Game Thread FIESTA BOWL: tOSU 21, Texas 24 (01-05-09)

[osugrad21]

Scout$--OSU Players Not Shying From Redemption Talk

...the beginning of the month-long, forced discussion of making up for the past few bowl games.

Blah.

 

[osugrad21]

Scout$--OSU Hoping To Hook Recent History

JT throws out his usual high praise for the opponent...

 

[osugrad21]

BN$

Laurinaitis, Jenkins React To Texas Matchup, More

Bucknuts TV: Jenkins After Bowl Announcement


BN Free--Bucknuts TV: Tressel After Fiesta Bowl Announcement

BN Free--OSU, Texas Get Rubber Match In Fiesta Bowl

BG$--Video: Tressel ready for the challenge

BG$--Video: Laurinaitis recognizes a challenge

BG$--Messing with Texas

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

College football
Buckeyes hook up with 'Horns

Monday, December 8, 2008 3:06 AM
By Ken Gordon and Steve Stephens


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The Buckeyes won the 2002 national title at the Fiesta Bowl.



Considering that the Ohio State football team lost two games this season, the Buckeyes ended up with about the best possible bowl scenario. Ohio State (10-2) accepted an invitation last night to play in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz. Its opponent will be Texas (11-1), ranked third in the nation and a team that came within a last-second loss of being in the national championship game.
"We have a tremendous opportunity," OSU coach Jim Tressel said last night. "Ohio State and Texas -- I don't know, it doesn't get much better than that."
It is the fifth time in seven years the Buckeyes are headed to the Phoenix area for a bowl game. It's the scene of one of their greatest wins -- over Miami (Fla.) for the 2002 national title -- and one of their most humiliating losses -- to Florida for the 2006 title.
Despite being two of the nation's most storied programs, Ohio State and Texas have met only twice -- in 2005 in Columbus (Texas won, 25-22) and 2006 in Austin, Texas (OSU won, 24-7).
This is the fourth straight season OSU has played in the Bowl Championship Series game. Only Southern California (seven straight) and Miami (four) have accomplished that.
"I'm so proud of our seniors, to think that they've done nothing but go to BCS games," Tressel said.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Buckeyes extend BCS roll
Four straight invitations is heady stuff
Monday, December 8, 2008 3:07 AM
By Ken Gordon


The Columbus Dispatch



Two losses was considered a disappointing total for Ohio State this season, but coach Jim Tressel is not apologizing for his Buckeyes being chosen to play in a Bowl Championship game once again. The Fiesta Bowl last night invited Ohio State (10-2 and ranked 10th in the BCS standings) to play Texas (11-1 and ranked third) on Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz.
The two losses, the Big Ten's slumping national reputation and the fact the Buckeyes have lost their past three big games outside league play did not prevent OSU from playing in its fourth straight BCS game -- something only Southern California (seven straight) and Miami (four) have done.
"I think if you look at our whole body of work -- 12 games, and in 10 of them we came out on the proper side," Tressel said, "and the other two where we came up short -- right now, those guys (USC and Penn State) are ranked (fifth and eighth in the BCS).
"When talking about 10 teams in a BCS setup, yeah, I think our kids worked hard and I suppose earned that right. Now we have to show we're worthy."
They will have to show that against a powerhouse Texas team that many considered good enough to play for a national championship -- including Tressel, who said he voted Oklahoma No. 1 and Texas No. 2 on his final ballot in the USA Today coaches poll yesterday.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Texas looks forward after major letdown

Monday, December 8, 2008 3:05 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Texas Tech's last-second touchdown pass to beat top-ranked Texas had a profound effect. It's the main reason the Longhorns are headed to the Fiesta Bowl to play Ohio State on Jan. 5 rather than to the national title game Jan. 8. Texas' loss Nov. 1 led to a three-way tie with Oklahoma and Tech for the Big 12 South title. Oklahoma got the nod because of its higher BCS rating, and Oklahoma went on to beat Missouri in the league title game and gain a spot in the national title game against Florida.
But last night as Texas coach Mack Brown talked up his team's third meeting with Ohio State in four seasons, he indicated the disappointment of what happened last week was yesterday's news.
"It's an exciting time for us, and time for us to put the past week behind us, with all the BCS stuff, and move forward," Brown said. "I look forward to a great game."
Texas (11-1) will be a mighty opponent, OSU coach Jim Tressel said.
"They are a great program historically, and they have one of the finest teams they've ever had this year. They may be as good or better than any football team in the country," Tressel said.
The Longhorns soon might even have a Heisman Trophy winner. Junior quarterback Colt McCoy, who completed 77.6 percent of his passes and has big-play capability, will be a finalist. He was the catalyst for an offense that averaged 43.9 points and 476.4 yards.
"Explosive," OSU cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said when asked to sum up the Longhorns. "Whether it's on defense, special teams or offense -- they've got guys all over the field that make things happen."
Cont...

 

[lvbuckeye]

StatePenn is anything but explosive. But I agree that this game could turn out to be low-scoring.

StatePenn scored more points this year than SC, and the Big Ten is leaps and bounds better than the Pac Ten.

 

[cincibuck]

Lastly, for now, can some of you guys believe the turn around that Colt McCoy has made since he was a nervous RS freshman against your D in 06? I remember posting on here back before the game 2 years ago, that he would be okay that year, and I always thought he had some potential, but definitely did not expect a season like this to happen. .

Well, yeah, I can believe his turn around. He had a decent freshman season, proved he could take a hit and that he could fling it before this season. How much he gained with his feet was a surprise.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

is a frogs ass water tight?

Is the frog gay?

 

[lvbuckeye]

Laurinaitis and Freeman are both still here. Terry is sitting on the bench because we have someone better in Homan. I see that as an upgrade. Say what you want about McCoy's completion per. or QB rating, the kid was throwing for a massive number of yards in '06 just as he is now. Sure, that was only his 2nd start when we bumped into him, but I'm sure we'll still see the same McCoy. That said I'd [censored] my pants if McCoy is now 6-6 230 and runs a 4.4.



Agreed. Mack gave up the run way too soon. But one of the reasons why they did give up on the option was that McCoy got smacked really hard by Terry.

the Horns ran the ball 10 times in the 1st quarter for 90+ yards. they ran the ball 11 times in the 2nd quarter for 23 yards. they didn't abandon the run. the Silver Bullets shut it down.

 

[Apache]

Naysayer

To comment on this years Fiesta Bowl is quite a paradox for me. I think that Ohio State has an opportunity to show it belongs among the elite teams in football. I think the opponent is a great Texas team that in my opinion deserves to compete for the national championship. That is not to say that Oklahoma or Florida do not. For the first time in years, I think that a playoff of four teams max or a "plus one" would be the best way to decide. But then what if #5 doesnt make the playoffs and is really the team that would win the head to head playoff. (Oh Texas did that and isnt in the National Championship game)


I have a sick feeling about this game. Texas has something to prove and is a very very good team. Ohio State has not shown themselves to be the team we expected and sadly to say they do not show themselves to be among the elite. But still, they are my team and I will root for them no matter what.

Go Bucks!

 

[cincibuck]

Yeah, one of these LB's is only a three time all American.

Beanie all day. Jenkins has a pick six. Game closer than the score indicates. Bucks by 7.

So shall it is written, so shall it be.

I appreciate your optimism. That said, this offense has been more about big plays, short field due to defense and punting game, than grinding it out. In fact, I don't think this 0-line CAN grind it out.

But if Beanie is back to full strength and the Bucks can get a receiver or two open on a deep route it could turn into a shoot out.

 

[matcar]

Why? Do you see Iowa losing to South Carolina? I sure don't... I actually like MSU's chances against Georgia.. And Ohio State against Texas is certainly a good matchup that could go either way. The Penn State game on the other hand... Eh... Yikes.

None of those are "good" matchups for the B10. The Iowa game...pickem. The others...well Vegas will favor the opponent and I don't blame them.

 

[cincibuck]

Right now the re-occurring nightmare that keeps playing back through my mind is Hamby's drop (not trying to offend, but it's hard to forget) and Pryor's fumble in the PSU game this year (a little more forgiving, knew growing pains had to happen eventually)

Funny how everyone remembers Hamby's drop and not the two missed tackles in the end zone that would have caused a safety or Tress's decision to go for a 50 yard field goal after his punter had been putting Texas behind their own 20 the entire 2nd half. VY at mid-field with 4 minutes to work and suddenly their offense came alive again.

 

[Steve19]

I honestly don't know if Ohio State can hang with Texas. The shoe is on the other foot, with the freshman quarterback, from last time. They are an excellent football team. On the other hand, they have not faced a defense like ours. So, pick 'em.

Here is what I do know. The Buckeyes play better when they are not favored. Jim Tressel and his coaches will regain their reputation for big game coaching. I am optimistic.