Game Thread Game Ten: #1 tOSU 17, Illinois 10 (11/4/06)

[osugrad21]

Canton

Illini learning on the job
Saturday, November 4, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS - The other day, when Ron Zook was talking about his young football team, he mentioned pushing players through a wall. The Illinois coach has played 16 true freshmen this year in trying to turn around a down-trodden program.
The Fighting Illini hit the wall two weeks ago.
"You've got to push them through that wall, and they're ready to go again," Zook said.
There's another wall in front of the Illini today. No. 1 Ohio State enters the final month of the season with tune-ups against Illinois (2-7) and Northwestern before, essentially, a national championship semifinal against Michigan.
If Buckeyes Head Coach Jim Tressel was hoping to make it quietly into the Michigan game, he can thank an Ohio State quarterback for providing the Wolverines with bulletin board material.
Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, an ESPN analyst, said on Columbus radio this week, "If those two teams were to play right now, just the way they're playing, I don't think it would even be close."
Before that happens, Ohio State must sidestep two potential landmines on the road in the Big Ten.
The Fighting Illini probably are too young to muster much of an upset bid today with freshman quarterback Juice Williams. The last time Illinois beat the country's No. 1 team was 50 years ago. But Ohio State has won just 11 of the last 21 games against Illinois.
The Buckeyes don't have to look too far into the past to witness upsets on the road. Then-No. 3 Southern Cal lost to Oregon State last week. Current No. 3 West Virginia lost Thursday at No. 5 Louisville. Texas has rallied to win the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has outscored Big Ten opponents, 190-33, and hasn't been challenged since Sept. 9 against Texas.
"I'd say they're a pretty good measuring stick," Zook said. "They're well-coached, talented, but I think our guys will show up and play.
"I'm a little surprised with what (Ohio State) lost last year they're as talented as they are. That's a tribute to recruiting. They've got it going now."
Illinois is gaining experience and jolting some teams with a scare. The Illini lost close games at Wisconsin and Penn State the last two weeks.
"Mentally, you can't buy what the year is doing for these guys in terms of experience," Zook said. "They're learning how to handle pressure, not only the pressure of a football game but academics. It's a grind. This is the first time they've been through anything like this.
"Everyone understands we're close. We've got to keep on keeping on. ... It's not the same thing all the time. It's a thing here or a thing there. It's frustrating. Once we get over those things together, we'll get over the hump."
Williams is a star in the making. Ohio State tried to recruit him, but Troy Smith's presence in Columbus and the chance to play right away led Williams to stay in his home state. Seven of his nine touchdown passes have been between 31 and 76 yards. He's also been picked off eight times.
His ability to run the ball is something that has given opposing defenses problems.
"When you have to account for the quarterback as a runner, that is a huge impact on you run game," Tressel said. "They're solid at what they do, and it's evolving."
McKinley High School graduate Joe Morgan and former Massillon defensive end Antonio James are two of those 16 true freshmen getting playing time. Morgan has two catches for 24 yards, and James has eight tackles, a pass break up and a QB hurry.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

Top-ranked Buckeyes want early domination against struggling Illini



November 4, 2006
By Rick Ganor the associated press


CHAMPAIGN -- Four years ago, on the way to a perfect season and national championship, Ohio State nearly slipped on a visit to Illinois.
The Illini kicked a field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime before the Buckeyes regrouped, batting away a final pass and sweating out a 23-16 win.
So Saturday when top-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State returns to Memorial Stadium to face another huge underdog in Illinois, the Buckeyes' plan is make sure the outcome doesn't hinge on a play or two late in the game.
? Click to enlarge image
Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith looks for a receiver against Indiana. Smith is trying to remain undefeated today against Illinois.
Jay LaPretethe associated press


Big Ten Matchup
Ohio State at Illinois Today, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)


Guard T.J. Downing, redshirted during that memorable 2002 season, still remembers the close call.

"We were all still a part of that, even though a lot of us weren't playing," he said.
"We don't want to be put in that position so our focus every time is to go out and see if we can't make it a three-quarter game and that way we're sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter saying, 'Hey, good victory."'
The Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0) have had plenty of good wins and a lot of lopsided ones, too. Their average victory is by 28.5 points.
Their offense, behind Troy Smith, is averaging 35.9 points and 418 yards, while a defense that was supposed to be in rebuilding mode leads the nation by allowing a measly 7.3 points per game.
The Buckeyes, who have a 16-game winning streak stretching back to last season, are facing an Illini team (2-7, 1-4) that's lost four in a row and blew a 21-3 lead last week while losing to Wisconsin 30-24.
It would appear Ohio State has an easy road ahead against the Illini and the following week at Northwestern before the matchup everyone is already talking about against Michigan in Columbus.
"I can speak for the rest of the guys in here that we don't plan on losing a game the rest of the season," Downing said.
The Buckeyes' defense will try to put the squeeze on Illinois freshman quarterback Juice Williams, who is capable of a sensational play, running or passing, and also of making a mistake from lack of experience.
"Juice Williams is a playmaker. To be a freshman quarterback he does a great job out there, making plays with his feet, with his arm," Ohio State defensive tackle David Patterson said.
"And he's got a cool nickname, too."
But who's cooler than Smith and his assortment of offensive options like receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and running back Antonio Pittman? Smith has completed 63 percent of his career passes, making him the school's most accurate passer. And Pittman needs 106 yards Saturday to become the fifth back in OSU's storied history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
That exclusive club includes Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Tim Spencer and Keith Byars.
Illinois' eager defense awaits its biggest challenge wide-eyed.
"If you're going to play the No. 1 team in the country, you might as well enjoy it," Illini defensive end Josh Norris said. "They are deemed a great team, so if they're the standard of measure, where do I stand? If they're the greats, where do I fall in comparison?"
The Illini have lost their last four games by a total of 25 points, so they've been close. That's not much consolation, but they know what being an underdog is all about.
"That's the advantage that we have is that we're not scared," Norris said. "We're used to the feeling of every other team thinking they're just naturally better than we are."
Ron Zook's team got its only Big Ten win at Michigan State earlier this season, causing a brouhaha when it tried to plant its team flag on the turf in East Lansing after the unexpected victory.
Now they can check their progress against the best in the country.
"I told them; 'How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to play a football team the caliber of Ohio State, a team that is the No. 1 team in the country and deservedly so?'" Zook said.
"It's an opportunity for us to go out and really see exactly where we are at."
No. 1 Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) at Illinois (2-7, 1-4)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

Facing the best, Illini might bag a moral victory



November 4, 2006
BY HERB GOULD Staff Reporter

CHAMPAIGN -- There's no bowl game on the horizon. That pipe dream went up in smoke with the sloppy losses to Indiana and Ohio.

The last two efforts, though, in competitive losses at Penn State and Wisconsin, have raised the question of whether Illinois really is on to something in Ron Zook's second season as head football coach.
The Illini (2-7) will have another big measuring stick when they host No. 1 Ohio State today.
''They strap on their pads. So do we,'' safety Justin Harrison said. ''They play football. So do we. We feel like we can go out and play with them.''
A win would be so far off the charts, it's ridiculous to even bring it up. The Illini have lost eight straight games against No. 1 teams in the Associated Press rankings since their last victory, 20-13 over top-ranked Michigan State on Oct. 27, 1956.
Illinois' last four meetings with a No. 1 team all have come against the Buckeyes. Ohio State won those games by a combined 160-10.
Knowing a lot of people believe Illinois doesn't belong on the same field with the Buckeyes, Zook made a joke that he'd had a ''Please, Gen. Custer'' conversation with athletic director Ron Guenther.
''I talked to Coach Guenther, and he said we have to play them,'' Zook said. ''So the game's on, 2:30 p.m. our time. We're going to line up and play 'em.''
If Illinois' recent encounters with No. 1 teams have been lopsided, it can draw inspiration from a pair of top-notch efforts against second-ranked teams that have come to Champaign in November.
On Nov. 16, 2002, No. 2 Ohio State survived 23-16 in overtime and went on to defeat Miami for the national championship. On Nov. 12, 1994, No. 2 Penn State fell behind 21-0 but escaped from Champaign 35-31. It finished undefeated but settled for second in the polls.
Ohio State (9-0) has blown out every opponent it has faced this year. Even its closest win -- 24-7 at then-No. 2 Texas -- wasn't close.
The Buckeyes have scored under 35 points only twice and allowed more than seven points only twice.
There's no reason to expect Illinois to fare any better.
Well, maybe there's a glimmer of a reason.
In their last two games, the Illini have hung around. They were down 17-12 with two minutes to go in a 26-12 loss at Penn State. And they were still plotting when time ran out in a 30-24 defeat at Wisconsin.
[email protected] Next game: vs. Ohio State, 2:30 today, ESPN2, 560-AM

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

Top-ranked Ohio State invades Illinois



November 4, 2006
from staff, wire reports


Despite a four-game losing streak, there's hope within the Illinois football locker room.
Unlike a year ago, when the season's last handful games had the feel of a death march, the Illini look forward to each Saturday and another chance at redemption.
"Everyone's No. 1 thing is to turn this around," Illini linebacker J Leman said. "Last year, it was real hard. This is a new attitude. We're competitive every week.
"It's different. We have a great attitude for being 2-6 or 2-7, whatever we are."
Illinois (2-7 overall, 1-4 in the Big Ten Conference) has that hope of getting over the hump, winning enough games someday to secure a bowl bid.
Any bowl would be fine.
When the Illini play host to No. 1 Ohio State today, the Buckeyes will come in as the overwhelming favorite to win the national championship with the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy (quarterback Troy Smith) and the Big Ten Conference's dominant program under coach Jim Tressel.
Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) eyes its second national title in four years.
The Buckeyes carry a 16-game winning streak, the nation's longest. While the Illini have hope, Ohio State brings talent.
"It's the most dangerous team in football," Illinois linebacker Brit Miller said.
"They prove it week in and week out. We're not going to have a lot of support and people who believe we can win games, especially this one."
The Illini meet a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since playing host to Ohio State in 1998, when Illinois lost 41-0 in Ron Turner's second year as coach.
The Illini are 2-11 all-time against top-ranked teams. The last victory came in 1956 against Michigan State.
Northwestern at Iowa --Iowa's modus operandi has been simple. Start slow, finish strong, play in January.
The Hawkeyes deviated from the formula this season by going 1-3 during the middle part of the year. But if Iowa (6-3, 2-3 Big Ten) can end the year with a classic Hawkeyes' flourish, a fifth straight top-tier bowl bid is still within reach.
Iowa continues its push toward the postseason today when it hosts Northwestern (2-7, 0-5), one of two teams left on its schedule without a conference win. Minnesota is the other.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, never one to look ahead, doesn't think the Hawkeyes will have an easy ride through November just because of recent history.
Iowa has won 11 of its last 13 in the season's final month, but all Ferentz sees are inconsistencies in concentration and execution.
College Football

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

SCOUTING REPORT

No. 1 Ohio State at Illinois

Kickoff: 3:36 p.m. today.

Records: Ohio State (9-0, 5-0 in the Big Ten Conference); Illinois (2-7, 1-4 in the Big Ten Conference).

Coaches: Jim Tressel (59-13) is in his sixth season at Ohio State; Ron Zook (4-16) is in his second season at Illinois.

Broadcast: ESPN2, WAKR (1590-AM), WHBC (1480-AM), WKNR (850-AM), WQKT (104.5-FM).

Notebook: Loudonville native Zook, who started his career at Orrville High School, nearly led the Illini to their biggest victory of his tenure last week before falling 30-24 to No. 17 Wisconsin.... The program might have begun its turnaround in the fourth game of the season, against Iowa, when Zook decided to start true freshman Isiah ``Juice'' Williams at quarterback. He won in his second start at Michigan State and already has become the first quarterback in school history to throw three touchdown passes of more than 65 yards in a career. He has passed for 1,252 yards and is third on the team in rushing with 364 yards, second most in a season by an Illini quarterback.... Illinois' 181.9 rushing yards per game is its best since 1978. Illinois has another standout freshman in cornerback Vontae Davis. Davis has 39 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups. Junior linebacker J Lehman is the Big Ten's leading tackler (10.9 per game) and is eighth in the nation. Sophomore defensive end Derek Walker is sixth in the league with 5.5 sacks.... Illinois' defense has held Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin under 100 yards rushing. Illinois is 3-13 against No. 1 teams, with its last win in 1956. OSU's 2002 national-championship team escaped Memorial Stadium with a 23-16 overtime victory.... The Buckeyes won last year 40-2 in Columbus.

Pick: Ohio State, 34-14.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

Ohio State at Illinois

Saturday, November 4, 2006


KICKOFF 3:30 p.m. Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill.

TV ESPN2 with Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Rob Stone.
RADIO Ohio State Radio Network (WHBC-AM 1480, WKNR-AM 850, WAKR-AM 1590) with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Marty Bannister.
ODDS Ohio State is a 24-point favorite.

THE SERIES The Buckeyes lead the series 59-29-4, but since 1999 they are just 3-2. The Buckeyes lost five straight from 1988-92. Since 1983, Ohio State is 11-10.

THEY'RE FROM ILLINOIS The school has produced nine Nobel Prize winners. Famed TV critic Roger Ebert graduated in 1964. Actor Gene Hackman studied TV and journalism on the after serving three years as a Marine. Hugh Hefner graduated in 1949 before he founded Playboy. Alan Ruck, who played Ferris Bueller's best friend, was born in Cleveland and graduated from Illinois. Director Ang Lee, known for "Brokeback Mountain," graduated in 1980. Former Reagan press secretary James Brady was a 1962 graduate. Mannie Jackson played basketball at UI before becoming owner of the Harlem Globetrotters. Athletes who attended include Kendall Gill, Dee Brown, Lou Boudreau, Dick Butkus, Red Grange and George Halas.

GETTING TO KNOW RON ZOOK Born in 1954, Zook grew up in Loudonville and graduated from Miami (Ohio) University in 1976. He played three seasons of college football before becoming a coach at Orrville High School for two seasons in 1976 and '77. Zook didn't have scholarship offers out of high school, but a local dentist, Dave Mallory, introduced him to his brother Bill Mallory, then the head coach at Miami (Ohio). He eventually earned a scholarship and went on to become a captain. After Orrville, Zook spent the next 10 years working his way into an assistant position at Ohio State in 1988. Zook has coached for seven universities and three NFL teams. He was head coach at Florida, but fell out of favor with fans. In three seasons there, Zook went 23-14. This is his second season at Illinois. Zook won his first Big Ten game this year against Michigan State.

WHEN OSU HAS THE BALL The Fighting Illini will start true freshman Vontae Davis at CB. Buckeye QB Troy Smith should have a field day with this young defense allowing 26 points a game. Smith could open up his running game today, but there is a chance Coach Jim Tressel is keeping that under wraps for a new twist against Michigan. Look for Smith to get his work, get his numbers and get out of the game. RB Antonio Pittman is emerging as one of the best backs in the country. He ranks 21st in the country with an average of 99 yards. Illinois' defensive front starts three underclassmen, including a freshman. The Illini give up 124 yards a game rushing. OSU has had some turnover problems the last couple of weeks. The Buckeyes have to shore up that problem, especially against a defense that has just six fumble recoveries and eight interceptions.

WHEN ILLINOIS HAS THE BALL The offense revolves around true freshman QB Juice Williams. Since taking over as starter, Williams has been exciting and frightening. He can make big plays, but he also makes freshman mistakes and often believes his arm is good enough to beat speed. The Illini will look to run the ball with either Williams or RBs Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey. They are underrated backs who get lost in Williams' limelight. The right side of the line is slightly better with seniors Matt Maddox and Charles Myles. Turnovers are killing Illinois' offense. It has 25 turnovers and is ranked 116th in turnover margin.

NOTABLE The teams play for the Illibuck trophy, a wooden replica of a turtle. Illibuck used to be a live turtle that made the trip between Champaign and Columbus, but it died in 1927. ... Illinois is 3-13 when playing the No. 1 team in the country, but all three of those wins were at home. ... Stark County players WR Joe Morgan (McKinley) and DE Antonio James (Massillon) are playing as a true freshmen for the Illini. ... OSU went to Illinois in 2002 as the No. 1 team in the country and barely escaped an upset. The Buckeyes won, 23-16 in overtime. ... Seven OSU players have been nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. They are Doug Datish, James Laurinaitis, Anthony Gonzalez, Brian Robiskie, Joel Penton and Stan White Jr. ... Smith is OSU's all-time completions leader at 63.1 percent. He needs 14 yards to move past Jim Karsatos into seventh place on OSU passing yardage list. ... Smith is 11 TD passes shy of OSU's career TD pass mark. He has 46. ... The Buckeyes are beating Big Ten opponents by an average of 39-7.
TODD PORTER

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ToledoBlade

Buckeyes wary of Illinois QB
Williams juices up Illini offense



By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - What have Ohio State's opponents feared the most over the past couple of seasons, outside of a long kick return by Ted Ginn Jr.? It's the Buckeyes' mobile quarterback Troy Smith.

Smith, a savvy senior and the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, is the guy who can turn a broken play into a huge gain, who can escape a pass rush and move the chains, and the guy who can force you to change your defense to make sure he is reined in.

The Buckeyes will see that same kind of image today, albeit in a still-developing form. Top-ranked Ohio State takes on a fledgling Illinois team, and its athletic and unpredictable freshman quarterback, Juice Williams here this afternoon.

Williams, who has passed for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns and has run the ball a team-high 116 times, started the year third on the depth chart, but a month into the season he got the starting job.

After Williams orchestrated Illinois' stunning 23-20 win at Michigan State, a game in which he rushed for 103 yards on 17 carries and passed for another 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception, the team was his.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Illinois will spread its offense all over the field, trying to create the optimum environment for Williams to operate. He has rushed for 535 yards, but taken a number of sacks that have dropped his net rushing yardage to 364 yards.

"They're a big play team, and I think the freshman quarterback does a great job with his feet as well as throwing," Tressel said.

"He's a guy we recruited very hard, and he's a student of the game. He's a good football player, and he can make things happen."

Williams, a Chicago native who nearly died at birth due to his excessive weight of 13 pounds, 8 ounces, does not hesitate to tuck the ball and run, and Tressel said that tendency complicates things for the Ohio State defense, much as it does for the opponents of the Buckeyes.

"I think when you have to account for the quarterback as a runner, that is always a huge impact on your run game," Tressel said. "If you took our run numbers over the years and extracted the quarterback yards, it wouldn't be nearly as good as it was."

"Especially in those offenses where they have the little spread and all that stuff, you better account for them.

"But I think they have good backs and they have a good offensive line, and they're solid at what they do. It's evolving, and they have the runs and the passes that complement one
another; they do a good job."

Illinois coach Ron Zook said the Buckeyes' Smith has progressed from being an athletic quarterback who would pull the trigger quickly and run, to a prolific passer who runs just enough to scare you.

Smith's rushing numbers are down, Zook said, because he is passing so well.

"Part of the fact is that he has become more and more of a quarterback," Zook said.

"I haven't seen guys throw the outcut from one hash clear upfield to the other side since Charlie Ward. That takes a very, very strong and accurate arm. That's the thing that you see.
Can he run? Absolutely. As a defensive coach you are scared to death.

"If he gets any kind of vertical seam, he's going to take off. He's becoming a big-time quarterback."

While Illinois grapples with defending Smith, Ohio State's linebackers are prepped for the versatility of Williams.

"Everything that Illinois does revolves around him," Ohio State sophomore linebacker Marcus Freeman said. "He is a playmaker and he is quick on his feet. The key for us is going to be stopping him."

Contact Matt Markey at:
[email protected]
or 419-724-6510.

 

[Best Buckeye]

THe first of two more before whupping butt. This one could be a better warm up. Bucks 42 Ill 0


And WE get to keep the Illibuck

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Tough game could benefit Buckeyes
Tackling adversity might create a stronger team later in season

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

</IMG>


Maybe today it will happen. Maybe Illinois will take Ohio State down to the wire, or at least still be close heading to the fourth quarter.
It hasn?t happened much this season. The Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0) have trailed in only three games and just once at halftime, 3-0 to Penn State on Sept. 23.
The Nittany Lions were the only team to seriously extend the Buckeyes. They were behind just 7-3 entering the fourth quarter and stayed within one score (14-6) until less than three minutes remained.
In October, the Buckeyes beat four teams by an average of 36 points. Overall, their average margin of victory is 29 points, with their closest game a 17-point win at Texas.
It?s a far cry from Ohio State?s undefeated 2002 run, when the Buckeyes won seven games by a touchdown or less, including an overtime victory at Illinois.
"You never envision (lopsided wins); you envision going down to the final snap of every game," coach Jim Tressel said. "And I think we?ve had good reason to envision that because that?s happened a lot. This has been a little unusual."
Although easy victories are every team?s goal, there?s something to be said for being tested. Facing adversity builds a team?s mental strength.
After today, a game in which Ohio State is favored by 24 points, the top-ranked Buckeyes next week head to Northwestern, another Big Ten bottom-feeder. The concern for OSU is that blowing out six straight inferior opponents might not sufficiently prepare the team for its Nov. 18 showdown with No. 2 Michigan.
Guard T.J. Downing agreed that there is such a thing as not facing enough adversity.
"I think so, in the end it can haunt you," Downing said. "But when you?re as focused as we are, I don?t think we?ll let it bother us. I think being around here, all of us experienced it in 2004 (during an 8-4 season) and a little bit last year (when Ohio State started 3-2).
"So we all know what it?s like. Even though it hasn?t happened recently, it?s still in the back of your mind."
As problems go, it certainly isn?t a bad one. Tressel doesn?t see the need to have the Illini (2-7, 1-4) or Wildcats (2-7, 0-5) take his team to the edge.
"I don?t know, we?ve had (tests) over the years, and we?ve had adverse moments in this year," he said, "so I?m not looking for anything but to do well."
He?s right about facing some scary moments this year. Despite the scores, Ohio State has found itself overcoming early lethargy or mistakes.
In addition to the Penn State game, OSU trailed Cincinnati for much of the first half and led just 13-7 at halftime. Bowling Green scored first.
Against Michigan State, OSU turned the ball over on its first possession, but the defense stopped the Spartans. Indiana had a nice punt return in a scoreless game, but the Buckeyes limited the Hoosiers to a field goal.
Those weren?t exactly nail-biting moments, but they provided gutchecks to a young defense.
"We?ve been in some tight situations early on in games even though the final scores have never been close," tight end Rory Nicol said. "(A close game) is bound to happen, and it will be a measurement of how truly great we are."
It?s possible that Ohio State won?t get tested ? this week, next week or even the rest of the season.
After all, that?s the goal.
"Our focus every time is to go out and see if we can?t make it a threequarter game," Downing said. "And that way, (the starters are) sitting there on the bench in the fourth quarter saying, ?Hey, good victory.? "
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

COMMENTARY
Fans fear upsets; players too busy to be scared

Saturday, November 04, 2006

ROB OLLER

Ohio State hasn?t been in many tight spots this year, thanks to first-quarter scores like Antonio Pittman?s at Michigan State.



In college football, fear preys not on the players but on the spectators surrounding them. More than just genetic superiority separates the participants and those who pay to watch. Players compete, impervious to the fear of facing a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Fans fret, unable to control the outcome of the drama.
The quarterback is the horror-movie baby sitter who puts the children to bed, unaware that an intruder is lurking downstairs. The fan is the popcorn-munching ticketholder who knows, or thinks he knows, what terror awaits the victim.
Those two dynamics ? fearless football player and frightened fan ? play out today at Illinois when No. 1 Ohio State takes on the unranked and overmatched Illini in Champaign.
Ohio State fans fear the shocker. They believe the Buckeyes are by far the better team but also consider the slim chance that the world will end at about 6:30 p.m. with an Illini upset. Anyone want a $12 Michigan ticket?
Some fans actually find a painful pleasure in the anxiety of the day, echoing the words of Oscar Wilde, who wrote, "The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last."
But just as many Buckeye hand wringers are scared out of their wits by the uncertainty of today, next Saturday at Northwestern and, truth be told, the little get-together taking place Nov. 18 in the Horseshoe. They fit the category described by utopian author Aldous Huxley: "A fanatic is a man who consciously overcompensates a secret doubt."
In other words, maybe ? breathe in, breathe out ? Michigan?s defense really is that good.
The Ohio State players, meanwhile, are too busy working to worry about the what-ifs. It?s difficult to dread the possibility of losing when the guy across the line of scrimmage wants to run his helmet into your chest and out your back.
On the other side, Illinois fans wince at the prospect of an Ohio State blowout, and the Illini players sense no fatal danger.
"I?ve never felt like I never had a chance going to kickoff, and our guys won?t, either," Illinois coach Ron Zook said of the apparent mismatch.
Zook?s "never" includes two games in 1988 and ?89 when he coached defensive backs at Ohio State. In those games, the Buckeyes played against Illinois teams that were at least their offensive equal. The ensuing back-to-back defeats were no anomaly as the Illini upended OSU the next three seasons as well, making it five losses in a row for John Cooper.
"They had our number then," said former Buckeyes quarterback Greg Frey, who lost three of four to the Illini, coached by John Mackovic. "We weren?t invincible, and Illinois is a very tough place to play. It?s very loud and very windy. For whatever reason, we didn?t play well there."
Mackovic explained that the Illini "dominance" in part had to do with the program choosing the Buckeyes as its rival ? one special game to get up for. Things have changed since that stretch of consecutive losses ended ? the Buckeyes have since gone 8-3 against the Illini (the teams didn?t play each other in 2003-04) ? but Ohio State still has only an 11-10 record against Illinois since 1983. That cumulative effect is worth noting because it allows Zook to prepare a history lesson for his players.
"You talk about it a little bit. You put stuff on the (bulletin) board," he said. "Our guys know there?s a good football team coming in here, and we?re looking forward to playing."
Illinois lacks the talent of the early ?90s, when quarterback Jeff George burned the Buckeyes, and OSU?s talent is now first class. But you won?t hear fear in the voices of the Illini.
"If you go out and you?re intimidated by the other team, then you?ve already lost the first quarter," safety Kevin Mitchell said.
No sense of doom will dampen the field. It might, however, rise into the Memorial Stadium seats and permeate the living rooms of Buckeye Nation in the unlikely event that OSU begins to let a national title season slip through its fingers.
"I will show you fear in a handful of dust," poet T.S. Eliot wrote.
A cloud of dust, however, holds no fear ? not when kicked up by three yards of punishing effort on the field. Because athletes don?t frighten like the rest of us.
Rob Oller is a sports reporter for The Dispatch.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Saturday, November 04, 2006

</IMG>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Saturday, November 04, 2006

</IMG>

Saturday, November 04, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Illini offense gets jolt from Juice

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




Most every college quarterback worth his testosterone level arrives the first year thinking he has what it takes to keep right on playing. But it?s still a big-gulp moment when the coach hands him what amounts to the keys to the program and says drive it.
Illinois freshman Juice Williams remembers every detail of the moment when coach Ron Zook told him he was No. 1. Of course, it occurred just six weeks ago as the Illini sought to jump-start a flagging offense.
"A bunch of thoughts were running through my mind," Williams said. "I actually did take a giant gulp out of surprise and shock. But I was excited at the same time."
Going into the game today against No. 1 Ohio State, Williams has a mere six games on his starting resume, and just one victory. It?s one reason the Illini are 24-point underdogs.
But when a program turns to a freshman quarterback, it?s as much about the future as the present. Ohio State fans know that firsthand. The last offensive play of the Woody Hayes era was freshman quarterback Art Schlichter?s interception thrown to Clemson?s Charlie Baumann in the 1978 Gator Bowl. Hayes was fired the next day and Earle Bruce was soon hired.
The next year, a more experienced Schlichter led Ohio State to an unbeaten regular season and a one-point loss to Southern California in the Rose Bowl, which ended hopes of a national championship. Schlichter also was Ohio State?s last full-time freshman starter at quarterback.
Williams excelled in high school in Chicago, and Ohio State pursued him, but he opted for Illinois. He knows there is a learning curve to the college game. On that curve, there?s going to be plenty of crashing.
That?s why as Williams was taking his big gulp, he could see Zook doing the same thing.
"I look at it from his point of view that he is taking a big chance and putting a lot of faith in me to do a job that requires a lot of skill and experience," Williams said. "As a player, I try to do my best to relieve some of that stress and anxiety by playing to the best of my ability and doing all the things he would like me to do."
Bottom line, Zook wants Williams to win games. He wanted the same thing from Chris Leak at Florida in 2003 when he named him the starter. Enough sensational plays didn?t come fast enough to satisfy the fans, and Zook was fired before the 2004 season was over.
But starting Leak was not a mistake, Zook said. He feels the same way about Williams.
"The No. 1 thing is you really don?t know how he is going to handle the pressure; you think you do," Zook said. "His experience was a lot like Chris Leak?s was when we did it with him. And it was, ?OK. Let?s go.? "
Last weekend, there were six teams in Division I-A who were starting true freshman quarterbacks, including Mitch Mustain at No. 12 Arkansas. Another 12 schools have redshirt freshmen starting, including No. 4 Texas with Colt McCoy and Indiana with Kellen Lewis.
Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner seemed to be second-guessing himself only on why he didn?t make Lewis the starter from the beginning. It took a Lewis-led rally to a victory over Ball State to make everyone realize he was the right choice.
Or as Hoeppner said he told reporters after that win, "Hey, I?ve got a headline for you ? Kellen to the rescue."
Lewis has been the Big Ten offensive player of the week two of the past three weeks, his reign interrupted by the Hoosiers? 44-3 loss to Ohio State two weeks ago.
"He is still a redshirt freshman, and you can?t replace that game experience," Hoeppner said. "But he has made quantum leaps."
In the meantime, he has sparked the whole team, Hoeppner said, something the Illini are experiencing with Williams, even if the wins haven?t come as quickly. Last week, for example, they were heavy underdogs at Wisconsin but led 21-3 at one point before losing 30-24.
"His staff has done a nice job of giving him bits and pieces of the package and making sure that he understands the whys and the wherefores before they move to the next step," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "You are going to hear a lot about that young man in the Big Ten for years to come."
That?s the idea.
[email protected]

 

[Steve19]

Buckeyes rush for over 250 yards, hold the Illini to less than 120 yards rushing. Two picks on the day.

Ohio State 45 Illinois 7

 

[Cornerback6]

I think 45-7 is a good prediction...perhaps within a touchdown or two of what everyone else on this board is thinking, but I'm going to step it up a notch...say we don't turn the ball over today, cause 3 or 4 on the other side and come out huge with 52.

Final score prediction, tOSU 52, Illi 6