The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) Defeated The Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-3)
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on a tear as of late, but early on it looked bleak as they fell behind early 5-0. A strip-sack that resulted in a safety and on the ensuing possession, the Redhawks drove into the red zone before kicking a field goal to give them the lead and their last points of the contest. It certainly looked ugly and they started off slow, but they picked up steam after that wakeup call and they rattled off 76 straight points.

The Redhawks came into Columbus juiced and they played hard for nearly the entirety of the first quarter, but when the Buckeyes found their stride, there was no stopping the offensive onslaught. Slow starts have bitten the Buckeyes on the road and to start this slow, they need to clean that up with a trip to Lincoln on the horizon and it is also their first night game of the season and their first prime time game to boot. With road losses at night to Iowa in 2017 and to Purdue in 2018, they cannot afford to have an off start.

This game was lost after the 5-0 start and it was utter dominance at every phase of the game. This contest was like an audition for the young and inexperienced, but the future looks pretty bright, even against a team like Miami (OH). The starters made sure that this team will not be denied, especially at home and they dominated the rest of the first half.

Chase Young and the defense struggled for the first two drives, occasionally giving up some yardage, but they eventually shut the door on the opposing team. He finished the game with two key strip-sack fumbles that resulted in turnovers. Okudah also benefitted from the constant pressure and he came away with an easy first interception of the season. After regaining the momentum, the offensive attack was relentless. The defense played relentlessly as well and they shut out the Redhawks for the rest of the game.

The starters eventually were pulled out of the game at halftime and the reserves lit it up. At halftime, it remained 49-5. By the end of the contest, after the game was called, the Buckeyes finished the game 76-5, a 25-point addition courtesy of the second and third stringers. Chugunov and Hoak combined for three passing scores and Steele Chambers had his first touchdown as a Buckeye. Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams lit it up at wide receiver and Marcus Crowley got into the action with his first receiving score in his young career.

The depth showed that there is no drop-off between the starting and the reserve units, and even a few of the offensive walk-ons got into the action and made a difference. The back-up defenders also showed out as they continued to shut down the opposing offense. Zaid Hamadan, a reserve defensive tackle along with Jarron Cage gutted the interior and stopped the run. Dallas Gant shot through and got himself on the board with the first sack of his Buckeye career, joining Zach Harrison, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, and the aforementioned Gant.

The back-ups had their shot and they didn’t disappoint. The momentum by the starters and with the reserve players keeping it for the rest of the game was what we all wanted to see. There will be a battle next week and a night game, on the road, hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes, but will this bring the juice to prevent another mid-season letdown? After an undefeated non-conference slate, the conference slate remains. They cannot afford to start slow once again, but this 70-burger can help with the confidence coming into the game.

For the time being, let us enjoy the game and the eventual turnaround. We all know that it wasn’t perfect, but it was a dominating performance. There are some things that Coach Day needs to address, but it’ll get there. Go Bucks.




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Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-2) VS Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



With another week to hone their skills, the Buckeyes square off against a wounded Redhawk team that has lost two out of the last three games early in the young 2019 season. On the other side of the field, the Buckeyes have won three straight, in convincing fashion with one road game to open up the Big Ten season and two games against inferior competition from the Group of Five conferences. Two teams with different situations, but its looking like another tune-up for the home team against a team that is struggling to stay afloat.



Road Woes

Life on the road hasn’t been kind to the Miami (OH) Redhawks. This season, have not been able to break through and secure a road win in three games, going 0-2 with losses against Iowa and Cincinnati. They have been outscored by a lot and so far it has been a whopping 73-17 scoring margin. In 2018, they split the difference and finished 6-6, with a 101-75 margin on the road while losing to Minnesota, Army, and Buffalo. It hasn’t been too bad on the road because the three that they managed to win came against Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Akron and they outscored them 92-47. It hasn’t been easy, but going into Columbus will be hard and so far a 6-8 road record isn’t going to make things easier.

At home, the Redhawks are alright. In 2018 they finished 3-3 and in 2019 they started 1-0. They beat an out-manned FCS team, but the Buckeyes will be a stiff test to beat at home. The odds aren’t in favor of the away team and I don’t think they stand a chance. Brett Gabbert will have a stifling defense to contend with and we will see if he is ready for the big lights.

Dobbins and His Running Back Stable

J.K. Dobbins has been on a tear lately and why shouldn’t he continue his dominant streak? Against FAU, he toted the ball 21 times and ran for 91 total yards and a TD. Against Cincinnati, he carried the ball 17 times for 141 yards with a long of 60 and two more scores. In the most recent game on the road against Indiana, Dobbins has 22 and he nearly went for 200 yards, but he finished with 193 yards and a healthy 8.8 average, he displayed his physical prowess while dashing for 56 yards before bowling over and bouncing his way for one of his two scores of the game. Dobbins also had two catches for 14 yards and a score, but it should’ve been two, he will get some work with the JUGs machine, but he is doing damage on the ground and is currently sitting at 4th in the nation in rushing yards.

Dobbins eventually gave way to Master Teague and Crowley got some reps to put out minds at ease regarding the future of that position. Teague is a bigger Dobbins, but he loves contact as he finished with 10 carries with 106 yards and a score. He capitalized it with another physical 40 yarder–and he had a healthier 10.6 average. Crowley and McCall eventually spelled the two and combined for 4 carries and 11 yards before the game ended. This game will get out of hand quick and eventually they will get valuable reps to gain more game time experience.

The Return of BIA, The Rushmen and The Silver Bullets

So far in three games, Buckeyes have been playing with a huge chip on their shoulder. Senior and 2019 captain Damon Arnette took the advice of Buckeye Great Chris Carter and stayed for his last ride in the scarlet and gray. He, along with Okudah and Wade at his position has been a nuisance for opposing offensive players. Behind them, fellow Senior Jordan Fuller and Brendon White have held it down so far this season, but the little dump offs in the seams sometimes get the best of them, but they have improved so far early on in the season and Arnette made a statement with the first pick-six of the season in a dazzling display of patience and athleticism.

The Rushmen have also been a nuisance and their depth is one of the strengths of this team. With BB Landers, Tyreke Smith, and Jonathan Cooper missing the game, the reserve unit will grab some reps before continuing their conference slate. They are averaging 4.67 sacks per game and through four games they have 14 sacks for the season which is good for being tied for 2nd in the nation.

The Linebackers have also improved in their play and this season, they are tearing it up. Improved tackling and a more aggressive approach, the Silver Bullets are back! Tackling was a sore subject and they would give up splash plays consistently. The penalties were also a weakness, but the 2019 team has cleaned a lot of that up. They currently sit 8th in the nation in third-down stops allowing a conversion in 0.229% per game. The zone scheme with man-to-man sprinkled in seems to work right now, but we will see how far they’ve come when they get to the meaty part of their schedule.

Fields Day and His Zone 6 Weapons

Fields had an off game in his first true road test at Ohio State, but he was still lethal. He missed his receivers while being pressured, he often threw too high or away from his targets frame or catch radius, but he finished with 199 yards and four total TD’s. It was a more inconsistent day of his young Buckeye career, but he still put the points on the board and he executed to keep this team humming.

Zone 6 has benefited from the play of Fields, but they lean on each other. The Legend of Olave is alive and well–he even managed to make key catches, he caught a TD, and he also blocked a punt that resulted in a safety. He surely has helped swing the momentum in each game and he continues to amaze me. K.J. Hill finally got on the board with the receiving score and Dobbins also had a one too.

The Tight Ends, although they haven’t been utilized still play hard and they certainly are a key cog in the offensive attack. We saw it against FAU, but it sort of fizzled as of late. They certainly can be used at any moment, but they play hard even though they are used in the blocking game. Either way, they all play for their brothers, but we will see how they’ll be used later during the season.

PREDICTION

56-6, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Miami(OH) Redhawks.

Yes, I am predicting a 50-burger, but the Redhawk offense is bad this year. They can possibly get some pity points, but it is doubtful and this defense is preparing for a clash with a Big Ten West foe, Nebraska. Without looking ahead, the Buckeyes will have their focus solely on Miami (OH). In another routine throttling, look for the game to get out of hand by the winding minutes of the 3rd quarter before the reserves come in to get some playing time once again. The goal would be to flex their muscle, get a win, and give your starters a well-deserved rest before traveling to Lincoln.




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Podcast: Who’s the toughest opponent left on Ohio State’s schedule?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
We answer your questions, and more on a bye week edition of the Hangout in the Holy Land.


With the Ohio State Buckeyes on their (first) bye week, now’s a good time to evaluate how they’ve looked through the first six games of 2019. (Spoiler: Pretty damn good!)

On this episode of the Hangout in the Holy Land, we asked you to send in your questions and comments about what we’ve seen so far, including:

• What’s most surprising about the Buckeyes this year (Not surprisingly, a lot of defense and offensive line talk here)
• How the run game became one of the best in the country
• Justin Fields’ rapid development
• Is Wisconsin or Penn State a tougher opponent for Ohio State?

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Looking at what prospects could fill out Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class
Jake Collar via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Running back, quarterback, defensive end, and corner back are all in the mix for the Buckeyes.

Last Saturday night, the Ohio State Buckeyes hosted a massive group of prospects for their showdown against Michigan State. By some accounts as many as 55 commits and targets visited Ohio Stadium, most on unofficial visits. There are only a few spots left that need to be filled in OSU’s 2020 recruiting class, and with the early signing period starting on Dec 18, let’s take a look at the most likely candidates to join the class.

There is always a balance of need and talent that comes into a school when filling out a recruiting class. Ohio State currently sits at No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings with 23 recruits that have an average star ranking of 92.12.

As most people could probably guess, the two teams ahead of the Buckeyes would be Clemson at No. 1, with 20 commits and an average star rating of 94.12, and Alabama at No. 2 with 22 recruits, and an average star ranking of 93.56. No team is going to be able to pass Clemson for the top spot, since they already have six of the top 30 players overall committed to their class.

After a 2019 cycle that only included 17 players, Ohio State has the room for a larger class in 2020. Given the 23 current commits, there would be spots for about four more players, given the assumptions that players like Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and J.K. Dobbins could be heading to the NFL a year early.

Running Back


Many fans believe that the biggest need at this point is at the running back position. On Saturday night, four-star RB Kevontre Bradford from Lancaster (TX) took his official visit, but while expectations were that Bradford would eventually be a Buckeye — perhaps as early as last Saturday night — that is looking less and less likely.

Coming out of the major recruiting weekend, the only 247 crystal ball that Bradford picked up was from 11 Warriors’ Andrew Ellis, and it was forecasting that Bradford would be playing his college football in Madison, Wisc., not Columbus, Ohio.

With rumors that local target Michael Drennen II is starting a lean toward Kentucky, it is becoming more of a legitimate question for discussion whether Ryan Day and Tony Alford will end up with any running backs in the class at all. If that does end up being the case, it is almost certainly by choice. With the performances thus far in the season by red-shirt freshman Master Teague III and true freshman Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers, the need to stock up on running backs might not be as high as many assumed that it would be in the preseason.

However, if Ohio State does end up grabbing a back for the class, I think that Bradford is exactly what they need.

Quarterback


Another guy who came to see the show in the Shoe on Saturday was quarterback Target CJ Stroud. The 6-foot-2, 194 pound prospect came all the way from Rancho Cucamonga, Cali. and carries a .938 composite ranking.

By all accounts, things went very well during his visit while being shown around by possible future teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. All crystal ball predictions have turned to Ohio State, which would give the Buckeyes two highly touted QBs in the 2020 class, along with Jack Miller the four-star out of Chaparral in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Both of these QBs are considered pro-style, but shouldn’t be too closely compared Dwayne Haskins just because of their label. This is something that I am very interested to watch develop with the way that the transfer portal has already affected Ohio State in the quarterback room. This could be another Dwayne Haskins vs. Joe Burrow situation after Justin Fields (in all probability) leaves for the NFL following next season

Defensive End


Next up, Ohio State would love to pick up a commitment from Tyler Baron. A four-star, .949 rated SDE from Knoxsville Catholic (TN). He currently sits with about a 70 percent crystal ball to Tennessee, which makes sense considering that his father, Patrick Abernathy, is a member of Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.

However, Baron fits the mold of a Larry Johnson-style player, coming in at 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds. This would be the guy that I believe could be the final piece to join the class as he is still trying to figure out if he wants to stay home, or come play at a place that litters the NFL with defensive lineman.

I would place about a 50/50 shot that Ohio State ends up with Barron at this point, making him the least likely of the four guys that I am predicting to fill out the 2020 class.

Cornerback


Finally is the player that I think is the most obvious and that I believe will be the next to commit to Ohio State, and that is Ryan Watts.

The 6-foot-2, 187 cornerback had been committed to the Oklahoma Sooners until last week when he announced that he was re opening his recruitment. For a few days after his announcement, Oklahoma still believed to have a chance to retain Watts, but that feeling has decayed over the last few days and the predictions now heavily lean towards Ohio State.

Watts comes out of Little Elam, Texas, and has earned a .910 star ranking and is probably encouraged by what is happening with another 6’2 corner out of Texas, Jeff Okudah. The Ohio State corner is likely to forgo his remaining year of eligibility and become an early pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and could provide the perfect road map for what a guy like Watts wants to do.


So there it is, the final four players that I predict will join Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class. If you agree or disagree please comment and tell us why. That way we can have some fun as we will find out in the next few weeks and months who it will be

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Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin is impressing fans, media alike with his hot start in the NFL
Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Ocho Cinco had high praise for the former Buckeye on Twitter!


He was extremely impressed with Scary Terry’s route running, with McLaurin exhibiting smooth and clean routes far beyond his years. He had another strong performance against yet another top defensive unit in against the Patriots Sunday, who are currently the top passing defense in just about every metric. McLaurin only had the 3 catches for 51 yards, but that sounds a whole lot better when you realize he was almost literally half the Redskins passing offense (McCoy only threw for 119 yards and no other Washington receiver had more than 20).

The Professional Team from Washington has had their fair share of struggles this season. They are 0-5 and have just fired their head coach of 5 years in Jay Gruden. The lone bright spot on the team has been Terry McLaurin, which Chad Johnson agrees with.

Johnson responded to Bruce Allen’s comment that “the pieces are here for a winning team” by tweeting “Translation: we have Terry McLaurin & will build around him.” It’s not often you see a team build around a wide receiver, but Johnson certainly believes Terry is just that special.

With Jay Gruden gone, who reportedly did not want Haskins, and the team going nowhere fast, it should not be too long before Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin can finally play together again. Haskins didn’t look good in his first NFL action earlier this year, but he was also without the Redskins best player in McLaurin. I think it’s about time to see these guys connecting and adding to the already strong Buckeye footprint in the NFL.

“(ABC)’s broadcast of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Ohio State Buckeyes brought in an average rating of 1.6 in adults 18-49, drawing 6.49 million viewers.”

-Joseph Rejent, TV By the Numbers


The nation considered Ohio State vs. Michigan State as appointment viewing, and OSU answered the call. They were the highest viewed non-NFL game all week, crushing the other night game on ESPN by nearly 3 million viewers, and just beat out Auburn at Florida, a 7 vs 10 matchup.

Even though OSU was favored by 20 points, which they covered, millions still had to tune in to see exactly what this Buckeye team is about. They got to see a Buckeye team that is very real and very scary (for the non-Buckeye fans out there). They saw a run game that couldn’t be stopped (over 300 total yards), an explosive passing attack, and what was most impressive, a stifling defense that hounded Lewerke and company all night.

In a night where the future of OSU was in attendance with thirty 2020 and 2021 recruits in the building to watch the dominating performance, the number of TV views should insure the next-next-next Buckeyes are starting to fall in love. Thousands of young kids see the dashing helmets and uniforms, see the roaring crowd and the powerful on-field performance, and then their dream becomes “I want to play for that team.” These prime-time games are recruiting tools for the near and distant futures, and OSU certainly did what they had to do.

“I think being in a place like Ohio State, any time there’s success, things like this are going to come up, I don’t really ever want to talk about any of that stuff. I love it here. This is where I want to be.”

-Ryan Day via Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Day has a history in the NFL, and many are wondering if that history could be calling him after the Buckeyes magnificent start to the season. Day served as the QB’s coach at Philadelphia and San Francisco before becoming the offensive coordinator at OSU in 2017, and he could easily find a job in the professional league as the next young offensive genius to take the NFL by storm. Jobs are beginning to open up, with Jay Gruden the first casualty, and we all know what Day can do with Dwayne Haskins. Besides Lincoln Reilly, Day is becoming the hottest name in the coaching carousel, but at least in lip service Day is here to stay.

There are a lot of reasons why the NFL is interested in Day. He has this OSU squad looking as dangerous as any in what was supposed to be a down year for the Buckeyes, having just rolled a good Michigan State team to hit 5-0. And the prestige and possibly the money of the NFL is hard to match, as well as the feeling that the NFL is another level of challenge compared to college ball. But Day has business still just started at the Ohio State. Maybe once he has a national championship under his belt the NFL may seem more attractive, but for now, he wants to be here.

Day for his part is saying all the right things. He doesn’t appreciate the questions already, and is hoping to build a legacy at OSU, saying “Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, even for the next five, 10, hopefully 20 years while I’m here, I really don’t want to comment on any of that. Because I don’t think it’s good for anybody.” Coaches can say things like this all the time and jump the next day, but for a final reason to be secure for at least a couple more years, Day has referenced his family’s stability as just another reason to stay. “When we had to move our family three times in three years — that was not good, and that’s the thing that I don’t know if people realize. You have to move your family, and we have a young family. When you’re moving them all over the place, it is the worst thing to go home to your family and tell them we’ve got to move again. They’ve got to be the new kid again and your wife has to figure out a new set of friends again. It’s just not good.”

He went on to say that he and his wife said the constant moving was “hard times” and they decided “never again.” If there’s anything to take solace in, it’s a man’s dedication to his family, so I think Day is here to stay.

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In honor of Nick Bosa, here’s some of Ohio State’s best recent payback moments, celebrations
Tia Williams via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Anyone remember our “basic defense?”

I don’t know about you guys, but I woke up this morning feeling refreshed, motivated, and... avenged. Nick Bosa spent the majority of his time during Monday Night Football getting revenge on former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and I’ve replayed it no less than 15 times already.

In case you missed it:


The 49ers rookie defensive end had five quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two sacks. Mayfield turned the ball over a total of three times and finished with a season-worst 13.4 passer rating.

Bosa gave us the closure Buckeye fans have been craving since 2016, and I am a better person because of it.

Now, since one can never get enough of current and former Buckeyes’ clever celebrations and revenge on those who deserve it, here’s a list of some of the best of those moments in Ohio State history.

BEST PLAYER CELEBRATIONS


While it wasn’t exactly a “celebration,” former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith’s bull stampede on senior day is remembered by all and set the stage for The Game in 2006. Ohio State beat Michigan 42-39 and Smith won his Heisman Trophy a few weeks later.

Photo by David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Ah yes, the infamous Zach Boren sack against Michigan in 2012. Is there anyone who doesn’t have this picture hanging up in their basement? Here it is in motion:


Boren’s dominant posture and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner in the fetal position truly never gets old. Final score: Michigan 21 Ohio State 26. Insert Bosa Shrug here.

SPEAKING OF....

Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images

I’m sure you don’t need reminded of the Bosa Shrug. It’s one of the subtlest, yet most iconic player celebrations in Buckeye history. Former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa often—if not always— threw up the shrug after a sack, as if to say “I don’t know, it’s just what I do!”

Here’s how it started:


In true Bosa fashion, “it just happened” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Ever since, the shrug has appeared on a number of different stages.


In 2014, after beating Oregon in the National Championship, the Buckeyes were invited to the White House where President Obama and Bosa exchanged shrugs.


After Bosa was thrown out of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame for targeting, running back Ezekiel Elliott threw up the shrug after his fourth touchdown to honor his teammate. He wasn’t letting Bosa’s last game as a Buckeye go shrug-less.


And last but not least, the shrug lives on. Not only through Bosa and his own teammates on the San Diego Chargers, but also through his little brother, Nick. When he’s not planting flags in disrespectful quarterbacks’ fields, he’s taking after his brother. Baby Bosa did the shrug during his time at Ohio State and again after his first career sack in the league. It is called the Bosa Shrug, after all.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has a Bosa Shrug of his own, if you will. The former Ohio State receiver often puts a finger to his mouth after a catch or touchdown as if to say “Shhhh” or “silence the doubters.” For awhile, even the hashtag #shhhh was popular among Buckeye Twitter.


Thomas’ victory dancing and O-H-ing toward the end of Ohio State vs. Michigan in 2015 is one of my personal favorites. It might have been disrespectful, but they don’t like us and we don’t like them.


So many Michigan victory celebrations, so little time.

Curtis Samuel’s arms spread wide as he ran into the end zone to beat Michigan in double overtime in 2016 is an image I want stored in my frontal lobe until my last day on earth. And Chris Fowler’s “Ohio State wins” exclamation is the icing on the cake.


K.J. Hill’s sticky-hand celebration after a jaw-dropping one handed catch against Minnesota in 2018 could not have been executed more perfectly.


Bosa Shrug, Michael Thomas #Shhhh, and the Parris Campbell PEACE sign. My favorite thing about each of these celebrations is that they all seem to say: “Yeah, we’re used to this.”

TROLLING THE OPPOSITION


One day—I don’t know when—but one day opposing teams will learn their lesson when it comes to trash talking Ohio State. It never ends well. The consequence for Baker Mayfield’s flag-plant in the ‘Shoe came two years later at the hands of Nick Bosa. However, it usually doesn’t take that long for teams/players to receive their wake up call. The Sooners would know.

In 2016, Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall gave an interview, days before his team faced Ohio State, in which he described Ohio State as having a “really basic defense” and QB1 Mayfield would “light them up.”


Oh Austin...

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Three days later, Ohio State beat the Sooners 45-24. Mayfield did not light up Ohio State. He was 17-of-32 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Buckeyes had their post-game sign ready for the cameras. They had to let Kendall and the Sooners know their motivation behind that win.


While throwing shade at Ohio State’s defense is great bulletin board material, Michigan running back Karan Higdon “guaranteeing” a win over Ohio State is more like wallpaper material. Keep in mind, this guy said this on the MONDAY before The Game, meaning Urban Meyer would have plastered this quote around the Woody, playing it over and over for his team to hear all. week. long.


Ohio State running back Mike Weber responded on Twitter before the Buckeyes responded on the field, beating TTUN 62-39. The Wolverine’s loss was pretty much “guaranteed” from the start of the game.


You’d think Michigan players would have kept their mouths shut following the loss. Alas, they continued to provide Ohio State football fans, players, and social media team with more material.

Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, who was also the unofficial leader of the Wolverine’s “revenge tour,” said that their loss against Ohio State was simply “a mirage,” and that recruits “should be not fooled” by what they saw (which was Michigan getting their butts kicked).

So, naturally, the brains behind the exceptional Ohio State football Twitter account mocked Winovich using a clip from a Saturday Night Live sketch. The Buckeyes inserted the 62-39 score as a mirage in the desert, which was followed by a TV clip of Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt after Ohio State secured their second straight Big Ten title a few days prior.

Michigan, isn’t it time to wave the white flag?


Sometimes, players provide bulletin board material during the game, right smack in front of the likes of Chase Young & Co. Just a few weeks ago, Miami University defensive lineman Doug Costin threw up an O-H after sacking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields early in the game. At the time, the Redhawks were only down by two points (5-7). After his mockery of Ohio State’s cheer, the Buckeyes went on to score 69 unanswered points. So, Doug, I see your O-H and raise you an I-O!

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Ryan Day answers questions as Ohio State heads into bye week
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The coach said he hopes to be at OSU for “five, 10, hopefully 20 years.”

Following a hard-fought Big Ten East showdown with the always dangerous Michigan State Spartans, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes are settling into their first bye week of the season. On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day addressed the media to put a bow on the 34-10 victory over MSU and to look forward to the second half of the regular season.

Check out the video of the press conference here:

Champions of the Game


Offensive Champions: Master Teague, Luke Farrell, Austin Mack, Jonah Jackson, Josh Myers

Players of the Game: J.K. Dobbins, Thayer Munford


Defensive Champions: Chase Young, Davon Hamilton, Robert Landers, Tyreke Smith, Zach Harrison, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Malik Harrison, Jordan Fuller

Players of the Game: Jashon Cornell, Shaun Wade

Special Teams Player of the Game: Chris Olave, Drue Chrisman


Scout Team Players of the Week: Alex Williams, Ryan Batsch, Xavier Johnson, Enokk Vimahi

Reviewing Michigan State

• Day said that they need the bye week following a physical game against Sparty. “We’re a little battered, but that’s what happens six weeks in.”
• The coach noted that they learned a lot about the offensive line. He said that they didn’t give in when they got punched in the mouth, and they ended up playing great against an elite defensive line. “To run for over 300 yards on that outfit is saying something.”

Team Notes

• Day said that during the bye week, the focus in on self-evaluation and self-improvement, both on and off the field.
• Coaches are working with each player to give them tangible things to improve upon for the rest of the season.
• When asked, Day said that they do look at advanced analytics, especially for opponents. However, he said that it is just a part of the formula, since teams will often change tendencies from week to week.
• Day said that his preseason plan to stay out of the defensive gameplan. He obviously stays involved in the planning, but he lets the defensive coaches run their side of the ball. He said that “too many cooks in the kitchen” can make things worse.
• Day said, “The first goal was to get 6-0... It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win the next one.”
• Discussing Dobbins’ long run, Day praises the entire offense, “To hit a big play like that, all 11 have to do great.”

Player Notes

• When asked, Day said that the team’s chemistry and toughness has been incredibly important in the season’s first six games. He specifically praised “the quarterback” for how he took hits. Day said that that mentality translates to the rest of the team.
• Of Justin Fields, he said, “He’s a talent. He’s a load. It’s not like he’s skinny or going to take too many shots. He actually delivers the blow on some guys.”
• He said that he didn’t really know what to expect from Fields in terms of leadership and toughness, because he didn’t see him play in high school, and they don’t hit during practice. However, especially against MSU, Day said that those qualities are evident, “To be able to take a shot like that and then come right back, there’s a grittiness there.”
• Day added of Fields, “When you’re preaching toughness and your quarterback takes a shot in the face… that just goes to show you what this kid is made of.”
• Day talked about the unusual situation of Brendon White adapting to the bullet position. He says that he is improving and getting more comfortable in the position, and he is definitely part of the defensive plans.
• The coach said that along with White, Jashen Wint, Pete Werner, and Justin Hilliard are all essentially playing the same position.
• Day said that Luke Farrell has done a lot for the team, not only this year, but in 2018 as well. He said that the tight end does everything well that the team needs from the position. He said that the touchdown he had against Michigan State was well deserved.
• He said, “He’s not a guy who takes a lot of maintenance. You tell him something once and he gets it.”
• Day praised Shaun Wade as being incredibly valuable covering slot receivers, coming up in run support, protecting against screens and more.
• In reference to Rutgers transfer Jonah Jackson, Day said, “Jonah is as close to a man and a pro as I’ve been around in quite some time.”
• He praised how the graduate transfer has adjusted to the locker room.
• Day said that he thinks that the special teams have been solid, but there is room for improvement in the return game.

Miscellaneous

• Day said that having great recruiting talent in Ohio is “huge for us.” He said that their plan is for the state of Ohio to be the base for the program, then to move out to the rest of the midwest, and supplement national players as well.
• In terms of the percentage of players in each recruiting class from the state of Ohio, Day said that it depends on the year and the talent available, but it is about finding the players that fit at Ohio State, and players from Ohio have a leg up, because they understand what the program is all about.
• He said, “Ideally, you’d have as many Ohio guys as you can have.”
• Day said that he loves it at Ohio State, he hopes to be here for five, 10, or 20 years, so he isn’t interested in commenting on NFL opportunities. He said, “I love it here... I don’t want to ever talk about that stuff. I love it here and this is where I want to be.”
• When asked, Day said that he hasn’t spoken to Dwayne Haskins since the preseason, but that he’s going to be fine.
• Day said that he knew that the life of an NFL coach hasn’t for him when he had to move three times in three years. He said that’s not what he and his wife want for their family, and that he said, “Never again.”

Following their bye week, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes will return to the field on Friday, Oct. 18 against the Northwestern Wildcats. The game will be broadcast on FS1.

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OHSportsFan said:

Now taking his shot at the XFL

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Lot of former Wolverines on there LOL

DZ83CK said:

Didn't see this in the thread:
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https://theathletic.com/1277253/2019/10/08/girl-crocheting-kansas-oklahoma-game/

Crocheting at a Kansas game: Hailey Solomon explains the moment she went viral
By Nicole Auerbach 2h ago

Hailey Solomon doesn’t enjoy watching college football. She jokes that she doesn’t understand it at all, either. (That might not have been a joke.) You might have surmised all of this already, considering what you already know about her — that she’s the kind of person who brings her crocheting with her to a live sporting event. But she’d like to confirm anyway.

Saturday’s game against Oklahoma was actually the first Kansas football game Solomon had ever attended. The senior studying civil engineering had only decided to go for one very specific reason.

“One of the most influential and inspiring people in my life is my structural engineering materials professor, Dr. Matt (O’Reilly), who has been a role model and mentor to me for the past three years,” Solomon wrote in an email to The Athletic. She had nominated O’Reilly for an award — the Board of Class Officers H.O.P.E. Award (Honor for an Outstanding Progressive Educator) — and he’d won it. He would be honored during the Jayhawks’ football game, which meant that Solomon would be going to a football game.

“Though I know football is a well-loved pastime, I’ve never taken to it, so I brought my crocheting to keep me busy until the presentation,” said Solomon. “I sat away from the crowd so I would have a good view and contentedly worked away at a little potholder before the game began. Once it did, I watched it for a bit but somehow got turned around and managed to lose track of which direction my team was supposed to be going.

“The award was presented in the first quarter and when it was, I cheered as loudly as I could and left shortly after, thinking my presence went unnoticed. As you know though, the opposite couldn’t be truer, but I think it’s hilarious that the one game I attend ends with me becoming a meme.”

...

She knows that her hobbies are a little different from your typical college student’s. She didn’t go to the Snoop performance on Friday in part because she went to the Late Night in the Phog last year and “found it overstimulating.”

“I’m sure I sound like a grandma trapped in a young person’s body, but that’s only because it’s true,” Solomon said. “At this point in my life, I know who I am, I know what I like, and I know how I prefer to spend my time.

“I used to be incredibly self-conscious and even semi-ashamed of my atypical interests, but now I embrace them and I’m much better for it.”

Big Ten Power Rankings: See Dave Wannstedt’s post-Week 6 list
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Week 6 was a big week in the Big Ten, featuring a pair of top 25 matchups, and the results impacted Dave Wannstedt's latest Big Ten power rankings. See Coach's latest list inside.

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Enemy of my enemy said:

Thank you Buckeyes! Ended up having a great day in Columbus . . . at least until the second quarter. Now let's all ensure we help our teams work together to crush the hopes and dreams of Wolverines everywhere when our teams visit the big hole in Ann Arbor. Good luck the rest of the way. Two trips now to Columbus (2015 and 2019) and nothing but great interaction with Buckeye fans both times.

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Just shut up

You had me at "crush the hopes and dreams of wolverines"

/sniffle

buckeyepup said:

charlie sanders???

wtf - remember him as an above avg rec te nothing more - wehrli along with mel blount best two cb of the 70's - still amazed that ken anderson has never come close - if you compare his stats from 1973-1982 to his peers he ranks as a top 3 qb over and above bradshaw, griese, stabler etc.(staubach and fouts being the other two)

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http://www.espn.com/recruiting/s/2000/0621/596607.html Redshirt-freshman offensive lineman Matt Zahn will transfer from Ohio State to Marshall.

https://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mac/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/Marshall01FBprospectus.pdf He is listed here as playing for Marshall and weighing 400 lbs.

https://www.facebook.com/matt.zahn1/photos?lst=672086713:1508139594:1570468715 I bet this is him. He is enormous.

Five Big Ten teams ranked in post-Week 6 AP top 25 poll
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Ohio State moved up to T-No. 3 in the latest AP poll, released Sunday afternoon. The Buckeyes improved to 6-0 with their second emphatic win in as many weeks under the lights, this time vs. then-No. 25 Michigan State.

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Richrod on first ballot ? All their 21st c. coaches belong, but somehow he's the one I care the least about.
I vote Llllllloyd Carr first ballot.

That's dumb

Fuck Jim Sorgi, he did deserve it.

Best music video EVER!

OK, here's my all time favorite:

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If you ever wondered what happened to those music videos on MTV, see article:

MTV and the 'day' the music died
MTV, aka Music Television wasn't an immediate success when it launched in 1981, but the 24-7 music network had a good run.

Launched on August 1, 1981, with the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," MTV had a huge impact on 1980s pop culture.

Before MTV arrived, music programming was mostly limited to bands playing a song or two on the late-night talk shows or "Saturday Night Live." Amazingly enough, most big cities' cable providers weren't on board for the MTV launch; NYC and LA didn't offer the network until 1982. MTV's "I want my MTV!" ad campaigns helped rectify the situation, but MTV's initial rise was painfully slow. The network went on to showcase new stars like Adam Ant, Eurythmics, Culture Club, The Fixx, Split Enz, Prince, Ultravox, Duran Duran, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Def Leppard, The Police, and The Cars. MTV also changed the perception of established icons like Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin. The quality of the videos was all over the place, from pure garbage to truly inspired works from Peter Gabriel and Michael Jackson.

As an audiophile I remember that MTV pioneered stereo (MTS) audio on television, even before the audience had TVs that could decode the stereo signals! I bought a JVC VCR with a MTS tuner so I could hear MTV in stereo.

I spoke with ex-MTV VJ Adam Curry to get an insider's point of view about the programming changeover from 24-7 music to reality TV and he said, "It was the best business decision they ever made." Curry explained that during his stint, starting in 1987 the network's ratings were never that great. So even in the best of times, music never pulled big numbers, but MTV's very first trivia game show, "Remote Control," did really well. It went on to do "The Real World" in 1992, which was the first unscripted reality show. That, and the others that followed saved MTV, and doomed 24-7 music programming.

I can't blame MTV for abandoning music; its job was to deliver ratings and make money, and the audience for music, even before YouTube, was never all that big. Curry said there was a community vibe among the VJs, and I think the on-air personalities were a big part of MTV's charm, not so different than radio DJs that turned their listeners onto the best new tunes. YouTube is no replacement for that. Curry reminded me that MTV is currently a $4 billion-a-year business, so it must be doing something right.

Entire article: https://www.cnet.com/news/mtv-and-the-day-the-music-died/

Audio: Listen to Big Ten hockey coaches preview the season
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Listen to each of the Big Ten men’s hockey coaches talk to reporters ahead of the start of the 2019-2020 Big Ten Men’s Hockey season. It's almost time for @B1GHockey. @BadgerMHockey coach @TonyGranato looks at what lies ahead for Wisconsin in the upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/eswSh3UJbU — Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) October 3, 2019 Get ready for the upcoming season of @B1GHockey with @MSU_Hockey coach Danton Cole. pic.twitter.com/uvVQQDVEpG — Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) October 3, 2019 Defending @B1GHockey tournament champion @NDHockey enter the season picked to finish second in the conference. Head coach Jeff Jackson shares how he sees things

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Looking for 2 tickets anywhere for me and my son. Trying to avoid stub hub fees and help a human being unload their tickets directly.