Game Thread Game Two: #1 Ohio State 24, #2 Texas 7 (9/9/06)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Chicago-Tribune

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Buckeyes post a 1st-rate win

Avenge last year's loss to Longhorns

OHIO STATE 24, TEXAS 7

By Melissa Isaacson
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 10, 2006


AUSTIN, Texas -- It was as unnatural as it was excruciating, two of the top college football programs in the land putting their seasons on the line before the NFL's first big Sunday.

But there they were Saturday night, the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 2 Texas Longhorns playing for pride, in the Buckeyes' case retribution, and in both cases quite possibly the national championship.

Texas coach Mack Brown questioned the "huge risk-reward" involved in a game of such magnitude so early in the season, and Ohio State's Jim Tressel conceded it was unlikely the loser of Saturday night's game could win the national championship.

If it seemed anticlimactic, then the game reflected it. Save for a handful of big plays, the contest fell somewhat short of the hype before Ohio State ultimately prevailed 24-7.

The Buckeyes effectively put the game away when Antonio Pittman scored from 2 yards out with 6 minutes 33 seconds left in the game to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive that ate up almost six minutes of playing time.

Ohio State fans came from every part of the country for the first No. 1 versus No. 2 regular-season college football battle in 10 years, flooding every airport carousel with T-shirts that read "Beat Texas," and some with more indelicate wishes.

Approximately 35,000 Buckeye fans made the trip to Austin for the privilege of having a 40 percent chance of cramming into the Longhorns' basketball arena to watch the game on closed-circuit television four blocks away from Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Their feverishness is nothing new, but it certainly was racheted up after the Longhorns' 25-22 victory over their Buckeyes in Columbus last season propelled Texas to the national title.

The Longhorns, riding a 21-game winning streak, had something to prove of their own, however. Specifically, that quarterback Colt McCoy, a baby-faced redshirt freshman from a town that could fit into Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium about 120 times over, could pick up where Vince Young left off.

But it was Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith who has drawn the most comparisons to Young and who fit the part closer through the first three quarters, completing 14 of 21 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns while McCoy was 13 of 21 for 100 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

The Buckeyes squandered their first scoring opportunity when Aaron Pettrey hooked a 28-yard field-goal attempt wide left on the opening series, a possession buoyed by a 46-yard pass play from Smith to Ted Ginn Jr. on the second play of the game.

The Longhorns threatened on a drive that began on their 20 and took them to the Ohio State 2-yard-line on a pass from McCoy to Billy Pittman, but there it was jarred loose by Buckeyes middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and recovered by Donald Washington, who returned the ball 48 yards to midfield.

The Buckeyes scored on a 14-yard pass from Smith to Anthony Gonzalez, who also caught passes of 26 and 17 yards on the drive.

The game settled briefly into a defensive, grind-it-out affair in the second quarter with the teams going four possessions without crossing midfield before the Longhorns tied the game on a 7-minute-plus drive going 13 plays and 78 yards and culminating with a 2-yard touchdown pass on a rollout from McCoy to Billy Pittman.

The Buckeyes opened it up on the ensuing possession with Smith hooking up with Ginn Jr. and Gonzalez on four pass plays for 63 yards, including a 29-yarder to Ginn Jr. in the left corner of the end zone to put Ohio State ahead 14-7 at the half.

Laurinaitis stopped the Longhorns again early in the third quarter, this time with an interception, returning the ball 25 yards to the Texas 21 to set up a 21-yard Pettrey field goal putting the Buckeyes up 17-7.

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[email protected]

Toledo-Blade

Payback!: No. 1 OSU dominates No. 2 Texas

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


AUSTIN - Long before No. 1 Ohio State came deep in the heart of Texas to face the No. 2 Longhorns, the word was out. The Buckeyes had oodles of offensive firepower, but a somewhat suspect defense.

With nine starters lost from last year's vintage group, the OSU defense was supposedly softer, and vulnerable.

That story line is a tough sell here today, however, as the Buckeyes defense came up with two game-changing turnovers that both led to scores in a 24-7 victory over the defending national champions, ending the 21-game winning streak of the Longhorns.

"They have a great defense, and they have a great team," Texas running back Selvin Young said. "They are the No. 1 team in the country for a reason. They have a lot of great players, and the best team won."

The first huge defensive moment came in a scoreless game with Texas threatening at the Ohio State 7-yard line.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy hit Billy Pittman with a short pass, and after Ohio State safety Brandon Mitchell wrapped up Pittman, linebacker James Laurinaitis knocked the ball loose. Cornerback Donald Washington picked it up at the 1 and raced down the sideline to midfield.

Ohio State scored the game's first touchdown following that Texas turnover.

The Buckeyes' defense created another big momentum swing on the third play of the second half when Laurinaitis stepped in front of a Texas receiver and picked off a McCoy pass near midfield. He returned it 25 yards to the Longhorns' 21. An Ohio State field goal gave the Buckeyes a little breathing room.
"I felt like the two differences in the ballgame were their ability to make plays at the ends of drives, and our inability to do that," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "They turned those turnovers into points."
Ohio State also got a major effort from wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a junior from Cleveland who had a career high for receptions and receiving yards - in the first half. Gonzalez caught seven passes for 122 yards in the opening half as the Buckeyes opened up a 14-7 lead. Gonzalez finished the game with eight catches for 142 yards and one touchdown, while Ted Ginn Jr. caught five passes for 97 yards and a score.
OSU quarterback Troy Smith was 17 of 26 passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
"Gonzalez made so many plays tonight - he just caught everything," Brown said. "They deserve to be No. 1. Troy Smith made play after play and Ted Ginn was as good as advertised. And Gonzalez - he and Smith were probably the biggest factors for them offensively."
Smith said his protection from the offensive line was a key.
"Without the guys up front playing great we don't get this done," Smith said. "I think they only allowed one sack all night. We stuck with our game plan, and that was the result of endless hours of film study, by both the players and the coaching staff."
The Buckeyes took the game's opening kickoff and surgically worked their way through Texas, combining four runs by Antonio Pittman with a 46-yard pass play from Smith to Ginn. Ginn took the ball over the middle and accelerated toward the Texas sideline before running out of bounds at the Longhorns' 31.
After a 12-yard gain by Pittman got Ohio State a first down at the 19, he picked up seven more on successive carries before Smith scrambled for just a yard, leaving a fourth-and-two at the Texas 11. Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey then yanked a 28-yard field goal try wide left.
After Ohio State stuffed the Longhorns' first possession, Texas marched down the field with a series of rushing plays. After a pass interference call put the Longhorns in business at the seven, McCoy hit Pittman with the short pass that Ohio State's defense turned into the fumble recovery by Washington.
After Washington's return to midfield, Smith hit Gonzalez for 26 yards, then went back to Gonzalez for a 17-yard gain to the 12-yard line three plays later. After Smith lost two yards, he found Gonzalez streaking along the goal line and hit him at the sideline for a touchdown. Pettrey connected on the extra-point and a 7-0 lead.
The first quarter ended with Texas exploiting the outside again, this time with Selvin Young for a 30-yard gain to the 50. Ohio State halted that drive, but the Longhorns put together a 78-yard scoring possession later in the second quarter.
Mixing the running of Jamaal Charles and Young with a couple of pass plays for first downs, Texas had a third-and-6 from the Ohio State nine when defensive end Jay Richardson came barreling in on McCoy just as he released the ball. The pass was incomplete, but Richardson was called for an illegal blow to the head, giving Texas a first down at the 4. Two plays later McCoy hit Pittman just over the goal line for a TD. Greg Johnson's kick tied it at 7-7 with just under two minutes left in the half.
The Buckeyes worked the ball down the field in a hurry, with Smith hitting Gonzalez three straight plays to set Ohio State up at the Texas 29. A lob to Ginn in the left corner of the end zone burned the Longhorns and gave Ohio State a 14-7 edge at the half.
Ohio State's defense created the second big momentum swing on the third play of the second half when Laurinaitis made his interception. He returned it 25 yards to the Longhorns' 21, but a sack stunted the Buckeyes' effort from there and Ohio State settled for a 31-yard field goal by Pettrey, his first as a Buckeye, and a 17-7 lead.
Texas moved its way down the field early in the fourth quarter, but had its drive stall at the Ohio State 28 after Young dropped a wide open pass with lots of daylight ahead of him. Greg Johnson's 45-yard field goal attempt sailed wide, and the Buckeyes had the ball back with 12 minutes left.
After a pair of penalties had Ohio State bogged down near the Texas 40, a face-mask call on the Longhorns gave the Buckeyes a first down at the 20. A 12-yard completion to Brian Robiskie set the Buckeyes up at the 6-yard line, and Antonio Pittman punched it in two plays later for a 24-7 Ohio State lead with 6:31 left.
Smith said despite the tremendous buildup of the No. 1 vs. No. 2, and all the talk about the sting of last year's loss in Columbus, it was not about getting even.
"The whole game was a great game," Smith said, "but this is not a revenge thing. Any and every win we get throughout the season is a good win."
Contact Matt Markey at: [email protected] or 419-724-6510.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Cleveland leads OSU through Texas sunset


Sunday, September 10, 2006

Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist

Austin, Texas- Rain had fallen just before game day began. It was hot, it stung, and it teased little relief from the burning sky. Because of the heat at kickoff Saturday night, every patron who wanted one received a hand-held cardboard fan as he came through the gates of Royal-Memorial Stadium.
Each bore the slogan "Texas fans - Make us proud."
Pride is a grand thing, and both Ohio State and Texas are programs with plenty of it. But when the Buckeyes beat Texas, 24-7, handing the defending national champions their first loss after 21 straight wins, it was the people of Cleveland, in particular, whose chests puffed with pride.
By now, the OSU publicity machine has made the nation aware, by emphasis on their performance on the field and by a weekly conference call to probe their thoughts on upcoming games, of quarterback Troy Smith and receiver Ted Ginn Jr. as Heisman Trophy candidates.
It created a buzz that had the Longhorns fixated on Ginn. Into the gaps the Ginn-centric defense created went another Clevelander, Anthony Gonzalez. Let's just say no one is missing Santonio Holmes, gone to the NFL, any longer.
Together, Gonzalez and Ginn produced 13 catches and all but 30 of Smith's 269 passing yards.
If LeBron James, attending the game on the Ohio State sideline, had a sidekick such as Gonzalez, you could schedule the Cavaliers' championship parade down Euclid Avenue soon.
Gonzalez will go over the middle. He will move the sticks. He is all-but-tireless, a result of spending 18 hours a day in a high-altitude tent. The tent is designed to oxygenate him from his toes to his celebrated philosophy major's head.
Gonzalez went over 100 yards in receiving in the first half alone. He caught the first touchdown pass, a 14-yarder from Smith.
"We had such a focus on stopping Troy and [Antonio] Pittman and Ginn," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "But Gonzalez and Troy were the difference for them." Thanks to a controversial, third-down roughing-the-passer penalty, Texas drew even, 7-7, late in the first half.
No way the Longhorns wanted the ball to go to Ginn on the next kickoff. As the resulting squib kick skittered across the grass, Gonzalez scooped it up and dashed it back 15 yards to the 34-yard line of OSU. Then sultry Central Texas started looking very much a place in the throes of the lake effect.
Smith hit Gonzalez for 13 yards, Gonzalez again for 23 yards, and then, on a play beginning at the Texas 29 with 22 seconds left, he hit Ginn for everything that was left.
Texas left cornerback Aaron Ross alone with Ginn, who feigned a break to the outside and then was as open as a drawbridge in the Flats during heavy traffic on the Cuyahoga. Smith arched a perfect pass over his high school teammate's shoulder for the score.
Ohio State, which had had the lead most of the game last year, until Vince Young's muscular hocus-pocus snatched it away, did nothing but expand on the margin in the second half.
Smith has never been better. For the critics who harped that he had never beaten a really first-rate defense, well, next assignment, please.
On the drive that put the game away in the fourth quarter, Smith found Gonzalez, Ginn, and even freshman Brian Robiskie, the son of the Browns' assistant coach, for key gains. Robiskie converted a third-and-8 inside the 20.
By then, Texas had used up all its special effects.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, a Texas alum, tried to whip up the crowd. Although he appeared, larger than life, on the huge replay board, McConaughey experienced failure to launch.
Earl Campbell, the Heisman Trophy winner a generation ago, had been wheeled out on a golf cart at halftime. A statue of the former Heisman winner was dedicated outside the stadium before the game began. For their part, the Buckeyes let the scoreboard be their monument.
To reach Bill Livingston:
[email protected], 216-999-4672
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Previous columns online:
cleveland.com/columns

ESPN.com

Smith, Gonzalez jump-start Buckeyes' season


AUSTIN, Texas -- There are 10 games left before we know for sure, but it's possible that a national championship season started coming into sharp focus on a sweaty Saturday night in Austin.
Ohio State's 24-7 punishing of defending champ Texas might do for the Buckeyes what the game in Columbus last year did for the Longhorns. Texas bounced on that September springboard in the Horseshoe and it propelled Mack Brown's team all the way to Pasadena. We'll see whether Ohio State gets the same lift from this game.

Karl Wright-US PRESSWIRE Copyright (c) 2006 Karl Wright
Anthony Gonzalez led the Buckeyes with eight catches for 142 yards and a TD.



There were similarities. The stakes were towering, the game in prime time, the hype immense. The visiting team joyously sang the school song behind one end zone with its celebrating fans, while the home fans sullenly filed out. The quarterback wearing No. 10 in white was the best player on the field (last year Vince Young, this year Troy Smith). The losing team had a playing-time controversy to stew on (last year Smith did not start after serving a two-game NCAA suspension, this year Texas suspended starting cornerback Tarell Brown). And an underappreciated receiver played the hero (last year Limas Sweed, this year Anthony Gonzalez).
Will there be a similar boost in confidence for the winner -- a boost that carries it all the way into January?
"That's always the hope," said Gonzalez, who had eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. "But there's still 10 games left in the season. This isn't easy.
"I said after the Michigan game last year, winning the Big Ten is not easy. I can only imagine that winning a national title is twice as hard."
It ain't easy, and there are some large land mines in Ohio State's path in the coming months -- notably Iowa on the road Sept. 30 and Michigan Nov. 18.
"There's that one at the end," Gonzalez said of the annual blood feud with the Wolverines. "I don't care what happens, that's the hardest game."
It's true that this game wasn't terribly hard for Ohio State to win. There are legitimate questions about how good Texas is without Superman in Cleats at quarterback.
That VY magic that transformed the Horns from a program that couldn't win the big one into the program that won 'em all? It's gone. Without it, Texas looked talented but flawed Saturday night.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo
After beating Texas, Jim Tressel's Buckeyes are in position to make a title run.



The Buckeyes did not have to be great to beat Texas soundly; they merely had to be solid. Many of the questions about Ohio State's rebuilt defense were answered in this game, but the Longhorns bailed out the Buckeyes with some critical errors. And OSU's running game was weak, producing just 79 yards on 29 carries.
Bottom line: We still don't know whether Jim Tressel's team has greatness in it.
But nobody else has gone into Austin and won by this much this century. Having accomplished that, Ohio State can go down the road to Arizona with as much optimism as any team in America.
"It's a big confidence factor to beat a team like this," said cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. "As long as we keep getting better and take it week by week, we could be there."
There was no better place on Planet Chinstrap to be Saturday night than here in Austin. This was No. 1 vs. No. 2, and it attracted more star power than the ESPYS. The list of legends was longer than Bevo's horns: Lance Armstrong, LeBron James, Jack Nicklaus, Emmitt Smith, Earl Campbell, Archie Griffin, Eddie George and Cris Carter, to name a few.
If you're scoring at home, there are seven Tour de France yellow jerseys, 18 major titles, three Super Bowl rings, four Heisman Trophies and a whole lot of Nike dollars in that group.
Unfortunately -- and perhaps inevitably -- the game could not live up to all the buildup. Bucks-Horns II had none of the drama of Bucks-Horns I.
The easiest explanation for the drama deficit is the quarterback position. Colt McCoy is a tough guy and a fine player for a redshirt freshman. But this was hardly the spot for a kid playing his second college game to become a hero. Ohio State's edge at the most important position was every bit as pronounced as the final margin.
Smith simply continued the magnificent roll he began at the end of 2005. He hasn't thrown an interception since November, and in his last four games he's completed 70 percent of his passes. He's gone from a scrambling type with sketchy accuracy to a master of the position -- and, not coincidentally, he's pushed himself to the front of the Heisman Trophy race.

Eric Gay/AP Photo
Ted Ginn Jr. caught five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.



Of course, it helps to have the scariest wide receiver in America to throw to. That would be Ted Ginn Jr., who had two explosive plays Saturday -- a 46-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter and a 29-yard touchdown catch to end a sharp two-minute-drill drive just before halftime.
But while the eyes of Texas were upon Ginn, they should have at least stolen a glance at Gonzalez to see what he was up to. The hands of Texas' defensive backs rarely touched him.
"They were a lot more concerned with Ted than me," Gonzalez said. "Anybody with a brain would have been a lot more concerned with Ted than me."
Gonzalez's self-deprecation is as polished as his route running. He's not your typical diva wideout.
He's got a shaved head, less as a fashion statement than as an admission of baldness. "If I could [grow my hair], it would be long, I'd put it in a ponytail and it would be jet black," said Gonzalez.
Before Saturday, he'd never had a 100-yard receiving game. And before a couple of years ago, his future didn't figure to include any thoughts of playing pro football.
"I had a dream to go to Stanford law school," Gonzalez said. "I looked at my GPA and figured I'd better start getting 4.0s."
So he did. Now he has twin dreams -- law school and the NFL.
But first things first. A national championship chase is under way in Columbus, and got a powerful boost here.
"It means a lot," Gonzalez said. "It probably doesn't mean as much as everyone thinks it does."
We'll know for sure 10 games down the road. Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected].

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Here are some great pics of from the game last night.....

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Fullback Dionte Johnson #49 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a 24-7 win against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Tailback Antonio Pittman #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressell, center, sings the school song after his team beat 24-7 in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Tailback Maurice Wells #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ohio State fans reach for coach Jim Tressell, right, after beating Texas, 24-7, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Cornerback Kurt Coleman #4 and Nick Patterson #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate a 24-7 win against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Troy Smith #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown with Antonio Pittman #25 against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 24-7. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Running back Antonio Pittman #25 scores a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 24-7. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a 24-7 win against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (12) walks off the field with tackle Frank Okam (97) after losing to Ohio State, 24-7, in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (12) is sacked in the 4th quarter by Ohio State's Quinn Pitcock (90) and David Patterson for a loss of 6 yards in therir football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. (7) is tackled by Texas Ryan Palmer (29) in the 3rd quarter of their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ohio State's Antonio Pittman (25) is tackled by Texas Roddrick Muckelroy (38) after picking up 11 yards in the 3rd quarter of their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Receiver Anthony Gonzalez #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs out of bounds against Aaron Ross #31 of the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Texas Longhorns pitches the ball to Jamaal Charles #25 during play against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 09: Running back Selvin Young #22 of the Texas Longhorns is tackled by Ross Homan #51 of the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes yells during play against the Texas Longhorns on September 9, 2006 at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ohio State flanker Ted Ginn Jr. (7) celebrates his 2nd quarter touchdown against Texas with teammate Anthony Gonzalez (11) in their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith (10) looks to pass against Texas in the second quarter of their football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006.

 

[Best Buckeye]

This will be a great game. Some things of note before the game started. Xray is full of doo doo. You cant win big games with an inexperienced qb.

Great Game! Some things i noticed during the game:
After the first missed FG. "we need to hit one of these this year"
After the second Texas Possesion. "Brown has McCoy limited as any first year qb would be" WE win!
After the first quarter." We can run the ball inside, They can run the ball outside. Charles is doing better than I thought he would.
After the first half "Smith is very accurate so far. The texas D is as good as advertised.except for the fact that if you try to cover Ginn from the line of scrimmage or play bump and run you are dead meat. We have learned to cover swing and/or flare passes better.
After the bad call on roughing I wondered if the refs were big 12.
After the third Q: We have progressed nicely between the first and second game as we should.
THe 4th Q we are playing a very solid , even if not perfect, game. Trepasso is having a career day. Robiskie will be awesome.
Afterwards. The offense played as expected. The defense played as we hoped. Tressel is God's gift to coaching.

someone said it earlier Meechigan, ND and Texas in the last 4 games! How much better can it get?

GO BUCKS !!!

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Smith looked in command of the game from the very first play, great poise and his throws were pretty much on the money all game, great performance by him, but the O-line deserves a ton of credit for getting the job done.

-the defense is coming along, but we have room for improvement.
-we need consistency from the kicker position.
-the running game was effective late when we needed to bleed the clock.

DDN

Tressel sticks to plan, substitutes early and often


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer


Sunday, September 10, 2006


AUSTIN, Texas — Anticipating extreme heat despite the prime-time kickoff, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel vowed to sub liberally against Texas on Saturday.
"Our goal is to have 57 players in the game by the end of the first quarter because there are so many guys that need opportunities and, we think, deserve opportunities," he said this week.
The Buckeyes almost reached their goal, playing a staggering 52 in the first period. The temperature was 85 degrees at kickoff.
Suspension hurts
The Longhorns missed senior cornerback Tarell Brown, who was suspended after being arrested this week on weapon and drug charges.
Junior backup Brandon Foster was twisted into a pretzel by the Buckeyes' Anthony Gonzalez on a 14-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter.
Officials unsure
The officials needed nearly a minute to decide whether OSU quarterback Troy Smith was guilty of intentional grounding in the first quarter.
With the Texas bench screaming for a flag, a pair of referees conferred before one finally threw a flag while the Buckeyes were huddling for the next play.
Tressel was livid on a pass-interference penalty later in the period, waving his arms while charging several steps onto the field. He also became animated on a late-hit infraction on Jay Richardson in the second quarter.
Local frosh suit up
OSU defensive back Kurt Coleman (Northmont) and tight end Jake Ballard (Springboro) were among nine true freshmen to make the 70-player travel squad.
First-year players left at home — meaning they'll probably redshirt — were offensive linemen Connor Smith and Bryant Browning, defensive linemen Walter Dublin and Dexter Larimore, tight end Andy Miller, and linebacker Tyler Moeller.
Famous bands on field
The Texas and Ohio State marching bands met on the field together for the first time (the Longhorns brought only a pep band to Columbus last season).
The Buckeye musicians are renowned for Script Ohio, but the Longhorns did their signature routine, Script Texas.
"They don't dot the 'i' but they cross the 't,' " OSU band director Jon Woods said.
Pooch punts
• NBA star LeBron James watched the game from the OSU sidelines, and NFL standouts Emmitt Smith, Eddie George and Earl Campbell also made appearances.
• Six Marine F/A-18 Hornets performed a fly-over prior to the kickoff.
• Texas' massive scoreboard — dubbed the "Godzillatron" — towers over one end of the stadium. It's twice as big as any other in college football and measures 134 feet wide and 55 feet tall.
• The Longhorns set a school record by selling 74,000 season tickets this year. Only 34,000 were sold the year before coach Mack Brown arrived in 1997.
• How much is a national championship worth? Texas had the biggest off-field haul ever, raking in $8.2 million in licensing revenue in the 2005-06 academic year and shattering the all-time record by $2 million.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at [email protected]

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

-we need consistency from the kicker position.

Do we ever. The first miss was HORRID. The second attempt, which he made, didn't look that good and I actually thought he missed it until the refs assured me he didn't.

I found myself saying we need to put it in the endzone because I dont trust the kicker, and I haven't had to say that for quite some time now for Ohio State.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

I don't think we have any serious threats for the rest of the year, except one.

Cincinatti- Easy Win
Penn State- We will get revenge, PSU looked horrible yesterday
Iowa- Almost losing to Syracuse? Even without Drew Tate that's not very good
Bowling Green- Easy Win
Michigan State- having problems with easy teams
Indiana- Easy Win
Minnesota- looked bad against a mediocre Cal team
Illinois- Ron Zook has a long way to go
Northwestern- Losing to a 1-AA Team?
Michigan- Here's the threat, I think Michigan will have a solid team heading into this game, I think they may be undefeated, but regardless, We're at home, we have the best offense in the country (IMO), and Tressel always finds a way to beat Michigan. Oh, and having Troy Smith doesn't hurt.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com (free)

By Steve Helwagen.....Top-Ranked Buckeyes Down No. 2 Texas, 24-7.

Scout.com (free)

OSU-Texas Photo Gallery......

Scout.com (free)

By Jerry Rudzinski......Captain's Corner: Talking About No. 1.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I don't think we have any serious threats for the rest of the year, except one.

Cincinatti- Easy Win
Penn State- We will get revenge, PSU looked horrible yesterday
Iowa- Almost losing to Syracuse? Even without Drew Tate that's not very good
Bowling Green- Easy Win
Michigan State- having problems with easy teams
Indiana- Easy Win
Minnesota- looked bad against a mediocre Cal team
Illinois- Ron Zook has a long way to go
Northwestern- Losing to a 1-AA Team?
Michigan- Here's the threat, I think Michigan will have a solid team heading into this game, I think they may be undefeated, but regardless, We're at home, we have the best offense in the country (IMO), and Tressel always finds a way to beat Michigan. Oh, and having Troy Smith doesn't hurt.

I know your basing your opinions on the first 2 weeks of the season, but realize we are going to get everyone's best game and the biggest obstacles to another national championship are the games on the road at Iowa and Michigan State and we all know Michigan is a season in one game. This will not be easy.

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Favorite Musburger comment of the night:

"Well. Ohio State came to Austin and messed with Texas"

 

[buckeyefool]

we really are dicks at osu. i guess its just the difference between big ten and big twelve.

Just because you had a good experience don't assume everyone else did. I wouldn't say that most of the OSU fans last year harrassed any texas fans last year, but a few bad eggs make the news not the thousands who were cool to them last year.

 

[sandgk]

After watching you play, you were awesome. Good luck the rest of the season. Your band even out did our band.

Hook'em

Your team is better than we made them look today - beat the Sooners and win out!

 

[cincibuck]

...Texas and Penn State are eerily similar from a football psychology standpoint...

They both have the ugly uniform, "these are our work clothes," mentaility.

I'm of the "you-don't-say-no hitter-till-the-game-is-over" school of thought. Logic tells me that has nothing to do with it and logic tells me that we certainly have a better shot at it than Texas. So, yeah, I like the odds.

 

[playultimate]

observations

Colt McCoy is a tough little SOB. The Buckeyes roughed him up pretty good in the second half and he was back on his feet before the camera could even pan back to him most of the time.

I can't wait for the videos of those hits to pop up online.

Did anybody else say to themselves "Here we go again" after settling for a FG (that we missed) on the opening drive? Chris Wells is on this team to pick up 3rd and 3's! I really can't imagine Chris Wells not getting 3 yards if you give him 3rd and 4th downs to do it.