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Game Thread (2004) Bowl Game: MasterCard Alamo Bowl - Oklahoma State - 12/29/04 (W, 8-4/4-4)

ScarletInMyVeins said:
I think I was more impressed with our offensive line than anything else. Those gentlemen played one hell of a game. My hats off to them.
Agreed. JZ having one leg down certainly limited his mobility...he played like a man today, but there is no way he would have done it with the OL from when he was starting
 
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A comment was made someone that if it hadn't been for TG2's performance, Lydell would have been the second MVP. He played a great game.

Well- I'll tell you what... somewhere in the 3rd quarter, I was preparing myslef for the hazing I was going to get (see page 1) if Ross broke a few more big runs off.
 
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Five Thoughts on the Alamo Bowl From CFBN....

1. Fighting through scandal
If Ohio State can play this well when there's turmoil, keep the scandals coming. The Buckeyes fought through the Maurice Clarett allegations by obliterating Michigan, and then dismissed the Troy Smith fiasco by playing its best game of the year. The defense swarmed over everything Oklahoma State tried to do while the offense was powerful and effective. QB Justin Zwick played a gutty game fighting through a hamstring injury, while the line pounded on the hapless Cowboy D line as the Buckeyes ran at will. Never dismiss the ability of a team to come together and focus when things are down, and it looks like Ohio State will have to get used to this.

2. Diversity
The Cowboys tried to loosen things up by throwing the ball early to make the Ohio State defense respect the passing game, but when Donovan Woods didn't make things happen and the offense sputtered, the defense didn't pick up the slack and the game was over before it could get going. If you're one of the best running teams in the country, you run the ball no matter what. The ground attack was what got Oklahoma State to San Antonio, but the offense played into Ohio State's hands and lost big. For Vernand Morency to only get eight carries for 20 yards shows how wrong everything went and how the team had no control. Will the Cowboys be better next year with a stronger passing game? Sure, but they have to remember to go with the fastball when things aren't going well.

3. Mr. Ginn
Let's be honest here; Ted Ginn Jr. won't win the Heisman next year. Oh sure he'll be the nation's most electrifying player (with all due respect to Reggie Bush) and there certainly won't be anyone more versatile, but sophomores don't win Heismans and next year will be a loaded year. Even so, Ginn will be one of the nation's marquee players as there's nothing more exciting in college football the moment than the sight of him in the open field when he breaks loose and cuts across the field. Everyone is going to want to make him into the next Charles Woodson and expect greatness every time he touches the ball, and he appears ready to make that happen.

4. So what's next for Oklahoma State?
With RB Vernand Morency saying he plans on retuning for his senior year, the skill position players should be tremendous. D'Juan Woods leads a strong receiving corps, but the question is who will throw the ball as incumbent Donovan Woods will get a strong push from injured super-recruit Bobby Reid. The big problem is the offensive line losing Sam Mayes and center Ben Buie. The team's top two tacklers, Jamie Thompson and Jon Holland, are gone, but linebackers Paul Duren and Lawrence Pinson return to form the nucleus of the defense. One problem this year was pass rush as there wasn't enough of a consistent one from the ends, so that'll be a major job this spring. Cornerback should be an issue as well unless Daniel McLemore turns into a shutdown defender. The non-conference schedule is nice and squishy starting off with Montana State, Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State before dealing with the Big XII slate with Colorado, Missouri, Texas and Texas Tech coming to Boone Pickens.

5. So what's next for Ohio State?
This won't be a fun off-season as all of the off-the-field shenanigans and allegations could result in a different program in 2005. Will all of the booster problems be a problem for Jim Tressel? Will he still be the coach? Who will be the starting quarterback? On a positive note, the team is loaded with experience on both sides of the ball highlighted by the linebacking corps led by senior-to-be A.J. Hawk. Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel aren't chopped liver. The defensive line should be fantastic only losing Simon Fraser, while the secondary should be strong only losing Dustin Fox. E.J. Underwood and Ted Ginn Jr., if he chooses to play defense, should fill in the gap nicely. Offense is a bigger issue as experience has to equate into more production. With all of the hoopla surrounding Troy Smith, Justin Zwick will likely be the number one quarterback and he has to be far better than he was early in 2004. Santonio Holmes and Ginn should be a deadly 1-2 receiving punch. Antonio Pittman has the potential to be a strong runner, but he has to prove he can handle the full-season workload. He'll need help from other Buckeye backs. The schedule is interesting with four tough games in Columbus to start things off playing Miami University, Texas, San Diego State and Iowa. Missing Wisconsin and Purdue helps; the road games are at Penn State, Indiana, Minnesota and Michigan.

 
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I think they should start making room in the WHAC for some more crystal next year. This team is LOADED with talent on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams, is mentally tough, athletic, and physical.

To me, the only question is how good the kicker replacing Mr. Perfect will be.
 
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Sorry we couldn't give y'all a better game/Pile on JWil here thread

Howdy folks. Just got back from San Antonio, where Oklahoma State is 0-3 lifetime between two ABs and the 2004 Final Four. lol

Anyway, congrats on the win. The offense was still average and I'm sticking to that (they should have scored more TDs on our dreadful D), but Ginn is a stud and so is Nugent. I've got Ginn at the top of my Heisman watch list for sure.

Ohio State's D was awesome, though Miles only calling for Morency to run it EIGHT times is inexcusable.

Well, that's it. Feel free to pile on me here, because I know I got mixed reviews on my offensive scouting report. :wink:

And oh, I'm not going anywhere. I like this site and the posters. Though I didn't appreciate the Ohio State fans booing EVERYTHING Oklahoma State folks did at the Alamo Bowl pep rally on Monday night. (WTH??? lol)

Anyway, thanks for all the talk up til the game and I hope those who went had good experiences with Oklahoma State fans. Good luck with the NCAA and I hope to cruise the board often to see what's up.
 
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I'm not going to pile on, J-Wil.

You've added to this board, and we'll look forward to your visits in the future.

Good luck to the Cowboys in '05.

Especially against those nasty Sooners!
 
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Good to hear you and some others are sticking around, JW. You all have a great site over at o-state, a great group of fans, and you're all very welcome presences over here. It's always good to have some external perspectives, and we've been fortunate to have folks from Washington State, Washington, Texas Tech and NCState stick around after our past contests, I'm entirely happy to add Oklahoma State to the mix.

We all have that bowl. For us it's the Outback. Back to back losses to South Carolina, bookending the firing of John Cooper and the hiring of Jim Tressel. I'm not anxious for a return to Tampa, and I won't blame you if San Antonio is considered equally tainted from a Cowboy perspective.



JWil said:
Howdy folks. Just got back from San Antonio, where Oklahoma State is 0-3 lifetime between two ABs and the 2004 Final Four. lol

Anyway, congrats on the win. The offense was still average and I'm sticking to that (they should have scored more TDs on our dreadful D), but Ginn is a stud and so is Nugent. I've got Ginn at the top of my Heisman watch list for sure.

Ohio State's D was awesome, though Miles only calling for Morency to run it EIGHT times is inexcusable.

Well, that's it. Feel free to pile on me here, because I know I got mixed reviews on my offensive scouting report. :wink:

And oh, I'm not going anywhere. I like this site and the posters. Though I didn't appreciate the Ohio State fans booing EVERYTHING Oklahoma State folks did at the Alamo Bowl pep rally on Monday night. (WTH??? lol)

Anyway, thanks for all the talk up til the game and I hope those who went had good experiences with Oklahoma State fans. Good luck with the NCAA and I hope to cruise the board often to see what's up.
 
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Jwil, no need to pile on to your assessment considering it was based on numbers that did not convey the growth of the unit towards te end of the season. It was on target IMO.

Good to hear you are sticking around. Best of luck in basketball this season...we'll need someone to pull for during tournament time :(
 
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