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Game Thread Game Seven: #1 Ohio State 38, Michigan State 7 (10/14/06)

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Dispatch

MICHIGAN STATE
Long snapper put in long hours to succeed

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




As coach at Marion Harding High School, Tim Hinton gave Brian Bury a football when school adjourned every summer. Bury returned it when preseason practice began two months later.
"It always came back worn out," Hinton said.
When Hinton turned out the lights in his office at night, he also had to turn out Bury and his younger brother, Brad.
"They used to aggravate the crap out of me," Hinton said. "You couldn?t get them out of the weight room. They were always around. I?d say, ?Hey, guys, I?ve got to go home.? "
As Hinton reflects on those times, he isn?t surprised what Brian Bury has accomplished. Michigan State coach John L. Smith said his fifth-year senior is as good a long snapper as there is in college football and will play in the NFL next season. The Spartans play host to Ohio State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
"Specialists are kind of selfmade kids," said Hinton, now an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, where Brian?s younger brother is a reserve fullback. "You give them instruction and coach them, but ? he learned that skill and it became important to him because that?s what he wanted to do."
Bury?s ambition was not confined to the field. He graduated a semester early from Marion Harding so he could enroll at Michigan State in January 2002. He received an undergraduate degree in business management in May 2005. He will receive a master?s degree in sports administration in December and work full time in the athletic department?s academic counseling center next winter while training for his NFL shot.
His punt-snap times, from when the ball leaves his hands to when it reaches the punter?s, suggest he has a good shot.
"I?m in the mid-6?s, anywhere from .62 to .65 (of a second)," Bury said, "which is viewed pretty highly even among NFL snappers. They?re between .7 and .75."
Bury, whose father, Jeff, was a defensive lineman at Purdue, said he has long-snapped as long as he can remember. He took it to another level before his junior year at Harding after an assistant coach gave him a pamphlet for a Ray Guy Kicking Academy, a nationwide series of camps that at the time made a stop at Wilmington College. Bury was the academy?s highest-rated snapper in 2000 and 2001.
"Like a quarterback, you have to have a great arm," said former Cincinnati Bengals kicker Jim Breech, who worked with Bury at the camp. "But you?ve got to be accurate, too. You just can?t fire it back there and hit the holder in the face mask one time or on the knee the next. One bad snap and the coach is like, ?Son, you?re next to me.? "
Smith said he can?t remember Bury having a bad snap.
"If he?s had one, it?s been one in (three) years," he said.
Bury hopes his proficiency at the position translates into a long NFL career. If not, he?ll have his degrees to fall back on and a goal outside the lines.
"I?d like to ? eventually become a head athletic director at the Division I level," Bury said.
John L.?s boss? He laughed.
"We?ve talked," he said. "It?d be nice to have the roles switch."
[email protected]
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CFN.com

Ohio State (6-0) at Michigan State (3-3) 3:30 PM EST ABC Saturday October 14th
Why to Watch: Buckeye bashers, this is the only possible chance to derail the number one team on the way to the showdown against Michigan. Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern have no shot whatsoever against OSU, and apparently, neither does Michigan State after getting blasted by Michigan last week and appearing to have given up on the season. The Spartans are still reeling after the collapse against Notre Dame a few weeks ago, and while this looked like a possible upset special when the season started, it'll be one of the season's biggest shockers if there's an upset. Last year, MSU gave the Buckeyes all they could handle in the first half before a botched field goal attempt set the tone for the 35-24 OSU win.
Why Ohio State Might Win: If you believe in streaks, MSU hasn't beaten OSU since 1999, and has lost the last six times when it's faced the Buckeyes the game after playing Michigan. You have to go back to 1966 for the last time the Spartans have won this game after dealing with the Wolverines. On the field, MSU isn't generating nearly enough of a pass rush with only seven sacks so far. If Troy Smith gets any appreciable time to throw, he'll pick a secondary clean.
Why Michigan State Might Win: Ohio State doesn't blow teams out. Oh sure, no one could argue with winning by an average of 23 points per game, but for being the nation's number one team with a supposed juggernaut of an offense, it's "only" averaging 387 yards per game and hasn't scored more than 38 all year. It's not exactly Tressel-ball, but the Buckeyes are winning by not screwing up, getting solid defense, and taking advantage of absolutely every mistake and every opportunity it gets. Penn State had a shot to win a few weeks ago before Anthony Morelli made added Buckeye defensive backs to his receiving corps. If, and it's a big, screaming if, Drew Stanton can find a little bit of his old form and be the efficient, effective passer was before the Notre Dame meltdown, this might be more interesting than you think. However ...
Who to Watch: ... MSU doesn't have any firepower. Already without top RB Javon Ringer to a season-ending knee injury, now top WR Matt Trannon is out, but just for this week, with a bum ankle. Kerry Reed goes from being a nice, complementary target to the number one man, while 6-3, 185-pound freshman T.J. Williams will add some size to the mix in his second start of the year. But for MSU to have a shot, Stanton needs to have the game of his life. He was sacked 12 times in last year's loss, but threw for 340 yards and a score. This is his final shot to show everyone that he can still be an elite-level, big game quarterback.
What Will Happen: Ohio State is a machine. It'll get up early and coast with the defense shutting down the suddenly punchless Spartan attack.
CFN Prediction: Ohio State 34 ... Michigan State 16... Line: Ohio State -15.5
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 [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Spartans haven't been second half team[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BY JIM NAVEAU - Oct. 11, 2006[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLUMBUS ? When Ohio State goes to Michigan State on Saturday, it will be facing a football team whose role model the last few seasons has seemed to be Wile E. Coyote.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Like the hapless cartoon character, the Spartans start out great and get their hopes up, but the ending always turns unpleasant for them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The boulder rolls back down the hill and flattens the coyote, the anvil falls on him, a semi appears out of nowhere as he tries to cross the road. Or in the Spartans? case, they can?t decide if they want to kick a field goal or run a play, Notre Dame comes from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to beat them, and Michigan crushes them for the zillionth time in a row. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]At least that?s the public perception of Michigan State (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten). But No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) wouldn?t get anywhere near that kind of description on Tuesday when coach Jim Tressel and selected players met the media.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?We?re looking forward to a tremendous challenge when we go up there,? Tressel said. ?When you turn on the films and things are being executed properly, they?re as talented as any group.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?Our guys know that, they?re aware of that and know the battle that will be there when we get to East Lansing,? he said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Michigan State won its first three games this season before losing 40-37 to Notre Dame, 23-20 to Illinois and 31-13 to Michigan.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Last season, Michigan State started 4-0, then lost to Michigan, then let a 10-point lead just before halftime against Ohio State slip away when Ashton Youboty returned a blocked field goal 72 yards for a touchdown. They finished the season 5-6.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Spartans are 13-5 before Oct. 1 and 8-16 after Oct. 1 in coach John L. Smith?s four seasons. They are 2-10 after Nov. 1 in that same time span. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock says the Spartans? pattern is hard to explain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?They?ve always been a great team but they end up losing in the long run. I get puzzled like everybody else. Maybe it?s critical mistakes or one big play ? an interception or blocked field goal ? that can change a game completely,? he said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?Whenever any team is backed against the wall they?re the most dangerous. They have nothing to lose. We?re going to see everything.?[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Spartans have gotten beaten up physically while their record has taken some hits.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Quarterback Drew Stanton is playing with bruised ribs, No. 1 running back Javon Ringer is out with a knee injury and receiver Matt Trannon is out with an ankle injury. Linebacker David Herron, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan and free safety Otis Wiley are also injured. And tight ends Kellen Davis and Eric Andino are suspended. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PATTERSON UPDATE: Defensive tackle David Patterson, who suffered a knee sprain against Bowling Green last week probably will not play Saturday.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?As of this day, our trainers and doctors have said not this week,? Tressel said on Tuesday.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Patterson?s absence means more playing time for Joel Penton, of Van Wert, along with Todd Denlinger and Doug Worthington.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Offensive tackle Kirk Barton, who left the BGSU game with pain in his foot, is expected to play.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LATERAL FROWNED UPON: Linebacker James Laurinaitis? lateral to teammate Jamario O?Neal last week against Bowling Green might have been a crowd pleaser but it wasn?t a coach pleaser.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Laurinaitis picked up the football after Kurt Coleman blocked a field goal and lateraled it to teammate Jamario O?Neal.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Asked if he approved of the lateral, Tressel said, ?No. And he knows that. Neither did his mother. His mother grabbed him after the game and said, ?You?re lucky that worked out.? ? [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]THE SEAT OF HEAT: While being questioned if he could relate to the job pressure MSU?s coach is under, Tressel was asked if he had ever felt like he was on the hot seat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] ?Since January of 2001,? he said, referring to the date he was hired at Ohio State.[/FONT]
 
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Published October 11, 2006
Police investigate 4 MSU football players

No arrests made after altercation Friday morning

By Joe Rexrode
Lansing State Journal
EAST LANSING - East Lansing police are investigating an alleged altercation that took place Friday morning and involved four Michigan State football players and two MSU students.
East Lansing Police Capt. Tom Johnstone said it is still an "open investigation" and that no arrests have yet been made. He would not provide any names.
Rick Lambert, an East Lansing resident and software salesman, told the State Journal that his son and a friend - both MSU students - were attacked and beaten Friday morning by four football players. He said both of the students' families have informed police that they will be pressing charges.

The alleged altercation took place near Capstone Commons Apartments in East Lansing, both Johnstone and Lambert confirmed.
Lambert said his son was knocked temporarily unconscious and that the face of his son's friend "looked like a women's basketball, it was so puffed up," after Lambert arrived on the scene about 3 a.m. Friday.
The son's friend received treatment at a local hospital the next day and was released, Lambert said.
"(MSU coach) John L. (Smith) has called both families several times since then," Lambert said. "He has been very nice about the whole thing."
Lambert's son and his friend were not available for comment. Lambert said he was advised by his attorney "not to have them talk."
Johnstone said a police report is being put together, and that the case likely will go to the Ingham Counter Prosecutor's Office before a decision on charges is made.
Four MSU players recently were suspended from the team for "failing to meet team expectations," said MSU associate athletic director John Lewandowski.
They did not accompany the team to Saturday's 31-13 loss at Michigan and are "suspended indefinitely," Smith said.
 
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DaddyBigBucks;630222; said:
you mean this guy?

msu06a.gif
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Thief :grr: :p
 
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SufferinSpartan;630722; said:
Misprint, or what?
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Slightly awkward phrasing (perhaps missing a preposition/conjunction such as "than"), though a similar/paraphrased quote is also listed under the picture on that link: "One thing that no one will ever convince me of is that John L. Smith is not a winner."
 
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BayBuck;630729; said:
Slightly awkward phrasing (perhaps missing a preposition/conjunction such as "than"), though a similar/paraphrased quote is also listed under the picture on that link: "One thing that no one will ever convince me of is that John L. Smith is not a winner."
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Thanks for the explanation Capt'n Obvious!

I just thought it was funny how they mis-phrased it in the story text. It summarizes most Spartan fans' feelings rather accurately.

Of course Tressel would never say THAT. Tressel is IMHO a class guy, and the best coach in the Big Ten.
 
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OZone

Spartans Have History of Spoiling Number One Seasons for Buckeyes
By John Porentas If you remember 1974 and 1998, you probably know why OSU's game with Michigan State this weekend is not the "gimme" some people think it is.
In both of those years a number-one ranked Ohio State football team lost to unranked Michigan State and fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, and very likely lost a national championship. In 1998 it happened in Columbus, with the most memorable play occurring when OSU defensive back Nate Clements was hit in the back by a poor punt. The Spartans recovered the kick and that in turn ignited a come-from-behind win that took the Buckeyes out of national championship contention.
The 1974 game was just as disappointing, but probably more bizarre. OSU led 7-3 in East Lansing the fourth quarter, but MSU running back Levi Jackson went 84 yards on one bolt for a score when defensive back Tim Fox took a wrong angle that allowed Jackson to get the corner and go all the way. The Buckeyes then drove the length of the field to about the five-yard line with around a minute to play. OSU fullback Champ Henson appeared to have scored on first down, but was pushed back out of he endzone and the officials spotted the ball on the one-yard line.To this day, Henson swears that he scored. On the next play, OSU wingback Brian Baschnagel recovered a fumble in the endzone for another apparent score, but that touchdown was not allowed either. The game ended with OSU in possession of the football on the one but unable to get off another play.
The end of that game was so controversial and bizarre that the game was not declared official for over 40 minutes after the game. Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke was in attendance, and according to then-OSU sports information director and broadcaster Marv Holman, the press box was advised to not give a final score until further notice. The PA announcer in the stadium announced that the game was not yet official despite the fact that the officials had left the field as well as both teams. The crowd waited for more-than 40 minutes for the final announcement that the Spartans had indeed won the game. To this day, it isn't really knows who was saying what to whom about those final few plays, but speculation is that Duke was conferring with the officials over their calls in the final minute.
The Buckeyes will travel to East Lansing this weekend for another matchup between a number one OSU team and an unranked MSU team. As in those past similar meetings, the Spartans, who are now a disappointing 3-3, could salvage a season with a win over OSU.
"If we were playing the number one team I'd want to beat them. That's the way to get your season back on the map is to beat the number one team," said OSU offensive lineman Doug Datish.
That should probably be enough incentive for the Spartans, but there's more. MSU's season last year went into the tank when they lost a game in Columbus that they appeared to have in hand when a blocked field goal late in the first half led to a touchdown return by OSU defensive back Ashton Youboty. The play turned the entire game, and MSU's entire season. The Spartans no-doubt remember.
"They had a substitution error and we got lucky and were able to block a field goal and return it for a touchdown," remembered OSU defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock.
Two years ago, MSU played the Buckeyes tough, but Ted Ginn dashed their hopes of a home victory over OSU by scoring three touchdowns in the second half, all on spectacular big plays either as a receiver or kick returner.
The history, both recent and not so recent, points to a close game on Saturday, but that game will not be played in the past. What is more likely to come into play is the MSU effort to save a season, and the Buckeye effort to keep a perfect season alive. Neither of those facts have been lost on the Buckeyes.
"It makes it very tough when a team is 3-3. We were in that situation before," said Pitcock remember OSU's 2004 season that was very similar to MSU's. In that year OSU lost three straight to stand at 3-3 before turning their season around. "Their backs are against the wall and they're going to give it their all," Pitcock added.
MSU will have to play a great game on Saturday to pull off another upset of a number-one ranked team, and will probably have to get a break or two. The biggest factor, however, will be the Buckeyes. If they play up to their potential, it will be very much an uphill struggle for the Spartans. The OSU coaching staff has spent some time this week making sure the Buckeyes know the history and are ready to play on Saturday.
"I think it's important to understand the history. Coaches bring up that history does repeat itself. You can learn from the past and understand what the key situations were that changed the games, learn from that and try not to make the same mistakes," said Pitcock.
"History always gets repeated," said history major and OSU center Doug Datish, "and you don't want it repeated on your watch when it's bad. We don't want to let that happen to us this year. We want to go out there to win."
 
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