• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Game Thread Game One: #1 Ohio State 35, Northern Illinois 12 (9/2/06)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
ABJ

Wolfe on the prowl

Diminutive NIU runner to test new OSU defense

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe prides himself on the fact that he's only about a half-inch shorter than Northwestern's Tyrell Sutton.
Evidently the two have measured themselves back-to-back because Hoban product Sutton is listed as 5-foot-9 and Wolfe at 5-foot-7. But in the world of college football, Wolfe stands just as tall as Sutton, who made a splash last season as a true freshman.
Coming off a 1,580-yard season in 2005, Wolfe is the nation's leading returning rusher in NCAA Division I-A. He gashed Michigan for 148 yards on 17 carries and a 76-yard TD in the Huskies' opener a year ago. He outrushed the Wolverines' Mike Hart 148-117 and Sutton 245-214. In the Mid-American Conference championship game, Wolfe pounded Akron for 270 yards on 42 carries in a 31-30 loss.
Now the task of stopping him falls to top-ranked Ohio State, which lost nine starters from a defense that was the country's stingiest against the run. Wolfe, a senior who wears No. 1, could dash the Buckeyes' national title hopes Saturday at 3:30 p.m. before a sellout crowd at Ohio Stadium.
``We feel like he may be the best back we face,'' OSU senior defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock said.
``There may be teams with better offensive linemen, better quality players. But he seems like he does a lot of work himself.
``He's got a very keen eye for finding the gap that's open. Most of his big plays he's untouched. He's got a strong lateral cut and once he gets out in the open nobody can stop him.''
Northern Illinois quarterback Phil Horvath said Wolfe's vision is amazing.
``Watching film you'll see the line and there will be nothing there,'' Horvath said. ``It's almost like he knows ahead of time. All of a sudden a hole will open and he'll be through it. It's crazy.''
Huskies coach Joe Novak said he was crazy not to realize what he had in Wolfe at the start of the 2004 season. Wolfe had been around for two years, sitting out one as a redshirt and the second when he didn't meet academic requirements. But Novak looked at Wolfe's short, now-172 pound frame and figured his body wouldn't survive more than 10 to 12 carries a week.
Eight times in the past two seasons, Wolfe carried 30 or more times in a game. Against Eastern Michigan in 2004, he ripped off 325 yards on 43 attempts. In two years, Wolfe has totalled 3,236 yards, averaged 25 carries a game and 6.5 yards per rush. And he played all of last year with a partially dislocated right shoulder that required surgery in January.
``He does things I'd like to take credit for, but it's not coaching,'' said Novak, a Mentor High School graduate who began his career at Warren Western Reserve High School. ``He's got a great feel for the game, he's got great vision. I've been around Anthony Thompson at Indiana, I've been around good backs. Garrett is not the biggest, but he's extremely instinctive.
``For the number of times he's carried the ball, he really has stayed healthy. He missed three games with a knee last year, but any football player is going to have that possibility.''
Wolfe isn't sure why he's been so durable.
``I guess it's good genes,'' he said earlier this month at an NIU media day in Chicago. ``I'm a lot stronger than I look. I hit the weight room very hard.''
Doug Free, the Huskies' 6-foot-7, 312-pound left tackle, said the team feeds off Wolfe's toughness.
``He's a very vocal leader,'' Free said. ``He might have just gotten hit pretty good, you'd think a lot of guys would come back and say, `Oh, boy, that was a big hit.' He comes back, he's jumping around. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and keeps everybody running together.''
While Wolfe admitted 2005 was a physically painful year, he had the determination to endure. Part of that comes from his size.
``I've always been the small guy,'' he said. ``I've always had a chip on my shoulder. Every time I meet someone, it's an audition.
``With all due respect to the people who do take me seriously now, I still don't believe everyone across the country takes me seriously. That's something I'm not too concerned with. But every situation I've been in, I've been productive.''
Wolfe hopes the Buckeyes are thinking about their trip to Texas on Sept. 9 and will overlook him. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
``Most teams cannot hold him under 200 yards,'' Buckeyes linebacker John Kerr said.
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said Wolfe's size can be a disadvantage for OSU.
``You can't see him behind that huge offensive line,'' Laurinaitis said. ``The fact that he's small, he's played big in every game he's played in. It doesn't matter how big you are if you have that heart and that drive. It should be an interesting challenge for us.''
 
Upvote 0
Link

Buckeyes not looking past Huskies


By Rick Armstrong STAFF WRITER


Ohio State's Jim Tressel and his No. 1-ranked Buckeyes may not be looking past their season opener Saturday against Northern Illinois to next week's date at No. 3 Texas, but the same can't be said for much of the national media.
The first questioner for Tressel at Tuesday's Big Ten coaches teleconference was a Dallas-based reporter who wondered how Ohio State players could be focused anywhere other than Texas.
"The reality of our situation is that with so many new players, they're nervous as can be to get out there and play for the first time with new roles," said Tressel, who returns eight starters on offense but just two on defense. "(Keeping the players focused on NIU) really hasn't been a problem. We know how tough our schedule is, starting with Northern Illinois and on to Texas and beyond. It hasn't been hard to be focused."
Knowing human nature, NIU coach Joe Novak knows it's easier said than done.
"I think the coaches understand that you never want to overlook anybody, but I think you have a hard time selling that to the players at times," he said.
Novak found out the hard way last year when his heavily favored Huskies were trounced 31-17 at home late in the season by Ball State.
That's why former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who also coached Novak at Miami of Ohio, was such a good motivator, said the Huskie boss.
"When you played somebody you were supposed to beat he was a terror that week in practice," recalled Novak. "When you played a tough opponent, he was laid back. Look at his record and you'll see, he didn't lose very often to teams he wasn't supposed to lose to."
Tressel's talented Buckeyes, led by twin Heisman Trophy candidates Troy Smith at quarterback and Ted Ginn Jr., at wideout, aren't supposed to lose to Northern. OSU has 18 seniors, 17 of them in their fifth year.
The pressure, says Novak, is on Tressel and his team.
"That's why I'm gonna enjoy this one," the NIU boss said. "Jim will have a tougher time enjoying this one more than I will. What a great opportunity it is for our kids to go play at Ohio State, the number one team in the country. It's a great college football moment and we are just going to go in there and enjoy it.
"Nobody expects us to win and yet again, we do. We think we have a chance. We know we have to play very well, and we have to catch things right. We think we have a chance."
Novak has tried to prepare his players by putting up pictures of 102,000-seat Ohio Stadium in the lockerroom and piping in music that is played there during his team's practices this week. Running back Garrett Wolfe, who went to the stadium last spring when was in town to receive an award from the Ohio Touchdown Club, said he went to the stadium.
"(Ohio Stadium) is a lot more attractive to the eye (than Michigan Stadium)," he said. "A lot of guys are gonna have that Wow factor when they walk in there. Still, it's a football field. It's 120 yards long and 57 yards wide."
Novak grew up two-and-a-half hours northeast of Columbus in Mentor, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
"I was an Ohio State fan but never went to a game until I was in college," he said. "I hitchhiked up there and saw Northwestern beat them. I remember seeing a plane flying overhead with a banner that said, 'Good-bye Woody' and thinking that's a tough crowd."
Novak has also coached there, as an assistant at both Illinois and Indiana. In eight trips, he's experienced just one win.
"Ohio State is even more intimidating than Michigan," said Novak, whose team turned the ball over five times and dropped a 33-17 decision to No. 4 Michigan in last year's season opener. "Ohio (Stadium) is just as big (as the Wolverines' Big House) only it is built upward from the ground so it's more intimidating.
"Our veterans know what's going on. Some of the young kids, it may take them a while. We'll see."
 
Upvote 0
Link

Huskies calm heading to Ohio St.

Article by: Sean Connor
Sports Reporter
• [email protected]

Joe Novak finally admitted a MAC game is not the most important contest of the season.
The NIU football coach did not answer with Ohio, the Huskies first MAC opponent this year, Toledo or the MAC title game.
"The fact that [Ohio State] is local, from the Midwest and has a great football tradition," Novak said. "I think it is [the most important game]."
There you have it.
Year after year, MAC coaches constantly stress that MAC games are more important than any other.
But when faced with the question of whether or not Saturday will be the biggest game in NIU football history, Novak said yes.
Novak did mention a MAC championship is still NIU's No. 1 goal, but the trip down that road in 2006 starts with the Buckeyes.
Huskie fans should, however, note that the last time NIU played the No. 1 team was in 1986 when Miami-Florida played to the tune of a 34-0 drubbing of the Huskies.
But the NIU ticket office said it sold out its share of tickets as of 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, and OSU coach Jim Tressel has made public his worries.


Link

Shooting down the 'Shot-Ginn'

Huskies will try to limit big plays for wide receiver Ginn

speeddemon.jpg

COURTESY
Speed demons | NIU faces the task of stopping two of the nation's fastest players in Ted Ginn Jr. and Troy Smith. Luckily for the Huskies, defensive coordinator Denny Doornbos has a plan.

Article by: Ben Gross
Sports Reporter
• [email protected]

Not once, twice, but three times does Ted Ginn Jr.'s name appear on the starting depth chart for Ohio State this weekend.
Ginn is to start at punt and kick returner Saturday, but mostly will be featured as Troy Smith's main receiver in both their quests for the Heisman.
But how Ginn gets the ball from Smith is a question that cannot be answered.
With the development of the "Shot-Ginn" offense, the junior receiver could line up at his normal receiver spots, or in the backfield where he'll be ready for direct snaps, handoffs, trick plays or act as a decoy to throw off defenses.
With his athletic ability, Ginn can create headaches for any defense, which is something NIU defensive coordinator Denny Doornbos is well aware of.
"Well, this isn't like basketball where you can run a box-and-one," Doornbos said. "We're going to call out where he is."
Ginn broke out as a star player last season when he gathered 886 total yards of offense, five touchdowns and became known as one of the fastest players in college football.
Defensive end Ken West has heard of Ginn's game breaking speed, but he won't be using that as an excuse for the defense.
"We're going to know where he is, but we're going to do what we have to do," West said. "He's the fastest player in America right now. We just have to keep track of him on the field."
Ginn is no secret weapon to NIU. The Huskies have practiced, put together a game plan and are ready to prevent a repeat of his last performance - a 240 yard, two touchdown game against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl in January.

Ben Gross is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.


Link



Wolfe, Huskies keeping it simple heading into 'the Horseshoe'

Article by: Ben Gross
Sports Reporter
• [email protected]

DeKalb: 39,000 people; the world: six billion. Those are just populations, but those numbers might as well represent the odds that have been placed over the head of the Huskies to win this Saturday at Ohio State.
But from talking to the players, you would never know they are about to take on the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Huskies, a team of kids that Big Ten schools said "no thanks" to, even seem nonchalant about it. Something most wouldn't expect when heading into the fourth-largest stadium in the country.
"I think it's only as big of a deal as the [media] makes it," said senior tailback Garrett Wolfe. "It's still a game of football. It's still X's and O's."
But analysts will tell you those X's and O's on paper show a difference - a big difference.
While NIU just announced their starting quarterback, senior Phil Horvath, last week, Ohio State has Troy Smith, a Heisman candidate who threw for 2,282 yards with a 62.9 completion percentage and a passer rating of 162.7.
Horvath is no stranger to the starting role, though. In nine games last season he threw for 1,995 yards with a 70.6 completion percentage and a passer rating of 159.2.
Both quarterbacks have the challenge of leading their offenses over young defenses.
The Buckeyes have more weapons than just Smith. Throw in wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez with tailback Antonio Pittman and there's an offense that combined last year for 2,759 yards of offense and 15 touchdowns.
"You just have to respect the fact that [our opponents] are tremendous athletes," said senior free safety Dustin Utschig. "We just got to keep everything inside and in front of us, and keep a level head."
Ohio State's defense has its challenges as well. Only two players, defensive tackles David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock, are returning to the field.
It will take those two, plus nine other new defensive members, to stop the nation's returning leading rusher, Wolfe, who ran for 1,580 yards last season with 16 rushing touchdowns.
Then again, NIU coach Joe Novak knows the entire game isn't up to Wolfe. He'll need players like wide receiver Britt Davis, tight end Jake Nordin and kicker Chris Nendick to perform.
"We don't have to play like Superman," Novak said. "I've made that comment. We're not going in there tight. Nobody expects us to win, but then again, we do."
 
Upvote 0
CFN's game prediction.

cfn.scout

Big Ten Game of the Week

Northern Illinois at Ohio State 3:30 pm EST ABC Saturday, September 2nd

Why to watch: These are considered the two best teams in their respective conferences and this should be more than just an exhibition for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is getting all the early love as the nation's number one ranked team in the big polls, and now it has to go out and prove it's a national championship caliber squad against a pesky Northern Illinois team that gave Michigan all it could handle in last year's opener. Yeah, the Wolverines won 33-17, but the outcome might have been far different had there not been a slew of unforced Huskie errors.. The Ohio State offense will get most of the attention, but NIU's diminutive star Garrett Wolfe might be the best back in the game and is worth the price of admission.

Why Northern Illinois might win: What's the difference between the big BCS schools and a program like Northern Illinois? Depth. NIU doesn't have the stable of players that Ohio State boasts, but its front-line guys are good enough to hang around for a full sixty minutes. The Huskie offensive line, particularly the tackles, have NFL talent and aren't going to get bowled over by the tough Buckeye line. If NIU can control the clock and control the game with Wolfe and the ground game along with an effective short passing attack, and if OSU's head is already in Austin for the big showdown next week, this might be close.

Why Ohio State might win: There are two big problems with the NIU defense as it matches up with the potent Ohio State offense. 1) There isn't nearly enough size to be more than just a speed bump against the fantastic Buckeye offensive line. 2) The speed in the back seven doesn't come close to matching the speed of the OSU receivers. The NIU secondary is experienced, but not special. Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense should be able to pick and choose how it wants to move the ball.

Who to watch: The eyes of Texas, and the rest of the college football world, will be on the brand new Ohio State defensive back seven. While the early word is that all the lost NFLers have been replaced by near-certain future NFLers, it's going to take a little while for everyone to come together like last year's killer unit. If the Buckeyes struggle at all with NIU's solid offense, then look for the panic alarms to start going off.

What will happen: There will be a few moments when NIU's offense makes some noise and throws a scare into the Buckeyes, but the OSU offensive line will be way too much for the Huskie D in the second half. The difference in speed and athleticism will be apparent by the third quarter.

CFN Prediction: Ohio State 38 ... Northern Illinois 16 ... Line: Ohio State -18

Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Pants Off, Dance Off) ... 3
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top