Game Thread Game Two: Ohio State 20, Akron 2 (Final)

[NightmaresDad]

So because Akron ripped off a 70-yard return against Army they now are going to be the gazelle to Ohio State's Plow Horse???

Apparently, you have to fail an IQ test to become a sports writer these days.

Now, if we were playing Cal, I'd be worried about their team speed, but Akron?

 

[jwinslow]

Florida displayed it during the national championship against Ohio State in January, and Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) power Appalachian State revealed it against Michigan on Saturday.

Credibility shot. Michigan's D has plenty of speed, much like a chicken with it's head cut off.

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

Football
Buckeye Nation a Bit Calmer Heading into Week Two
By John Porentas
The fretting over the loss of Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez et al is a bit less frenetic this week.
Offensively the Todd Boeckman-led Buckeyes were solid in their win over Youngstown State. The running game was not exactly overwhelming, but nobody was worried about that aspect of the offense coming into the season. It was the passing game that was on concern, and ironically it was the passing game that stood out against the Penguins.




Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Scout Free

Crunching The Numbers: Ohio State-Akron

 

[zincfinger]

Again, I'd disagree. Sure, this game means nothing for the MAC or Big 10 championship, but this is much more than a Major League and Minor League team playing a charity game. Only one Div 1 team wins a NC. Sure, Akron doesn't really have a shot, but they're still in the same league from that standpoint. The Reds and Clippers are not fighting for the same championship, therefore, the sense of competition is totally shot. Sure, Ohio State is the biggest name in Ohio College football... by a long shot. Sure, we get the biggest, strongest, fastest players the state has to offer. Sure, Ohio kids grow up huge Buckeye fans only to go to school somewhere else for one reason or another. But, to treat them like they don't belong in our league is arrogant, in my humble opinion. Their ultimate goal is the same as ours. Win every Div 1 game and make it to the best bowl game they possibly can - and if that's the NC game, then all the better.

There's obviously no perfect analogy between pro baseball and college football, since the two are structurally very different. What I'm saying is that major league/minor league baseball is a closer analogy to BCS/mid-major football than is good major league team/bad major league team. The reason being that BCS conference teams and mid-major teams are not playing for the same goal at all. It's not accurate to say that Akron has a lower chance, or a much lower chance, or a much much much much lower chance than OSU of playing for a national championship, because "lower" implies non-zero. Northwestern has a lower chance than OSU of playing for a national championship. Akron has no chance. None whatsoever. Boise State did everything a mid-major could possibly do last year, and there was never the slightest chance that they were going to sniff the national championship game, whether you think it's fair or not (I personally think it is). Note, I'm not saying that every BigTen/MAC matchup is a sure-thing blowout. It usually is, but demonstrably not always. And I'm not saying that the mid-majors don't ever produce teams that could be competitive at the higher level. But that doesn't change the fact that BCS teams and mid-major teams are, de facto, in different leagues, and are playing for different ultimate goals. If Akron were to shock the college football world and upset Ohio State this weekend, which is unlikely but possible, it would be a huge psychological and reputational boost to them, but that's all it would be. It would not propel them to national title contention, and it would not change the overall situation in the slightest.

 

[WonderMonkey]

Getting there that late with a kid in-tow is not a great idea IMHO. The band comes out 20 minutes before game time, which is immediately after the warmups wrap up. As Script Ohio is typically done pre-game, the 'Shoe is a 'Zoo at 20-30 minutes before kick-off. With an 8-year-old in tow, I'd want to be in my seat enjoying the atmosphere before then. It is a personal preference thing, so do what you think is best.

Thanks, and I agree. I've been there several times before but it's been a while. I was trying to get a feel if it should be an HOUR before the game, or longer. Right now I'm thinking I want to be walking to me seat an hour before. That will give me time to get some beverages and enjoy the day.

 

[martinss01]

What you consider arrogant I call being realistic. An Ohio school hasn't beaten OSU for nearly 100 years and has never won a NC to the best of my knowledge.

Thats not a fluke, there is a reason for it...they aren't in our league.

your thinking may be realistic. but your tone sounds arrogant to me. thats not ment as a personal shot, simply an objective assesment.

first and foremost, this is an ohio team. for that reason alone we should be more gracious to akron than most other teams on our schedule. these are the same kids we rooted for on friday nights. many of these kids are the guys who played the critical supporting roles for many of our now beloved buckeyes. i seriously doubt many of our players look at their high school teamates as not being in their "league". atleast i certainly hope not.

appy state is not in scums league
tOSU is not in da U's league
florida is not in tOSU's league

many things don't add up on paper. on the field, if you don't have your act together and the other team does. theory and reality can take wildly different courses.

i see tOSU winning this game comfortably. i don't think akron matches up very well with tOSU. but they are a good team that has to be taken seriously. if our guys come out flat or aren't prepaired this game could get far more interesting than it has any business being.

perhaps we as fans need to learn to use our tressel voice when dealing with other teams fans. might clear up a lot of the bitterness.

 

[zincfinger]

your thinking may be realistic. but your tone sounds arrogant to me. thats not ment as a personal shot, simply an objective assesment.

first and foremost, this is an ohio team. for that reason alone we should be more gracious to akron than most other teams on our schedule. these are the same kids we rooted for on friday nights. many of these kids are the guys who played the critical supporting roles for many of our now beloved buckeyes. i seriously doubt many of our players look at their high school teamates as not being in their "league". atleast i certainly hope not.

appy state is not in scums league
tOSU is not in da U's league
florida is not in tOSU's league

many things don't add up on paper. on the field, if you don't have your act together and the other team does. theory and reality can take wildly different courses.

i see tOSU winning this game comfortably. i don't think akron matches up very well with tOSU. but they are a good team that has to be taken seriously. if our guys come out flat or aren't prepaired this game could get far more interesting than it has any business being.

perhaps we as fans need to learn to use our tressel voice when dealing with other teams fans. might clear up a lot of the bitterness.

But recall what the origin of this particular avenue of debate actually is. No one here is trying to disparage Akron, or any other mid-major. The impetus of all this is that several on the Akron board felt that it was traitorous, or otherwise fundamentally wrong, to be a fan of both Akron and OSU. The argument was essentially that a true Akron fan could never be a fan of OSU. Several here took issue with that point of view, on the grounds that Akron and OSU are fundamentally different, and thus there is no conflict in being a fan of both simultaneously. That's all.

 

[TooTall]

first and foremost, this is an ohio team. for that reason alone we should be more gracious to akron than most other teams on our schedule. these are the same kids we rooted for on friday nights. many of these kids are the guys who played the critical supporting roles for many of our now beloved buckeyes. i seriously doubt many of our players look at their high school teamates as not being in their "league". atleast i certainly hope not.

The only problem is you go to that forum for Akron fans and the trash they are talking loses all respect for them. I like the team, I like to see them do well as do I with any other Ohio team, but when fans talk shit like that I lose respect for that teams fan base.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

The only problem is you go to that forum for Akron fans and the trash they are talking loses all respect for them. I like the team, I like to see them do well as do I with any other Ohio team, but when fans talk shit like that I lose respect for that teams fan base.

"Message Board Guy" should not be considered a fair representation of a team's fan base.

 

[TooTall]

"Message Board Guy" should not be considered a fair representation of a team's fan base.

Let's not single one person out, I prefer "Message Board People" LOL

 

[BB73]

CFN's game prediction:

cfn

Akron (1-0) at Ohio State (1-0) 12:00 PM Big Ten Network

Why to Watch: With Washington appearing to be far better than it's been in past years, Ohio State might not be able to simply show up in Seattle next week and come away with an easy win. For a team still getting its offensive starters in place, it needs another tune-up after beating Youngstown State 38-6. Akron got by Army 22-14, and while it shouldn't pose any real threat to the Buckeyes, it has a good enough defense to make this more than just a light scrimmage. Don't be shocked if the Zips make the OSU faithful shift in their seats a little bit throughout the first half.

Why Akron Might Win: The only chance Akron has of making this a ball game is if the defensive pressure is there from the start. While there's a night-and-day difference between the Ohio State offensive line and the Army front five, the Zips showed last week that it's able to get into the backfield from a variety of different angles. OSU QB Todd Boeckman wasn't under any pressure against YSU. He will be this week. However ...

Why Ohio State Might Win: ...Ohio State still has a defense. A good one. Akron's offense doesn't have the playmakers in any area to keep up if the Buckeyes can get up early. Forget about any Zip running game, and with two relatively inexperienced quarterbacks. Carlton Jackson and Chris Jacquemain will have to hold up under the Ohio State defensive pressure and not make mistakes. That won't happen. It'll be a shock if Akron gets more than 50 net yards rushing.

Who to Watch: All the talk of Ohio State sophomore RB Chris Wells as a sleeper Heisman candidate has quickly quieted down after a mediocre 16-carry, 46-yard, one touchdown game against YSU. "Beanie" admitted he wasn't focused, and it showed. Expect him to have a breakout game and be fed the ball at least 20 times to get him on track. Teams are going to force OSU to try to throw the ball, but even if Akron puts everyone up at the line, Wells needs to produce.

What Will Happen: Akron's pass rush will force Boeckman to make a few really bad throws, and that'll be enough to keep it close ... for a half. The Buckeye offensive line will pave the way for a 150-yard rushing day from Wells.

CFN Prediction: Ohio State 45 ... Akron 10... Line: Ohio State -28.5
Must See Rating: (5 Mad Men - 1 Chelsea Lately) ... 3

 

[osugrad21]

Rivals $

Breakdown of this weekend's matchup.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

florida is not in tOSU's league

Sorry, but I don't recall anyone--anyone--saying that last year. We may have been favored going into the game, but no one was saying Florida didn't belong on the same field as us.

 

[osugrad21]

Scout Free

Breakdown of what fans need to know about the Akron team.