Game Thread Game Ten: Ohio State 48, Northwestern 7 (final)

[BB73]

Well, since Ohio State went undefeated during the 1970 regular season, I imagine that the above statement must also be in error....

I also spotted that right away. It was 1971, which was their last victory over tOSU before last year.

 

[LightningRod]

Good article on Basanez.

A quiet but effective leader
Wildcats’ Basanez holds school’s record for most victories
Friday, November 11, 2005
Rob Oller
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
DARRON CUMMINGS | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brett Basanez is Northwestern’s career leader in passing yardage, completions and total offense.

Brett Basanez is the guy at the crowded party who wanders into an empty room and begins playing the piano, only to suddenly find himself surrounded by people making song requests.

Northwestern’s quarterback just wants to get away these days. He didn’t go looking for the limelight in the first place, and didn’t think it would find him, especially in Evanston, Ill., and particularly not after that 2003 season when his interceptions outnumbered his touchdown passes, 12 to 4.

"I’ve been here for a while. I’m the old guy on campus," Basanez said this week when asked if he deserves his reputation as something of a recluse. "I don’t make it to the frat parties. Personally, when I get home from practice I want to relax, be with my girlfriend and watch TV."

The problem, of course, is that Basanez is too good to be left alone. So instead of chilling in front of the TV, he’s positioned in front of the cameras. After the Wildcats dominated Michigan State three weeks ago, Basanez taped a segment for ESPN’s GameDay as well as a feature for ESPN2’s morning show, Cold Pizza. There also were print interviews with Sports Illustrated and The New York Times.

It’s not that Basanez can’t be gracious and affable in such interviews.

"He’s as sociable a guy as anybody. He’s got great people skills, but he works really hard at his game," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "During the summer, I come in around 9 in the morning and every day Brett’s in looking at film. I’ve been blessed to have had 30 years of coaching great kids, but I’ve never coached one who works harder than him."

Much of the toil takes place in the film room, where Basanez sharpens his mind so that Northwestern’s spread offense can claim another victim. Spending so much time in dark isolation may explain why even recruits have heard stories of the QB’s solitary existence.

"A lot of people said he didn’t like to come out of the house," said freshman running back Tyrell Sutton, who first met Basanez during a recruiting visit. What Sutton soon discovered was that while the quarterback may like to go low key at home, he is anything but a loner in the locker room and on the field.

"He’s a secluded person and likes to remain by himself and watch football and be with his girlfriend," Sutton said. "But he’s also the best leader I’ve had in all my years of football. Coming in on my recruiting trip, he was the only person I was star-struck by."

Basanez has put up some impressive numbers. Despite playing the 2002 season with a broken leg and last season with a dislocated throwing shoulder, Basanez is the Wildcats’ career leader in passing yardage, completions and total offense. More important to the four-year starter is that he is the school’s winningest QB with 20 victories. He looks for No. 21 at Ohio State on Saturday.

"I’m really happy with the way it’s gone," he said, deflecting praise.

It turns out even the latest spotlight — on Tuesday he was named one of 15 finalists for the O’Brien national quarterback award — isn’t the worst thing in the world, even though he still prefers the peace and quiet.

"We do so much (with football) that when I come home my couch is really comfortable," he said. "We don’t get out much."

[email protected]

 

[LightningRod]

More on Sutton.

Guess-who at NU isn't too hard

November 11, 2005

BY JENNIFER JONES Staff Reporter

Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton was reading the Daily Northwestern on Wednesday when a woman nearby happened to notice the "Suttometer'' on the back page. The school newspaper has been comparing Sutton's freshman season to what Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Michigan's Mike Hart accomplished as freshmen last year.

"Is this you?'' she asked.

"No, that's not me,'' he said.

Sutton's strategy was foiled when someone greeted him with, "Hey, Tyrell,'' but apparently it's not the first time he's tried to hide his identity.

"I don't like the attention,'' he later explained. "So I try to play it off and say I'm someone else. Usually I say I'm [backup running back] Gerard Hamlett because he's used my name a couple times.

SUTTON IMPACT

It didn't take Tyrell Sutton long to put his name in the Northwestern record books. Here's a by-the-numbers look at Sutton's key stats, plus where he ranks nationally and in the Big Ten.

4 -- Touchdowns in one game (done twice), tying an NU record.

16 -- Rushing touchdowns, breaking the previous NU freshman record by 10 and trailing Damien Anderson's school record by seven.

17 -- Total touchdowns, another freshman record and six shy of Anderson's mark.

1,085 -- Rushing yards, besting Greg Boykin's previous freshman record of 625.

Stat Number Nation Big Ten
Rushing 120.6 ypg T-7th 3rd
All-purpose 153.9 ypg 15th* 5th
Scoring 11.3 ppg 6th 3rd
*Fourth among players with no punt or kickoff returns

"They all recognize me as Tyrell, the football player, and I don't like being recognized like that at times. I like to think that's my job, but that's not what you have to acknowledge me as.''

Coaches across the Big Ten, however, have had to acknowledge Sutton's impact on the Wildcats' offense and account for it in their defensive game plans. He didn't even begin the season in the starting lineup, but after Brandon Roberson was injured in the first game, Sutton emerged as one of the country's most dangerous running threats. Even after seeing his workload decline the last two weeks, Sutton is tied for seventh in the nation with 120.6 yards per game and has 1,085 yards for the season.

He will take that resume to Ohio Stadium on Saturday when Northwestern faces Ohio State (11 a.m., Ch. 7, 720-AM). Sutton, who is from Akron, Ohio, has downplayed the significance of the game, but it marks his return to his home state, where he was Ohio's Mr. Football last year after rushing for a state-record 9,426 yards in four years at Archbishop Hoban High School.

Sutton grew up playing football with Buckeyes running back Antonio Pittman and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, and Sutton and Pittman took on their formal roles as friendly rivals when they spoke by phone this week.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has had to answer many questions this season about why the Buckeyes didn't recruit Sutton, but Sutton just lumps them in with other schools that figured at 5-9, 190 pounds, he was too small to succeed at their level.

"It's a business,'' said Sutton, who actually grew up a Michigan fan because he admired the Wolverines' running game. "You can't take things too seriously because it will only block things in the future. It hurt because your home state doesn't want to look at you. They'd rather go out of state and look at someone else. But it's a business, and that's how you have to look at it.''

Turning heads, finding holes

Northwestern made an early offer to Sutton, and he rewarded the school's faith in him by accepting it. It didn't take long for him to make an impact, either. He already owns several NU freshman records, and Hart and Wisconsin running back Brian Calhoun are among the opposing players who have made sure to find him after games to compliment his talent and tell him to keep it up.

NU right tackle Zach Strief believes it's another testament to Sutton's ability that he's excelled behind a young offensive line.

Asked if the line had been overlooked in Sutton's success, Strief said: "No. He finds a lot of holes I don't necessarily consider holes. The offensive line has a long way to go. Those guys are working hard, and it will be a solid group in the future, and Tyrell is going to have much better seasons than he's having this year with those guys as they grow up. He's probably helped us out as much as we've helped him.''

NU coach Randy Walker believes Sutton's receiving skills -- he is fourth on the team with 31 catches for 300 yards -- often are overlooked but have been valuable. Sutton attributes some of those skills to games he used to play with his older brother, Tony, who played running back at the College of Wooster in Ohio. They would pretend it was fourth-and-three and make sure to keep two feet in bounds after a catch or try to make tough catches one-handed. And Sutton's father, Anthony, would drill balls into his sons' chests to make sure they caught them with their hands.

Another factor in Sutton's success has been his maturity. He often wears suits to postgame news conferences and handles potentially sensitive questions from the media with the finesse of a veteran. The quality of football at Archbishop Hoban prepared him for the Big Ten and the attention he has received, and his family played a role, too. Sutton's father, for example, used to make sure he usually wore a dress shirt and slacks to school so if a scout unexpectedly showed up to talk to him, he would be dressed appropriately.

'That's impressive'

Sutton made a lasting first impression on Strief when he told him during training camp that he respected the upperclassmen and wanted to do everything he could to make Strief's senior season memorable.

"It's the kind of thing people don't do,'' Strief said. "It's just not something you'd put yourself out there with. He walked away, and at first I chuckled. But when I thought about it, I was like, wow, that's impressive for an 18-year-old kid to walk up to a fifth-year senior and say, 'I'm going to do everything I can to help you.'''

The road got rougher the last two weeks against Michigan and Iowa. Sutton had a costly fumble early in the Wolverines game that was run back for a touchdown, and he finished with 10 carries for 50 yards. Last week against the Hawkeyes, he had 17 carries for 65 yards.

Walker attributes the diminished numbers to penalties and deficits that have forced the Wildcats to go with their passing game and better defenses that have focused on stopping the run. Quarterback Brett Basanez also thinks defenses have paid more attention to Sutton in recent weeks, and Strief doesn't think the line has played as well as it did earlier this season, perhaps because of soreness.

But Sutton has been working on other parts of his game and has focused on limiting fumbles. Even his brother has tried to tell him that he needs to stop fighting for extra yards and learn when it's better to go down.

"We've been in situations like first-and-20 and second-and-long where you can't run the ball, but it doesn't faze me so much because it's given me a chance to work on my pass protection,'' Sutton said. "The last two, three weeks, I haven't gotten the ball with the fumbles and everything, and it's been working me up for this week because Ohio State likes to blitz a lot.''

Sutton, after all, likes to identify himself as a team player.

 

[hoat]

link

OSU vs. Northwestern Matchups


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BUCKEYE TRIVIA

This year’s 16-member senior class, playing its last home game Saturday, has a record of 40-7 the past four seasons. That includes the 2002 national championship, three bowl trips to date and two BCS games.
THE SERIES

OSU leads 55-14-1, but had a 24-game winning streak snapped last year when it fell in Evanston for the first time since 1958.
Buckeye data

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<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); </SCRIPT></TD><TD width=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Coach Jim Tressel: 47-13 (5th year/OSU); 182-70-2 overall
Statistical leaders
TB Antonio Pittman: 181 att., 978 yds., 5.4 avg., 4 TDs
QB Troy Smith: 96 comp., 160 att., 1,536 yds., 60.0 pct., 13 TDs, 3 INTs
WR Santonio Holmes: 39 catches, 732 yds., 18.8 avg., 9 TDs
PK Josh Huson: 16 of 19 field goals; 16 straight touchbacks
LB A.J. Hawk: 94 tackles, 11 TFLs, 6.5 sacks
LB Anthony Schlegel: 57 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks
DE Mike Kudla: 32 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks
Wildcat data

TB Tyrell Sutton: 184 att., 1,085 yds., 5.9 avg., 16 TDs
QB Brett Basanez: 236 comp., 365 att., 2,845 yds., 64.7 pct., 16 TDs, 5 INTs
WR Shawn Herbert: 66 catches, 744 yds., 11.3 avg., 5 TDs
WR Mark Philmore: 39 catches, 526 yds., 13.5 avg., 4 TDs
LB Tim McGarigle: 122 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT
DB Herschel Henderson: 50 tackles, 3 INTs
THE MATCHUPS Quarterbacks

It’s hard to argue with Troy Smith’s touchdown-to-interception ratio of 10-to-1 over the past four games, but the Buckeyes haven’t faced a defense in that stretch ranked higher than 65th in the nation. Smith admitted he was “fidgety” against a bad Illinois team and completed only 3 of his first 11 passes at home. If he’s fidgety against the Illini, what’s he going to be like when he walks into the Big House next week? Northwestern is dead last in the nation in defense, but the Wildcats are gamblers and could present Smith some problems. They’ve picked off a Big Ten-high 15 passes. Quarterback Brett Basanez will nickle and dime you to death from the spread if you let him as the Buckeyes found out last year. Good pressure by Michigan forced two interceptions and the Wolverines romped.
EDGE: Northwestern
Running backs

Here’s the marquee matchup: freshman Tyrell Sutton vs. sophomore Antonio Pittman, two of Akron’s favorite sons. This looked like no contest the way Sutton burst on the scene, but Pittman has broken loose during OSU’s four-game winning streak and was four yards short last week of a fourth straight 100-yard game. He needs 22 yards to reach 1,000. Sutton is already there with 1,085 yards and 17 touchdowns. Both are excellent receivers. Sutton has 31 catches and Pittman has 11. The difference is Pittman should have an easier time finding holes. He’s not facing Hawk and Co.
EDGE: Even
Receivers Receivers Receivers

Tailback Tyrell Sutton is one of four Wildcat receivers with at least 30 catches. Northwestern leads the Big Ten in passing at 319 yards per game, but it’s more of a ball-control aerial attack. None of Northwestern’s primary targets is averaging more than 13.5 yards per catch. Reynoldsburg, Ohio product Mark Philmore gets one last crack at the Buckeyes after catching 11 passes for 134 yards and a TD in last year’s game. OSU’s Ted Ginn Jr. had a career-best 138 yards receiving last week against Illinois. Holmes had a big day last year against the Wildcats with 10 catches and two TDs, one on a punt return. Saturday is Senior Day and Holmes is only a junior, but the day should be as much of a goodbye to him as the 16 seniors. He’ll be catching passes on Sunday in ’06.
Offensive line

I think we can all agree that during the current winning streak the front five has played as well as any line undr coach Jim Tressel. The first real test since Penn State awaits next week in Ann Arbor. As long as the line keeps giving Troy Smith oodles of time to throw and opens holes for Antonio Pittman, Ohio State is capable of beating anybody. Northwestern’s line has some green spots, but it functioned well until withering against Michigan. That could bode well for the Buckeyes, who are even better than the Wolverines up front.
Defensive line

The challenge for OSU’s front four is two-fold: Contain Tyrell Sutton and get some heat on quarterback Brett Basanez. The latter, in particular, will be tough. Basanez gets rid of the ball quickly out of the spread. The Wildcats have only allowed seven sacks. Ohio State is tied with Penn State for the Big Ten lead with 36, 21.5 of them by linemen if you include Bobby Carpenter with that group. Northwestern has only eight sacks and is getting very little production from their starting ends, a freshman and sophomore. The Wildcats are giving up 199 yards on the ground. Only Indiana and Illinois are worse.
EDGE: OSU
Linebackers

Every year, Northwestern seems to boast the Big Ten’s leading tackler. Normally, that would be a hollow distinction given how much time its defense is on the field, but middle linebacker Tim McGarigle is the real deal. Ask Wisconsin. He made 25 tackles in the win over the Badgers. His 122 stops are more than double his next closest teammates and he also leads the team in TFLs (6.5), sacks (2) and fumble recoveries (2). He also has an interception. That doesn’t mean he’ll go before A.J. Hawk or Bobby Carpenter — or even Anthony Schlegel — in the draft.
EDGE: OSU
Defensive backs

If the Wildcats weren’t giving up an average of 295 yards passing, the OSU secondary would be jealous. Northwestern has picked off 15 passes compared to OSU’s five. Two of the Buckeyes’ picks are by strong safety Donte Whitner, arguably the MVP in the backfield. Free safety Herschel Henderson is Northwestern’s best back with 50 tackles and three picks, but the Wildcats have allowed 15 TD passes. Ohio State, despite its failure to produce turnovers, has given up just six scores through the air. It will be interesting to see if corner Ashton Youboty redeems himself for that awful outing at Minnesota.
EDGE: OSU
Special teams

It’s not exactly on par with Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak, but Josh Huston is working on a string of 16 straight touchbacks. If memory serves, Mike Nugent never did that. Santonio Holmes returned a punt for a touchdown in last year’s game, so don’t expect the Wildcats to kick it in his direction or deep to Ted Ginn Jr. Northwestern’s Marquice Cole has returned a punt 81 yards for a TD and the Wildcats lead the league with a 19.8 average, but they’ve returned only 12 punts all season. Tells you all you need to know about the porous Northwestern defense. Kicker Joel Howells is barely 50 percent on field goal tries and is only 3 of 10 beyond 30 yards.
EDGE: OSU


Originally published November 11, 2005
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[hoat]

LINK




OSU’s loss

By Adam Rittenberg
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Friday, November 11, 2005
Clothed head to toe in red and black, Northwestern freshman running back Tyrell Sutton entered the room with a big smile spanning his boyish face.
Was Sutton’s outfit some sort of joke?
He had spent months distancing himself from Ohio State, the school that barely batted an eyelash his way during the recruiting process. Time and again he told his story of being just another number at Ohio State’s football camp, too small (5-feet-9) and too slow for the school’s inflexible standards.
But now, just five days before returning to his home state to face the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium, Sutton covered himself in red and black, two colors that are only shades away from Ohio State’s famed scarlet and gray.
“No, no, no,” Sutton said, adjusting his red cap to the side. “I like wearing red and black. I just like the colors.”
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Whether he ever liked the Buckeyes is debatable, but Sutton reflects on his fate with the help of two traits that run in his family — pride and perspective.
“It’s good that they’re recognizing something they missed in Ohio,” said Sutton, who is tied for seventh nationally in rushing yards (120.6 yards per game) and ranks sixth in scoring (11.3 points per game). “But for the most part, it’s not a big deal. They miss out on people all the time. It’s just how you cope with it.
“I’m not surprised. They either go for the biggest, strongest guy or the fastest guy. I don’t think there’s any compromise for them.”
Unsolved mystery
It still seems baffling why Ohio State didn’t sincerely pursue Sutton, an Akron native who set the state high school rushing record and was named Mr. Ohio football in 2004. Earlier this week, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called it “a timing issue” and praised Northwestern for offering Sutton early.
But the bigger unknown is whether Sutton, a Michigan fan growing up, would have accepted a scholarship from Ohio State.
“Definitely not,” said Sutton’s mother, Connie. “We really didn’t want Ohio State because of the problems a lot of their players were having outside of football.
“We wanted something with structure. But we were disappointed that they didn’t even attempt even though he was Mr. Football.”
Sutton’s father has a different take.
“If he would have felt wanted, he might have accepted a scholarship from Ohio State,” Tony Sutton Sr. said. “I paid $500 to send him to Ohio State’s camp. He went to their orientation. There was some interest on his part.”
Several of Sutton’s peers ended up in scarlet and gray, including running back Antonio Pittman, another Akron product who is a year older and 2 inches taller than Sutton. Ohio State already has received a verbal commitment for 2006 from Chris Wells, a 6-1 running back from Akron.
How the Buckeyes missed on Sutton remains a mystery.
“I was very surprised,” Pittman said. “For a guy to put up the stats he put up and to not really get the offers that he deserved, I don’t know what it was.
“I wish we had him. Without a doubt.”
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranked Sutton as the nation’s 20th-best running back in his Prep Football Report. But Northwestern and Illinois were the only BCS schools to seriously chase Sutton.
“I don’t care about height, but colleges do because they’re limited with scholarships,” Lemming said. “Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame all turned their back on him.
“I learned my lesson with Barry Sanders, who I thought was too small. If I see a guy who played against good competition like (Sutton) did and is racking up the yards that he did with great vision and surprising strength, I’m not going to push him aside.”
Brother to brother
Sutton wasn’t the first running back in his family to be overlooked in the recruiting process. His older brother Tony Jr. had a similar outcome after starring at Archbishop Hoban High School.
As in Tyrell’s case, Tony’s size (5-10) kept the big schools away. Several teams wanted him as a defensive back, but he refused to switch positions.
Tony Jr.’s grades also limited his chances of playing Division I-A football, so he started out at Division II Findlay before moving to the College of Wooster, a Division III school.
At Wooster, he became the first player in NCAA football history to lead all divisions in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards in consecutive seasons.
Tony now coaches running backs at Wooster.
“I wouldn’t change anything about my playing days,” he said. “But I knew ever since Tyrell was in high school, he would get the chance I never got.”
Tyrell shadowed Tony Jr. throughout their childhood and started playing football with older boys.
“In our neighborhood, we always played football either in the street or in the grass,” Tony said. “We had rules where if you’re in the street, it’s (two-hand touch) below the waist. If you go in the grass, it’s tackle. We always liked to go in the grass and make people tackle us.
“You never want one guy to bring you down. It’s going to take at least two, three, four, maybe five people.”
Being around Tony helped Tyrell understand what to expect as a running back.
“I’m his successor,” Tyrell said. “I do everything he does. If there’s anything I need or any questions I have, I go to him.
“He’s my best friend.”
Tony also serves as Tyrell’s chief advocate. Though Tyrell entered the 2005 season behind Brandon Roberson on Northwestern’s depth chart, his older brother gave him three games to become the starter.
Turned out it only took one. When Roberson injured his ankle in the season opener, Sutton stepped in. Seven games later, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
“I knew he would make a difference,” Tony said.
Beyond his years
Mature is the word Sutton’s Northwestern teammates most often use to describe him. That doesn’t surprise Tony Sutton Sr.
“He’s basically three years older than what he is,” Tony Sr. said.
Accompanying that maturity is a resolve that Tony Sr. noticed when Tyrell was a young boy.
“One day we were all over at his cousin’s house,” Tony Sr. said. “He did something and I was trying to make him apologize to his cousin. He was so determined that he was not going to apologize because he wasn’t sorry for what he did.
“I had to start whupping him, but I knew at that point that he was going to be determined in whatever he did.”
Sutton’s drive has emerged this season at Northwestern. Wildcats linebacker Mike Dinard even sees it on Sundays when he and Sutton review the tape of Northwestern’s games in their dorm room.
“He tells me, ‘Oh man, I messed up on that play,’æ” Dinard said. “I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? You gained 12 yards.’ He’s really critical of himself, but to be as good as he is, you have to be.”
Sutton doesn’t expect Saturday’s game (11 a.m., Channel 7) to be much different from his first eight as a college player. But those who know him best admit there will be a little more at stake.
“You always want to be appreciated at home,” Tony Sr. said. “He’s Ohio. He’s Mr. Ohio, and he has something to prove. You can say all the right things, but emotions are going to ride.
“This won’t be another game for him.”
• Printable version

 

[greyscarlet]

For whoevers interested tickets are once again on sale on hangonsloopy.com

 

[Taosman]

ABC game. Do we get Musberger?

Am I the only one who finds Sober's avatar, Burger King, creepy?

 

[jwinslow]

The king is creepy in general

 

[rocketman]

We got Musberger and Danielson.

Oh, and I am really sick and tired of Sutton making himself out to be like he got screwed over by Ohio State when he never really had any interest in the program to begin with. I went to my parents house yesterday, and the only fucking article regarding Ohio State and football in the Cincinnati Enquirer was about how Sutton is the shit and OSU screwed up. Here's to Hawk and co. holding Sutton to practically nothing rushing, and Pittman putting lighting the field on fire on the ground.

 

[sandgk]

We got Musberger and Danielson.

Oh, and I am really sick and tired of Sutton making himself out to be like he got screwed over by Ohio State when he never really had any interest in the program to begin with. I went to my parents house yesterday, and the only fucking article regarding Ohio State and football in the Cincinnati Enquirer was about how Sutton is the shit and OSU screwed up. Here's to Hawk and co. holding Sutton to practically nothing rushing, and Pittman putting lighting the field on fire on the ground.

You know - there are are only so many roster spots - we cannot take all the athletes available, Ohio is simply too rich in football talent for that. Anyway, he has put up diminished numbers these last two weeks - against weaker defenses than the Buckeyes bring to bear. I figure he is in for a low total tomorrow and our pass rush does get to take a bead on Basanez to boot. Unlike the Minny game (where we were also away from home), orlike the Spartans when the secondary was banged up, this time our DBs should be in fine fettle.

 

[808 Buck]

LINK




OSU’s loss

By Adam Rittenberg
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Friday, November 11, 2005
Clothed head to toe in red and black, Northwestern freshman running back Tyrell Sutton entered the room with a big smile spanning his boyish face.
Was Sutton’s outfit some sort of joke?
He had spent months distancing himself from Ohio State, the school that barely batted an eyelash his way during the recruiting process. Time and again he told his story of being just another number at Ohio State’s football camp, too small (5-feet-9) and too slow for the school’s inflexible standards.
But now, just five days before returning to his home state to face the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium, Sutton covered himself in red and black, two colors that are only shades away from Ohio State’s famed scarlet and gray.
“No, no, no,” Sutton said, adjusting his red cap to the side. “I like wearing red and black. I just like the colors.”
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</TD><TD>

</TD><TD class=photoCaption></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Whether he ever liked the Buckeyes is debatable, but Sutton reflects on his fate with the help of two traits that run in his family — pride and perspective.
“It’s good that they’re recognizing something they missed in Ohio,” said Sutton, who is tied for seventh nationally in rushing yards (120.6 yards per game) and ranks sixth in scoring (11.3 points per game). “But for the most part, it’s not a big deal. They miss out on people all the time. It’s just how you cope with it.
“I’m not surprised. They either go for the biggest, strongest guy or the fastest guy. I don’t think there’s any compromise for them.”
Unsolved mystery
It still seems baffling why Ohio State didn’t sincerely pursue Sutton, an Akron native who set the state high school rushing record and was named Mr. Ohio football in 2004. Earlier this week, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called it “a timing issue” and praised Northwestern for offering Sutton early.
But the bigger unknown is whether Sutton, a Michigan fan growing up, would have accepted a scholarship from Ohio State.
“Definitely not,” said Sutton’s mother, Connie. “We really didn’t want Ohio State because of the problems a lot of their players were having outside of football.
“We wanted something with structure. But we were disappointed that they didn’t even attempt even though he was Mr. Football.”
Sutton’s father has a different take.
“If he would have felt wanted, he might have accepted a scholarship from Ohio State,” Tony Sutton Sr. said. “I paid $500 to send him to Ohio State’s camp. He went to their orientation. There was some interest on his part.”
Several of Sutton’s peers ended up in scarlet and gray, including running back Antonio Pittman, another Akron product who is a year older and 2 inches taller than Sutton. Ohio State already has received a verbal commitment for 2006 from Chris Wells, a 6-1 running back from Akron.
How the Buckeyes missed on Sutton remains a mystery.
“I was very surprised,” Pittman said. “For a guy to put up the stats he put up and to not really get the offers that he deserved, I don’t know what it was.
“I wish we had him. Without a doubt.”
Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranked Sutton as the nation’s 20th-best running back in his Prep Football Report. But Northwestern and Illinois were the only BCS schools to seriously chase Sutton.
“I don’t care about height, but colleges do because they’re limited with scholarships,” Lemming said. “Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame all turned their back on him.
“I learned my lesson with Barry Sanders, who I thought was too small. If I see a guy who played against good competition like (Sutton) did and is racking up the yards that he did with great vision and surprising strength, I’m not going to push him aside.”
Brother to brother
Sutton wasn’t the first running back in his family to be overlooked in the recruiting process. His older brother Tony Jr. had a similar outcome after starring at Archbishop Hoban High School.
As in Tyrell’s case, Tony’s size (5-10) kept the big schools away. Several teams wanted him as a defensive back, but he refused to switch positions.
Tony Jr.’s grades also limited his chances of playing Division I-A football, so he started out at Division II Findlay before moving to the College of Wooster, a Division III school.
At Wooster, he became the first player in NCAA football history to lead all divisions in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards in consecutive seasons.
Tony now coaches running backs at Wooster.
“I wouldn’t change anything about my playing days,” he said. “But I knew ever since Tyrell was in high school, he would get the chance I never got.”
Tyrell shadowed Tony Jr. throughout their childhood and started playing football with older boys.
“In our neighborhood, we always played football either in the street or in the grass,” Tony said. “We had rules where if you’re in the street, it’s (two-hand touch) below the waist. If you go in the grass, it’s tackle. We always liked to go in the grass and make people tackle us.
“You never want one guy to bring you down. It’s going to take at least two, three, four, maybe five people.”
Being around Tony helped Tyrell understand what to expect as a running back.
“I’m his successor,” Tyrell said. “I do everything he does. If there’s anything I need or any questions I have, I go to him.
“He’s my best friend.”
Tony also serves as Tyrell’s chief advocate. Though Tyrell entered the 2005 season behind Brandon Roberson on Northwestern’s depth chart, his older brother gave him three games to become the starter.
Turned out it only took one. When Roberson injured his ankle in the season opener, Sutton stepped in. Seven games later, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
“I knew he would make a difference,” Tony said.
Beyond his years
Mature is the word Sutton’s Northwestern teammates most often use to describe him. That doesn’t surprise Tony Sutton Sr.
“He’s basically three years older than what he is,” Tony Sr. said.
Accompanying that maturity is a resolve that Tony Sr. noticed when Tyrell was a young boy.
“One day we were all over at his cousin’s house,” Tony Sr. said. “He did something and I was trying to make him apologize to his cousin. He was so determined that he was not going to apologize because he wasn’t sorry for what he did.
“I had to start whupping him, but I knew at that point that he was going to be determined in whatever he did.”
Sutton’s drive has emerged this season at Northwestern. Wildcats linebacker Mike Dinard even sees it on Sundays when he and Sutton review the tape of Northwestern’s games in their dorm room.
“He tells me, ‘Oh man, I messed up on that play,’æ” Dinard said. “I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? You gained 12 yards.’ He’s really critical of himself, but to be as good as he is, you have to be.”
Sutton doesn’t expect Saturday’s game (11 a.m., Channel 7) to be much different from his first eight as a college player. But those who know him best admit there will be a little more at stake.
“You always want to be appreciated at home,” Tony Sr. said. “He’s Ohio. He’s Mr. Ohio, and he has something to prove. You can say all the right things, but emotions are going to ride.
“This won’t be another game for him.”
• Printable version

Let's see, (1) grew up a Michigan fan, (2) wouldn't have accepted a scholarship if offered, according to mommy, and (3) doesn't think tomorrow's game will any different than the others. Other than that, we're from Ohio, and this is all Ohio State's fault. I beg to differ with the Suttons on one issue - tomorrow, Senior Day for a tremendous group of young men, will be unlike anything he has experienced. One more thing, if I was a running back tomorrow, I'd make sure I know where #9 and #21 were at all times.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Stuff their running game, maintain QB containment on the outside, and provide at least a decent pass rush, and his game won't even be close.

They scored 27 regulation points on us last year, at their place, against a defense that was still somewhat lost. Now, they have to come to our place, on our Senior Day, against a defense that has seen every type of spread offense ever devised. I'll be stunned if they break 20 points. We destroyed Drew Tate in our other revenge game, and Basanez is no Drew Tate. Their defense is literally the worst in D-IA, and we've scored 40+ the last three weeks against better defenses (twice on the road). Plus I hate that weasel-lookin' Randy Walker. Here's to fuckin' up Northwestern big time...

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

What Mili just said almost describes how I feel. I say "almost" because words can't really capture this. I am sick as a dog, but am nevertheless so fired up I can't sleep or even eat. I haven't been this fired up for a game in a long time.

Is it because NW beat us last year? Partially
Is it because of AJ? Absolutely.
Is it because of Nate, Nick, and all the other seniors? You bet.

But that still doesn't really cover it.

I'm telling you guys, in spite of all the superlatives and hyperbole; we STILL don't really appreciate this day for what it is, YET.

Some senior week, 10 years from now; a thread will begin with a title "Best Senior Week of All Time". We'll all say 2005, hands down.

Especially for the way we tore NW apart.

 

[timBUCK2]

I'm totally stoked about this game. I'm gonna get down there around 7:00 - anyone here throwing their own tailgate or have any suggestions for tailgates to visit?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I am heading out the door in a few minutes to hook up with a buddy and go to the game....

scout.com (free)

11/12/05

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Nick Mangold

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Steve Helwagen
Managing Editor
Date: Nov 11, 2005

The Buckeyes have scored 40 or more points in three straight games. OSU, led by senior co-captain Nick Mangold, is looking for big numbers again as Northwestern, ranked 117th (dead last) in total defense, invades Ohio Stadium today (noon, ABC). Click this free link for comments from OSU offensive coaches and players.
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The Ohio State offense has scored 40 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since 1995. The Buckeyes can make it four in a row today if they’re able to keep their newfound momentum going against Northwestern, which has a defense rated 117th (and last) in Division I-A.
We have comments from OSU coaches and players on the match-up of the OSU offense and the Northwestern defense.
Jim Tressel, head coach
* Comments on the NU defense -- “When you shift gears to their defensive team, it's an interesting study. When you look at their whole season, you would say those numbers aren't as impressive as you'd like. Then, when you pare off their preconference games and take those numbers out of it, and put the numbers of just the conference games, and you start to say, ‘You know what, their numbers are solid.’
“The biggest number, of course, that all of you know is the -- maybe the second most dear number to me is the turnover margin. And they're ranked number one in the conference, whether you count all games or just Big Ten games. And we're last. And, you know, that's something that on Saturday cannot end up that way because the team that wins the turnover margin typically wins the football game.”
* On Troy Smith’s improved play -- “Probably the biggest area that I've seen him grow in is his comfort and command of playing that position. You have to work at it so hard, and you have to understand that people are going to do different things each week. And you have to try to learn the evolution of someone's defense, it's not simply they're going to line up this way against this formation. I've been really pleased with his work ethic to gain that command.
“He's always been highly competitive. And he continues to be so. An excellent leader just by the nature of how much it means to him.”
* On Smith’s film watching -- “Sometimes film-watching is overevaluated, you became like you're in front of a TV set or something, and you're looking for a big hit or something, I call that recreational study. And that's not the way you learn the game. You learn the game by trying to figure out the whys and the wherefores, and that takes time. And the older you get, the more you understand it. And, you know, I've been pleased with his progress. But it's got to continue, obviously.”
* On NU’s poor defensive rankings -- “Well, I think their first three games, there were some extraordinary numbers against them. And sometimes when that happens, you never catch up. And I haven't put a whole bunch of focus on the whole year thing, I've looked at the Big Ten, and I've also asked myself this question: 24 takeaways. What's that worth in yards? You know, if you think about that. You know, how many yards is that, you know, the equivalent of?
“And so I think they get better and better and better. They had, I think -- gosh, probably at least six new starters there early. And if you look at them now, you wouldn't say, you know, that that looks like someone who would have those numbers. And people haven't had those kind of numbers recently.”
Rob Sims, OG
* On whether players congratulate the offensive line -- “(Antonio) Pittman always congratulates any time he has a big gain. Whenever we have great protection and Troy throws a long score, they always congratulate us. They’re thankful for what we do up front.”
* On the NU defense -- “Watching video, you wouldn’t know that they are as bad statistically as people say they are. I think they had some problems in the early games. They gave up some yards and they had some young guys in there as well. They’re well coached. They come and play hard. They aren’t afraid of anybody.”
* On the state of the offense -- “Since I’ve been here, this is probably the best it’s been. This whole year, I think has been better. The offensive line has been playing good as a whole. Tony Pittman has been creating a spark. Troy has been having a great season and we want to finish up strong.
“I think he’s comfortable and he just goes out there and does his thing. He has eliminated those turnovers. If he can do that, he’ll be that great player that we know he is.”
Nick Mangold, C
* On Pittman’s play -- “It’s a great feeling. It shows you how much he wants to be out there and get after people. It’s a great feeling to see that happen. I love to watch him break tackles and run over people. I can’t wait to see him over the next few years become one of the great backs in the Big Ten and in the country.”
* On NU’s defensive ranking -- “I think one of the deceiving things is if you look at the preseason they had some trouble. Maybe they weren’t sure of what was going on. But as the Big Ten has gone on, they’ve been in the middle of the pack.”
* On Smith -- “I think he has had a great year. I think the time he was away – I’m not going to say it put him in his place – but it made him realize how quickly things can be lost. It humbled him a lot. He has taken that in stride and has just kept working.”
* On the way NU battled back to defeat Iowa last week -- “You see that and know you’ll have to play for 60 minutes. No matter what your lead may be, you know they could come back real quickly. One of the goals for our offense will be to hold on to the ball and score points. We have to keep them battling instead of just going back and forth.”
Jim Bollman, offensive coordinator
* On going deep against Illinois -- “We thought we would have some chances to go deep. Some other people have had chances to do that in the past. He made a great throw to Teddy on the one. That is for sure.”
* On Pittman -- “He had some pretty good runs. He was running pretty hard. That touchdown in the second half was a pretty good run.”
* On OSU’s sudden high scoring ability -- “None of us mind scoring points. We might like to score them more consistently than we did in the first half.”
* On whether the offense is satisfied -- “I never have been in 30 years yet. I’m not going to start now. We need to keep the ball rolling. It’s November. (Northwestern) has put a lot of points on people all year. We will have to do our part to put some points on the board and keep the defense off the field.”
John Peterson, tight ends coach
* On the importance of this game -- “It’s that time of year. It’s a championship game. Guys have been flying around and getting ready for the game on Saturday. No question. It’s November and every game is a championship game.”
* On Ryan Hamby’s status -- “Ryan is still doing rehab from a knee injury. He is still day to day.”
* On Marcel Frost stepping in at tight end -- “Marcel has stepped right up and met the challenge when Ryan was hurt. He keeps getting better. With every rep he takes, he learns. He’s doing a nice job for us.”
* On emergency options at tight end -- “You have options with (Andree) Tyree and (Tim) Schafer. They are both big, athletic guys who could step in and fill a role.”
* On the NU defense -- “They’re a very sound defense, well coached. They blitz at key times in third-down situations. They keep you off balance in those situations. They are very sound fundamentally in what they do. They try not to give up big plays and make you earn them.
“They have about 15 interceptions. They do a nice job of sitting on some routes and anticipating what a quarterback does.
“You look at their early season games. I think Arizona State when they went out there they hit a bump in the road. You watch their tape and they get better and better. Their offense puts up a lot of points. They’ve proven that there is no (lead) that makes a difference.
“They can run. Their linebacker corps is fast. They run side to side well. They are very disciplined in what they do.”
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