They lost to a ranked team whether you prefer to think so or not. In fact if you argue that USC is not a top 25 team then I will start a vote to have your man card revoked because you clearly do NOT know football under that scenario.Sava700 wrote:Well I can't say I agree with that since that would go against my argument about putting numbers on a team too early in the season. To be honest with you till the BCS numbers came out (which are flawed) I didn't care much for any of them.
Ohio State Buckeyes Thread
I don't think its fair to put numbers on teams starting out.. we learned that quick with Georgia, West VA, Clemson etc... those teams had high pre-season and early season rankings and they were not correct as were many others. It doesn't matter what number they had till this week which is why the BCS waits till now to crank out (screwed up) numbers. USC is a top25 team as of now..but most certainly not a top 10 I can tell you that.Roody wrote:They lost to a ranked team whether you prefer to think so or not. In fact if you argue that USC is not a top 25 team then I will start a vote to have your man card revoked because you clearly do NOT know football under that scenario.
Well that's up for debate, but it still proves my point which is OSU lost to a ranked team.Sava700 wrote:I don't think its fair to put numbers on teams starting out.. we learned that quick with Georgia, West VA, Clemson etc... those teams had high pre-season and early season rankings and they were not correct as were many others. It doesn't matter what number they had till this week which is why the BCS waits till now to crank out (screwed up) numbers. USC is a top25 team as of now..but most certainly not a top 10 I can tell you that.
Game of the Week: No. 3 Penn State at No. 10 Ohio State
Three Things You Should Care About
1. The stakes couldn't be higher. The Big Ten doesn't have a conference championship game, so for all intents and purposes, this game will serve that function. Penn State's playing for something bigger, though, as a victory here would provide as clear a path to the national title game as anyone could want.
If the Nittany Lions win Saturday, all that stands between them and a likely place in Miami on Jan. 8 are a trip to Iowa and home games against Indiana and Michigan State. The Nittany Lions should be heavily favored in each of those contests. First, Penn State must end its Horseshoe hex. It's lost seven straight at OSU since joining the Big Ten in 1993 and hasn't won in Columbus since 1978.
Of course, a Penn State loss would put the Buckeyes on the path to a fourth-consecutive conference crown, downgrade the Lions' BCS title-game chances to "nearly impossible" and put Ohio State back into the national-title picture.
Indeed, the game is so big, it's given Jim Tressel Scarlet Fever. He showed up at his weekly press conference Tuesday wearing a red blazer and spread the word on the Buckeyes' entry into the recent rash of color-coded big-game ploys. "We need to make that place a sea of red," he said.
2. The Beanie and Terrelle Show is a hit. The Chris "Beanie" Wells-Terrelle Pryor pairing has become as sweet a duo as Ben and Jerry and has given new life to an Ohio State offense that has been mostly lethargic this season.
The 45-7 win over Michigan State was this duo's breakthrough, as Pryor threw for 116 yards and a touchdown and ran for 72 yards and another score, while Wells had 140 yards and two TDs on a career-high 31 carries.
Pryor, a Pennsylvania native who spurned the Lions for the Buckeyes, seems to be growing more and more in the starter's spot. He took every snap against the Spartans and avoided some mistakes from earlier games, like when he sidestepped a charging Michigan State defender to avoid a 15th sack and instead complete a 56-yard pass to Brian Hartline.
Wells appears to be as close to 100 percent as he's been since the season opener and Tressel has increased Wells' work load each week, getting him 14 touches against Minnesota, 23 against Wisconsin, 24 against Purdue and 31 against Michigan State.
Together, they're averaging 181 yards per game on the ground, though as a pair they haven't faced a top 10 defense like Penn State, which has allowed only one runner (Michigan's Brandon Minor) to hit the century mark.
3. The key to the game will be the Nittany Lions' offensive line. Yes, it's cliché to say the game will be won in the trenches, but it couldn't be truer for Penn State.
Ohio State ranks 10th nationally in total defense and has one of the game's top linebacking duos in James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, but has often been hampered by the defensive line's inability to tie up opposing linemen, as was the case against USC, who ran for 164 yards against the Buckeyes and averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
If Ohio State can't stop the Penn State O-line from reaching the second level, it'll be a problem. Led by center A.Q. Shipley, the Lions' unit has paved the way for 234.6 yards per game on the ground (10th nationally), including 7.7 per carry for Evan Royster, who has the nation's highest average for backs with 100-plus carries. The line has also been impressive in pass coverage, keeping QB Daryll Clark off the ground in the last two games and giving up only five total sacks.
The Buckeyes did stiffen up against Michigan State, holding Javon Ringer & Co. to 52 total yards on the ground, but if Ohio State can't put pressure on Penn State up front, the Spread HD, which is racking up 45.4 points and 482.1 ypg, could go wild.
Inside The Scouting Report
What problems does Penn State's Spread HD pose for defenses? I spoke to an assistant coach from one of the Nittany Lions' opponents to get his impressions. Here's what he had to say:
"Penn State is a well-oiled machine. It's very sound in all facets of the game and the quarterback did a very good job of reading the defense and the running backs were very athletic, They did a very good job of running the ball and the offensive line is probably the best we've faced. They've got a lot of seniors on that offensive line and they're going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people.
"Early on [against] us, [Clark] didn't throw the ball very much. When you have the ability to run with a quarterback who's versatile in both areas, it's very difficult because you have to prioritize what you want to stop first.
"[The wide receivers] have been around for a while so they know the system. They run the routes and they're very athletic. They cause a lot of problems because they can stretch the field or they can break off on sharp routes and they run good routes. The experience-level makes it hard to take care of them and keep them from doing what they expect to do with the football.
"[You have to] try and cover all the facets of their game. They do a great job in all areas: running the ball, passing the ball, play-action, running the quarterback, screens. They've done a good job with the offensive system and I think the players have adapted to it very well and it's tough on any defense when their cylinders are all clicking at the same time.
"It takes a total defensive effort in all areas of the game because they can exploit several different ways if you allow them to do that."
The Pick
Penn State 27, Ohio State 21. The Nittany Lions will be facing their toughest test of the season, but Clark & Co. have the exact elements that have caused Ohio State problems: a quarterback that can run and an ability to spread things out. Those advantages will be enough to end Penn State's Columbus woes and pave the way to a Big Ten title -- and maybe more.
Three Things You Should Care About
1. The stakes couldn't be higher. The Big Ten doesn't have a conference championship game, so for all intents and purposes, this game will serve that function. Penn State's playing for something bigger, though, as a victory here would provide as clear a path to the national title game as anyone could want.
If the Nittany Lions win Saturday, all that stands between them and a likely place in Miami on Jan. 8 are a trip to Iowa and home games against Indiana and Michigan State. The Nittany Lions should be heavily favored in each of those contests. First, Penn State must end its Horseshoe hex. It's lost seven straight at OSU since joining the Big Ten in 1993 and hasn't won in Columbus since 1978.
Of course, a Penn State loss would put the Buckeyes on the path to a fourth-consecutive conference crown, downgrade the Lions' BCS title-game chances to "nearly impossible" and put Ohio State back into the national-title picture.
Indeed, the game is so big, it's given Jim Tressel Scarlet Fever. He showed up at his weekly press conference Tuesday wearing a red blazer and spread the word on the Buckeyes' entry into the recent rash of color-coded big-game ploys. "We need to make that place a sea of red," he said.
2. The Beanie and Terrelle Show is a hit. The Chris "Beanie" Wells-Terrelle Pryor pairing has become as sweet a duo as Ben and Jerry and has given new life to an Ohio State offense that has been mostly lethargic this season.
The 45-7 win over Michigan State was this duo's breakthrough, as Pryor threw for 116 yards and a touchdown and ran for 72 yards and another score, while Wells had 140 yards and two TDs on a career-high 31 carries.
Pryor, a Pennsylvania native who spurned the Lions for the Buckeyes, seems to be growing more and more in the starter's spot. He took every snap against the Spartans and avoided some mistakes from earlier games, like when he sidestepped a charging Michigan State defender to avoid a 15th sack and instead complete a 56-yard pass to Brian Hartline.
Wells appears to be as close to 100 percent as he's been since the season opener and Tressel has increased Wells' work load each week, getting him 14 touches against Minnesota, 23 against Wisconsin, 24 against Purdue and 31 against Michigan State.
Together, they're averaging 181 yards per game on the ground, though as a pair they haven't faced a top 10 defense like Penn State, which has allowed only one runner (Michigan's Brandon Minor) to hit the century mark.
3. The key to the game will be the Nittany Lions' offensive line. Yes, it's cliché to say the game will be won in the trenches, but it couldn't be truer for Penn State.
Ohio State ranks 10th nationally in total defense and has one of the game's top linebacking duos in James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, but has often been hampered by the defensive line's inability to tie up opposing linemen, as was the case against USC, who ran for 164 yards against the Buckeyes and averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
If Ohio State can't stop the Penn State O-line from reaching the second level, it'll be a problem. Led by center A.Q. Shipley, the Lions' unit has paved the way for 234.6 yards per game on the ground (10th nationally), including 7.7 per carry for Evan Royster, who has the nation's highest average for backs with 100-plus carries. The line has also been impressive in pass coverage, keeping QB Daryll Clark off the ground in the last two games and giving up only five total sacks.
The Buckeyes did stiffen up against Michigan State, holding Javon Ringer & Co. to 52 total yards on the ground, but if Ohio State can't put pressure on Penn State up front, the Spread HD, which is racking up 45.4 points and 482.1 ypg, could go wild.
Inside The Scouting Report
What problems does Penn State's Spread HD pose for defenses? I spoke to an assistant coach from one of the Nittany Lions' opponents to get his impressions. Here's what he had to say:
"Penn State is a well-oiled machine. It's very sound in all facets of the game and the quarterback did a very good job of reading the defense and the running backs were very athletic, They did a very good job of running the ball and the offensive line is probably the best we've faced. They've got a lot of seniors on that offensive line and they're going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people.
"Early on [against] us, [Clark] didn't throw the ball very much. When you have the ability to run with a quarterback who's versatile in both areas, it's very difficult because you have to prioritize what you want to stop first.
"[The wide receivers] have been around for a while so they know the system. They run the routes and they're very athletic. They cause a lot of problems because they can stretch the field or they can break off on sharp routes and they run good routes. The experience-level makes it hard to take care of them and keep them from doing what they expect to do with the football.
"[You have to] try and cover all the facets of their game. They do a great job in all areas: running the ball, passing the ball, play-action, running the quarterback, screens. They've done a good job with the offensive system and I think the players have adapted to it very well and it's tough on any defense when their cylinders are all clicking at the same time.
"It takes a total defensive effort in all areas of the game because they can exploit several different ways if you allow them to do that."
The Pick
Penn State 27, Ohio State 21. The Nittany Lions will be facing their toughest test of the season, but Clark & Co. have the exact elements that have caused Ohio State problems: a quarterback that can run and an ability to spread things out. Those advantages will be enough to end Penn State's Columbus woes and pave the way to a Big Ten title -- and maybe more.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Buckeyes, Paterno fight back against critics, odds
It may gall the patrons of High Street to hear it, but the nation wrote off Ohio State six weeks ago.
That would be about the time the Buckeyes trudged off the grass and up the concrete tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, singing that song from the musical "Wonderful Town," the 2003 Broadway revival.
Why oh why oh why oh
Why did I ever leave Ohio?
[+] Enlarge
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Jim Tressel's Buckeyes have won five straight since the USC debacle.
Typical American college football fans know about Script Ohio and The Horseshoe and The Ten-Year War. They know that Ohio State long ago received membership in the sport's elite. They know that even with all that glory, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel is in the midst of the most successful run in the history of the scarlet and gray.
It's just that the typical American college football fan these days is scared to death that Ohio State will win the rest of its games and play in the BCS Championship Game again. The Buckeyes have played in the past two, and FEMA is still trying to assess the damage.
So when this season started, and USC defeated Ohio State 35-3 in the Buckeyes' third game of the season, you could hear the sighs of relief from downtown Los Angeles to downtown Tuscaloosa. It looked as if the national championship party could be held without the Buckeyes around to pour vinegar into the punch bowl.
To coin a phrase: Not so fast, my friend.
The Team That Won't Go Away has come back. With five straight victories, topped off by a -- go ahead and say it -- BCS-worthy, 45-7 rout on the road of Michigan State, Ohio State has played well enough to return to the top 10. That leaves it in the championship waiting room, poised to pounce the minute Texas, Alabama and, yes, Penn State should fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That is the beauty of Ohio State's game on Saturday night (ABC, 8 ET). The No. 9 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 in Big Ten) will play the No. 3 Nittany Lions (8-0, 4-0). With an upset victory at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State may no longer be met with universal eye-rolling.
Anyone who has heard the disciplined messages of Tressel will understand that this is not a subject he has broached with his team.
"We never mention it," Tressel said. "In August, we talk about an ultimate goal: See if we can earn our way into the top two teams in the country, play for that championship, see if we can become champions. After that, it's never mentioned again."
It usually isn't difficult for Ohio State to knock off Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 0-7 in The Horseshoe since they joined the Big Ten Conference. Penn State last won at Ohio State in 1978, when the Buckeyes started a freshman quarterback who played beyond his years. Terrelle Pryor, based on early returns, is expected to have a more productive career than Art Schlichter.
This Penn State team has been one of the bigger surprises of the 2008 season, at least to those outside of the Nittany Lions' football building. Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said Thursday that, by the end of spring practice, this team gave off a vibe that felt a lot like the 2005 team that went 11-1.
[+] Enlarge
Ned Dishman/Getty Images
Joe Paterno might have his best Penn State team since 1994.
You remember that season. Veteran coach Joe Paterno, hounded by critics who believed he had passed retirement age long ago, came within a last-play loss to Michigan of his fifth undefeated record.
Three years later, Paterno, 81, is in the last year of his contract. He began the season again confronted by questions of how long he would coach; that's what happens after consecutive records of 9-4, with a cumulative record of 9-7 in the Big Ten.
The president of the university has not committed to allowing Paterno to stick around for 2009, which would be his 60th season of Penn State football and his 44th as head coach. His right hip hurts so bad that Paterno is reduced to sitting in the press box for games.
And if eight games are any indication, Paterno has his best team since 1994. Those Nittany Lions went undefeated and had three of the first nine picks in the NFL draft the following April. The new Spread HD has been the ideal vehicle for a smart, experienced offense led by late-blooming redshirt junior Daryll Clark.
If Joe Paterno is measured not by the calendar but by the same criteria by which his peers are judged -- wins -- then he has defied his critics once again.
That may be the best way to look at the game Saturday night:
The Team That Won't Go Away is playing The Coach Who Won't Go Away.
It may gall the patrons of High Street to hear it, but the nation wrote off Ohio State six weeks ago.
That would be about the time the Buckeyes trudged off the grass and up the concrete tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, singing that song from the musical "Wonderful Town," the 2003 Broadway revival.
Why oh why oh why oh
Why did I ever leave Ohio?
[+] Enlarge
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesJim Tressel's Buckeyes have won five straight since the USC debacle.
Typical American college football fans know about Script Ohio and The Horseshoe and The Ten-Year War. They know that Ohio State long ago received membership in the sport's elite. They know that even with all that glory, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel is in the midst of the most successful run in the history of the scarlet and gray.
It's just that the typical American college football fan these days is scared to death that Ohio State will win the rest of its games and play in the BCS Championship Game again. The Buckeyes have played in the past two, and FEMA is still trying to assess the damage.
So when this season started, and USC defeated Ohio State 35-3 in the Buckeyes' third game of the season, you could hear the sighs of relief from downtown Los Angeles to downtown Tuscaloosa. It looked as if the national championship party could be held without the Buckeyes around to pour vinegar into the punch bowl.
To coin a phrase: Not so fast, my friend.
The Team That Won't Go Away has come back. With five straight victories, topped off by a -- go ahead and say it -- BCS-worthy, 45-7 rout on the road of Michigan State, Ohio State has played well enough to return to the top 10. That leaves it in the championship waiting room, poised to pounce the minute Texas, Alabama and, yes, Penn State should fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That is the beauty of Ohio State's game on Saturday night (ABC, 8 ET). The No. 9 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 in Big Ten) will play the No. 3 Nittany Lions (8-0, 4-0). With an upset victory at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State may no longer be met with universal eye-rolling.
Anyone who has heard the disciplined messages of Tressel will understand that this is not a subject he has broached with his team.
"We never mention it," Tressel said. "In August, we talk about an ultimate goal: See if we can earn our way into the top two teams in the country, play for that championship, see if we can become champions. After that, it's never mentioned again."
It usually isn't difficult for Ohio State to knock off Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 0-7 in The Horseshoe since they joined the Big Ten Conference. Penn State last won at Ohio State in 1978, when the Buckeyes started a freshman quarterback who played beyond his years. Terrelle Pryor, based on early returns, is expected to have a more productive career than Art Schlichter.
This Penn State team has been one of the bigger surprises of the 2008 season, at least to those outside of the Nittany Lions' football building. Quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said Thursday that, by the end of spring practice, this team gave off a vibe that felt a lot like the 2005 team that went 11-1.
[+] Enlarge
Ned Dishman/Getty ImagesJoe Paterno might have his best Penn State team since 1994.
You remember that season. Veteran coach Joe Paterno, hounded by critics who believed he had passed retirement age long ago, came within a last-play loss to Michigan of his fifth undefeated record.
Three years later, Paterno, 81, is in the last year of his contract. He began the season again confronted by questions of how long he would coach; that's what happens after consecutive records of 9-4, with a cumulative record of 9-7 in the Big Ten.
The president of the university has not committed to allowing Paterno to stick around for 2009, which would be his 60th season of Penn State football and his 44th as head coach. His right hip hurts so bad that Paterno is reduced to sitting in the press box for games.
And if eight games are any indication, Paterno has his best team since 1994. Those Nittany Lions went undefeated and had three of the first nine picks in the NFL draft the following April. The new Spread HD has been the ideal vehicle for a smart, experienced offense led by late-blooming redshirt junior Daryll Clark.
If Joe Paterno is measured not by the calendar but by the same criteria by which his peers are judged -- wins -- then he has defied his critics once again.
That may be the best way to look at the game Saturday night:
The Team That Won't Go Away is playing The Coach Who Won't Go Away.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Penn St played sloppy.... I've not seen them play that bad all season long and I've watched nearly all their games.Gixxer wrote:OSU would have won that game had it not been for that fumblethat was one hell of a defensive game.
sava, psu did not play sloppy they were held by OSU d and likewise for psu d.
The Centre Daily Times reported last night the celebration of Penn State's win over Ohio State turned destructive as people pulled down light poles and street signs, climbed atop cars and tossed objects off balconies in downtown State College. To clear the street, State College police, joined by police from neighboring townships, stood shoulder to shoulder across Beaver Avenue and walked into the crowd to disperse them holding pepper spray and night sticks.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Sounds like a Ohio State celebration. Least we know it's not limited to there.Gixxer wrote:The Centre Daily Times reported last night the celebration of Penn State's win over Ohio State turned destructive as people pulled down light poles and street signs, climbed atop cars and tossed objects off balconies in downtown State College. To clear the street, State College police, joined by police from neighboring townships, stood shoulder to shoulder across Beaver Avenue and walked into the crowd to disperse them holding pepper spray and night sticks.
VA Tech did that against East Carolina and they lost... so what?Gixxer wrote:funny you say that. psu had no turnovers and no penalties. i would say that is pretty error free football.
Penn St played bad during that game vs how they usually play even with penalties.
As for the fans going crazy..well you have people like that everywhere at times, not as bad as their team starting a fight on the field like OSU did a while back.
Sava700 wrote:VA Tech did that against East Carolina and they lost... so what?
Penn St played bad during that game vs how they usually play even with penalties.
As for the fans going crazy..well you have people like that everywhere at times, not as bad as their team starting a fight on the field like OSU did a while back.
it was no more than pushing and shoving...happens all game long.
you are right, it surely wasn't OSU's D that did anything.
Here's a fun fact: The 3 VT QB's who've played thus far this year have combined to throw only 1 more passing TD (3) to Hokies than BC QB Chris Crane (2). Crane is the only player in the ACC to complete a passing TD to a VT WR (VTs Macho Harris CB/WR).
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Penn St didn't play very good at all during that game..thats your fun fact. As for your fun fact..well I answered that on the other thread since your throwing it around everywhere.. I don't defend one bit that VA Techs offense sucks...many reasons why.Gixxer wrote:it was no more than pushing and shoving...happens all game long.
you are right, it surely wasn't OSU's D that did anything.
Here's a fun fact: The 3 VT QB's who've played thus far this year have combined to throw only 1 more passing TD (3) to Hokies than BC QB Chris Crane (2). Crane is the only player in the ACC to complete a passing TD to a VT WR (VTs Macho Harris CB/WR).
Lott Trophy Finalists
10/30/2008
Seniors Malcom Jenkins and James Laurinitis have been announced as quarterfinalists for this year’s Lott Trophy. The cornerback and linebacker are part of a 20-person list, chosen both for their level of play on the field as well as their unselfish character off the field. Ohio State is the only school to have two players recognized on the list.
The Lott Trophy, in its fifth year, recognizes the IMPACT foundation’s Defensive Player of the Year. Named for Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, it is the only honor in college football awarded on the merit of both athletic ability and quality of character.
The list will be narrowed to eight semifinalists on Nov. 11 and then down to four finalists on Nov. 26. The selection committee is comprised of members of the national media, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, previous finalists and Legends Coaches. The winner will be announced at an awards banquet Dec. 14 in Newport Beach.
10/30/2008
Seniors Malcom Jenkins and James Laurinitis have been announced as quarterfinalists for this year’s Lott Trophy. The cornerback and linebacker are part of a 20-person list, chosen both for their level of play on the field as well as their unselfish character off the field. Ohio State is the only school to have two players recognized on the list.
The Lott Trophy, in its fifth year, recognizes the IMPACT foundation’s Defensive Player of the Year. Named for Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, it is the only honor in college football awarded on the merit of both athletic ability and quality of character.
The list will be narrowed to eight semifinalists on Nov. 11 and then down to four finalists on Nov. 26. The selection committee is comprised of members of the national media, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, previous finalists and Legends Coaches. The winner will be announced at an awards banquet Dec. 14 in Newport Beach.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Another OSU Finalist
10/31/2008
The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced Thursday that yet another Buckeye will be considered for a national football award. Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso is one of ten finalists to compete for the Ray Guy Award given each year to the nation's best collegiate punter.
The original 53 nominees were evaluated throughout the first half of the season with respect to net punting average, percentage of all punts landed inside the 20-yard-line, average return yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The ten finalists will be similarly assessed until a panel of coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former award winners pick 3 finalists. The winner of the 8th annual Ray Guy Award will be announced live on ESPNU's Hope Depot College Football Awards Show December 11th.
Ray Guy earned his fame for the same reasons Coach Tressel venerates his position. Regarded as the first ever punter who could really change a football game with his kicking style, Guy orchestrated field position for the University of Southern Mississippi en route to being the first punter ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and a 13-season NFL career. Tressel, who has gone on record touting the ultimate importance of the punter, recruited Trapasso in 2004 and has started him since his redshirt season in 2005. The Pickerington, Ohio native ran for 3,754 yards and 50 touchdowns as a running back in high school and almost ended up going elsewhere to pursue that role. Fortunately, Trapasso has found that he's just as valued as a punter here at OSU and was even picked first overall in the Buckeyes' 2007 Spring Game Draft.
Since graduating in June, Trapasso has averaged 42.3 yards over his 41 punts with a long of 67 yards. His five punts for touchbacks and 12 placed inside the 20 have contributed most to the team and have him in strong consideration for finalist status. Iowa's Ryan Donahue and Michigan's Zoltan Mesko are the other two finalists from the Big Ten so the Buckeyes vs. Wolverines game on November 22nd may just be the punting-showdown of the year.
10/31/2008
The Greater Augusta Sports Council announced Thursday that yet another Buckeye will be considered for a national football award. Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso is one of ten finalists to compete for the Ray Guy Award given each year to the nation's best collegiate punter.
The original 53 nominees were evaluated throughout the first half of the season with respect to net punting average, percentage of all punts landed inside the 20-yard-line, average return yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The ten finalists will be similarly assessed until a panel of coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former award winners pick 3 finalists. The winner of the 8th annual Ray Guy Award will be announced live on ESPNU's Hope Depot College Football Awards Show December 11th.
Ray Guy earned his fame for the same reasons Coach Tressel venerates his position. Regarded as the first ever punter who could really change a football game with his kicking style, Guy orchestrated field position for the University of Southern Mississippi en route to being the first punter ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and a 13-season NFL career. Tressel, who has gone on record touting the ultimate importance of the punter, recruited Trapasso in 2004 and has started him since his redshirt season in 2005. The Pickerington, Ohio native ran for 3,754 yards and 50 touchdowns as a running back in high school and almost ended up going elsewhere to pursue that role. Fortunately, Trapasso has found that he's just as valued as a punter here at OSU and was even picked first overall in the Buckeyes' 2007 Spring Game Draft.
Since graduating in June, Trapasso has averaged 42.3 yards over his 41 punts with a long of 67 yards. His five punts for touchbacks and 12 placed inside the 20 have contributed most to the team and have him in strong consideration for finalist status. Iowa's Ryan Donahue and Michigan's Zoltan Mesko are the other two finalists from the Big Ten so the Buckeyes vs. Wolverines game on November 22nd may just be the punting-showdown of the year.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
-
mountainman
- SG VIP
- Posts: 15451
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2000 12:00 am
- Location: Colorado
Breakout for Former Buckeye
10/29/2008
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Former Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr. caught seven passes for 175 yards in Miami's 25-16 win over Buffalo Sunday; he is the Dolphins' second-leading receiver this season.
The breakout game had been long awaited for Ginn and the Miami Dolphins. In a short professional career filled with disappointments, Ginn had plenty of reasons to be in good spirits.
"It was different, it was more of an enjoyment” Ginn said.
Miami (3-4) has already tripled their win total from last season under Bill Parcell’s regime, and if only for a day, Ginn looked like the go-to receiver who deserved that high pick.
“He just keeps getting better and better, you can just tell in his eyes when we're talking about routes that he's just very hungry. He wants to be the guy,” Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington said after the game.”
When Ginn was selected from Ohio State as the ninth overall pick in 2007 he created the biggest buzz on draft day at the Dolphins' headquarters. Most fans there thought he wasn't worth the pick, and that Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was.
"Just getting up every day was hard, knowing you got to get up every day and you got to do this again and not get any outcome out of it,'' Ginn said. "To where now, you know you got a chance. Every time you get up you got a chance. There's no doubt in your mind that you got a chance.''
Those around him are finally realizing that too.
10/29/2008
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Former Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr. caught seven passes for 175 yards in Miami's 25-16 win over Buffalo Sunday; he is the Dolphins' second-leading receiver this season.
The breakout game had been long awaited for Ginn and the Miami Dolphins. In a short professional career filled with disappointments, Ginn had plenty of reasons to be in good spirits.
"It was different, it was more of an enjoyment” Ginn said.
Miami (3-4) has already tripled their win total from last season under Bill Parcell’s regime, and if only for a day, Ginn looked like the go-to receiver who deserved that high pick.
“He just keeps getting better and better, you can just tell in his eyes when we're talking about routes that he's just very hungry. He wants to be the guy,” Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington said after the game.”
When Ginn was selected from Ohio State as the ninth overall pick in 2007 he created the biggest buzz on draft day at the Dolphins' headquarters. Most fans there thought he wasn't worth the pick, and that Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was.
"Just getting up every day was hard, knowing you got to get up every day and you got to do this again and not get any outcome out of it,'' Ginn said. "To where now, you know you got a chance. Every time you get up you got a chance. There's no doubt in your mind that you got a chance.''
Those around him are finally realizing that too.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
OSU Beats MSU, 45-7
10/18/2008
Ohio State beat Michigan State on Saturday, 45-7 as Coach Tressel picked up his 80th victory for the Scarlet & Gray becoming the fastest OSU coach to reach the 80 win mark.
Notes from the win:
- Ohio State is 805-305-53 in its 119th season of play. The win total ranks fifth all-time in Division I college football. The only other schools to have 800 or more wins are Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska.
- Ohio State is 126-101-12 all-time against ranked opponents and 38-40-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under head coach Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 32-10 overall and 11-5 on the road against ranked opponents.
- Ohio State is 447-188-28 all-time in Big Ten games and 193-77-10 all-time in Big Ten road games.
- Coach Tressel’s record with the Buckeyes now is 80-17 (.824) and his career record is 215-74-2. Tressel’s 215 wins are the third-most among active FBS coaches, just ahead of Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer with 214 entering Saturday.
- The Buckeyes are 419-127-14 all-time as a Top 25 team.
- Ohio State is 357-124-28 in October games and 113-62-8 in October road games.
- Terrelle Pryor made his fifth-consecutive start at quarterback for the Buckeyes. He is now 5-0 as a starter. Pryor was 7 of 11 for 116 yards and one TD, including a 56-yard pass to Hartline in the first quarter – Ohio State’s longest play from scrimmage this year.
- Chris Wells gained 140 yards on a season-high 31 carries, marking the fourth time in five games he has topped the 100-yard mark this season (Wells missed three games with an injury) and the 13th time in his career. Wells is 14th on the NCAA active career rushing list entering Saturday and remains ninth on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list with 2,804 yards.
- Ohio State has outscored its opponents 71-10 this season in the first quarter. They led the Spartans 21-0 after the first 15 minutes Saturday.
- The 28 points by the Buckeyes in the first half were the most this season in a half.
- The 21 points are the most in a quarter this season for Ohio State.
- Brian Robiskie has caught a pass in 32-consecutive regular-season games.
- Brian Hartline has caught at least one pass in 26-consecutive games.
- Hartline hauled in a 56-yard pass from Pryor in the first quarter, Ohio State longest play from scrimmage this season.
- Ohio State forced a combined five turnovers for the second time this season (three fumbles and two INTs). The Buckeyes also forced five turnovers against Ohio this season (4 INT, 1 fumble).
- The Buckeye defense has held their opponents scoreless in 18 of 32 quarters this season. The defense held the Spartans scoreless in the first, second and fourth quarters.
10/18/2008
Ohio State beat Michigan State on Saturday, 45-7 as Coach Tressel picked up his 80th victory for the Scarlet & Gray becoming the fastest OSU coach to reach the 80 win mark.
Notes from the win:
- Ohio State is 805-305-53 in its 119th season of play. The win total ranks fifth all-time in Division I college football. The only other schools to have 800 or more wins are Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and Nebraska.
- Ohio State is 126-101-12 all-time against ranked opponents and 38-40-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under head coach Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 32-10 overall and 11-5 on the road against ranked opponents.
- Ohio State is 447-188-28 all-time in Big Ten games and 193-77-10 all-time in Big Ten road games.
- Coach Tressel’s record with the Buckeyes now is 80-17 (.824) and his career record is 215-74-2. Tressel’s 215 wins are the third-most among active FBS coaches, just ahead of Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer with 214 entering Saturday.
- The Buckeyes are 419-127-14 all-time as a Top 25 team.
- Ohio State is 357-124-28 in October games and 113-62-8 in October road games.
- Terrelle Pryor made his fifth-consecutive start at quarterback for the Buckeyes. He is now 5-0 as a starter. Pryor was 7 of 11 for 116 yards and one TD, including a 56-yard pass to Hartline in the first quarter – Ohio State’s longest play from scrimmage this year.
- Chris Wells gained 140 yards on a season-high 31 carries, marking the fourth time in five games he has topped the 100-yard mark this season (Wells missed three games with an injury) and the 13th time in his career. Wells is 14th on the NCAA active career rushing list entering Saturday and remains ninth on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list with 2,804 yards.
- Ohio State has outscored its opponents 71-10 this season in the first quarter. They led the Spartans 21-0 after the first 15 minutes Saturday.
- The 28 points by the Buckeyes in the first half were the most this season in a half.
- The 21 points are the most in a quarter this season for Ohio State.
- Brian Robiskie has caught a pass in 32-consecutive regular-season games.
- Brian Hartline has caught at least one pass in 26-consecutive games.
- Hartline hauled in a 56-yard pass from Pryor in the first quarter, Ohio State longest play from scrimmage this season.
- Ohio State forced a combined five turnovers for the second time this season (three fumbles and two INTs). The Buckeyes also forced five turnovers against Ohio this season (4 INT, 1 fumble).
- The Buckeye defense has held their opponents scoreless in 18 of 32 quarters this season. The defense held the Spartans scoreless in the first, second and fourth quarters.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
I don't know where you get that from..he's good but not the most powerful. It takes a decent front line to give a back the ability to do what he does and right now I'm sure there are others but without a good front line you may never see that.Gixxer wrote:beanie wells is the most powerful back in cfb. good game on espn.
Sava700 wrote:I don't know where you get that from..he's good but not the most powerful. It takes a decent front line to give a back the ability to do what he does and right now I'm sure there are others but without a good front line you may never see that.
name one stronger
Roody wrote:This year I would say the best RB in the Big 10 is Javon Ringer, but the one with the most potential is BW undoubtedly.
i would disagree ... plus i said "powerful", not best in cfb, although he could be.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Gixxer wrote:name one stronger
I don't have to name one stronger..there are several being just as "powerful" if not better than Wells.. what makes Wells so able to do his thing is the Oline that Ohio state has..I can't cut them down cause they are good as a whole...but you have better RB's out there just they don't have the chance to be great with the O-lines of their teams and the ability to stop powerful Defenses. Had Wells and OSU's O-line played against USC's Defense and showed the ability he can do here lately with push over teams then I might have agreed with you.
Sava700 wrote:
I don't have to name one stronger..there are several being just as "powerful" if not better than Wells.. what makes Wells so able to do his thing is the Oline that Ohio state has..I can't cut them down cause they are good as a whole...but you have better RB's out there just they don't have the chance to be great with the O-lines of their teams and the ability to stop powerful Defenses. Had Wells and OSU's O-line played against USC's Defense and showed the ability he can do here lately with push over teams then I might have agreed with you.
apparently you have not been paying attention....o-line?a.k.a. GSXR 750
So you are making a claim that he isn't the most powerful, but you are offering up nothing to support your claim.Sava700 wrote:Can't really say..season isn't over yet..gotta wait out the rest of the games to let the others shine. Even the Heisman isn't voted upon yet for this reason.
This folks is what I call a typical Sava argument. All talk and no facts.
no no and no!! You can't claim he is cause the season isn't over yet. AGAIN this is the reason the Heisman isn't decided yet. Hell Gixxer was saying pretty much this same thing during week one yet you don't see the Heisman givin out during week one do you?Roody wrote:So you are making a claim that he isn't the most powerful, but you are offering up nothing to support your claim.
This folks is what I call a typical Sava argument. All talk and no facts.
There are several that are of the same caliber..but it mostly depends on the o-lines performance and how they excel in the final weeks after get beat on week after week. Wells is a very good RB but to say he's the most powerful RB in CFB today is well a typical Gixxer argument.