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

[Buckeye86]

As for the weather. This game scared me a lot at the start of the season. But the 1998 upset was about heart. MSU doesn't have the heart to win this game. Even if they went in thinking they did it would break down as the game wore on. We want this one more and that will tell the tale regardless of what kind of game the weather dictates. It could be close (many of JTs blow outs are close) but I have zero doubt as to the outcome.

I agree, I wasn't saying I was worried about the weather, just that it might change our gameplan a bit (and then again it might not, after all, most players have been playing in this weather since High School) and we might be running the ball a lot. Nothing crushes an oppenent's spirit like running over them all night.

 

[Saw31]

I agree. But this is indeed Johnelle Smith.

Caulcrick will probably get 4 carries for 65 yards, and then won't see the field in the 2nd half. Johnelle will explain it at the presser that he felt they needed to get around the ends with the running game, and not try to go up the middle so much. Then someone will ask in that same context why Stanton got 17 carries for 85 yards and a season ending broken collar-bone all while just running off tackle from the Shotgun Option, and where in the hell was AJ Jimmerson?

Johnelle will slap himself, blurt out some nonsensical crap like "I LIKE BLUEBERRY WAFFLES AND PUPPY DOGS" and walk away from the podium scratching himself like a ringtail monkey.

Seriously, Johnelle is cracking before our eyes. Bring up some Med School Grad Candidates this weekend. Observing Johnelle should be worth more Psychology credits than any full semester internship at Bellevue.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

You mean like this?

:osu:

Well, when you finally learn how to use the quote function correctly, maybe someone will think about taking you somewhat seriously...

As for the game, if we score a TD on our first drive and MSU doesn't, game over right there...

 

[ytownbuckeye]

bring on the other piece of shit team from that state nov 18 can't get here soon enough :scum4:

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

bring on the other piece of shit team from that state nov 18 can't get here soon enough :scum4:

Someone is fired up for MSU! Save some of that for Nov 18th.

 

[Crystal76]

I agree. But this is indeed Johnelle Smith.

Caulcrick will probably get 4 carries for 65 yards, and then won't see the field in the 2nd half. Johnelle will explain it at the presser that he felt they needed to get around the ends with the running game, and not try to go up the middle so much. Then someone will ask in that same context why Stanton got 17 carries for 85 yards and a season ending broken collar-bone all while just running off tackle from the Shotgun Option, and where in the hell was AJ Jimmerson?

Johnelle will slap himself, blurt out some nonsensical crap like "I LIKE BLUEBERRY WAFFLES AND PUPPY DOGS" and walk away from the podium scratching himself like a ringtail monkey.

Seriously, Johnelle is cracking before our eyes. Bring up some Med School Grad Candidates this weekend. Observing Johnelle should be worth more Psychology credits than any full semester internship at Bellevue.

This post had me blowing my soda all over my computer screen. Toooo funny.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Football Buckeyes too busy to worry about hoops team

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - What's brewing today with the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes ...
BUCKEYE BUZZ: On Thursday afternoon, Ohio State's highly touted men's basketball team held its media day. In a season in which the Buckeyes welcome 7-foot-1 Greg Oden, considered the nation's top recruit, there isn't a whole lot of talk about basketball at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
"I hear a lot (about the basketball team) from people outside of here," coach Jim Tressel said after Thursday night's football practice. "Usually when we're in here with our guys, all we're talking about is football. We're pretty egocentric here, I think."
GENTRY PROGRESS: Tyson Gentry, the walk-on punter and receiver who sustained a spinal cord injury during spring workouts, has shown the first signs of movement in his lower extremities. Gentry, who was injured during an April 14 scrimmage, has had some arm movement but no movement below the waist.
But on Monday, for the first time he wiggled the toes on his left foot.
"I got a text (message) from Mr. Gentry," Tressel said. "We always talk about celebrating the little victories - and that's a big victory."
OSU CLINIC: Offensive lineman Kirk Barton, who has been hobbled by a foot problem, is available to play on Saturday. Defensive lineman David Patterson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday (sprained ligament) and will miss at least one game and possibly two. Ohio State officials did not disclose the injury until Thursday.
"We don't talk about procedures," Tressel said. Told that Michigan spoke openly about WR Mario Manningham's knee surgery, he added, "That must be a much more open environment."

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Michigan State's injured players ready for Ohio State

By Shannon Shelton
Detroit Free Press
(MCT)
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Kyle Cook started at left guard for two seasons and never missed a game because of injury.
Since Cook moved to center this season, three players have started at his old spot in just six games.
"I guess so," Cook joked when asked if the position was cursed. "That's what we were talking about. For two years, I was steady, but for some reason, everyone else comes in and they seem to be falling off. Hopefully, if for some reason I get moved over there, I can break that curse."
Right now, he doesn't have to worry. Pete Clifford and Kenny Shane, who missed games with injuries, were both able to play against Michigan and will be ready Saturday for No. 1 Ohio State. But all three could rotate throughout the left side for the rest of the year - Cook has been moved to guard in the past when the others have struggled, and Clifford spent some time at left tackle last week.
Although the newcomers are gaining experience, there have been few opportunities for the group to jell into a cohesive unit. Clifford and Shane were forced back into action earlier than MSU would have liked, but the Spartans had little choice because of their lack of depth. Those factors and the line's general inexperience have led to a number of mistakes. Penalties against the offensive line have hurt MSU in its past three losses, notably against Notre Dame and Michigan.
"You don't want them to happen," said offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. "We do things in practice to try to simulate the game. I don't even coach with a whistle. I coach with snap counts, that's how we stop and go, on cadences so that we train ourselves.
"But we have to really improve in that area, especially down in the red zone."
Stoutland is thankful that the right side has remained unscathed. Sophomore guard Roland Martin and sophomore tackle Jesse Miller have started all six games this year.
"I've seen a tremendous improvement in those two guys," he said. "If we can just get that on the left side, it will help us tremendously."
MEMORIES OF 1998: Quarterback Drew Stanton was a 14-year-old living in Oregon in 1998 when he watched a 4-4 Spartans team beat No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus, 28-24. MSU entered the game as a 26 1/2-point underdog, and Stanton said he knows how much the win inspired many in the program.
"You hear about how they went down there and played to win and not really looked at the scoreboard," Stanton said. "They just played and gave it their all-out effort and said, `We're gonna go out and nobody's giving us a chance except for ourselves. At the end of the day, we just want to be happy with the way we played,' and they ended up winning the game."
MIND YOUR MANNERS: MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon sent an e-mail to football season-ticket holders Thursday in response to concerns about negative behavior by some fans at Spartan Stadium.
In the letter, Simon said MSU has heard complaints regarding the use of excessive profanity, verbal taunts, drunkenness and the throwing of objects on stadium premises.
"We love it when you are excited and spirited, but offensive behaviors and language do not represent us or MSU in a positive way," she said.

 

[Muck]

GENTRY PROGRESS: Tyson Gentry, the walk-on punter and receiver who sustained a spinal cord injury during spring workouts, has shown the first signs of movement in his lower extremities. Gentry, who was injured during an April 14 scrimmage, has had some arm movement but no movement below the waist.
But on Monday, for the first time he wiggled the toes on his left foot.
"I got a text (message) from Mr. Gentry," Tressel said. "We always talk about celebrating the little victories - and that's a big victory."

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Told that Michigan spoke openly about WR Mario Manningham's knee surgery, he added, "That must be a much more open environment."

bull shit they spoke openly. it was 2 days before they even confirmed he was injurred....and we still don't know to what extent.

 

[buckeye247]

Wow that sparty board really aggravated me. I hope they are just really sour because of their season but most of there attitude is uncalled for.

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

Football
Personnel Updates
By John Porentas​

The Buckeye headed into Michigan State week with question marks hanging over several players in terms of their availability due to injuries.​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kirk Barton [/FONT]

Starting right tackle Kirk Barton played just one play against Bowling Green last week, then came off the field for the remainder of the game. Following the game, OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel revealed that Barton had undergone a medical procedure on his foot during the week, and that he experienced pain on the play, so he was removed from the game. Barton did not practice on Tuesday, but did return to action on Wednesday, and according to Tressel, will be full go on Saturday.​

"Really well," said Tressel describing the outcome of Barton's procedure​

"In fact Jim Bollman told me yesterday after practice, then he reinforced it again today, the Kirk probably has a little more power than he's had for the last year and that his procedure was a positive thing," Tressel said.​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]David Patterson [/FONT]

Over on defense, senior defensive tackle David Patterson underwent arthoscopic surgery this week to repair a minor knee injury he sustained in the Bowling Green game. While Tressel confirmed that Patterson would not play against MSU, he did say that currently Patterson's prognosis is good.​

"The thing that I've heard is that there's a good chance for the Indiana game," said Tressel. "We were told that when you have procedures like that that the best news is a week and usually the worst is typically two weeks," Tressel said.​

According to Tressel, the procedure is similar to the one that was done on former OSU safety Donte Whitner who returned to action quickly after the surgery. Tressel talked about Patterson's replacements this week.​

"As I listen to Coach Heacock he obviously has great confidence in the guys that have been rolling in there with Quinn (Pitcock) and Joel (Penton) and Todd Denlinger, but he thinks that Doug Worthington, now with more reps and more practice, has really stepped to the forefront," said Tressel.​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doug Worthington [/FONT]

Worthington is a 6-7, 275 pound redshirt sophomore defensive lineman who has been at defensive end for most of his Buckeye career. Worthington, who was listed at 255 when he signed with Ohio State, had grown into a player who can play both inside and out.​

"I think that facing him all year last year on scout team, he played with a flat back, he has a lot of power, he plays low, he's a hard guy to move, he's going to be a big, strong guy one day," said Tressel.​

"Inside he has long arms so he is able to get off blocks a lot better," said OSU defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock in describing Worthington.​

"It's a new experience for him so he's learning the little tricks of the trade here and there trying to understand the three technique (defensive tackle). He definitely has the tools to move inside. Right now he's playing both tackle and end, but he could end being like a Kennedy from Penn State a couple of years ago, a big 6-7, 300 pounder who just dominates inside," Pitcock said.​

The other player whose playing time is likely to increase with the injury to Patterson is Denlinger.​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Todd Denlinger [/FONT]

"This past game I think he got 27 plays with Dave being out," said Pitcock​

"He works hard, he's always in the weight room, always in the film room. He kind of reminds me of myself. I do notice that whenever I leave early for a meeting or if we're all hanging out in the locker room, he's always right behind me, he's always looking to see where I'm going just to try and learn from me," Pitcock said.​

Michigan State also has some injury issues heading into the game. Wide receiver Matt Trannon and running back Javon Ringer are both injured and not expected to see action against the Buckeyes​

"Trannon and Ringer to me are very significant, as is a free safety and a captain defensive lineman," said Tressel. "When you lose guys you are really counting on, that affects you."​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Andre Amos [/FONT]

In other OSU personnel notes, defensive back Andre Amos has been on the field more of late. OSU wide receiver coach Darrell Hazell commented on Amos' recent development.​

"We were talking about him and how much better he's been getting said," said Hazell who sees plenty of film on Amos as he studies his own receiver group in OSU practices.​

"He's playing much more balanced now. Before he was always leaning, getting caught leaning and reaching out, but now he's playing a lot more comfortable and relaxed so he's getting better," Hazell said.​

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

1998 loss to MSU still haunts Berry

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News

Friday, October 13, 2006
COLUMBUS ? When No. 1 Ohio State suffered that resounding 28-24 defeat to Michigan State in 1998, a loss that still gives Buckeye fans indigestion, defensive back Gary Berry rushed home to watch the replay in hopes of figuring out what went wrong.
He's still searching.
"On paper, we were the best team to come through Ohio State," he said. "I can't stop thinking about it. We should have won the national championship. But we didn't win that game, and that's what haunts me."
The Buckeyes were 8-0, and no one had come within 17 points of them. Quarterback Joe Germaine passed for 3,330 yards that season, and running backs Michael Wiley and Joe Montgomery rushed for a combined 2,001.
Receiver David Boston, cornerback Antoine Winfield and linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer became first-round NFL draft choices that spring.
Berry, who grew up near Columbus, played one more season for the Buckeyes before joining the Green Bay Packers, but a neck injury ended his career after two seasons.
"When I got to the NFL, everybody said, 'Your team was unbelievable. How did you lose that game?' " Berry recalled.
Datish not pleased
OSU center Doug Datish had his helmet ripped off and took some blows to the face from an unidentified player during the Iowa game, and he's not the only one who saw it.
His teammates talked about the cheap shot afterward. And what galls Datish is that an official was standing nearby and refused to throw a flag.
"My helmet gets ripped off, no big deal. I get punched in the face, that will happen. But getting punched in the face four times with the guy standing over top of me and the ref saying, 'Hey, why don't you stop that?' ... I was disappointed how that worked out," Datish said.
Gentry makes progress
Tyson Gentry, the walk-on receiver who was paralyzed after being hit in practice seven months ago, was able to wiggle the toes on his left foot for the first time this week.
Although he still faces a long recovery after fracturing his C-4 vertebra, the movement is considered a promising sign.
"We always talk about celebrating the little victories," coach Jim Tressel said. "That's a big victory."
Patterson has surgery
Defensive tackle David Patterson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday, but Tressel said the senior captain might be able to return for the Indiana game Oct. 21.
Starting right tackle Kirk Barton, who had what Tressel called a foot "procedure" has been cleared to play Saturday.
Tressel said offensive line coach Jim Bollman reported that "Kirk probably had more power (in practice) than he's had in the last year."

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

OHIO STATE INSIDER



Spartans positive in facing Buckeyes



Friday, October 13, 2006 Doug Lesmerises

Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- The Ohio State football players and coaches mean it as a compliment, but even trying to say nice things about Michigan State can be difficult these days.
"I've always thought Michigan State was a great overall team," Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock said. "But somehow they end up losing in the long run. I'm puzzled along with everybody else."
The Spartans (3-3) will take a three-game losing streak into Saturday's game with the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes (6-0), a skid that started with blowing a 16-point lead against Notre Dame. Michigan State is 8-16 after Oct. 1 during the tenure of coach John L. Smith, and they've done nothing this season to dispute their reputation for collapsing.
MSU quarterback Drew Stanton said the Spartans will take some confidence into the game knowing they played with Ohio State last season, but even that game was defined by the way it fell apart. Michigan State led, 17-7, before giving up a blocked field goal for a touchdown just before halftime and losing, 35-24.
"We had some success against them last year," Stanton said. "I think we're optimistic because it's just a matter of us going out there and playing a complete game."
Part of a game won't cut it, not after losing to the Fighting Irish, Illinois and Michigan.
"They need a little sugar, a little pat on the back," Smith said. "You try to give them hugs, and that's not good enough, so a win would definitely help them."
Barton ready:
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said starting right tackle Kirk Barton had a great week of practice after leaving Saturday's game during the first series with a left foot injury. Tressel said Barton had undergone a "procedure" on the foot last week, and offensive line coach Jim Bollman said he's now better than ever.
"He said that Kirk probably has a little bit more power than he has had for the last year," Tressel said. "His procedure was a positive thing and it's what he needed to get done."

 

[osugrad21]

Link

QBs? camp friendship blossoms

Smith, Stanton will meet for final time in college

By Rusty Miller

Associated Press

Associated Press photos
Ohio State?s Troy Smith (left) and Michigan State?s Drew Stanton (right) met in 2001 at a quarterbacks camp. They?ve been friends ever since. Their teams meet Saturday at Michigan State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? They were teenagers, trying to prove themselves and dreaming of becoming college football stars.
When Troy Smith and Drew Stanton roomed together at a quarterbacks camp five years ago, each saw something in the other that drew them closer. They were almost inseparable during seven days of intensive practices. At night, they?d talk about what they hoped to become and how they?d go about getting there.
On Saturday, they?ll be on opposing sides for the last time in their college careers. Smith leads No. 1 Ohio State into Michigan State to take on Stanton and the Spartans. The friendship is bound to go on long after the competition ends.
?You know what kind of a friend he is from the time you meet him,? said Smith, a Cleveland high school star who was still trying to prove to recruiters he could be a college quarterback when he met Stanton at the Elite 11 camp in 2001. ?I know our relationship will continue to grow. I just can?t say enough about the guy.?
Stanton, who was a high school star in Farmington Hills, Mich., adds, ?Troy and I have similar personalities. He?s a great guy. We don?t necessarily have to talk about football 24/7. We can draw different parallels when we?re on the field and doing stuff. But at the same time we can talk and realize that playing college football is a lot of fun.?
Smith showed up at the invitation-only camp thinking he had something to prove. He had been labeled as a running quarterback. Many colleges were hoping to turn him into a defensive back.
?That was pretty much the biggest accolade that I had ever received when I was coming out of high school and I got that (invitation) letter in the mail,? Smith said. ?It was smooth sailing from there on out because that was a quarterbacks camp. It wasn?t about running the ball. It was about what was in your brain.?
Two years ago, Smith took over for an injured Justin Zwick, who was also at the camp, and has been the Buckeyes? top player at the position ever since.
?Troy?s a tremendous athlete,? Stanton said. ?One thing about Troy that I think he?s done so well is he?s turned himself into a great quarterback, not just a great athlete. Last year, people thought he was making plays with his feet. I think he proved to everybody that he?s as good a passer as anybody in the nation.?
Smith, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior who already has a communications degree, is completing 68 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Stanton, a 6-3, 230-pound senior, is in his third year as the starting quarterback for the Spartans. He?s completing 62 percent of his passes and is second in the Big Ten in total offense at 248 yards a game. Despite Michigan State?s disappointing three-game losing skid, few question Stanton?s abilities.
Stanton and Smith trade text messages, calls and e-mail on a regular basis.
?I talk to him all the time ? talked to him this week,? Smith said. ?When we talk, it?s not about the game. It?s more along the lines of, how you doing, what else is going on in your life. Because everybody else talks about football.?
Both take a measure of pride in how things have worked out.
?We?ve taken a similar road to have what success we?ve had,? Stanton said. ?He?s obviously having a lot of success this year. He?s probably the front-runner for the Heisman right now. He might be the best quarterback in the nation.?
Not long after the final play Saturday night in East Lansing, Smith and Stanton will seek each other out for a rare face-to-face conversation. As their college careers wind down, they?ll undoubtedly remain in touch.
?It?s a great relationship. Drew Stanton is a first-class guy and a warrior through and through,? Smith said. ?I know when we play them he?s going to give us his all. I can?t begin to express the way I feel about him because he?s a great person.?