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

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I must say, NIU players are handling this exactly like they should be. Respectful and humble so they have nothing to lose. Seems like a classy program that they have.

Last night on the news, it showed NIU's players doing their walk through in the stadium. Most players had cameras and/or video cameras recording every inch of the stadium. They seemed to be in awe.

I'm so pumped that game day is here...I just know I'm gonna tear up when the Buckeyes tear onto the field for the first time!

:oh:
 
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Bucknut319 said:
I must say, NIU players are handling this exactly like they should be. Respectful and humble so they have nothing to lose. Seems like a classy program that they have.

Last night on the news, it showed NIU's players doing their walk through in the stadium. Most players had cameras and/or video cameras recording every inch of the stadium. They seemed to be in awe.

I'm so pumped that game day is here...I just know I'm gonna tear up when the Buckeyes tear onto the field for the first time!

:oh:
Click to expand...

:io:
 
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ABJ

BUCKEYES SCOUTING REPORT

Northern Illinois at No. 1 Ohio State
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m.
2005 records: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1, tied for first in the Big Ten Conference); Northern Illinois (7-5, 6-2, tied for first in Mid-American Conference).
Coaches: Jim Tressel (50-13) is in his sixth season at Ohio State; Joe Novak (54-60) is in his 11th season at Northern Illinois.
Broadcast: Radio -- WAKR (1590-AM); WHBC (1480-AM), WKNR (850-AM), WQKT (104.5-FM). TV -- WEWS (Channel 5).
Notebook: Northern Illinois has upset the big boys before, beating No. 15 Maryland in overtime and No. 21 Alabama in 2003, No. 20 Bowling Green in 2002 and No. 24 Fresno State in 1990.... This marks the second time the Huskies have faced a No. 1 team; they lost 34-0 at Miami (Fla.) in 1986. Their overall record against ranked teams is 4-23.... Senior RB Garrett Wolfe, the nation's leading returning rusher (1,656 yards) will try to change that as he runs behind 6-foot-7, 312-pound senior LT Doug Free.... Senior QB Phil Horvath led NCAA Division I-A in completion percentage (70.6) last season and ranked sixth in passing efficiency (159.5) before missing the final three games with a broken left arm. His favorite target could be sophomore WR Britt Davis (42-441-3 TDs in '05), a former QB who stands 6-2... NIU's defensive standouts are senior DE Ken West (55 tackles, four for losses, three sacks, 17 hurries) and senior FS Dustin Utschig (121 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions)... Junior K Chris Nendick (25-of-34 career field goals) was dubbed the MAC's best under pressure by Street & Smith magazine.... Novak is from Mentor and played DE for Bo Schembechler at Miami in 1965-66.
Pick: Ohio State, 31-13.
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Well WTAE in Pittsburgh has done it again. Supposed to show NIU-tOSU, but instead they're showing Marshall/WVU. No problem huh...just order gameplan? Wrong...the game is blacked out on gameplan because WTAE is supposed to be showing it. Looks like I'm driving to Ohio unless someone else had an idea. This happens at least once every year and no one is able to override the blackout restrictions (or so they say) Any suggestions?
 
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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

I'm not sure OSU could have picked a BETTER opponant, Stew...

NIU will provide OSU with a very good look on their way to Austin. NIU, unlike North Texas, can't be overlooked. As "mass panic" goes, who the hell cares what the public and Mark May have to say? It's all a matter of how Tressel manages it, and I'm convinced he'll do just fine, no matter the result this afternoon.

I agree with Herbie, chances are, Tress wants this game closer than we'd expect.
 
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morning-journal

Triple threat: Pittman, Ginn and Smith make offense the focus for Ohio State

JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
09/02/2006

COLUMBUS -- For too many years now to count, the Buckeyes' success has been predicated on the play of the defense. They even won four games over a two-year span (2002-03) without scoring an offensive touchdown.


All of that is about to change.

As the 2006 season kicks off this afternoon against Northern Illinois, the responsibilities of the offense are about to increase dramatically. With nine new defensive starters, including a whole new secondary and set of linebackers, an offense with multiple weapons will be counted on to score in a number of ways.

Or will it?

The dilemma facing Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel is intriguing. With Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez and the expected emergence of Roy Hall, the offense could continue on with the spread it used last year and seemed comfortable with by the end of the season.

But with a veteran offensive line and 1,300-yard rusher Antonio Pittman back, plus the addition of freshman sensation Chris Wells, Ohio State appears capable of reverting back to its old school days of slugging a defense right down the field.

So which is it: Will Ohio State be a running team or a passing team this year?

''I've been trying to figure it out and I have no idea what the answer is. That's the big mystery for us as players,'' Gonzalez said. ''We put in a whole bunch of plays and we really don't know what we're going to run on gameday. We have an idea, we know what plays are possible, but we really don't know what's going to get called. It's kind of a big mystery for us. I'm excited to find out if we're a running team or a passing team.''

Like any typical coach, Tressel wants to be both.

''We would like people to be nervous about us running by them,'' Tressel said. ''We would like people to be nervous that we might run the option at them ... and that we have a good control passing game. There's not much we don't want to be.''

Except turnover-prone, which is what Ohio State was last year.

The Buckeyes consistently irritated Tressel last year with their carelessness on offense. They fumbled 30 times, although they only lost 15, and they're minus-9 in turnover margin was 10th in the Big Ten and 104th nationally.

But a stout defense that finished the season ranked fifth in total defense and fifth in total yards offset a number of the problems. In the Fiesta Bowl, for example, a turnover gave Notre Dame possession inside the Ohio State 20. But the defense held the Irish to no points.

With such a young defense, that likely wouldn't happen again.

''We can't have turnovers,'' Tressel said.

That would tend to lean toward a more conservative offense, which Tressel has more experience running, anyhow.

''There are two reasons we have the philosophy (of running and passing),'' Tressel said. ''One is we think it helps our defense over the course of springs and preseasons. The more different things we can do, it helps them prepare. And two, we think it applies a lot of pressure defensively from a preparation standpoint.''

Big things were expected on offense last year after the Buckeyes started slowly in '04, but closed by averaging 30 points through the final four games. Yet through the first five games last year, Ohio State averaged 354 yards and 25 points on offense while beginning the year 3-2. By winning their last seven, they averaged 475 yards and 38 points.

With such a young defense, and hostile night games at Texas and Iowa upcoming this month, the offense can ill-afford another slow start.

''I don't know that we know fur sure who we are right now,'' Tressel said. ''Everyone talks about all those defensive guys we lost, but Santonio Holmes and Nick Mangold and Robbie Sims and Brandon Schnittker ... they were part of our offense. So we have a lot to prove over there as well.''

[email protected]
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holybuckeye33 said:
Well WTAE in Pittsburgh has done it again. Supposed to show NIU-tOSU, but instead they're showing Marshall/WVU. No problem huh...just order gameplan? Wrong...the game is blacked out on gameplan because WTAE is supposed to be showing it. Looks like I'm driving to Ohio unless someone else had an idea. This happens at least once every year and no one is able to override the blackout restrictions (or so they say) Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Sports bar. Someone is getting it. Call around.
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
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

I'm not sure OSU could have picked a BETTER opponant, Stew...

NIU will provide OSU with a very good look on their way to Austin. NIU, unlike North Texas, can't be overlooked. As "mass panic" goes, who the hell cares what the public and Mark May have to say? It's all a matter of how Tressel manages it, and I'm convinced he'll do just fine, no matter the result this afternoon.

I agree with Herbie, chances are, Tress wants this game closer than we'd expect.
Click to expand...

Yea, I think you're right. You get a chance to go against a good running back and test out your new defense and look at a lot of players, knowing that even if Wolfe does get his yards, you'll almost certainly still win unless NIU somehow figures out a way to slow down OSU's offense.

Well, good luck! Hopefully there won't be any injuries. Columbus must be even crazier than usual with OSU ranked #1.
 
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