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Game Thread Game Five: #1 Ohio State 38, #13 Iowa 17 (9/30/06)

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Ronnie Harmon is the honorary captain for Iowa Saturday. His performance in the Rose Bowl was so bad that there is now a thread on their board encouraging fans not to boo when he is introduced.

Short of bringing MoC back to flip a coin can you imagine this happening at the Shoe?

Ouch.
 
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DDN

Buckeyes make believer of Iowa coach Ferentz

Ohio State's rebuilt defense has convinced Hawkeyes' coach that Ohio State deserves No. 1 ranking.


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

Friday, September 29, 2006

COLUMBUS ? The pollsters who made Ohio State an overwhelming choice as the nation's preseason No. 1 football team probably didn't consult Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.
Sure, the Buckeyes returned scary talent on offense. And they racked up an astonishing 314 rushing yards in a 31-6 mauling of the Hawkeyes last year, making the Iowa defenders look like they were stuck on the streets of Pamplona for the running of the bulls.

But OSU produced five first-round NFL draft choices from that team and lost nine defensive starters. Ferentz couldn't fathom how a team could withstand those defections and still be favored to win the national title.
"I don't mind telling you I was a little skeptical during the summer when I kept hearing everybody's picking Ohio State to be at the top of the heap in the country," he said. "Now, after four games, you can see why."
The No. 1 Buckeyes (4-0) will go into Saturday's prime-time meeting with the No. 13 Hawkeyes (4-0) with a stunningly stingy defense. They lead the Big Ten and are seventh nationally in fewest points allowed (8.0 per game), and they already have nine takeaways after generating just 12 last season.
"You go down the list, and anything you're supposed to do well on defense, they do it," Ferentz said. "You wonder why they win so consistently, but to me it starts on defense. They do a great job defensively."
Next game
Who: OSU (4-0) at Iowa (4-0)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
TV: ABC
 
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DDN

Defensive set to determine if Freeman starts for OSU


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

Friday, September 29, 2006

COLUMBUS ? Ohio State's Marcus Freeman will be bumped from the starting lineup if the team begins the Iowa game in a three-linebacker set, but defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said the sophomore from Wayne High School will still get meaningful minutes Saturday.
Junior Curtis Terry is taking over the strong-side linebacker spot when the Buckeyes are in their base defense. Sophomore James Laurinaitis will still be in the middle, flanked on the other side by senior John Kerr.
Freeman and Laurinaitis will be part of the nickel package with five defensive backs on passing downs.
"Curtis is playing good run defense, as is Kerr," Heacock told reporters. "And, of course, Laurinaitis plays well in both areas. Freeman runs a little bit better and has better pass drops and plays well in space."
Freeman is third in tackles with 22, trailing only Laurinaitis (36) and safety Brandon Mitchell (25).
Smith's runs limited
Troy Smith bolted from the pocket on third-and-13 against Penn State last week, racing to a 17-yard gain and stepping out of bounds before getting beheaded.
It was his longest run of the year and his first significant scramble for positive yardage.
He looked like the Smith of old, the one who rushed for 145 yards against Michigan in 2004 and gained 611 on the ground last year.
But while coach Jim Tressel would like to see more of those timely step-ups, he's concluded that Smith's golden arm is too precious to expose him on many designed runs.
"To me, what's impressive about Troy is he's developed to the point where he can make every throw," Tressel said. "And that being the case, I'd like him to be in there making every type of throw."
Tressel may be more empathetic than most coaches because he was a quarterback himself, playing for his father, Lee, at Baldwin-Wallace.
Asked if he took a shot he still remembers, Tressel said: "One time, I woke up in the Health Center. That was a shot. Heidelberg had an 18-game winning streak. I got knocked out, and we stopped their streak. That shows you how valuable I was."
Boeckman limping
Third-string quarterback Todd Boeckman remains sidelined with an ankle injury, but he'll make the trip to Iowa.
 
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CPD

[FONT=arial,sans-serif]Thursday, September 28, 2006[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial,sans-serif]Older Buckeyes know the ropes on the road
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6:38 p.m.

COLUMBUS ? The stands at Iowa?s Kinnick Stadium are about as close to the field as any stands in the country. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel expects his older players to warn the younger Buckeyes about what to expect.

?We talk a lot about focusing on the road, because in the Big Ten, everywhere you go is tough, maybe some tougher than others,? Tressel said this evening. ?I remember when I first got here, I heard the older guys talking to the younger guys about going to Wisconsin and getting hit with batteries in the helmet. So they share those things. Still, it comes down to being focused on yourself.?

Ohio State will have a walk-through at Kinnick Stadium on Friday night before Saturday?s 8 p.m. kickoff with the Hawkeyes.

INJURY UPDATE: Tressel reported no new injuries, saying he was pleased that today?s practice was the best of the week, which is how he wants it to be. He thought the Buckeyes were sharper early in the week while preparing for Penn State, then they came out and trailed, 3-0, at halftime.

The only lingering injury is the sprained ankle of third-string quarterback Todd Boeckman. He was out last week and will make the trip to Iowa but is not expected to be in uniform.

? Doug Lesmerises, [email protected]

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[FONT=arial,sans-serif]Buckeyes want to avoid another slow start
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2:11 p.m.

COLUMBUS ? You would think the potential for another slow start against Iowa on Saturday would have the Ohio State offense worried.

The Buckeyes were shut out in the first half against Penn State last week, after scoring just 13 points in the first half the week before against Cincinnati, a game in which OSU trailed after the first quarter.

?Am I concerned about it? It?s not something that we spend a lot of time saying, ?We?ve got to get out of the gate,? ? Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said. ?Those were entirely different situations those two games.?

In Bollman?s mind, the zero through two quarters against a solid Big Ten defense like Penn State wasn?t nearly as disturbing as what happened against the Bearcats.

?One I was very upset at halftime, and one I was really calm at halftime,? Bollman said. ?Last week, we were playing a good football team. When you?re playing against good people, things aren?t going to be perfect.?

So if the Buckeyes are shut out in the first half again Saturday?

?It doesn?t matter at halftime,? Bollman said. ?It matters what happens at the end of the ballgame.?

- Doug Lesmerises, [email protected]
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CPD

No run, no hit, no scares


Friday, September 29, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus -- Jim Tressel remembers waking up in the student health center after absorbing the biggest hit of his career as a college quarterback at Baldwin-Wallace.
"Heidelberg had an 18-game winning streak and I got knocked out, and we snapped the win streak," Ohio State's coach said of that hit 33 years ago. "That shows you how important I was."
Saturday night, when Tressel and No. 1-ranked Ohio State play at No. 13 Iowa, the chances of winning for either team probably wouldn't survive a knockout of the quarterback. Iowa learned that the hard way, barely scraping past lowly Syracuse in double overtime earlier this season when quarterback Drew Tate missed the game with an abdominal strain.
With senior quarterbacks like Tate and Ohio State's Troy Smith, nimble passers who can make plays on the go, the idea of keeping them safe is never far from the minds of the playcallers.
"Yeah, we want to make sure he's protected," Tressel said of Smith. "That's why you don't see us every play with no tight ends or no backs. What is impressive about Troy is he's developed to the point he can make every kind of throw; and that being the case, I would like him to be in there making every kind of throw."
The Buckeyes use option and quarterback zone running plays. Some teams build offenses around those ideas, but Tressel doesn't want to do too much of any one thing.
The Hawkeyes do not have many run plays designed for Tate.
"Within our system, we don't have a lot of things that would put him in peril," Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said of Tate. "You just try to be smart and get him to play within himself and within the system, and just make the plays he's capable of making."
Though an able runner who's perhaps best throwing on the run, Tate has just 12 runs this year, with a long of 17 yards.
"On those bootlegs, he can get out on the perimeter and put the ball on the money," OSU defensive tackle David Patterson said. "And he's really tough. He's one of those quarterbacks who's like a linebacker."

Tressel always mentions toughness first when asked for Smith's best quality as a quarterback. Smith has seemed to take pride in shucking off tacklers, refusing to go down after releasing some passes this season. But there's something to be said for avoiding the big hits as well, which both quarterbacks can do.
"It's rare you get a clean shot on Drew," Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "He's very elusive. He has a great knack for feeling pressure, and rolling out and running around."
And they do have other protections, rules penalizing helmet-to-helmet hits and blows to the head.
"In the Big Ten, [officials] are really working hard to help that as much as they can and looking out for the quarterback a lot," O'Keefe said.
Earlier this year, when Ohio State's Jay Richardson was called for a disputed roughing the passer penalty on Texas' Colt McCoy, the referee explained to Tressel that he was just trying to protect the quarterback. The coach disagreed with the call, but understood the sentiment.
However, quarterbacks know protection isn't always possible.
"There's no doubt about it, you feel it right after a game," Smith said. "You're sore. . . . Being a quarterback means durability, that means the mental part, that means everything."
You can't show toughness if you're not in the game. Ferentz said Tate still has been held back in practice by the abdominal strain two weeks after sitting out against Syracuse.
"It's limited the amount of work he can do, and I think we're hardly a cohesive, well-polished offensive unit right now, and I think that's part of it," Ferentz said.
But Tate will be in there Saturday night.
"The things he does for that football team, it's unreal," Smith said. "When he's not in there, you can see the difference."
While putting their quarterbacks in positions to win the game, both the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes will keep them out of positions that might force them to leave the game.
"You're tempted to do more sometimes," O'Keefe said, "but there's only one of each of them."
 
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CPD

OHIO STATE INSIDER
Hawkeyes home in on Ohio talent


Friday, September 29, 2006Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- There are nine players from Northeast Ohio on Iowa's roster, all of them recruited within the past three years. Only sophomore cornerback Bradley Fletcher is getting much playing time so far, but that will change as the Hawkeyes' Ohio plan takes shape.
Looking to capitalize on several local connections - head coach Kirk Ferentz is a former Browns assistant, offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe played at John Carroll and defensive backs coach Phil Parker coached at Toledo for 11 years - Iowa started emphasizing Northeast Ohio in 2004.
"We wanted to recruit the Midwest, first and foremost, but we weren't able to do that our first couple of years here because kids in the Big Ten were well aware of our lack of success," Ferentz said.
That changed when Iowa played Southern Cal in the 2003 Orange Bowl. But the Hawkeyes still don't expect to steal players from Ohio State.
"It's hard, because Jim Tressel and his staff are not letting anyone escape," said O'Keefe, who recruits the Cleveland area.
Said Ferentz: "For the most part, we're looking for diamonds in the rough, because I can't recall a time that we've ever come close to beating Ohio State head-to-head on a player in the state."
The Hawkeyes grabbed their future quarterback in their latest class. Lake Catholic's Ricky Stanzi was ranked as the No. 11 dual-threat quarterback by recruiting service rivals.com, while Glenville's Arvell Nelson was No. 22 among pro-style quarterbacks. Both are redshirting this season, taking turns playing the role of Ohio State's Troy Smith on the scout team as the Hawkeyes prepare for Saturday night's game with the Buckeyes. "They're both very sharp kids, and everybody likes being around them," O'Keefe said.
Nelson previously received quarterback lessons from the player he is currently impersonating.
"In Muny ball, I was the quarterback for the older division; he was the quarterback for the younger division of the same team," Smith said. "I know him very well."
OSU defensive tackle David Patterson said he keeps in touch with Iowa redshirt freshman defensive Chris Rowell, who was two years behind Patterson at Warrensville Heights. Rowell might see special teams action Saturday.

"I'm really excited to see him get out there," Patterson said. "He's my boy. I think he really looks up to me, so sometimes I try to give him advice and talk to him and make sure everything's all right."
Ugh:
Tressel talked this week about a visit some Ohio State coaches made this spring to watch Clemson University and the Atlanta Falcons practice.
Asked what was discussed with the Falcons, Tressel said of offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Jim Bollman, "Coach Bollman got together with their line coach and I'm sure grunted back and forth, whatever they talk about. But I'm sure I couldn't decipher that. I hope he doesn't read the paper."
Injury update:
Tressel reported no new injuries, saying he was pleased that Thursday's practice was the best of the week, which is how he wants it to be.
He thought the Buckeyes were sharper early in the week while preparing for Penn State, then they came out and trailed, 3-0, at halftime.
The only lingering injury is the sprained ankle of third-string quarterback Todd Boeckman. He was out last week and will make the trip to Iowa but is not expected to be in uniform.
OSU on top:
Ohio State moved to the top of another college football list without moving a muscle Thursday night. The Buckeyes now have the longest winning streak in the country.
Texas Christian had its 13-game winning streak stopped with a 31-17 loss to BYU Thursday, leaving OSU and West Virginia tied with 11 consecutive wins each. The Buckeyes' most recent loss was to Penn State on Oct. 8. The 11-game streak is tied for seventh-longest in school history.
 
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CPD

No pain, plenty of gains


Friday, September 29, 2006
Iowa's Drew Tate
Career stats:
516 of 831 passing (62.1 percent)
6,256 yards
50 touchdowns
23 interceptions
Record as starter: 20-7
2006 stats:
58 of 92 passing (62.4 percent)
687 yards
7 touchdowns
2 interceptions
Record as starter: 3-0 (missed Syracuse game with injury)



Ohio State's Troy Smith
Career stats:
285 of 462 passing (61.7 percent)
4,061 yards
32 touchdowns
9 interceptions
Record as starter: 17-2
2006 stats:
68 of 103 passing (66 percent)
882 yards
8 touchdowns
2 interceptions
Record as starter: 4-0
 
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varSubject = "subject=Talent for top-ranked Buckeyes is deep";Talent for top-ranked Buckeyes is deep

Running back, defense pose major problems for Hawkeyes


varUsername = "[email protected]";document.write("By ANDREW LOGUE");By ANDREW LOGUE
Register Staff Writer

September 29, 2006



Let's dedicate a little space to some of the supporting players on Ohio State's football team.

Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. garner much of the attention, but there's more to the top-ranked Buckeyes than a couple of Heisman Trophy hopefuls.

Smith's quarterbacking and Ginn's skills as a receiver and kick returner will be the main attraction heading into Saturday's nationally televised game with No. 13 Iowa.

But check out some of the subplots:

- Remember Antonio Pittman? He's the Ohio State running back who rushed for more yards against the Hawkeyes than any other ball-carrier since 2000.

Pittman's 171 yards on 28 carries laid the groundwork for last year's 31-6 win over Iowa.

"We just couldn't get it done up front," Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said. "If people run the ball down your throat, it's tough to find any joy out there."

Pittman's performance ranks as the best for an opposing back in Iowa's past 68 games, since Michigan State's T.J. Duckett ran for 248 yards on Oct. 7, 2000.

- Ginn might be the flashiest receiver in college football, but he ranks second on the Buckeyes in number of catches.

Anthony Gonzalez leads the team with 19 receptions for an average of 15.6 yards. Ginn has caught 16 passes for 16.8.

Ginn has five touchdowns, but 17 of Gonzales' catches have resulted in first downs.

"Ted Ginn obviously (has) great, great speed and great production," Ferentz said. "But Gonzales is so underrated in my opinion. I think he's an outstanding football player."

- James Laurinaitis, a sophomore linebacker, lettered last season as a true freshman and currently leads Ohio State with 36 tackles and three interceptions.

He'll have to do much more to match the tough-guy image of his father.

Joe Laurinaitis made a name for himself as a professional wrestler in the 1980s and '90s, playing the part of "Animal" in "The Legion of Doom."

"I told him, 'Somewhere along the way you're going to face bigger, better and stronger players, so be a class act,' Joe told the Chicago Tribune. "When you hit a guy, help him up.'"

- When the Buckeyes visited Kinnick Stadium in 2004, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock wore a pink shirt and tie so he would match the color scheme in the visiting locker room.

"I did it just to say I didn't really care," said Pitcock, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior. "It didn't really bother me. Of course it gets people talking. It may distract people, but you've just got to maybe take that 2 minutes to talk about it and get over it."

Pitcock went on to record two tackles during a 33-7 loss. It was Ohio State's worst defeat since Jim Tressel became coach in 2001.

When Pitcock was asked if he would dress the same way this weekend, he replied, "I haven't decided yet."

- Brandon Mitchell, a senior safety, is one of nine new starters on the Buckeyes' defense. Some wondered before the season if offenses would exploit Ohio State's inexperience, but replacements such as Mitchell were waiting their turn.

Mitchell ranks second on the team with 17 solo tackles, and no opponent has scored more than a single touchdown.

The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten Conference, allowing eight points per game.

"With a team like that, whether they have nine new starters, it doesn't mean anything," Iowa running back Albert Young said. "Just because those guys are new doesn't mean they're not good.

"It's definitely the best defense we've played to date."

WEAR GOLD: Iowa fans are invited to attend a pep rally Friday afternoon at Hubbard Park in Iowa City. The rally will begin at 5:30 p.m. - or immediately after the "ESPN GameDay" crew concludes its live broadcasts - and will include appearances by the radio voice of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Gary Dolphin, former Hawkeye and NFL star Ed Podolak, the Iowa marching band and members of the coaching staff. Iowa fans attending Saturday's game also are encouraged to wear gold as part of a "Be bold, wear gold" promotion.


Game time
Saturday at Kinnick
Iowa vs. Ohio State, 7 p.m. ABC
 
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Keeler: Have a blast, but check wild impulses at GameDay door

varUsername = "[email protected]";document.write("By SEAN KEELER");By SEAN KEELER
REGISTER COLUMNIST

September 29, 2006



First, don't chuck things. Please. Even if Lee Corso puts on that Brutus Buckeye head - and there's a good chance he won't, which we'll get to in a minute - and does that silly "O-H-I-O" cheer for the cameras.

Let the kids in Columbus light couches on fire. You're better than that. Besides, you'll be in direct violation of ...

Chris Fowler's "GameDay" Tip No. 1: The stage is not a dunk tank.

"I had a beer shower at Columbus," says Fowler, who, along with Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will host ESPN's "College GameDay," from Hubbard Park south of the Iowa Memorial Union, today and tomorrow. "Please, do not hurl objects at us."

It's been 10 years since "GameDay" was in Iowa City, and things are a little different now. Chris, Lee and Kirk have become bona fide cult heroes, the Keith Jacksons of the iPod generation.

An estimated 1.4 million households, on average, watched the show last fall. "GameDay's" ratings have shot up 40 percent over the past five years. Home Depot signs have shot up everywhere.

The vibe is not unlike that of a large outdoor concert, except that if you throw your underwear at Herbstreit, you'll probably be asked to leave.

Thanks to the civilized folks in East Lansing, Mich. ? "Beer cans, radishes, Nerf footballs, real footballs were thrown at the set," Fowler recalls ? the "GameDay" crew no longer works without a net.

"We don't have hockey glass up," Fowler says. "But we haven't needed that yet."

Yet. There's security around the stage and a large mosh pit for the hosts' protection - and, more importantly, yours. Which brings us to ...

Tip No. 2: Get there early.

The best way to get on camera, Corso says, is to find a good spot in the first couple of rows nearest to the stage. If you want a good seat, you'll need to beat the rush.

"There's always a demand for the first two rows," Corso says. "The first two rows are the ones shown on television all the time."

Gates open at 3 this afternoon and at 7 a.m. Saturday. Which is important because ...

Tip No. 3: Never, ever let the road team hijack your scene.

The Ohio State alumni office expects 5,000 to 6,000 Buckeye fans in town for the weekend. But rumors have been swirling all week that the number could be twice that.

Remember when Illinois visited Carver-Hawkeye Arena two years ago? With the Buckeyes clinging to that No. 1 ranking, the bandwagon is picking up passengers all the way from Chicago to Columbus.

"Ohio State will bring some people," Fowler warns. "You don't want to see the visiting team have a presence that equals the home team."

You don't, so the more Iowa fans with better position, the better chance that Grandma will see your face or your sign. Unless ...

Tip No. 4: Keep the signs clean.

Acceptable: TATE 4 HEISMAN!

Unacceptable: &.$% TROY SMITH!

Use common sense. Be funny. Be clever. Poke some fun at the hosts. Plug your school. Plug your frat.

But remember: This is basic cable, not Sunday night on HBO.

"We have a sign patrol," Corso says. "They take the vulgar signs down."

Fowler: "Signs that are especially nasty (and) pointing toward an individual player or one of the guys on the set are certainly discouraged. We ask that the signs be pro-Iowa and clean. That would help us out."

Little children will be watching at home. Security people will be watching you on monitors from inside a truck. And they will find you, so ...

Tip No. 5: Dress creatively (but appropriately).

"You just don't put a regular Iowa shirt on," Corso says. "You'll be seen all over Iowa, all over the country. Make sure you do something. That's what I do."

Corso's ritual donning of mascot heads - picking the winner of the game they're visiting - has become the signature send-off moment of the Saturday morning show. Before a Harvard-Penn game, Corso turned up on the set dressed as Benjamin Franklin.

"When I put that head on, that's serious business," Corso says. "That's real serious business."

Vegas says Corso will finish Saturday morning's business with a giant nut on top of his noggin. Right?

Ah. Ah. Ah. Not so fast, my friend.

"Iowa has a shot," Corso chirps. "It's a perfect situation for an upset.

"First of all, the configuration of the stadium - the crowd's intensity will be there. And it's the first real varsity quarterback (Drew Tate) they (Ohio State) have played against. Those other guys were inexperienced. Junior varsity. And it's just the second night game in the history of Iowa football."

And just the second visit by the "GameDay" gang, so behave yourselves out there. If the Hawkeyes win Saturday night, we won't have to wait another decade for the next one.
 
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hostile environment awaits OSU[/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Both teams expect Kinnick to be electric[/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT][/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]By Andy Hamilton
Iowa City Press-Citizen [/FONT][/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Nobody within the Iowa football program can quantify Kinnick Stadium's worth to the team that plays its home games there.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maybe it's good for an extra field goal. Perhaps it's worth a touchdown. Quite possibly its value in some instances has been the difference between victory and defeat for the Hawkeyes.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"You could argue probably any close game we've had in Kinnick, (the home crowd has) been a factor," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "We get a lot of juice from the crowd, there's no denying that. We can help ourselves by playing well. If we play well, boy, that really adds to the environment."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And it creates a formula for ringing ears and migraine headaches for opponents who rarely get out of town with a victory. Iowa has won 25 of its last 26 games in Kinnick, and the Hawkeyes haven't lost by more than a touchdown at home since 2000.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Top-ranked Ohio State is the next visitor to take its shot at dealing with the Hawkeyes and their 70,000 rowdy teammates. The Buckeyes will have to contend with the added element of Saturday's prime-time kickoff.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"I hope our fans will pace themselves, have a good plan just like our players do where they're ready to go for the game," Ferentz said.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"I'm hoping the student section makes it in," running back Albert Young said. "They're going to be tailgating for a while, so I'm hoping everybody makes it into the stadium."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Buckeyes are accustomed to such environments. Normally, though, it's their opponents who are up against the challenge of playing in one of college football's most intimidating venues. Ohio State has played its last 30 games at noisy Ohio Stadium in front of at least 100,000.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"It's a lot better playing these guys in Kinnick than in their stadium," Young said. "Everywhere you go (on the road) you have everyone against you, but at Ohio State you truly feel like you have over 100,000 people against you."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The numbers aren't as staggering in Kinnick. The capacity is 70,585, but the lack of sideline space allows some Iowa fans to sit nearly within reach of players on the visiting bench.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Former Iowa kicker Nate Kaeding said the topic of homefield advantages has been discussed inside the San Diego Chargers locker room. Their roster includes 11 players from seven Big Ten schools.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"They all, hands down, say the hardest stadium they played in each year in the Big Ten was Kinnick," Kaeding said. "They talk about how the fans are right there on top of them and there's a certain energy they feel when they come into that stadium, and they definitely know it's against them."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Buckeyes seem to embrace the challenge.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"That's what we play ball for," Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "That's the kind of stadium that we like to play in."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ohio State already aced its first difficult road exam, going to Texas three weeks ago and handling the defending national champions 24-7 in front of 89,422.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Tough environment," Young said. "And those guys handled it as if it was just another day going to work."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Some inside the Buckeye camp think they're in store for a tougher environment in Iowa City. They expect Saturday night's atmosphere to be akin to what they encountered in prime time last year at Penn State. The Nittany Lions, fueled by a crowd of 109,839 at Beaver Stadium, handed Ohio State a 17-10 loss.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"(Being in that situation) can't hurt us, that's for sure," Ohio State center Doug Datish said. "That was an unbelievable environment, and I expect an unbelievable environment this weekend. Any time you deal with a situation like that you learn from it and get experience from it, so hopefully we can use some of that experience to be successful."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Said Buckeye receiver Ted Ginn Jr.: "You just become immune to it. You start to block things out and just play tough."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]That's easier said than done, though.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The biggest thing I've learned is that you have to try to not let it affect you even though it's probably going to," Datish said. "It takes an immense amount of focus and concentration to not let that happen, and you have to get locked into the game and not worry about the other things, even more so than at home games when fans are pretty silent for you."[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kaeding says there's more to the homefield advantage than just the distractions it causes for opponents. He says there's comfort in knowing the routine, the route to the stadium and not having to deal with travel the day before the game.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]But Kaeding says there's more to it than just that and the numbers reflect a striking difference between Iowa inside Kinnick and Iowa on the road.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Hawkeyes were 15-1 during Big Ten play inside Kinnick Stadium from 2002 to 2005, outscoring opponents by 303 points during that stretch. In the same span, Iowa went 10-6 on the road and scored 48 points more than its opponents.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"There's something going on there that definitely helps, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fans," Kaeding said.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"We're always (undermanned) when it comes to flat-out skill and talent against the big teams like Ohio State. (We need) any little intangible that we can get that adds to our energy level or picks us up because we pride ourselves on playing with a lot of energy, and anytime you get the fans behind you it increases your energy level. They may be faster, but if we've got all those fans behind us it's going to boost our energy level a little, too."[/FONT][/FONT]
 
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A how-to on beating Ohio State

Jason Brummond - The Daily Iowan

Knocking off the best team in the country isn't easy, especially for Iowa. The Hawkeyes are winless in eight attempts against top-ranked opponents.

But Iowa is 25-1 in its last 26 contests at Kinnick Stadium, and the Hawks beat Ohio State two years ago at home, 33-7. To repeat that result, here are five things Iowa can do - and might need to - to upset the top-ranked Buckeyes.

Control the clock with a solid running game

A simple theory - but it makes sense. If Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense aren't on the field, they can't hurt you.

"It'd be that way in a perfect world," Ferentz said.

Although Iowa is averaging just 151 rushing yards a game, the Hawkeyes' 4.1 yards per carry is impressive, considering opponents have stacked the box with seven or nine defenders most of the time in each of the first four games. If Iowa can run early, things should clear up for quarterback Drew Tate.

"The running game definitely will be crucial," running back Albert Young said.

Start better in the first quarter

During the 2005 Big Ten schedule, teams leading after the first quarter won 64 percent of the time - which may be a focal point for an Iowa team whose first-quarter struggles this season are obvious.

Through four games, the Hawkeyes trail, 14-10, in the first quarter, and they allowed first-possession touchdown drives against Syracuse and Iowa State, along with a field-goal opportunity for Illinois. Ohio State, meanwhile, outscores foes 31-7 in the first quarter.

The Hawkeyes, who prefer to receive the kickoff under Ferentz, haven't done much offensively, either. Iowa has accumulated 16 first downs in the first quarter - fewer than 19 percent of their season total - and went three-and-out to start the game twice.

"Taking care of the ball this week and not having three-and-outs is really going to help us," tight end Scott Chandler said. "Anytime we can have the defense come out and rest, it's good."

Limit penalties, particularly pass interference

Iowa ranks 88th in the nation and next to last in the conference with 60 penalty yards a game, which probably needs to be cut in half against Ohio State. In the second quarter against Iowa State, an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and a false start on consecutive plays prevented - at worst - a field-goal opportunity.

On the season, the Hawkeyes have been flagged nine times for pass interference, resulting in 84 yards and eight plays inside the five-yard line against Syracuse. Four of the penalties have occurred on third down.

"We've had some pass interferences, and I'd like that number to go down," said Ferentz, who's more frustrated with unforced penalties, such as false starts. "Hopefully, it will, as the season goes on. I'm optimistic that it will."

Force Ohio State into mistakes

In 309 career passes, Smith has tossed just nine interceptions. The Buckeyes are allowing only one turnover a game, which ranks 13th in the country.

Iowa ranks 82nd in the nation with five takeaways - which received a boost from a four-interception game against Illinois - and must take points off the board against the Buckeyes.

"We took a step forward, but we have a ways to go," Marcus Paschal said after the Illinois game. "I think we're going to have to continue to do that to help our offense out."

Prevent the big offensive play

There's more speed between receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez than Iowa may see the rest of the year. Ginn averages 16.8 yards a grab, while Gonzalez grabs produce 15.8 yards. They've combined for seven touchdowns.

When asked how to defend Ginn, safety Miguel Merrick offered this advice: "Back up. Obviously, the guy has world-class speed, and we just have to be aware of where he's at on the field."

Paschal said physical play by the linebackers and cornerbacks near the line of scrimmage helps throw off routes and protects against deep balls.

"The biggest part is our linebackers getting their hands on them out there," he said. "With them getting jammed on a receiver, it's really going to help the safeties out on the back end."
 
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Hawks need Trojan Horse for this Troy

Ian Smith - The Daily Iowan

Troy Smith's brilliant circus-like play against Penn State last weekend might as well have been a metaphor for his entire Buckeye career.

First, he danced left, anxiously waiting for one of his favorite targets to come open. Failing to find a receiver, he burst the other direction, eyes up field. Suddenly, it looked like the play would end in disaster. Nearly 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, a Penn State defender almost had Smith in his vise-grip grasp. Not so fast. Smith spun 360 degrees and launched a perfect spiral for a 37-yard touchdown strike.

It couldn't have mimicked the senior's career any better.

In 2004, Smith's hotshot flare sparked three easy victories to begin the season. It appeared the 6-1, 215-pounder was destined to become another great Ohio State quarterback. Then Big Ten play started. The Buckeyes were thrashed in three straight games, including a 33-7 whipping at Iowa.

Ohio State's disappointing 2004 campaign ended with Smith at home, watching his teammates play in the Alamo Bowl, as result of a suspension for violating team and NCAA rules.

The Cleveland native's career was in jeopardy.

"A silly decision left me in Cleveland, while my team was in Texas celebrating a bowl victory," he said. "I had to sit there and swallow it. I watched that on TV, and I knew I was supposed to be a part of it."

Flash forward to this Saturday, and it's easy to see Smith's career has come full circle.

The senior is the commander of the No. 1 team in the country and the centerpiece of Ohio State's explosive offense. He's averaging 221 yards passing per game, with eight touchdowns in only four games - one of which is a 24-7 dismantling of the defending national champions, Texas.

The most telling statistic this season is the fact Smith's has only racked up 30 yards rushing, compared to his 611 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. The difference might make Smith even more dangerous, because, now, he can efficiently throw and still maintain the threat of running."I think a quarterback is what you make it," Smith said about his dual-threat capabilities. "I don't think you have to be a prototypical set or body type or look to be a quarterback. A quarterback is in your heart. A quarterback is in your mind. A quarterback is your arm."

If the Hawkeyes have any advantages heading into Saturday's matchup, it might be the fact they have faced a similar offense and quarterback already this season. Iowa State's shotgun attack and shifty quarterback Bret Meyer produce some of same looks the Hawkeyes face - albeit on a lower skill lower.

"You have to be very much disciplined," cornerback Charles Godfrey said. "When he scrambles with the ball, he has a very good arm, so once he starts scrambling, you have to stay with your receiver, and you can't let him go, because he can easily throw the ball 60-70 yards on the run."

"He can beat you with his feet. He can beat you with his arm, and he can always beat you with his head," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz added.

The showdown with the No. 1 Buckeyes likely hinges on Iowa's ability to contain the versatile Smith. The senior captain is primed for another chance on the big stage, throwing opponents for loops, while his career rolls full steam ahead.
 
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