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Dispatch
Northwestern settles on Bacher at quarterback
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Shawn Mitchell
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Northwestern won its first Big Ten game last week when it surprised Iowa 21-7 and left Hawkeyes fans in sold-out Kinnick Stadium in a stew.
It used a familiar recipe that has won countless Big Ten games: a steady and balanced offense spiced with a couple of big plays and served with a side of bend-but-don?t-break defense.
The crucial and previously missing ingredient was a stout performance by the quarterback. In his third start of the season, redshirt sophomore C.J. Bacher brought some calm to what had been a chaotic quarterback situation.
The Wildcats (3-7, 1-5) on Saturday ended a six-game losing streak in which it had started three players under center. Bacher broke free of the quarterback pack by completing 19 of 29 passes for 218 yards. Although Iowa intercepted him twice, he made up for it by directing a previouslystruggling offense to 443 total yards. That bodes well for this Saturday, when Northwestern plays host to No. 1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) and its sometimes awe-inspiring defense.
"What C.J. has done has been to go out and play within the framework of our offense," said first-year coach Pat Fitzgerald, the former Wildcats linebacker who took over the program after the unexpected death of Randy Walker. "He?s been taking what the defense gives him and for the most part he?s made good decisions."
Translation: Bacher, who served as the backup to fouryear starter Brett Basanez last season but missed the preseason with a broken right leg, is more of a traditional pocket passer ? and Northwestern struggled with the two more mobile redshirt freshman who have started games this year. The Wildcats? passing efficiency rating is last in the Big Ten and ranks 111 th in Division I-A.
Although Fitzgerald said Bacher is more athletic than he gets credit for, he said the 6-foot-2 native of Sacramento, Calif., has made the offense more dangerous by putting the ball into the hands of others.
"He?s been able to spread the ball to our athletes on our perimeter at wide receiver," Fitzgerald said. "Being able to throw a little more effectively, that?s been able to open up our run game a little more."
Running back Tyrell Sutton of Akron racked up 168 yards on a season-high 28 carries against Iowa and was named the Big Ten offensive player of the week. Bacher also hooked up with the man he replaced when he completed a 48-yard pass to Andrew Brewer. Northwestern scored on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
Brewer replaced Mike Kafka as the starting quarterback in the season?s fifth game. He is now in the third week playing the role of a "slash" player in which he can line up deep in the backfield, as a receiver or quarterback, making the Wildcats? spread attack more potent.
"I?ve been a quarterback my whole life and the bottom line is that is what I?m used to playing," said Brewer, who has run for 189 yards on 70 carries but completed only 50 percent of his passes and threw four interceptions and no touchdowns in three starts at quarterback.
"But it?s definitely fun to be back out on the field and to be versatile. It?s a learning process, but nobody?s being too picky with me as far as all the minor details. Mentally, if you can play quarterback you can play anything."
Brewer is now listed as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart, behind Bacher and Kafka, who has healed from a hamstring injury he suffered in a loss to Nevada in September. Brewer?s primary position, though, is fulfilling Fitzgerald?s pledge of putting his best 11 players on the field.
"We?re getting comfortable," Bacher said. "I feel like we?ve settled in pretty well these past few weeks and we?re playing the best football we?ve played all year. The main goal for all three of us (quarterbacks) is to do whatever we can to help this team win, and we?re definitely on the rise right now."
Northwestern settles on Bacher at quarterback
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Shawn Mitchell
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Northwestern won its first Big Ten game last week when it surprised Iowa 21-7 and left Hawkeyes fans in sold-out Kinnick Stadium in a stew.
It used a familiar recipe that has won countless Big Ten games: a steady and balanced offense spiced with a couple of big plays and served with a side of bend-but-don?t-break defense.
The crucial and previously missing ingredient was a stout performance by the quarterback. In his third start of the season, redshirt sophomore C.J. Bacher brought some calm to what had been a chaotic quarterback situation.
The Wildcats (3-7, 1-5) on Saturday ended a six-game losing streak in which it had started three players under center. Bacher broke free of the quarterback pack by completing 19 of 29 passes for 218 yards. Although Iowa intercepted him twice, he made up for it by directing a previouslystruggling offense to 443 total yards. That bodes well for this Saturday, when Northwestern plays host to No. 1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) and its sometimes awe-inspiring defense.
"What C.J. has done has been to go out and play within the framework of our offense," said first-year coach Pat Fitzgerald, the former Wildcats linebacker who took over the program after the unexpected death of Randy Walker. "He?s been taking what the defense gives him and for the most part he?s made good decisions."
Translation: Bacher, who served as the backup to fouryear starter Brett Basanez last season but missed the preseason with a broken right leg, is more of a traditional pocket passer ? and Northwestern struggled with the two more mobile redshirt freshman who have started games this year. The Wildcats? passing efficiency rating is last in the Big Ten and ranks 111 th in Division I-A.
Although Fitzgerald said Bacher is more athletic than he gets credit for, he said the 6-foot-2 native of Sacramento, Calif., has made the offense more dangerous by putting the ball into the hands of others.
"He?s been able to spread the ball to our athletes on our perimeter at wide receiver," Fitzgerald said. "Being able to throw a little more effectively, that?s been able to open up our run game a little more."
Running back Tyrell Sutton of Akron racked up 168 yards on a season-high 28 carries against Iowa and was named the Big Ten offensive player of the week. Bacher also hooked up with the man he replaced when he completed a 48-yard pass to Andrew Brewer. Northwestern scored on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
Brewer replaced Mike Kafka as the starting quarterback in the season?s fifth game. He is now in the third week playing the role of a "slash" player in which he can line up deep in the backfield, as a receiver or quarterback, making the Wildcats? spread attack more potent.
"I?ve been a quarterback my whole life and the bottom line is that is what I?m used to playing," said Brewer, who has run for 189 yards on 70 carries but completed only 50 percent of his passes and threw four interceptions and no touchdowns in three starts at quarterback.
"But it?s definitely fun to be back out on the field and to be versatile. It?s a learning process, but nobody?s being too picky with me as far as all the minor details. Mentally, if you can play quarterback you can play anything."
Brewer is now listed as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart, behind Bacher and Kafka, who has healed from a hamstring injury he suffered in a loss to Nevada in September. Brewer?s primary position, though, is fulfilling Fitzgerald?s pledge of putting his best 11 players on the field.
"We?re getting comfortable," Bacher said. "I feel like we?ve settled in pretty well these past few weeks and we?re playing the best football we?ve played all year. The main goal for all three of us (quarterbacks) is to do whatever we can to help this team win, and we?re definitely on the rise right now."
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bucknut4life
even chuck norris fears laurinaitis
smartone;655562; said:
well that was quite the post...
think maybe we should send him a thank you card or something? haha
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bucknut4life;656505; said:
...a chill pill and a life. Dude needs to come to terms with some serious issues.
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k_stone_69
Banned
Random Thought
NO LET DOWN GAME THIS WEEK!!!
WILDCATS POISED FOR AN UPSET, ARE THE BUCKEYES UP FOR A DOG FIGHT?
Is Ohio State playing NU or Michigan this week?
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=145&p=2&c=588620
NO LET DOWN GAME THIS WEEK!!!
WILDCATS POISED FOR AN UPSET, ARE THE BUCKEYES UP FOR A DOG FIGHT?
Is Ohio State playing NU or Michigan this week?
and did the Buckeyes actually lose to Illinois?
If you've been following the links in the NU Sports News Digest under Ohio State, you wonder if anyone in the media is taking the Wildcats seriously.
Yes, the players and coaches are avoiding the word "Michigan," but the media sure can't...
- The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper hasn't run anything on the upcoming game with NU - they have run stories about students selling their tickets to the OSU-Michigan game for an almost obscene profit.
- The big story yesterday was how the coaches screwed up during Illinois - Like the Wildcats against MSU, the Bucks apparently went into prevent in the 2nd half and almost allowed Illinois to come all the way back.
- Of course, the assistants are thinking about Michigan - "the game" as the media guys call it in Ohio, but the sports reporters covering the Buckeyes seem more concerned with how the Bucks will get ready for Michigan and who will play next week, rather than who will play against the Wildcats.
- Actually, I'll lay this on the media guys covering OSU. They keep asking questions about who will play against Michigan, what is the impact of player's errors as they prep for the Wolves. Hey guys, OSU plays Northwestern Saturday.
OK, no more tempests in a teapot here, but I wonder if all the interest in the Buckeye-Wolverine #1-#2 matchup won't impact the game in Evanston Saturday.
Remember folks that the Wildcats have a win over the #1 team to gain, and nothing else to lose...
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=145&p=2&c=588620
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Lantern
OSU Athletics: stop selling tickets
Chelsea Whitman-Rush
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Campus
With dollar signs in their eyes, many students are turning to eBay to cash in on their highly-coveted football tickets, naming high sticker prices for the sought-after seats.
According to eBay, tickets for the Michigan game are selling for as much as $8,000, raising concern with the Ohio State Department of Athletics, Athletic Council and many members of the OSU community.
"Anybody who has tickets through us is not supposed to sell them," said Bill Jones, senior director of ticketing for the OSU Department of Athletics Office. "It's stated on the application and it's stated on the rules."
According to the OSU Department of Athletics football ticket policy, "Tickets are allocated and distributed in a manner that acknowledges our students, faculty, staff, alumni and contributors."
The policy also states, "Important responsibilities accompany ticket rights and privileges. Abusing ticket privileges hurts the community the department is trying to serve."
Jones said adhering to this policy is the issue.
Casey Elder, an undecided freshman, said she feels selling her football ticket for an outrageous sum would detract from the experience of the game.
"If I did sell my ticket, it would only be to a close relative or fellow student who was not able to get tickets for whatever circumstance," Elder said. "Even then, I would not rip them off and sell it for $1,000 or more."
At the Nov. 7 Office of the University Senate's Athletic Council meeting, members of the committee discussed whether action should be taken to address the issue of re-selling tickets.
"The question was, have we addressed our policy for selling tickets to students?" said Philip T.K. Daniel, chair of the athletic council.
After much discussion, the council decided to defer announcing their stance on the matter until consultation with other departments occurred.
Students are also on the foreground of this discussion.
The issue of re-selling tickets online has sparked such controversy that a Facebook group titled "Don't Put a Price on Priceless," has dedicated its page to stopping the re-sale of student football tickets.
"I know it's going on," Jones said of the ticket abuse. "I spent two or three hours one day going through eBay postings and I can confirm that 12-14 individuals were selling their tickets."
Jones went on to say that although no penalties have been implemented so far, "the legal department is looking into what we can and can't do (to stop the selling)."
OSU Athletics: stop selling tickets
Chelsea Whitman-Rush
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Campus
With dollar signs in their eyes, many students are turning to eBay to cash in on their highly-coveted football tickets, naming high sticker prices for the sought-after seats.
According to eBay, tickets for the Michigan game are selling for as much as $8,000, raising concern with the Ohio State Department of Athletics, Athletic Council and many members of the OSU community.
"Anybody who has tickets through us is not supposed to sell them," said Bill Jones, senior director of ticketing for the OSU Department of Athletics Office. "It's stated on the application and it's stated on the rules."
According to the OSU Department of Athletics football ticket policy, "Tickets are allocated and distributed in a manner that acknowledges our students, faculty, staff, alumni and contributors."
The policy also states, "Important responsibilities accompany ticket rights and privileges. Abusing ticket privileges hurts the community the department is trying to serve."
Jones said adhering to this policy is the issue.
Casey Elder, an undecided freshman, said she feels selling her football ticket for an outrageous sum would detract from the experience of the game.
"If I did sell my ticket, it would only be to a close relative or fellow student who was not able to get tickets for whatever circumstance," Elder said. "Even then, I would not rip them off and sell it for $1,000 or more."
At the Nov. 7 Office of the University Senate's Athletic Council meeting, members of the committee discussed whether action should be taken to address the issue of re-selling tickets.
"The question was, have we addressed our policy for selling tickets to students?" said Philip T.K. Daniel, chair of the athletic council.
After much discussion, the council decided to defer announcing their stance on the matter until consultation with other departments occurred.
Students are also on the foreground of this discussion.
The issue of re-selling tickets online has sparked such controversy that a Facebook group titled "Don't Put a Price on Priceless," has dedicated its page to stopping the re-sale of student football tickets.
"I know it's going on," Jones said of the ticket abuse. "I spent two or three hours one day going through eBay postings and I can confirm that 12-14 individuals were selling their tickets."
Jones went on to say that although no penalties have been implemented so far, "the legal department is looking into what we can and can't do (to stop the selling)."
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Lantern
Wretched Wildcats next in line for Bucks
David Briggs
Issue date: 11/9/06 As the football and Illinois' hopes fluttered through the air late Saturday, eluding the grasp of several Ohio State players, Doug Datish had more on his mind than a game swiftly slipping away.
Sure, the senior center was worried that it had come to this, an Illinois onside kick with the Buckeyes ahead by just a touchdown. But more importantly, Datish said with a dry smile, he was concerned for his coaches.
"We've got some guys that have bad hearts and are sick here," Datish said. "We don't need to give them that heart attack like those guys did in 2002. It's not good for their health."
OSU recovered the kick, of course, and the heart attacks were staved. But the defibrillators must have at least made an appearance for the first time this year. And the thing is, it couldn't have come at a better time.
As the Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) head to Evanston Saturday to visit a resurgent Northwestern (3-7, 1-5) team coming off a 21-7 road win against Iowa and one week away from history's most hyped edition of "The Game," OSU's 17-10 win over lowly Illinois offered a "good wake-up call," Datish said.
"It's a reality check. Maybe you think you're better than you are and you get shot back to the earth in a film session like that."
This film session he alludes to shows an OSU offense putting together only 29 yards of offense in a scoreless second half. So woeful was the late showing that coaches didn't name an offensive player or lineman of the week.
"It's reality. No one deserved it," center Doug Datish said. "Everyone deserved to take a share of the blame. I don't know if there's blame for a win, but we shared it."
It made for the first time this season an opponent had come within 17 points of OSU. So if the Buckeyes' only weakness was their lack of experience in tight games, consider Saturday a positive.
"We didn't expect to go without any close games," defensive tackle David Patterson said. "It was a good test of our character because there may be a time we need to dig deep."That time likely won't come Saturday. Northwestern owns the league's worst offense and their defense is allowing over 365 yards per game. And already this year, the Wildcats have cycled through three quarterbacks with C.J. Bacher being today's man of the hour. In three starts, the sophomore has thrown six interceptions to just four touchdowns.
Still, there is plenty of talent on a youthful Northwestern team. Enough talent to build a 38-3 lead against Michigan State three weeks ago, though they crumbled and eventually fell. And enough talent to top Iowa on the road last week in picking up their first Big Ten win this year.
"They've gotten a lot better over the year," Datish said. "You look at the film from the beginning and the end and it's kind of amazing, the transformation."
If that film coupled with last week's offensive horror show doesn't offer enough of a prod, there are the memories of the Buckeyes' last trip to the Windy City, a 33-27 overtime loss.
"We'll remember that sour feeling," Datish said. "You definitely carry around that scar with you especially when you see their students coming onto the field. But this is a new year."
A new year indeed. A season of unprecedented dominance, yet one that can be derailed at the most unexpected juncture. If the players buy into Northwesten serving as a Michigan tune-up, then all bets are off.
This, Tressel said, is why the Illinois game was a blessing of sorts.
"I don't know if there's such a thing as a magical wake-up call, but I think reality is very important."
Wretched Wildcats next in line for Bucks
David Briggs
Issue date: 11/9/06 As the football and Illinois' hopes fluttered through the air late Saturday, eluding the grasp of several Ohio State players, Doug Datish had more on his mind than a game swiftly slipping away.
Sure, the senior center was worried that it had come to this, an Illinois onside kick with the Buckeyes ahead by just a touchdown. But more importantly, Datish said with a dry smile, he was concerned for his coaches.
"We've got some guys that have bad hearts and are sick here," Datish said. "We don't need to give them that heart attack like those guys did in 2002. It's not good for their health."
OSU recovered the kick, of course, and the heart attacks were staved. But the defibrillators must have at least made an appearance for the first time this year. And the thing is, it couldn't have come at a better time.
As the Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) head to Evanston Saturday to visit a resurgent Northwestern (3-7, 1-5) team coming off a 21-7 road win against Iowa and one week away from history's most hyped edition of "The Game," OSU's 17-10 win over lowly Illinois offered a "good wake-up call," Datish said.
"It's a reality check. Maybe you think you're better than you are and you get shot back to the earth in a film session like that."
This film session he alludes to shows an OSU offense putting together only 29 yards of offense in a scoreless second half. So woeful was the late showing that coaches didn't name an offensive player or lineman of the week.
"It's reality. No one deserved it," center Doug Datish said. "Everyone deserved to take a share of the blame. I don't know if there's blame for a win, but we shared it."
It made for the first time this season an opponent had come within 17 points of OSU. So if the Buckeyes' only weakness was their lack of experience in tight games, consider Saturday a positive.
"We didn't expect to go without any close games," defensive tackle David Patterson said. "It was a good test of our character because there may be a time we need to dig deep."That time likely won't come Saturday. Northwestern owns the league's worst offense and their defense is allowing over 365 yards per game. And already this year, the Wildcats have cycled through three quarterbacks with C.J. Bacher being today's man of the hour. In three starts, the sophomore has thrown six interceptions to just four touchdowns.
Still, there is plenty of talent on a youthful Northwestern team. Enough talent to build a 38-3 lead against Michigan State three weeks ago, though they crumbled and eventually fell. And enough talent to top Iowa on the road last week in picking up their first Big Ten win this year.
"They've gotten a lot better over the year," Datish said. "You look at the film from the beginning and the end and it's kind of amazing, the transformation."
If that film coupled with last week's offensive horror show doesn't offer enough of a prod, there are the memories of the Buckeyes' last trip to the Windy City, a 33-27 overtime loss.
"We'll remember that sour feeling," Datish said. "You definitely carry around that scar with you especially when you see their students coming onto the field. But this is a new year."
A new year indeed. A season of unprecedented dominance, yet one that can be derailed at the most unexpected juncture. If the players buy into Northwesten serving as a Michigan tune-up, then all bets are off.
This, Tressel said, is why the Illinois game was a blessing of sorts.
"I don't know if there's such a thing as a magical wake-up call, but I think reality is very important."
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Two things I'm getting getting bloody sick of:
1) Bottom-feeders talking about kicking our arses. You want purple? Buckeye hits will give your team plenty of it.
2) Stories about the laugh a minute approaches to coaching. If NW is laughing after Saturday, call in a team of psychiatrists.
Just saying...
1) Bottom-feeders talking about kicking our arses. You want purple? Buckeye hits will give your team plenty of it.
2) Stories about the laugh a minute approaches to coaching. If NW is laughing after Saturday, call in a team of psychiatrists.
Just saying...
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Lantern
Coach calls campaigning crazy, stumping for Smith stupid
Notebook
David Briggs
Issue date: 11/9/06
His handle on "The Senator" and "Jim Tressel for (fill in political title here - common pleas judge?)" T-shirts can be seen scattered throughout Ohio Stadium.
So with this NFL talk out of the way, the next logical career move for the Buckeyes coach would seem to be running for office, right?
"No," Tressel said.
Never?
"To run for office? No," Tressel replied.
He is probably kidding. Let's ask him again. You sure, coach?
"Yeah, I guess we're done here," Tressel said.
Freshman fumbleitis
A solution to tailback Chris Wells' fumbling woes might not be as easy as simply "slowing down" the game mentally, as Tressel suggests.
The freshman's high school coach suggests Wells' trouble clutching the ball stem from a physical issue: his arms are too long.
"Fumbling is not a new thing for him," said Akron Garfield coach Bob Sax to the Dayton Daily News. "His arms are so long. Guys who have shorter arms can cradle the football. His hands are huge, but when he tries to cradle it in his right arm, the point doesn't go back to where his elbow bends."
Wells' latest drop, his fourth, came without contact in Saturday's second quarter. His second fumble in as many games was not the first time Sax has seen Wells fumble in the open field.
"He did that once for me as a freshman," Sax said. "He was going on a 50-yard screen and just dropped the ball. Right then, the coaches said to each other, 'Look at his arms.'"
On Saturday, a clearly troubled Tressel did not let his freshman back on the field.
"How concerned am I? You know, tremendously concerned," Tressel said. "I'd like to think that he'll one day get that under control. I'm hoping it's this day."
If he fumbles again Saturday, it would be hard to imagine Tressel placing his trust in Wells against Michigan. The coach denies the Northwestern game serving as an audition of sorts, but didn't go as far as fully committing to Wells.
"Oh, gosh, I don't know. Give me the rest of the scenario," Tressel said, when asked if Wells would see another carry if his issue again arises. "Am I the next tailback in the game? Then he's playing."
Smith's throwing hand hurtin'
Troy Smith revealed yesterday that he has been playing recently with pain in his throwing hand.
A wrap has adorned his right hand over the last few weeks as an injury suffered earlier this season has gradually worsened.
"It's a seasonal thing. It's a growing pain, and we have to play through it," Smith said on a conference call with reporters. "It happened a while ago. I can't really pinpoint one thing that made it start hurting. It was probably just an ongoing thing and it got worse."
Gonzo: 'I'll be back.'
Anthony Gonzalez is the latest Buckeye to turn down the NFL. Only for a year, though, unlike OSU's head honcho.
The junior wideout said this week he can't envision a scenario that could lure him away from OSU after this season.
"The NFL isn't going anywhere. As far as I know, it's doing well financially," Gonzalez said to reporters. "So it'll be there when the time comes."
Earlier this season, junior tailback Antonio Pittman declared he would be back next year to make a run at the Heisman.
Ted Ginn Jr., who is projected as a mid-to-late first round pick in a number of mock drafts, has not let his intentions be known.
Boone out indefinitely?
Alex Boone will miss a second straight week with a still-undisclosed injury and the left tackle's status for the Michigan game remains uncertain.
"(Boone) is probably another week away," Tressel said.
This spells another game with Tim Schafer starting at the line's most critical position. If Boone is not ready by Nov. 18, it would be a huge blow to the offense - a majority of OSU's runs are to the left side behind the mammoth tandem of Boone and guard Steve Rehring.
With Boone out Saturday, the line turned in its worst performance of the season. The Buckeyes rushed for just 116 yards on 47 carries, and Smith was sacked a season-high three times.
One option OSU's coaches might be considering is moving Doug Datish to left tackle, where he started last year, and shifting backup center Jim Cordle into the starting role. If the team knows Boone will not be available come Nov. 18, consider this a legitimate option.
The team's only other uncertainty is the status of freshman defensive back Kurt Coleman, who Tressel said is questionable after getting "a little banged" Saturday.
Quinn Pitcock, who returned Saturday after being sidelined with a concussion, played about 40 plays against Illinois and is at full strength this week. Also, freshman wideout Ray Small, who did not travel with the team to Illinois after suffering a concussion the previous week, practiced full-go yesterday and should play Saturday.
Quotable
"I don't think things happen with stumping. So no, I don't think we need to do that. Now, maybe after our season's over and there's nothing left to do and the only thing left is stumping, maybe you stump, I don't know. But we've got stuff to do," Tressel said on whether he would promote Smith for the Heisman. The school has no such qualms, as OSU's communications department has already begun mailing out Smith campaign flyers to Heisman voters.
Quick hitters
Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock was announced this week as one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation's top lineman or linebacker. Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny and Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley join him from the Big Ten, with Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock rounding out the pack ... Also, cornerback Antonio Smith is one of 11 semi-finalists for the Jim Thorpe award, presented to the country's top defensive back. The former walk-on is second on the team with 54 tackles - nine for a loss ... to go along with two picks this year. "It's all still a big blur right now," Smith said. "But I'm sure once its over, I'll be able to look back and smile upon the season. I'm just glad to be here" ... The last time the Big Ten had a pair of perfect teams after 10 games was in 1904, when Minnesota went 13-0 and Michigan 10-0.
Coach calls campaigning crazy, stumping for Smith stupid
Notebook
David Briggs
Issue date: 11/9/06
His handle on "The Senator" and "Jim Tressel for (fill in political title here - common pleas judge?)" T-shirts can be seen scattered throughout Ohio Stadium.
So with this NFL talk out of the way, the next logical career move for the Buckeyes coach would seem to be running for office, right?
"No," Tressel said.
Never?
"To run for office? No," Tressel replied.
He is probably kidding. Let's ask him again. You sure, coach?
"Yeah, I guess we're done here," Tressel said.
Freshman fumbleitis
A solution to tailback Chris Wells' fumbling woes might not be as easy as simply "slowing down" the game mentally, as Tressel suggests.
The freshman's high school coach suggests Wells' trouble clutching the ball stem from a physical issue: his arms are too long.
"Fumbling is not a new thing for him," said Akron Garfield coach Bob Sax to the Dayton Daily News. "His arms are so long. Guys who have shorter arms can cradle the football. His hands are huge, but when he tries to cradle it in his right arm, the point doesn't go back to where his elbow bends."
Wells' latest drop, his fourth, came without contact in Saturday's second quarter. His second fumble in as many games was not the first time Sax has seen Wells fumble in the open field.
"He did that once for me as a freshman," Sax said. "He was going on a 50-yard screen and just dropped the ball. Right then, the coaches said to each other, 'Look at his arms.'"
On Saturday, a clearly troubled Tressel did not let his freshman back on the field.
"How concerned am I? You know, tremendously concerned," Tressel said. "I'd like to think that he'll one day get that under control. I'm hoping it's this day."
If he fumbles again Saturday, it would be hard to imagine Tressel placing his trust in Wells against Michigan. The coach denies the Northwestern game serving as an audition of sorts, but didn't go as far as fully committing to Wells.
"Oh, gosh, I don't know. Give me the rest of the scenario," Tressel said, when asked if Wells would see another carry if his issue again arises. "Am I the next tailback in the game? Then he's playing."
Smith's throwing hand hurtin'
Troy Smith revealed yesterday that he has been playing recently with pain in his throwing hand.
A wrap has adorned his right hand over the last few weeks as an injury suffered earlier this season has gradually worsened.
"It's a seasonal thing. It's a growing pain, and we have to play through it," Smith said on a conference call with reporters. "It happened a while ago. I can't really pinpoint one thing that made it start hurting. It was probably just an ongoing thing and it got worse."
Gonzo: 'I'll be back.'
Anthony Gonzalez is the latest Buckeye to turn down the NFL. Only for a year, though, unlike OSU's head honcho.
The junior wideout said this week he can't envision a scenario that could lure him away from OSU after this season.
"The NFL isn't going anywhere. As far as I know, it's doing well financially," Gonzalez said to reporters. "So it'll be there when the time comes."
Earlier this season, junior tailback Antonio Pittman declared he would be back next year to make a run at the Heisman.
Ted Ginn Jr., who is projected as a mid-to-late first round pick in a number of mock drafts, has not let his intentions be known.
Boone out indefinitely?
Alex Boone will miss a second straight week with a still-undisclosed injury and the left tackle's status for the Michigan game remains uncertain.
"(Boone) is probably another week away," Tressel said.
This spells another game with Tim Schafer starting at the line's most critical position. If Boone is not ready by Nov. 18, it would be a huge blow to the offense - a majority of OSU's runs are to the left side behind the mammoth tandem of Boone and guard Steve Rehring.
With Boone out Saturday, the line turned in its worst performance of the season. The Buckeyes rushed for just 116 yards on 47 carries, and Smith was sacked a season-high three times.
One option OSU's coaches might be considering is moving Doug Datish to left tackle, where he started last year, and shifting backup center Jim Cordle into the starting role. If the team knows Boone will not be available come Nov. 18, consider this a legitimate option.
The team's only other uncertainty is the status of freshman defensive back Kurt Coleman, who Tressel said is questionable after getting "a little banged" Saturday.
Quinn Pitcock, who returned Saturday after being sidelined with a concussion, played about 40 plays against Illinois and is at full strength this week. Also, freshman wideout Ray Small, who did not travel with the team to Illinois after suffering a concussion the previous week, practiced full-go yesterday and should play Saturday.
Quotable
"I don't think things happen with stumping. So no, I don't think we need to do that. Now, maybe after our season's over and there's nothing left to do and the only thing left is stumping, maybe you stump, I don't know. But we've got stuff to do," Tressel said on whether he would promote Smith for the Heisman. The school has no such qualms, as OSU's communications department has already begun mailing out Smith campaign flyers to Heisman voters.
Quick hitters
Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock was announced this week as one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation's top lineman or linebacker. Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny and Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley join him from the Big Ten, with Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock rounding out the pack ... Also, cornerback Antonio Smith is one of 11 semi-finalists for the Jim Thorpe award, presented to the country's top defensive back. The former walk-on is second on the team with 54 tackles - nine for a loss ... to go along with two picks this year. "It's all still a big blur right now," Smith said. "But I'm sure once its over, I'll be able to look back and smile upon the season. I'm just glad to be here" ... The last time the Big Ten had a pair of perfect teams after 10 games was in 1904, when Minnesota went 13-0 and Michigan 10-0.
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bucknut4life
even chuck norris fears laurinaitis
Steve19;656532; said:
i agree...good post..
seems like all of the games we have played before the illinois game have been forgotten about...
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martinss01
blissfully stupid
MililaniBuckeye;656335; said:
sad to see someone who claims to care about the academics of youths so much label anyone who attends a specific school and write them off as inferior so easily.
though i was rather amused that in the same breath our increase in graduation rates was mocked while krenzel was complimented. he must have been our "token" smart kid. but the part that i enjoyed the most was the 100 dollar hand shakes then going on to point out that lydell ross passed fake currency. *ponders* if we pay our players, being the starting tb one would assume lydell would definitely be on the payroll... why on earth would he need a coupon for a lap dance? surely he would have a near limitless bankroll for which to draw upon no?
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chille37
Heisman
Don't know if it has been posted yet or not, but I was very excited to find out we'll be in HD again this weekend!!!http://www.hdsportsguide.com/cfb.php
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BuckeyeGanoosh
So it goes...
How funny. NW in HD? The IU game we had more people see the game in person than on EspnU. WTF?
I'm not complaining about getting the NW game in all it's glory, but I just thought it was pretty funny considering IU at least had a winning record.
I'm not complaining about getting the NW game in all it's glory, but I just thought it was pretty funny considering IU at least had a winning record.
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Muck
Enjoy Every Sandwich
Crystal76;656336; said:
For the record Evanston Cat has a long and well documented history of spewing his nonsense. He is either emotionally disturbed at a very deep level...or a hoaxer on a scale that the Jethro's of the world can only dream of.
E Cat is the absolute worst sort of zealot. He latches onto anything that he believes supports his preconceived world view and lovingly lets it fester within his fevered mind until his thought process is warped beyond any possibility of rationality.
He is the evangelical televangelist for the Northwestern crowd, he sells them a bill of goods that makes their history of abject incompetence on the football field palatable. It's not their fault that they suck...it's The Big Bad Mean Buckeyes fault.
It's the sad, disturbed lonely kid in the basement telling himself that it's through no fault of his own that he has no friends...it's the jocks' fault that he is physically uncoordinated and socially inept. So rather than accepting responsibility for his own shortcomings he directs his bile outwards and takes false solace in a belief that he is intellectually and morally superior despite a lack of evidence supporting such trite nonsense.
In short he is a pathetic human being who is goes through life hating himself so greatly that he can only lessen the pain by making himself believe that those who experience success can only do so by resorting to unsavory means.
He would be amusing if he were not so utterly sad. He would be pitiable if you were not so utterly vile. Worst of all, he would be utterly alone without the attention he receives for his rants.
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Muck;656760; said:
Lets keep the threads straight.
Comments about IVoyd need to go in The Game thread not the NU game thread.
Thanks.
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