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Game Thread Game Eight: Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31 (final)

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Game Data from Bucknuts... No changes in OSU's 2-deep roster

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="98%"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="3">Game Data: Ohio State at Minnesota

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Laurence Maroney

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</td> <td valign="top"> By Steve Helwagen
Managing Editor
Date: Oct 24, 2005

We take a look at the pertinent information, depth charts and one man's prediction of Saturday's Big Ten football showdown between Ohio State and Minnesota at the Metrodome (ABC, noon). Click this free link for more.
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Game Data: Ohio State at Minnesota * Date, Time: Sat., Oct. 29, 12:10 p.m. (Eastern), 11:10 a.m. (Minneapolis time) * Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome; Minneapolis, Minn.
* TV: ABC (regional telecast, we will post coverage map when available; announcers, Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Lynn Swann).
* 2005 Records, Rankings: Ohio State, 5-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten, ranked 12th in Associated Press poll and 13th in USA Today coaches poll; Minnesota, 5-2 overall, 2-2 Big Ten, ranked 22nd in USA Today coaches poll.
* Coaches: Ohio State, Jim Tressel (fifth year at OSU, 45-13; 20th year overall, 180-70-2; vs. Minnesota, 2-0); Minnesota, Glen Mason (ninth year at UM, 56-46; 20th year overall, 115-110-1; vs. Ohio State, 1-5).
* Series History: Ohio State leads the all-time series 37-7, including 18-4 in Minneapolis. This game ends a two-year hiatus in the series. The Buckeyes have won 18 of the last 19 games in the series. The one loss was a 29-17 Minnesota win in 2000 in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won nine straight in Minneapolis, dating to a 35-31 loss in 1981. OSU won its last trip to Minneapolis 31-28 in 2001, then cruised to a 34-3 win in 2002 in Columbus.
* Minnesota Schedule: Sept. 1, at Tulsa, W 41-10; Sept. 10, Colorado State, W 56-24; Sept. 17, Florida Atlantic, W 46-7; Sept. 24, Purdue, W 42-35 (2 OT); Oct. 1, at Penn State, L 44-14; Oct. 8, at Michigan, W 23-20; Oct. 15, Wisconin, L 38-34; Oct. 29, Ohio State; Nov. 5, at Indiana; Nov. 12, Michigan State; Nov. 19, at Iowa.
* Minnesota Key Players (2005 Stats): QB Bryan Cupito (82 of 149 passing, 1,208 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Laurence Maroney (208 carries, 1,133 yards, 8 TDs), RB Gary Russell (85 carries, 644 yards, 10 TDs), WR Logan Payne (19 catches, 268 yards, 1 TD), WR Ernie Wheelwright (18 catches, 297 yards, 3 TDs), FS John Pawielski (52 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT), WLB John Shevlin (35 tackles), MLB Mike Sherels (34 tackles, 3-1/2 TFLs, 1 INT), CB Trumaine Banks (33 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT).
* Minnesota Fast Facts: Location: Minneapolis, Minn.; Enrollment, 47,618; Nickname, Gophers; Colors, Maroon and Gold; Stadium, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (surface, FieldTurf; capacity, 64,172).
Depth Charts
Ohio State Offense
SE 4 Santonio Holmes, 5-11, 190, Jr.
8 Roy Hall, 6-3, 240, Jr.
LT 50 Doug Datish, 6-5, 295, Jr.
75 Alex Boone, 6-8, 315, Fr.
LG 77 Rob Sims, 6-4, 310, Sr.
59 John Conroy, 6-3, 295, Sr.
C 55 Nick Mangold, 6-4, 290, Sr.
50 Doug Datish, 6-5, 295, Jr.
RG 72 T.J. Downing, 6-5, 305, Jr.
59 John Conroy, 6-3, 295, Sr.
RT 75 Alex Boone, 6-8, 315, Fr.
or 74 Kirk Barton, 6-7, 325, So.
TE 80 Ryan Hamby, 6-5, 255, Sr.
87 Brandon Smith, 6-3, 240, R-Fr.
FL 7 Ted Ginn Jr., 6-0, 175, So.
5 Albert Dukes, 6-1, 190, R-Fr.
QB 10 Troy Smith, 6-1, 215, Jr.
12 Justin Zwick, 6-4, 225, Jr.
TB 25 Antonio Pittman, 5-11, 195, So.
43 Brandon Schnittker, 6-2, 250, Sr.
FB 89 Stan White Jr., 6-3, 242, Jr.
49 Dionte Johnson, 6-0, 250, So.
SL 11 Anthony Gonzalez, 6-0, 195, So.
85 Brian Robiskie, 6-3, 190, Fr.
K 23 Josh Huston, 6-1, 195, Sr.
85 Ryan Pretorius, 5-10, 190, R-Fr.

Ohio State Defense
DE 97 David Patterson, 6-3, 285, Jr.
99 Jay Richardson, 6-6, 276, Jr.
or 87 Lawrence Wilson, 6-6, 225, Fr.
DT 94 Marcus Green, 6-3, 290, Sr.
97 David Patterson, 6-3, 285, Jr.
DT 90 Quinn Pitcock, 6-3, 295, Jr.
98 Joel Penton, 6-5, 290, Jr.
DE 57 Mike Kudla, 6-3, 265, Sr.
50 Vernon Gholston, 6-4, 260, So.
or 78 Alex Barrow, 6-4, 255, R-Fr.
SLB 42 Bobby Carpenter, 6-3, 255, Sr.
33 James Laurinaitis, 6-3, 231, Fr.
MLB 51 Anthony Schlegel, 6-1, 251, Sr.
5 Mike D’Andrea, 6-3, 248, Jr.
WLB 47 A.J. Hawk, 6-1, 240, Sr.
52 John Kerr, 6-1, 246, Jr.
CB 26 Ashton Youboty, 6-1, 188, Jr.
2 Malcolm Jenkins, 6-1, 180, Fr.
FS 21 Nate Salley, 6-3, 220, Sr.
32 Brandon Mitchell, 6-3, 205, Jr.
SS 9 Donte Whitner, 5-11, 205, Jr.
3 Jamario O’Neal, 6-1, 180, Fr.
CB 2 Malcolm Jenkins, 6-1, 180, Fr.
6 Tyler Everett, 5-11, 202, Sr.
NB 32 Brandon Mitchell, 6-3, 205, Jr.
34 Rob Harley, 6-2, 202, Sr.
P 15 A.J. Trapasso, 6-1, 220, R-Fr.
LS 68 Drew Norman, 6-0, 230, Jr.

Minnesota Offense
WR 84 Logan Payne, 6-2, 200, Jr.
83 Jared Ellerson, 6-1, 200, Sr.
TE 89 Matt Spaeth, 6-6, 270, Jr.
81 Jarod Posthumus, 6-4, 255, Sr.
LT 64 Steve Shidell, 6-5, 285, So.
78 Joe Ainslie, 6-7, 310, Jr.
LG 68 Mark Setterstrom, 6-3, 305, Sr.
69 John Jakel, 6-5, 280, So.
C 61 Greg Eslinger, 6-3, 285, Sr.
56 Tyson Swaggert, 6-4, 285, Jr.
RG 60 Mike Nicholson, 6-5, 285, Sr.
75 Otis Hudson, 6-4, 290, Fr.
RT 77 Tony Brinkhaus, 6-4, 300, So.
79 Matt DeGeest, 6-5, 270, R-Fr.
QB 3 Bryan Cupito, 6-3, 205, Jr.
17 Tony Mortensen, 6-3, 220, R-Fr.
TB 22 Laurence Maroney, 5-11, 210, Jr.
24 Gary Russell, 5-11, 215, So.
FB 18 Justin Valentine, 6-2, 230, So.
42 Jason Lamers, 6-0, 240, Jr.
WR 82 Ernie Wheelwright, 6-5, 215, So.
88 Micah Rucker, 6-6, 210, So.
K 31 Jason Giannini, 5-10, 180, R-Fr.

Minnesota Defense
DE 92 Steve Davis, 6-2, 230, Fr.
90 Eric Clark, 6-4, 265, Jr.
DT 95 Anthony Montgomery, 6-5, 310, Sr.
98 Neel Allen, 6-3, 295, So.
DT 97 Mark Losli, 6-6, 295, Sr.
70 Todd Meisel, 6-4, 265, So.
DE 99 Keith Lipka, 6-3, 265, Sr.
91 Willie VanDeSteeg, 6-4, 250, R-Fr.
WLB 46 John Shevlin, 6-1, 225, So.
44 Deon Hightower, 6-3, 200, R-Fr.
MLB 58 Mike Sherels, 6-0, 235, So.
6 Alex Daniels, 6-3, 230, Fr.
DLB 52 Kyle McKenzie, 6-1, 235, Sr.
48 Mario Reese, 6-3, 230, Jr.
CB 4 Trumaine Banks, 5-11, 185, Jr.
11 Desi Steib, 6-1, 185, So.
SS 2 Dominic Jones, 5-9, 180, Fr.
32 Terrance Campbell, 6-2, 205, Sr.
FS 34 John Pawielski, 5-11, 200, Sr.
23 Dominique Barber, 6-0, 200, So.
CB 15 Jamal Harris, 6-0, 185, So.
2 Dominic Jones, 5-9, 180, Fr.
P 41 Justin Kucek, 6-0, 200, R-Fr.

Breaking It Down
* When Ohio State Has The Ball: With each passing week, the Buckeyes seem to be working out some of the kinks. Antonio Pittman at tailback is coming into his own with four 100-yard games. OSU is unbeaten when Pittman reaches the century mark.
Obviously, quarterback Troy Smith must continue to progress and keep the mistakes to a minimum. If he can continue to find Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr., the Buckeyes could be on to a winning formula.
Minnesota’s defensive rankings are middle-of-the-road. Within the Big Ten, the Gophers are sixth in rushing defense, fifth in pass defense, fourth in total defense and sixth in scoring defense. But when you look strictly at the Big Ten games, the Gophers have allowed their four conference opponents an average of over 34 points a game. So there should be some opportunities for the Buckeyes in that regard this week against what is, somewhat, a no-name Minnesota defense.
Freshman Dominic Jones (from Columbus Brookhaven) fills in at strong safety, where Brandon Owens was lost in the Penn State defeat with a shoulder injury.
* When Minnesota Has The Ball: This is the match-up worth tuning in for. The Gophers lead the nation in rushing at 299.1 yards per game. Ohio State leads the nation in rushing defense at 62.7 yards allowed per game. The Buckeyes would do well to take a page from Penn State’s book here. The Nittany Lions held Minnesota to a net of 114 yards rushing in a 44-14 whitewashing of the Gophers.
Much of the success here will hinge on how the front seven and the safeties crash to the ball. It is being said that Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell (from Columbus Walnut Ridge) may form a better tandem than Maroney and Marion Barber III did – and all they did was post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons together. Maroney already has his 1,000, while Russell is well on his way.
Quarterback Bryan Cupito (from Cincinnati McNicholas) missed the Oct. 15 loss to Wisconsin after going down with a shoulder injury in the win at Michigan. But Cupito is back practicing and figures to play against Ohio State. He has only been sacked four times – a tribute to UM’s great offensive line. The Buckeyes must bring some pressure here, however.
* How It Will Go: This has the makings of a great Big Ten football game. There are so many storylines here.
Minnesota has no fewer than nine Ohio products playing key roles, including the guys mentioned above as well as wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright, cornerback Trumaine Banks, punter Justin Kucek and kicker Jason Giannini. You don’t think those guys will be out to show that Ohio State erred in not taking them?
Glen Mason gets another chance to validate his program, become bowl eligible for the sixth time in seven years and show that Ohio State erred in not taking him when it hired Jim Tressel in January 2001.
You look at that match-up between Minnesota’s offensive line and rushing game against OSU’s front seven and its rushing defense. That should be a dandy.
This should be a war of the highest magnitude. Minnesota defeated Michigan already this year for the first time since 1986. The Gophers haven’t won at home against OSU since 1981, but this team believes it can pull it off.
OSU’s last two trips to Minnesota have gone down to the wire with the 31-28 win in 2001 and OSU’s 20-17 win in 1999. I expect to see more of the same. Provided the Buckeyes can stay away from some of the costly penalties, turnovers and mental mistakes we’ve seen in recent weeks, I think OSU can continue its march toward a possible Big Ten championship. Perhaps Josh Huston gets a late chance to win it. I’ve got it: Ohio State 27-24
* For The Record: I am 5-2 straight-up and 4-3 against-the-spread with Ohio State. (As of Tuesday, OSU was listed as a four-point favorite.)
On this week’s Bucknuts Radio Hour, Jerry Rudzinski predicted OSU 23-16, Kirk Larrabee said OSU 24-21 and Mr. Bucknuts went OSU 30-17.
-- Steve Helwagen
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Upvote 0
R0CK3TM4NN said:
I think Teddy's getting much improved down-field blocking on PR/KR's. Maybe D'Andrea is making an impact in that department? Hopefully this trend will continue to improve.
Click to expand...

I agree. Teddy's broken a few already this year that were called back by penalties that were completely unneccessary. 3 times IIRC.

I wonder if teams are going to stop kicking to him deliberately again. I was pretty surprised that Indiana kicked right at him - especially after his first house call.
 
Upvote 0
I think momentum is important in this game. Minnesota came away from TSUN believing that they had made the leap to the elite. The loss to Wisconsin was a hard one for them and for all the reasons Steve Helwagen notes, these Ohio boys have more than their average reasons to win.

It's one thing to make a statement of why you should have been picked. It's another to have proof of why you weren't picked delivered to your doorstep by a superior Buckeye team.

If we get into these guys early, then I believe it will be a bit like the Penn State-Minnesota game, if not, a squeaker like our last two trips there.
 
Upvote 0
Per the ozone....

<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="85%" align=center border=2><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=4>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Offense[/FONT]</TD><TD bgColor=#cccccc rowSpan=36> </TD><TD colSpan=4>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Defense[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SE[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Santonio Holmes**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-11, 190, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]97[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David Patterson**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 285, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Roy Hall**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 240, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]99[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jay Richardson* [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-6, 276, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]or[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]87[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Lawrence Wilson [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-6, 225, Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LT[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]50[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doug Datish*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-5, 295, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LT[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]94[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Marcus Green***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 305, 5th-Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]75[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alex Boone [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-8, 315, Fr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]97[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David Patterson** [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 285, Jr. [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LG[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]77[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rob Sims***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-4, 310, Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RT[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]90[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Quinn Pitcock**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 295, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]59[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Conroy*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 295, Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]98[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Joel Penton**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-5, 290, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]C[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]55[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nick Mangold***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-4, 290, Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DE[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]57[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mike Kudla***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 265, Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]50[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doug Datish*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-5, 295, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]50[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vernon Gholston [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-4, 260, So. [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]or[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]78[/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alex Barrow [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-4, 255, Fr. [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RG[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]72[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]T.J. Downing*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-5, 305, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SLB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]42[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bobby Carpenter***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 255, Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]59[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Conroy* [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 295, 5th-Sr. [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]33[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]James Laurinaitis[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 231, Fr. [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RT[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]74[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kirk Barton*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-6, 305, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MLB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]51[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Schlegel*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-2, 251, 5th-Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]or[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]73[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alex Boone [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-6, 300, Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content> </TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mike D'Andrea ***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 248, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TE[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]80[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Hamby***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-5, 255, 5th-Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]WLB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]47[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A.J. Hawk***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 240, Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]87[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Smith[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 240, Fr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]52[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]John Kerr[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 246, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]FL[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ted Ginn Jr.*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 175, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LCB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]26[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ashton Youboty**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 188, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Albert Dukes[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 190, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Malcolm Jenkins [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 180, Fr. [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]QB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]10[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Troy Smith**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 215, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]RCB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Malcom Jenkins[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 180, Fr[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]12[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Justin Zwick* [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-4, 225, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tyler Everett***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-11, 202, Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content> </TD><TD id=content> </TD><TD id=content> </TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]TB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]25[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Antonio Pittman*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-11, 195, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]FS[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]21[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nate Salley***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 220, Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]43[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Schnittker***[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-2, 250, Sr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]32[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Mitchell**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 205, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]FB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]89[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Stan White Jr**.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 242, Jr.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SS[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]9[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Donte Whitner**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-11, 205, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]49[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dionte Johnson*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 250, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jamario O'Neal[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 180, Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SL[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]11[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Gonzalez*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 195, So.[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NB[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Malcom Jenkins [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 180, Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]85[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brian Robiskie [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-3, 190, Fr. [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]34[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rob Harley**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-2, 202, 5th-Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="50%" align=center border=2><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=4>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Specialists[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]K[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]23[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Josh Huston*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 195, 5th-Sr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]85[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ryan Pretorius[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-10, 190, Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]P[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]15[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A. J. Trapasso[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 220, R-Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LS[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]58[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Drew Norman[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 230, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]H[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]15[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A.J. Trapasso[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-1, 220, R-Fr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]KR[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Santonio Holmes**[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]5-11, 190, Jr.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ted Ginn Jr.*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 175, So.[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PR[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]7[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ted Ginn Jr.*[/FONT]</TD><TD id=content>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6-0, 175, So.[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]*Letters Won[/FONT]​
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10/25/05


<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Tressel, Mason Talk At Teleconference

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265814.jpg

Glen Mason

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Bucknuts.com Staff

Date: Oct 25, 2005

Both Ohio State and Minnesota face a big challenge this weekend as they square off against one another in the Metrodome in Minneapolis. At today's Big Ten teleconference, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and Minnesota head coach Glen Mason discussed several issues, including this weekend's game and what each team brings to the table.
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Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel began his segment at the weekly Big Ten teleconference with a statement about OSU's victory over Indiana and the upcoming game at Minnesota.
"Every time you go on the road in the Big Ten, it's a heck of a challenge and a heck of a test," Tressel said. "We just came back being from in Indiana and had a tough ball game over there -- well into the third and fourth quarter it was tight. We were fortunate enough to score a little bit late in the game. Every time you go on the road, it's a tough one. We're going to a tough place up at Minnesota, a top 25 football team. I think it's our fifth or so top 25 football team we've played this year, and none of them I've seen run the football like Minnesota, and that's going to be a great challenge and we're looking forward to it."
The Buckeyes will be facing the top-ranked rushing offense in the country this Saturday when they square off against the Gophers. Tressel was asked if too much of a focus on Minnesota's rushing attack might result in the Buckeyes getting burned with the pass, and he responded by saying that the Buckeyes will need to be wary of both.
"I think all of us in the Big Ten and really around the country have a variety of ways that we can defend," Tressel said. "We all have defenses that we can load the box up, and then we're kind of leaving our corners and some of our DBs on an island and see how they do. Then we have other ways that we can deploy where we can give the people on the back end a little more help and be a little more vulnerable to the run. I think you have to be able to do both and do it at different times and not be able to have a team say 'We know they're always going to do this or always going to do that,' because Minnesota does a nice job with their passing game. It's a great compliment to their run game.
"You know you're going to have to attempt to stop their run to keep them in check. There's no doubt about it. Them knowing that, they have designed their pass game with that in mind, and they do it efficiently. It's not huge numbers, but when you spend as many of your plays running the ball as they do, you're not going to have huge pass numbers. But you do it very effectively, I think."
One of Minnesota's lesser-known weapons is running back Gary Russell, who has 644 yards on 85 carries and 10 touchdowns while splitting time with starter Laurence Maroney. Tressel was asked how hard Ohio State recruited Russell, who played his high school ball at Columbus Walnut Ridge.
"It's interesting," Tressel said. "There are 89 players on Big Ten rosters from the state of Ohio, not counting the Ohio State players. We've got I suppose 60 or 70, maybe more. But one thing's for sure is we've got good football here. We've got excellent high school football coaches and training. Culturally, our people love the game.
"In terms of guys like Gary Russell, absolutely we knew of him and were on to him and the whole thing. He's done a great job there. We take a little bit of pride in the Ohio guys elsewhere except for when we play them. That's a little difficult. But we take a lot of pride in the kind of football they play in our state. We wish we could have every one of those 89, but that's not the way it works."
On Ohio State's side, the Buckeyes have a developing go-to guy at running back in Antonio Pittman after having struggled at running back the past two seasons. Tressel was asked if there were concerns about the running game coming into this week's game.
"We always want our rushing attack to improve," Tressel said. "I think we've made improvement. Antonio, I think, has turned into a good number one back. I think he's a darn good one. Our number two rusher right now is our quarterback Troy Smith. I think I would probably prefer to have another running back be the number two guy from a results standpoint. It was good to see Maurice Wells get in (against Indiana) and get 50 yards on about 8 or 9 or 10 carries. My concern probably would be more on the number two spot than the number one."
Wide receiver Ted Ginn had a breakout game against Indiana as he was named special teams player of the week by the Big Ten. Tressel talked about what makes Ginn tough as a receiver and a return man.
"Teddy's a great kid," Tressel said. "He's a great competitor. This is his first year as a full-time starter, and obviously also keeping his return duties as well, and he's doing a nice job blocking as well as we think a very good receiver. He's got 20-some catches I guess, and he's a threat out there every time you get him the football. Then in the return game, he's a guy that there might be three returns where he just looks average, and then the fourth one, there he goes. He's had a couple called back; he had one punt for a touchdown called back, one kickoff for a touchdown called back and a couple other long returns called back. We've got to eliminate penalties and Ted Ginn will look even better than he is."
Tressel was also asked about linebacker A.J. Hawk and how Hawk gets his passion for football as compared to linebacker Bobby Carpenter, who comes from a well-known football family.
"It's true that a lot of people know Bobby with his brothers and so forth because one plays at Cincinnati and what not, but A.J. had a brother too who played at Ohio University and was an excellent player and was a couple years ahead of A.J," Tressel said. "A.J. comes from a tough football program in Centerville, Ohio. That's the same place that Kirk Herbstreit played and Mike Nugent, just an outstanding program. If you're going to be a good player in that program, you're going to have to be tough. Having guys like A.J. and Bobby with their background and with their passion and with their habits and their enjoyment of the game, we're certainly very fortunate."
Minnesota head coach Glen Mason was the last coach on the teleconference, and he discussed his team's bye week as well as the upcoming opponent.
"We had a bye week last week, the first time in a couple years that we've had one, so it was kind of an unusual deal around here," Mason said. "We tried to get a couple things accomplished, which we did, or hope we did. This week, we're preparing for Ohio State. They're a great football team, and I don't say that loosely. (They're) very talented; every place you look, there's talent -- offense, defense, kicking game -- good as anybody in the country.
"I watched like probably most of the country when they played Texas earlier in the year, and now Texas is No. 1 in the BCS poll, and Ohio State people and a lot of Big Ten people thought Ohio State should have won the football game. It'll be a real challenge for us, but that's what you get excited about -- challenges. So we're looking forward to this week."
Mason was asked what his main concerns were with Ohio State's defense, and his answer was a familiar one -- the linebackers.
"You don't get to be the No. 1 rush defense in the country and No. 3 overall unless you're pretty darn good in all areas because you're going to see a variety of attacks, and if you're weak in an area, the offense can dictate where it's going," Mason said. "There's one thing that stands out is those three linebackers. We've got some good linebackers in this league and we've had some good linebackers in this league, but I can honestly say I can't ever remember facing three linebackers to these guys' equal. They're awful good. They're big, strong, physical and they've got great savvy. Good football players."
Mason also briefly discussed the Ohio State defensive line.
"They're big and strong," Mason said. "If the front four wasn't so good, you'd figure a way that you could probably handle the linebackers, but the first line of defense, they're stout. I'm impressed. They're very well coached. They're tough kids that play hard and they let those linebackers clean up the rest."
Minnesota is known for having a good percentage of their players from Ohio, including starting quarterback and Cincinnati McNicholas product Bryan Cupito, who will be back this week at quarterback after sitting out due to injury against Wisconsin. Mason was asked what he saw in Cupito coming out of high school that made the Gophers decide to recruit him.
"I just liked the way that he operated out of a shotgun offense but he was a very, very accurate passer," Mason said. "I think that's typically what we need in our attack is someone who is people overplay the run, we can exploit the pass. We need to do that a little bit better than we have been doing, but that's our thought process. Bryan was playing well and then he was injured against Michigan in the latter part of that game. We laid him out a week, but he's back now. He's practicing and looks good."
Another Ohio product is wide receiver Jared Ellerson, who has had a solid career for the Golden Gophers.
"Jared's played a lot of football around here," Mason said. "He came to us from Copley High School and really three years ago had I think a tremendous season. He's been a steady performer for us. He's been a little banged up; no major injuries, but we haven't been able to seem to get him 100 percent healthy for a long period of time. But he's a very steady performer for us. As most people know, receivers here are not only called on to catch the ball but are very prominent in our blocking and run game."
One more Ohio player who will be getting plenty of focus is running back Gary Russell. Mason was asked about Russell's style and how it compliments starter Laurence Maroney.
"Gary Russell is an awfully good running back," Mason said. "I got asked the question all the time to compare Marion Barber III and Maroney last year, and I get asked the same questions now. They're all different, but Gary runs with a very low center of gravity. He's a very strong guy. A number of times you see people try to take him down and he moves the pile. And he has deceiving speed, which I think was very evident in his run against Michigan at the end of the game."
Maroney is one of the favorites for Big Ten offensive player of the year as he currently has 1,133 yards and 8 touchdowns on 208 carries. Maroney's number of carries is one of the highest in America, and Mason was asked how Maroney is able to carry such a big load.
"In this league, you better be awful tough, I can tell you that," Mason said. "I don't think there's anything tougher in football than when you get tackled. I think all you have to do is ask any defensive player what's the worst and they say when you have to be the ball carrier in defensive practice when you're the guy getting tackled. But you better be pretty durable and I guess you better know when to pour it on. You better know when to duck because you'll take a beating."
A criticism of Minnesota in the past has been their inability to win the games against the upper echelon teams of the Big Ten, but this year's victory at Michigan silenced some critics. Penn State head coach Joe Paterno said this year's team is the best Minnesota team he's seen, but Mason says that the main difference has been experience.
"I heard Coach Paterno say that," Mason said. "I really don't give it much thought year to year to year. The only difference I see, we've been an awfully young football team the last couple of years with really just a handful of seniors. This year, we've got more seniors, more seniors playing, especially on the offensive side of the football -- some guys that have played a lot of football. I think that really helps."

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10/25/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Tressel Looks Ahead To Golden Gophers

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Jim Tressel

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Dave Biddle
Assistant Editor
Date: Oct 25, 2005

Ohio State struggles on the road in the Big Ten and this week the Buckeyes head to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers. At his weekly press luncheon, OSU head coach Jim Tressel tackled questions on stopping UM's running game, Ohio State's highly-ranked defense, players from Ohio playing at other Big Ten schools, the play of Antonio Pittman and much, much more. We also have comments from Nick Mangold and Mike Kudla.
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Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel reviewed the 41-10 win over Indiana and looked ahead to this week’s match-up against Minnesota at his weekly press luncheon on Tuesday.
Tressel knows that one of the keys to beating Minnesota is containing junior tailback Laurence Maroney, who is third in the country in rushing with 1,133 yards (5.5) and eight touchdowns.
However, the Buckeyes do not set goals in terms of limiting a team to a certain amount of rushing yards.
“Not that I'm aware of,” Tressel said. “I've never heard, you know, (defensive coordinator Jim) Heacock say we have to hold this guy to this. We really kind of handle things play by play. On first down, we consider it successful if he gets less than four, and if he gets four or more, we don't consider that play successful. You want to eliminate big plays.
“Maroney's the guy who had a 90-some yarder against Wisconsin, he's just incredible. What I like about what they do is they bring multiple backs at you, wear you down, then all of a sudden you see them hit the home runs. That's what they do so well and their pass game is tailored toward what they know you have to do to stop their run. It's not some fancy design or anything. They know if you're going to have a chance to stop their run, it's going to be this many guys up here and here's where your vulnerable. That's what they do.”
Ohio State is third in the country in total defense (254.8 yards per game) and third in the country in sacks (31).
Tressel was asked if OSU is blitzing more this season.
“You know, I don't have any numbers to back up anything I might answer to that,” Tressel said. “I would say this: I think we're getting excellent play from our rush people. You know, Bobby Carpenter's played a lot more on the edge. Mike Kudla, I think is really doing a heck of a job. When we blitz, you know, I think we have affected people but I don't know that we've blitzed more. We've always been a team that's going to pressure. That's what we believe in and I can't tell you statistically if we've done it more or less and that type of thing.
“Minnesota would know. You know, they've had two weeks to -- they probably know us tendency-wise better than we know us and then it comes down to, ‘Well, what was the situation, what was going on in the game, who were we playing against?’ I don't know that we've blitzed any more. I just think we're doing a good job putting pressure on the quarterback.”
The game with Minnesota is interesting on multiple levels. There is the coaching match-up with Tressel and Glen Mason – the two finalists for the OSU job in 2001. Mason of course graduated from OSU and played under Woody Hayes.
But beyond that, there are several Minnesota players from Ohio – many from Columbus.
“Greg Gillimar, our assistant recruiting coordinator, shared with me that we have 89 Ohioans on Big Ten rosters, not including ours, which is an extraordinary number,” Tressel said. “And there's like six teams within the double digits, which Minnesota's one of them with 15, or 17. And so, obviously that's a huge thing.
“But one thing you know at Ohio State, every week it's a huge thing for people circling it on the calendar. The quote last week was the day the (Indiana) coach (Terry Hoeppner) got the job, he circled that game. That's the way it is. And I don't know that you can allow yourself to get away from anything other than, you know, who's got the A gap and who's got the C gap and who's filling the alley and, you know, we can't allow ourselves to concern ourselves with too many of those things.”
In last Saturday’s win over Indiana, Ted Ginn Jr. had a touchdown on a kickoff return called back on what looked like a shady call at best (blocking a defenseless player). However, Tressel thinks it was the proper call.
“Poor decision,” Tressel said. “I don't know what they called it, I keep hearing all these different phrases, but it shouldn't have been done and when you do something you shouldn't do, you should be penalized. You know, it was just a poor decision and we were penalized. Hopefully the lesson learned is that usually when you do something individually that's not right, it affects your group, and it did.”
Sophomore tailback Antonio Pittman is having a solid year with 696 rushing yards (5.1 per carry), but he does not have a touchdown to his credit yet. It’s probably a sign of bad luck more than anything else, but a reporter wanted to know if Pittman has trouble inside the 20 and if he does not have a knack for finding the end zone.
“Oh, no, I wouldn't say that,” Tressel said. “I think Antonio Pittman is good and is getting better. I don't know that I'd say he's got recognizable problems, you know, inside the 20. I think he's a good back. And I guess I take that a little bit more that we need to find a way – we, the guys designing it, we the guys blocking, and then, of course, he's got to do his part. But I think Antonio is coming along. I really do.
“You know, I'm not sure how you define ‘knack.’ I'm sure vision is part of it. I'm sure pad level is part of it. I'm sure circumstances are part of it. Troy Smith's gotten a lot of opportunities in the red zone and it has found his way into the end zone. That doesn't mean he's got the knack, that every time he gets down there, he's going to get in the end zone. You still have to do things to get in. I'm sure Antonio thinks about it because Troy does. Troy will say, ‘Give it to Antonio, we're on the one and a half inch line or whatever.’ But I'm sure (Pittman will) have his days.”
Tressel then joked about how impressed he’s been with the coaching of Minnesota’s wide receivers.
“Their wide receivers might be the second finest coached wide receivers in the country behind ours because their wide receivers coach is my nephew, and Luke Tressel does a great job,” Tressel said. “And the thing I like about – on a serious note – the thing I like about their receivers is that they know that their role is number one as a blocker and number two, when that box gets loaded up an the best thing to do is throw it, they make plays. And, you know, when you know your role and you do it well, then I guess that equates to being well coached and they certainly look like they are.”
One mark of Jim Tressel teams is that they tend to get better late in the season. This year’s team is definitely moving in that direction.
“I don't know, we lost in the 11th game or 10th game of the year last year (to Purdue),” Tressel said. “But, you know, we try to have a constant building process on, here's what we did well. Here's how we got doing it well. Here's what we're not doing well. Maybe we need to practice it more, maybe we need to do something more structurally.
“We've got good kids, they work hard in the weight room in season, they work hard in the film room, they commit themselves to being as good as they can every day, and we're -- I guess we're fortunate. That would probably be the biggest reason why we've had some late season success is we're fortunate to have good kids who want to be good and if you want to be good and keep working on it, you have some talent and our guys do. Perhaps that's why we get better, but we'll find out. It's game eight, we'll find out if we're getting better.”
Tressel says playing in the Metrodome is unlike any other experience in the Big Ten.
“Yeah, I think it is unique,” he said. “Obviously in our league, it's the only one indoor. There isn't the air movement. I think you'd better be in good shape when you play in there. I don't know about the noise and all that, because in the Big Ten, you just assume you're in trouble noise wise when you're away from home, but it's unique, but still when you get down and you look at the field and you're watching the video that we study, you don't really know if you're in the dome or not in the dome, it's all on the field and they're getting after it, but, you know, it's unique, no question.”
One of the pleasant surprises of OSU’s team this year has been the play of true freshman cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. But OSU’s coaching staff probably isn’t surprised at all. Darrell Hazell called Jenkins a “lockdown corner” on signing day in February.
“Malcolm Jenkins is an interesting young man,” Tressel said. “He comes from a football program that takes it very seriously, three time state champions. When you're talking with him during recruiting, he's talking about, ‘How do I get better?’ He's just a real student of the game, it's very important to him. This summer, he was working with the young DBs back in New Jersey because he wants his high school team to, you know, continue their excellence and he's just one of those guys that he studies it hard, he's very talented, as you know, and it's very important to him.”
In keeping with tradition, the Indiana game served as the coming out party for an OSU freshman tailback. Four years ago, it was Lydell Ross going over 100 yards. Last year, it was Pittman. This year, Maurice Wells had five carries for 50 yards against the Hoosiers.
“Maurice Wells really has been consistently our second-ranked ball carrier from the tailback position for quite some time,” Tressel said. “We thought he had a very good week at practice. That was great, in my mind. Five carries for 50, which was, you know, darn good. And I really think that can help our football team if we can have a second productive tailback, along with the productive quarterback running, I think that can give us some impact and that was great to see and hope it continues.”
Junior defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock is banged up and only saw limited action against Indiana last week.
“I think he had 15 snaps,” Tressel said. “He was a little sore. You know, coming off the Michigan State game and -- and we just wanted to make sure that as you get through the banging in this league, it was a different style game, Indiana, it was more of a pass rush and so forth. So we just thought it would be best to limit him a little bit and make sure he's healthy.”
Tressel also gave injury updates on senior defensive back Tyler Everett and sophomore right tackle Kirk Barton.
“Both questionable,” Tressel said. “Tyler Everett's coming along faster than we thought. I would have told you last week that he'd be out this week, but I -- we'll see how they do in drills today but I think Tyler Everett is further along and we're hoping that he can play.”
Tressel also announced that Smith was selected as the offensive player of the week.
“Troy gave a winning performance which I think is very difficult for a quarterback to do with as many decisions as he has to make, as many times the ball is in his hand, with all that's going around about him as he's making those decisions and we really thought he did an excellent job,” Tressel said. “And really the one turnover that we did have from the past game, really he probably made a good decision to put the ball in good place, we just needed to be – from a receiver standpoint – in a little bit better position and we wouldn't have had a turnover there. But Troy threw for over 200 and a couple touchdowns and also ran for 60-some and -- but what was most important was his decision-making, and he did an excellent job there and got the ball to the right people, got us in and out of the right things, handled the communication, and so forth. It's more difficult on the road than it is right here so we feel good about that and, of course, he needs to take the next step from a consistency standpoint, because that's what really is exposed as you get into late October and November is how consistent are you, how much have you improved and how consistent are you. So, it was a good thing as Troy was awarded the offensive player of the week.”
Other players of the week included: Ginn (special teams), A.J. Hawk (defensive), Nick Mangold (Jim Parker offensive lineman), Kudla (attack force), David Lisco (scout team special teams), Austin Spitler (scout defensive) and Albert Dukes (scout offensive).
The Players’ View
Senior center Nick Mangold says the key to defeating the Golden Gophers is for OSU to establish its running game early.
“You’ve got to get the running game going, especially being at their place with their defense that goes against such a great rushing offense every week,” Mangold said. “It’s going to be even that much more of a challenge for us, but I know we’re excited as an offensive line and I know Tony’s excited to get there, get the ball and start running.”
Mangold has noticed Pittman really come of age this season as the starter.
“That’s the position he wants and he’s doing real well with it,” Mangold said. “I think he loves being there and he loves being back there behind us. He tells us that each day that he likes being back there. So, we’re excited for him.”
Mangold – arguably the top center in college football – was asked if there’s any “tricks of the trade” that centers like to use. For example, maybe a way to hold without getting called for it.
“Tricks of the trade? There are a couple tricks, but I’d be doing myself and all the other centers disservice if I let loose on some of those tricks,” Mangold said. “But there are and you have to look for them to really see them.”
Saturday will mark the Buckeyes’ first game in a dome since their 33-7 dismantling of Oklahoma State in last season’s Alamo Bowl.
“It’s going to be real interesting for us,” Mangold said of playing in the Metrodome. “Luckily we played our bowl game last year in a dome, so that’s a little bit more experience for us. And we have our indoor field here which isn’t really the same, but there is a roof over your head so you have a little idea of what is going on. But it’s a new experience which I think we’re excited to get to.”
* Defensive end Mike Kudla is having one of those career years that Tressel likes to see out of his seniors. Kudla is second on the team with 5.5 sacks and is a headache for offensive tackles each week. Kudla has an excellent blend of power and speed.
“Pretty much with most offensive linemen, I’m not sure if any offensive linemen would be stronger than me, and I’m not sure if they’d be faster than me,” Kudla said. “But it’s got to be that quick balance. This week it’s going to take a little more power because (Minnesota is) definitely going to run the ball and grab the edges. For me, I’ve got to play a gap-sound game and I’ve got to be able to do my assignment on every snap. And that is what it’s going to take is all 11 guys executing on every snap.”
With so many Minnesota players from the Buckeye State, it could give the Gophers an edge emotionally. Some of them weren’t recruited by OSU, others couldn’t get past OSU admissions, and at least one (linebacker Alex Daniels) simply picked Minnesota over OSU.
“It might (be an extra edge),” Kudla said. “Some of those guys, we know most of them through all-star games and stuff like that, so it’s kind of neat to run into those guys again and kind of catch up. I’m not really sure what their motivation factor will be or anything like that. But I know that they’re out there and they’re competitors and they will want to win too. It’s going to be a hard-fought battle.”
The game could boil down to Minnesota’s ability to run, versus Ohio State’s ability to stop the run.
“I wouldn’t say it starts and ends there, but that’s going to be a big factor,” Kudla said. “You definitely know they want to run and stopping the run is our goal, but how can you really stop a team that rushes for 300 yards a game? For us, it’s going to be, ‘Let’s limit their big plays.’ They’re a great offense so you know they’re going to get some yards. For us, we’ve got to limit what they can do.”
Kudla says the defense will not set a goal as far as limiting Minnesota to a certain amount of yards.
“Not really,” he said. “Our biggest thing is that we want to limit their big plays. And they like to run the ball, so we want to limit their big runs. Our goal each week is to say, ‘No 15 yard runs.’ And that’s one of the measuring sticks that we use. If we can limit their 15 yard runs it will give us a good benchmark to continue on.”
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This is going to be one hell of a game. I think we win this one in the second half. The PSU game (IMO) is hard to guage against this one. PSU pretty much beat us with their homecrowd and waited for us to fuckup and turn the ball over. Minnesota doesnt exactly have that great of a homefield advantage playing in this dome. They are also starting a QB comming off an injury and thats not good coinsidering OSU is listed at #3 in the nation with sacks (31), overall defense and #1 rush defense in the conference. Its like their strengths play into our hands perfectly.
 
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Would have put this in the Indy game thread, but I couldnt find it:

Anyone know how or when the "Battle for The Rock" started against Indy? Its pretty cool to have a small rivalry with them, seems a bit more natural than the mini-rivalry against Illinois.

Right now we are sitting pretty against our rivals:

Gold pants (Michigan - 2004)
IlliBuck (Illinois - 2004)
The Rock (Indiana - 2005)
 
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BuckeyePride85 said:
Would have put this in the Indy game thread, but I couldnt find it:

Anyone know how or when the "Battle for The Rock" started against Indy? Its pretty cool to have a small rivalry with them, seems a bit more natural than the mini-rivalry against Illinois.

Right now we are sitting pretty against our rivals:

Gold pants (Michigan - 2004)
IlliBuck (Illinois - 2004)
The Rock (Indiana - 2005)
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Don't know if it started this year-but Hoeppner named the stadium "the rock" this year and had a rock planted on a display base in the end zone to the left of the Indy bench!
 
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Re-jacking the thread back to Minny.

IMHO, this game will be won or lost on the play of our DTs. It's all on Pitcock and Green and Patterson and Penton (and Abdullah and Cotton if necessary). Their running game starts with their Center and Guards--and they're good ones (but I'll take our Center over their Lombardi nominee Greg Eslinger any day--he was handled by scUM's Gabe Watson). If our DTs can maintain gap, disrupt, and keep the blockers off our LBs, we will shut down their running game from the inside out. If we shut down their running game, we win.
:osu:
 
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