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Loss at Kinnick Stadium two years ago was a wake-up call[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BY JIM NAVEAU - Sep. 25, 2006[/FONT]
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COLUMBUS ? It was an embarrassing afternoon of football but it was also the beginning of Troy Smith.[/FONT]
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Two years ago, when Ohio State last set foot in Iowa?s Kinnick Stadium, the Buckeyes were second-best in almost every category when the Hawkeyes rolled to a 33-7 win.[/FONT]
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This Saturday, No. 1 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) returns to Iowa City to face the No. 14 Hawkeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in a nationally televised nighttime matchup.[/FONT]
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Two years ago, with starting quarterback Justin Zwick in full meltdown mode, coach Jim Tressel turned to then-backup QB Smith, who completed 8 of 12 passes and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Rory Nicol for Ohio State?s only score.[/FONT]
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However, Smith isn?t a big fan of reviewing his personal history going into this week?s game. He does admit the game two years ago could have created an attitude adjustment in some Buckeyes, though.[/FONT]
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?That was a wake-up call,? he said. ?That was a game where they let us know that if you come into any school?s stadium not focused, this could happen to you.[/FONT]
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?It could have helped some guys but I can?t say everybody has taken it the same way. I hope guys don?t work off a revenge factor and want to beat up on teams just because of what they?ve done in the past,? he said.[/FONT]
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KEEPING THE GOAL (LINE) IN SIGHT: Tailback Antonio Pittman has scored 11 touchdowns in his last nine games after getting only one TD in his first 17 collegiate games.[/FONT]
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He gained 110 yards on 20 carries, most of them tough short-yardage runs in a 28-6 win over Penn State on Saturday.[/FONT]
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His score against Penn State was a 12-yard run up the middle which ended with him reaching out to put the ball across the goal line as he was being tackled to get Ohio State?s first touchdown.[/FONT]
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?My thought was to get in. Getting stopped at the 1-yard line, there is no need for that,? Pittman said. ?If you can stretch out and get it, stretch out and get it. Those guys (the offensive line) worked so hard to get there, to get stopped on the 1-yard line would be a letdown for them.?[/FONT]
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LEARN FROM THE BEST: Sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis isn?t ready to compare this year?s defense with some of the great Ohio State defenses of the past, but he says maybe they learned something from the 2002 national championship team.[/FONT]
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?If you?re a championship contender team you have to find a way to win. You look back to the 2002 team here and no matter what, they found a way to win,? Laurinaitis said, looking at Ohio State?s two defensive touchdowns against Penn State.[/FONT]
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LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Penn State senior linebacker Joe Cianciolo and sophomore quarterback Paul Cianciolo are sons of Spencerville High School graduate Fred Cianciolo.[/FONT]
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Fred Cianciolo played football in college at the Air Force Academy.[/FONT]
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ANOTHER LOCAL CONNECTION: Lima?s Denny Morris, a Big Ten official, was the communicator between the on-field officials and the replay official during the Ohio State-Penn State game.[/FONT]