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

[X Buckeyes07 X]

Found the game tape on YouTube, figured I'd re-watch it and enjoy it a little more this time around when it wasn't so stressful. 10 minutes left, but so far it's been just as exciting/nerve-inducing as the first time through.

 

[Aubie414]

Tall drink of water was ridiculous. Pretty much kept them in the game by pinning us deep so many times.

The way he kicked in that game, he might be the best punter in football period, NFL included. It was a really a sight to see... I agree with you.

Alabama's kicker and Ezekiel Elliott made themselves a lot of money when draft night comes around. Elliott's speed was obvious but the power he also showcased to us people that do not watch him all the time was awesome.

 

[Coqui]

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.

But it was touched, which is why the ball was live and the ref didn't blow the whistle until it was downed.

 

[Mike80]

by the way - Corey Smith had some seriously impressive plays on special teams.

I'm glad that total bullshit targeting call in the B1G CCG didn't cost this kid a chance to contribute in the 1st half.

 

[Coqui]

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.

At 14-6 I wasn't worried at all. 21-6, I started to. Yes we moved the ball at will, but with turnovers and field goals, the 3rd TD made me start to wonder if it was an insurmountable comeback.

 

[SloopyHangOn]

But it was touched, which is why the ball was live and the ref didn't blow the whistle until it was downed.

That's what he said.

He (and I) didn't know that it wasn't a touchback if the ball is touched but not downed until that happened.

 

[SloopyHangOn]

by the way - Corey Smith had some seriously impressive plays on special teams.

I'm glad that total bull[Mark May] targeting call in the B1G CCG didn't cost this kid a chance to contribute in the 1st half.

Ditto this.

He had a tough reception bounce off of his forearms in a key spot later in the game that I thought to myself "this is why he doesn't get a whole lot of playing time in the pass game" but damn did he earn his Buckeyes on special teams.

 

[Buck I in Mich]

That's the National Championship as far as I'm concerned. Don't care what comes next.

View attachment 10225 Not shown in photo is m#RK M@Y crawling around on the ground trying to blow anybody wearing OSU garb.

Love this photo of two men who have tremendous respect for each other. I predict that Urban's second chapter of coaching (post one year vacation) will go down as more successful. He has a certain calm about him that comes from having his priorities straight. And his young players feed off of it. Damn I love where he has this program right now.

 

[LostLassie]

Blood Thirsty
Give it Here (And Don't Say Nothin')

And, one for the children:

Where Oh Where Has My Little Headset Gone?

That's OK, Sweetheart. It had gotten to be such a big headset, it needed more room to run and play. We've sent it to live on a lovely farm. Yes, they have Headset Farms.

 

[grnvllbuck]

I watched the replay on DVR this morning. Maybe I'm reading too much into this but.....did anyone else notice JT Barrett on the sidelines wearing his jersey with headset on...and Braxton Miller in street clothes and no headset?

Oh, and I absolutely HATE the empty backfield 1st and goal at the 1....or on 1st down (anywhere on the field) for that matter.

 

[colobuck79]

Oh, and I absolutely HATE the empty backfield 1st and goal at the 1....or on 1st down (anywhere on the field) for that matter.

This.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

but were any of you actually, seriously worried at 21-6? ... the one thing this team will NEVER do is roll over.

I didn't think that the Buckeyes would roll over. I also didn't think that they'd win after falling behind 21-6. Alabama is a very good team, and it's difficult to come back from a 15-point deficit regardless of whom you're playing. In that situation, there's a big difference between playing with pride and actually winning the game. So yeah, I was worried.

 

[colobuck79]

I didn't think that the Buckeyes would roll over. I also didn't think that they'd win after falling behind 21-6. Alabama is a very good team, and it's difficult to come back from a 15-point deficit regardless of whom you're playing. In that situation, there's a big difference between playing with pride and actually winning the game. So yeah, I was worried.

I thought the Buckeyes had to play a perfect game to win this one. Of course I was completely wrong. At 21-6 I was far from turning the TV off, but I was thinking about all the times in the past when a team doesn't score TD's in the red zone and then go on to lose.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Oh, and I absolutely HATE the empty backfield 1st and goal at the 1....or on 1st down (anywhere on the field) for that matter.

I felt that way initially then watched the replay and the blocking was there, it was a TD if just handles the snap and plows ahead.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

I watched the replay on DVR this morning. Maybe I'm reading too much into this but.....did anyone else notice JT Barrett on the sidelines wearing his jersey with headset on...and Braxton Miller in street clothes and no headset?

Oh, and I absolutely HATE the empty backfield 1st and goal at the 1....or on 1st down (anywhere on the field) for that matter.

Miller has been extremely cautious about not being a distraction this season. With him not having played a single snap all year I think he figured it would be best to just be a fan, stay out of the way, and let Cardale play. It's very mature of him to do so. Barrett hlon the other hand has a strong working knowledge of the playboy having ran it all year long (minus two games). He's a valuable voice for Jones this year to lean on. The playbook and offensive style hasn't changed do any input from Barrett can help.