Game Thread 2015 Sugar Bowl: (1) Alabama vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 1st @ 8:30p ET, ESPN (civilized thread)

[Jaxbuck]

In college football, an untouched kickoff that goes into the endzone is a touchback. Before last night, I would have said it doesn't matter if its touched - still a touchback. I would have been wrong.

Well pull my teeth and call me a Gump....who knew?

Thanks

 

[buckeyeintn]

Sims played like he has all year... staring down receivers etc.
The defensive playcall to drop a DE into coverage right in front of Cooper on a big 3rd down was brilliant -- it's also a very similar play as to JT threw an interception on IIRC
Vonn Bell baiting Sims and undercutting the route to steal the ball was also textbook -- just like he baited Stave.
Sims isn't that good of a QB. They've lived off Cooper all year -- the teams with better defenses were able to limit Alabama's offense just like they did last night.

I believe you're referring to a play from the Ped State game.

 

[cincibuck]

Look at the scoring turnovers. OSU capitalized when we could not, quite frankly, due to other turnovers. All bad decisions by Sims. I told you guys he was prone to it.

Hmmmm so the only turnover that mattered in your point of view was the pick six.... Logical in a way, but in most box scores the fumble by Elliot and the interception would count as turnovers leading to scores. I'd add the 23 yard punt and the decision to throw a pass on first down with less than two minutes to play as "turnovers."

Cardale made some bad decisions too. Got picked on one and your safety dropped the second.

It was a tough game played by 18 to 23 year olds - bad decisions are all a part of that.

 

[BUCKYLE]

I know Bama was a small notch above the rest of our schedule, but were any of you actually, seriously worried at 21-6? I know I'm considered a homer by plenty of you, but this team, with these coaches? Worried? Really?

They've proven, over and over and over again, all season after (and really including) VaTech, that no matter what happens, be it bad officiating, turnovers, questionable play calling, the death of a teammate, injuries to team leaders, etc, etc, that the one thing this team will NEVER do is roll over. It's not in them. Maybe they're too young, too inexperienced, too naive to win it all, but all that inexperience also means they don't know you're supposed to give up when you're getting beat and everything is going against you.

I fucking love this team. I can feel it in my core. They are a team of destiny. They refuse to be denied.

I almost feel sorry for Oregon fans. They still believe the NC is up for grabs.

 

[MoCoBuck]

 

[Zem]

Obviously sweet to be moving on to the CG. Always sweet as well to beat the SEC's best. The dejection after Woody's Sugar Bowl loss festered for a long time, and finally it feels like the 8-year-old Buckeye fan inside can move on.

With the exception of being down early 21-6, it seemed like once the Buckeyes mounted the comeback and went ahead that they gave Bama roughly the same treatment they gave to scUM and Indiana. Up two TD's late, but probably managed the clock better in the B1G games. We have got to develop a simple goal line run game, similar to that used on one of those late TD's. Eight plays in the 1st Q and not one touchdown to show for it.. seems absurd considering the effectiveness of our OLine. It would have been an easier victory than the Mich St game if those 2 TD's had been converted.

For folks who were at the game.. What was the crowd like? More Bammers than Buckeyes? Big 10 chants countering SEC chants, haha?

 

[HaHaHarbaws]

I know Bama was a small notch above the rest of our schedule, but were any of you actually, seriously worried at 21-6? I know I'm considered a homer by plenty of you, but this team, with these coaches? Worried? Really?

They've proven, over and over and over again, all season after (and really including) VaTech, that no matter what happens, be it bad officiating, turnovers, questionable play calling, the death of a teammate, injuries to team leaders, etc, etc, that the one thing this team will NEVER do is roll over. It's not in them. Maybe they're too young, too inexperienced, too naive to win it all, but all that inexperience also means they don't know you're supposed to give up when you're getting beat and everything is going against you.

I fucking love this team. I can feel it in my core. They are a team of destiny. They refuse to be denied.

I almost feel sorry for Oregon fans. They still believe the NC is up for grabs.

You and I have been in the same boat all year. I was told I'd be ignored for having the belief that the BUCKEYES would make the playoffs if they just won out. Hope fsu loses I was told. Root for Miami they said. Fuck that. I'll never cheer for the canes. I would rather just believe in our BUCKEYES tyvm.

 

[buckeyeintn]

Obviously sweet to be moving on to the CG. Always sweet as well to beat the SEC's best. The dejection after Woody's Sugar Bowl loss festered for a long time, and finally it feels like the 8-year-old Buckeye fan inside can move on.

With the exception of being down early 21-6, it seemed like once the Buckeyes mounted the comeback and went ahead that they gave Bama roughly the same treatment they gave to scUM and Indiana. Up two TD's late, but probably managed the clock better in the B1G games. We have got to develop a simple goal line run game, similar to that used on one of those late TD's. Eight plays in the 1st Q and not one touchdown to show for it.. seems absurd considering the effectiveness of our OLine. It would have been an easier victory than the Mich St game if those 2 TD's had been converted.

For folks who were at the game.. What was the crowd like? More Bammers than Buckeyes? Big 10 chants countering SEC chants, haha?

The crowd seemed to be close to 50-50, no worse than 45-55. Overheard some Bama fans yesterday afternoon (was that just yesterday?) surprised at all the Buckeyes there. Didn't get O-H-I-O all around the stadium (for some reason the Bama side didn't seem to want to do their part). But did get O-H-I-O from one end to the other several times. Don't remember hearing S-E-C at all. Heard Roll Tide and similar. And fortunately no B1G chants that I heard.

 

[HaHaHarbaws]

The crowd seemed to be close to 50-50, no worse than 45-55. Overheard some Bama fans yesterday afternoon (was that just yesterday?) surprised at all the Buckeyes there. Didn't get O-H-I-O all around the stadium (for some reason the Bama side didn't seem to want to do their part). But did get O-H-I-O from one end to the other several times. Don't remember hearing S-E-C at all. Heard Roll Tide and similar. And fortunately no B1G chants that I heard.

I heard the sec chant. Pretty sure it was from wonderfully sarcastic BUCKEYE fans though.

 

[Bill Lucas]

The crowd seemed to be close to 50-50, no worse than 45-55. Overheard some Bama fans yesterday afternoon (was that just yesterday?) surprised at all the Buckeyes there. Didn't get O-H-I-O all around the stadium (for some reason the Bama side didn't seem to want to do their part). But did get O-H-I-O from one end to the other several times. Don't remember hearing S-E-C at all. Heard Roll Tide and similar. And fortunately no B1G chants that I heard.

The crowd was 60-40 at least in favor of Alabama. The O-H-I-O chant died on their side. We were outnumbered by a solid margin. I did hear a lot of Alabama fans talking about how loud we were despite the disparity.

The only SEC chants were at the end by the Buckeyes. There were no B1G chants nor should there ever be IMO.

 

[lvbuckeye]

How to make Bama cookies:

1) Put them in a Bowl of Sugar.
2) Beat them for three hours.

 

[bukIpower]

I know Bama was a small notch above the rest of our schedule, but were any of you actually, seriously worried at 21-6? I know I'm considered a homer by plenty of you, but this team, with these coaches? Worried? Really?

They've proven, over and over and over again, all season after (and really including) VaTech, that no matter what happens, be it bad officiating, turnovers, questionable play calling, the death of a teammate, injuries to team leaders, etc, etc, that the one thing this team will NEVER do is roll over. It's not in them. Maybe they're too young, too inexperienced, too naive to win it all, but all that inexperience also means they don't know you're supposed to give up when you're getting beat and everything is going against you.

I fucking love this team. I can feel it in my core. They are a team of destiny. They refuse to be denied.

I almost feel sorry for Oregon fans. They still believe the NC is up for grabs.

fuck yeah I was worried... I thought it was over to be honest and I know I'll get grief for that but let me explain.

We just turned the ball over 2 times and gave them 21 points and all the sudden their defense really was swarming and I thought Cardale really looked rattled. Then down 21-6 with 3rd and 10 Cardale throws a dart to pick up the first down and keep our defense off the field and personally I think if we don't complete that pass (I have no idea how he didn't get sacked on that pass btw) they probably put the ball in the endzone again shortly after for a 28-6 lead. At that point it would've been a crushing blow to our belief that we could come back and take the game.

That was the play of the game IMO... 3rd and 10 down 21-6 and they are on the verge of getting a 3 and out and we keep our drive and season alive with a well placed throw. From that point on Cardale seemed to settle in and really found his stride.

 

[Gcashwell]

fuck yeah I was worried... I thought it was over to be honest and I know I'll get grief for that but let me explain.

We just turned the ball over 2 times and gave them 21 points and all the sudden their defense really was swarming and I thought Cardale really looked rattled. Then down 21-6 with 3rd and 10 Cardale throws a dart to pick up the first down and keep our defense off the field and personally I think if we don't complete that pass (I have no idea how he didn't get sacked on that pass btw) they probably put the ball in the endzone again shortly after for a 28-6 lead. At that point it would've been a crushing blow to our belief that we could come back and take the game.

That was the play of the game IMO... 3rd and 10 down 21-6 and they are on the verge of getting a 3 and out and we keep our drive and season alive with a well placed throw. From that point on Cardale seemed to settle in and really found his stride.

At 21-6 you guys were still statistically dominating the game. The play of the game was on third and three with about three to go in the first half. I can't remember which bama receiver dropped a ball right out of his hands. After that, OSU scored two TDs and cj was settled in. It was over.

 

[Mike80]

 

[SloopyHangOn]

At 21-6 you guys were still statistically dominating the game. The play of the game was on third and three with about three to go in the first half. I can't remember which bama receiver dropped a ball right out of his hands. After that, OSU scored two TDs and cj was settled in. It was over.

I'm pretty positive it was White.

I remembered thinking "he's not producing as advertised".