU 27 – LSU 19
Crazy stat of the game: Ohio State is coming into this game with an eight game losing streak versus the SEC. I personally witnessed three of them (Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama).. Stupid Citrus Bowl.
Why Ohio State will win:
Todd Boeckman must use his feet wisely and be just mobile enough to handle the constant blitzing that LSU will do.
Short passing game will set up the run.
Beanie Wells must punish the LSU defensive line.
OSU offensive line needs to play as nasty as I know they can.
No turnovers.
Tress shouldn’t be afraid to throw Antonio Henton in as a change of pace.
LSU isn’t used to a zone defense.
Why Ohio State will lose:
Poor decisions, under thrown balls and turnovers.
Not getting Beanie enough carries in the first half.
Getting fooled by the Les Miles “run, run, run, DEEP PASS, run, run, run” style of offense.
Two or more turnovers.
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Posted By quint
- 2007 November 24
- 7:17am
- 2 comments
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It's starting to happen!
LSU goes down hard in triple overtime to Arkansas and etiher Mizzou or Kansas will lose today. That will put the Buckeyes solidly in the #3 spot. If West Virginia stumbles or plays poorly against Uconn today, the Bucks could be headed South instead of West.
I still say that the Rose Bowl is the best bowl game and Ohio State hasn't been there in 11 years. It would mean a lot to me to see the band in the Rose Bowl Parade.
I would really hate to see Michigan go to the Rose Bowl again. They've lost that bowl game more times than Ohio State has lost the Cirtus Bowl.
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Posted By steveosu1
- 2007 November 18
- 3:09am
- 2 comments
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First of all, way to go Bucks! It's a GREAT day to be a Buckeye. Way to step it up, D. About 150 Buckeye faithful showed up to go to the Eastside Grill here in Honolulu. Only about 20 Michigan folks. Place was decked out with Ohio State decos (some of us showed up at the bar 5:30am for the makeover).
BCS/Rose Bowl....where ever we end up, it's better than what most of us thought where we would be at now in the beginning of this "rebuilding year".
With that said, still fun to just sit back and think we going to Pasadena is the WORST CASE SCENARIO!!!! Great place for a Band member to experience at least once in their band career. With our last trip being eleven years ago, we are overdue for a visit! California, here we come......maybe.
After Oklahoma just losing (no way/no how, huh Pete? - this year, you just cannot know what's going to happen), We'll see only LSU, Kansas, Mizzou, and WV ahead of us on Sunday.
Either KU or Mizzou will be knocked out next week.
So, it will just leave 3 teams ahead of us (2 we need to lose to reach the championship):
1. LSU - Arkansas and SEC championship vs. GA/TENN
2. Kansas/Mizzou winner - after next week's game, they would have the Big 12 Championship.
3. WV - UCONN and Pitt.
Looking at these three teams, the team I can see have the best chance losing is the KU/Mizzou winner. Mostly likely, they will face a very ticked off Stoops and OU. Watch out. My early prediction, Big 12 South is WAY stronger than the North. Oklahoma spoils KU/Mizzou's hopes.
Team with the best chance at winning the rest of their games - I hate to say it.....West Virginia. UCONN's overrated and Pitt....they're sloppy. Our best shot was Cincy.
So, let's have fun watching how this play out!
All that matters today though is that we crushed Michigan, Hart has NEVER beaten Ohio State, and we are going to Pasadena (until further notice). I'll sleep nicely tonight. That is, unless I get woken up from my wife telling me "it's time". Just glad the baby waited to pop out until after the regular season. (don't tell my wife I just said that)
Oh yeah, go Hawaii!!! Beat Boise State! Can you believe that Boise State will be the only sold out game this year? Pretty pathetic if you ask me. No Top 25 team should have an embarrassing amount of empty seats each and every game. Nice support from the home town.
Again, great to be a Buckeye! |
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