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

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Here's to a good game tomorrow. Hard fought, played clean and without injuries to either side. Travel safe all (Bucks and Huskies).
 
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there aren't any more OSU vid's on utube for me to watch! i can't sleep. it's finally here gents! sears, great post. i especially liked the part about the high scoring shoot out. i don't think they could be more wrong! just my opinion though. BTW i am so F'in jealous that you were at the VC tonight!. Hey Gforce, what bar did y'all take over? i'm curious... did HMM's bus break down?
 
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GOOD

I like the way Joe thinks, he is a Buckeye fan.
Joe novak from the ozone: http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2006/NortherIllinios/NIUwalkthrough.htm

"
"I am an Ohio guy. I wanted to play football for Ohio State but there was only one problem, I wasn't good enough," Novak told reporters while standing in the south end zone of Ohio Stadium.
"I've been here a few times and got my butt beat a few times here and won one too. It's always fun to come in here. This is college football. You talk about one of the greatest college venues in the country, you're talking about Ohio Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. I look forward to it, our players look forward to it and our fans do too," Novak said. "

​
 
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Dispatch

Feel the temperature RISING?
Buckeye fever highly contagious — especially this year

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Dennis Fiely and Mark Ellis
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




The condition is chronic, characterized by an insatiable need to eat, breathe and sleep Ohio State. It compels sufferers to swarm Ohio Stadium for an intrasquad scrimmage, tune into the NFL draft in greater numbers than football fans in other cities and open their wallets for logo-emblazoned boxer shorts, dog dishes and toilet seats. And that’s just during the offseason.
Now, as countless fans anticipate OSU’s 2006 opener this afternoon, Buckeye fever is peaking.
"I’ve been counting down the days to Saturday for the last six weeks," said Jack Kananian, a Cleveland-area resident who drove with a friend to Columbus this week to buy an OSU bag-toss game and see the memorabilia at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe.
"I can feel the excitement."
With Ohio State boasting a preseason No. 1 national ranking and two the passion this year is as palpable as ever.
"I sense the greatest tide of Buckeye love the world has ever seen," said Columbus punk rocker "Bo Biafra" of the Dead Schembechlers.
Although there is no way to definitively gauge the scope of fan interest, plenty of evidence confirms an undying devotion — and not only in Ohio’s capital.
To wit:

• Early last week, an estimated 28,000 fans made their way to the stadium for a practice — the same evening the playoffs-contending Cincinnati Reds drew 24,110 to the Great American Ball Park.

• Last season, OSU football generated $41.2 million — a record for the university — from ticket sales as well as concession, parking and merchandise revenue.

• For the fiscal year ending June 30, the university earned a record $5.6 million in licensing revenue — a figure surpassed only by the University of Texas, which netted $8 million on the strength of its national football championship.
"It’s amazing the OSU stuff we sell," said Steve Austin, manager of Nielsen’s Hallmark card and gift shop Downtown. "It’s hard to keep up with the demand, and people don’t bat an eye at the prices."

• Brokers and scalpers are charging record preseason prices for Buckeye tickets, regardless of the opponent.
The demand unofficially began the Monday after last year’s Texas game, when Jamie Kaufman of the ticket brokerage Dream Seats received his first requests for tickets to the Texas game next Saturday in Austin.
"I said, ‘Do you mean that
•
Fans attending the OSU football game can find
information on parking, bus service, road closures and other essentials at www.dispatch.com. you want tickets for a game a year from now?’ " Kaufman said. "They hadn’t even been printed."

• In late April, the percentage of people in the Columbus area who watched the NFL draft on ESPN outpaced the number in all other cities (including Houston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and other metro areas with pro teams).
Nielsen Media Research reported that 8.5 percent of the population in this market — 20 percent of the televisions that were turned on — tuned into the cable network.
The lure? The large number of Buckeyes expected to be drafted.

• During the 2002 season, Buckeye backers pumped $30 million into the local economy, according to the most recent economic impact study of OSU athletics. Out-oftowners spent nearly $3 million on lodging and $6 million on dining.
In addition to such hard numbers, countless anecdotes attest to the seemingly limitless reach of the fan fervor — one that stretches beyond central Ohio, the Buckeye State, even the United States.
While vacationing in her native England in recent years, Columbus resident Helen Zapol noticed a window advertisement in an Essex pub encouraging passers-by to watch an OSU game telecast there. And, in Ireland, she saw a Dubliner wearing an Ohio State football jersey.
"How cool is that?" Zapol said. "The Buckeyes are everywhere."

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Dispatch

NORTHERN ILLINOIS NOTEBOOK
Defensive backs have conservative plan for preventing big plays
Novak hopes unit can contain OSU passing game

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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RENEE SAUER DISPATCH Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr. will look to get past the Northern Illinois defensive backs, who may already be backpedaling in effort to stop big plays.


How do Northern Illinois’ defensive backs plan to defend Ted Ginn Jr. and Ohio State’s other speedy receivers?
"They’re starting to backpedal right now," coach Joe Novak said Monday. "Hopefully by Saturday, they’ll be about 40 yards deep."
Novak said he has stressed to his defenders to "keep the ball in front of us all the time and try not to give up the big one behind us."
Watching video clips of the Buckeyes’ Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame drove that point home, free safety Dustin Utschig said. Ohio State had 617 yards of offense, including touchdown runs of 68 yards by Ted Ginn Jr. and 60 yards by Antonio Pittman and a touchdown reception of 56 yards by Ginn.
"We just have to keep everything inside and in front and keep a level head," Utschig said.
"You’ve got to respect the fact that they are tremendous athletes and explosive and are going to make big plays. You have to keep a level head in those situations, not get too high when we make good plays and not get down on ourselves when things don’t go well."
A bigger house

Will the Huskies be as in awe of their surroundings as they seemed at Michigan last season?
"We’ll find out," Novak said. "I sure hope not."
Northern Illinois, which lost one fumble during the 2004 season, lost four in a 33-17 loss to the Wolverines in the 2005 opener. Two of the turnovers set up Michigan touchdowns.
"Ohio Stadium is even more intimidating than Michigan," Novak said. "Michigan’s is big, but Ohio State’s is just as big and it goes up more. It’s more intimidating. It’s more enclosed."
Only 26 of Northern’s players are juniors and seniors, Novak said.
Weak link ?

The offensive line that sprang Garrett Wolfe for 1,580 yards rushing and helped quarterback Phil Horvath to complete a NCAA-best 70.6 percent of his passes last season returns two starters. A 2004 starter who was ineligible last season also returns.
The newcomers are redshirt freshman Eddie Adamski and junior Chris Acevedo at left guard. They could have their hands full with OSU senior tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson.
"That’s a concern, to be honest with you," Novak said. "Their experience on the defense is up front, so we’re going to get tested. It’s going to be interesting how we handle that inside with our new guys inside."
Horvath said he thinks the Buckeyes will stack the line of scrimmage to stop Wolfe and dare Horvath to beat them with the pass.
"Michigan did the same thing to us last year," he said, "and we went at them pretty good."
Northern rushed for 211 yards and passed for 200 against the Wolverines.
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G-FORCE said:
SI says........


Northern Illinois (0-0) at No. 1 Ohio St. (0-0)
I'm not sure Ohio State could have picked a worse opening opponent. If the Buckeyes lose (entirely possible), their season is shot. And even if they win but their young defense gives up a bunch of yards to Garrett Wolfe (more probable), mass panic will ensue heading into the Texas game.

Ohio State 38, N. Illinois 20
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Yep, the same Stewart Mandel who said he can write completely unresearched nonsense about Ohio State but that fans will read it. Mass panic where?

First, Wolfe is a good back (note: not the return of Christ and, as we will see, not the best back on the field this week but a good back) and he will get some yards. 100 yards? I don't know. I have no doubt he will be left in until he does, no matter what string it is against.

Second, anyone who thinks that Ohio State is going to be showing a lot or putting key people in a place where they can be injured is not applying their mind to the issues. I still think it can be 35-0 at the half, simply because I think Pittman-Wells and the Troy Smith show will simply be too much for the NIU defense.

It is equally possible, with a new defense that NIU marches down the field and scores on its first drive. But, after that, the adjustments should shut NIU down. Especially in the second half.

Third, I expect big plays in this game. That means the defense will be on the field a lot.

So, Mandel could be right about Wolfe getting some yardage but if he does I think it is most likely it will be against the bench. In any case, the only panic we will see will be in the fans, if he does get a lot of yards.
 
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Dispatch

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
Rose Bowl champs return for 10-year reunion
1996 team, Cooper to be honored today

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Tim May and Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




The star-studded, perhaps starcrossed, 1996 Ohio State team, the last from the school to win the Rose Bowl, had a 10-year reunion last night and will be recognized today during the game against Northern Illinois. Only a 13-9 loss to Michigan likely kept the 11-1 team from winning the national championship.
Joining those Buckeyes on the field will be coach John Cooper, who was fired after the 2000 season after 13 years.
"I’ll walk out there with a great deal of pride, because it was a great honor to coach a team like that with so many great athletes," Cooper said.
Quarterbacks Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine, tackle Orlando Pace, receivers Dimitrious Stanley and David Boston, running back Pepe Pearson, cornerback Shawn Springs, defensive linemen Mike Vrabel, Luke Fickell (now an OSU assistant) and Matt Finkes, and linebackers Greg Bellisari, Ryan Miller and Andy Katzenmoyer were just some of the standouts.
"What stood out was the love and appreciation we had for each other’s talent," Stanley said. "We’d stay in the locker room for hours after practice just joking around and enjoying each other."
Meanwhile, Stanley said Cooper should be applauded for his 111-43-4 record, second only to Woody Hayes (205-61-10).
"Things didn’t work out for him to win that national championship, but to be ranked No. 2 to Woody Hayes, to be second any time at a school that’s been playing football as long as Ohio State, that’s an awesome accomplishment," Stanley said.
Holmes remodeling

Santonio Holmes, Ohio State’s go-to receiver the past three years, is now in the NFL. His protégé, Anthony Gonzalez, who made big plays of his own the past couple of years, now is expected to fill that role.
"It is exciting and an honor that the coaches think highly enough of me that they trust me with that role," Gonzalez said. "In the same breath, I am a fairly cerebral guy. I spent the last three years trying to learn everything I could from Santonio. … I haven’t picked up all of his tricks, obviously, but I feel confident."
Senior hangs on

When fifth-year senior cornerback Antonio Smith’s name appeared No. 1 on the spring depth chart, the initial thought was the mainly special teams performer was being rewarded for seniority. But he’s still No. 1.
"He’s probably been the most consistent (cornerback) back there day in and day out," defensive backs coach Tim Beckman said. "He had the challenge of keeping that position, and he’s done a fine job."

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