Game Thread Game Two: Texas 25, Ohio State 22 (final)

[Buckin' A]

When I think of rowdy crowds, I dont typically think of Nebraska fans, as they were definately loud at Memorial Stadium, but hardly unruly, as I'm sure most of you would expect/agree. The intimidation factor was more stoic, of the history and tradition of the stadium and program, along with the enthusiastic roar of the crowd, which was about positive support for 'Huskers and not negativity towards the opposing team.
I'd also say that both Fayetteville and College Station are much more intimidating than Lubbock when it comes to atmosphere and general crowd presence. Tech fans are notoriously "rowdy," classless and obscene, but are hardly overpowering as a body; nonetheless, we and others certainly have our share of difficulties playing up there. A&M, which packs 87,000 of the most unified and spirited fans in opposition of the Horns at Kyle Field, probably create the largest volume of noise of the stadiums I've attended- organized, constant, and deafening is how I'd describe it on a big 3rd down. Arkansas however, combined the rowdiness of Tech fans(that only toothless inbreds can mimic) with the aggies ditest of UT, mixed with plenty of Kentucky bourbon and multiplied by 84,000, to create one of the most hostile environments I've seen in recent memory.

All that said, I expect our visit to the 'Shoe to be the toughest of them all, and I'm hoping I can attend and see firsthand by just how much.

Nothing like tOSU, but that picture of Texas's "trophy room" is impressive.

 

[Buckeye86]

I think that's their locker room. I was joking with my roommate, no wonder they can't win big games, instead of making halftime adjustments they're in there getting manicures. :tongue2:

 

[Chalumpa]

I'd second the view on Arkansas. There's nothing quite as disturbing as 84,000 hicks all yelling "WOOOO, PIG SOOOOEY" in unison. That was definitely creepy. Where Tech fans can be unnerving if their team is doing well, they absolutely folded as a crowd once we went up 14 last season. Those damn pigs though, they were loud even after they had lost (well maybe not loud, but obnoxious for sure.)

 

[CleveBucks]

You're correct. "Everywhere else" in this sense would refer to Lincoln, Nebraska @ night, Manhattan, Kansas @ night, Stillwater, OK @ night, Lubbock, TX @ night, Fayettenam, AR @ night, College Station, TX @ night, etc.

Oh, and a few others during the day. :)

Manhattan Kansas at night? Our big high school games in Cleveland and Cincy draw as much as that.

 

[osugrad21]

Manhattan Kansas at night? Our big high school games in Cleveland and Cincy draw as much as that.

Cleve, I had the same thought....but then I decided to let them see for themselves just like every other collection of fans that thought they were ready.

Sometimes debate is pointless...

 

[Dryden]

Excellent point on the Texas Tech fan's perspective having visited the 'Shoe, gregorylee! My personal favorite has been the SDSU players' comments from last year. For the Longhorns, this article was published Sept 18, 2004, prior to San Diego State playing Michigan at Michigan Stadium. The year before, SDSU played the Bucks at the 'Shoe.

By Kevin Acee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
September 18, 2004

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – One by one San Diego State's football players emerged from a tunnel into the dark, gray afternoon.

Once on the field, some stopped. Others simply slowed. Every one of them turned his head to one side and then the other, some even pirouetting to take in the full 360 degrees.

There they were in Michigan Stadium, the Big House.

"Small," said a few.

"It's not anywhere near Ohio State," said another player.

Some just shrugged.

After a 40-minute walk-through practice viewed by the ESPN crew that will announce today's 9 a.m. PDT game and more than 50 boosters and staff members, the Aztecs returned to their hotel, absolutely underwhelmed by the storied stade.

"I was talking on the plane how growing up everyone emulates Michigan," center Taylor Schmidt said. "Now that I'm here, it's not all that ... I don't know."

Yes, the Big House left the Aztecs speechless for exactly the opposite reason than would be expected.

"It's got a lot of history, but it doesn't seem any different than Colorado (where SDSU played in 2002)," offensive tackle Mike Kracalik said. "Ohio State seems more intimidating. It will probably be more intimidating with 110,000 people in it."

As he surveyed the place, SDSU President Stephen Weber surmised: "It looks small now; it won't look small tomorrow."

No stadium in the country seats more people. An NCAA-record crowd of 112,118 watched the Wolverines play rival Ohio State last November. Michigan has played 181 consecutive home games in front of more than 100,000 people and its past 13 home games in front of 109,580 or more. The program has led the country in attendance 29 of the past 30 years.

Michigan is 352-103-15 all-time at Michigan Stadium and 53-6 in nine seasons under coach Lloyd Carr. The last team from outside a BCS conference to win here was Navy in 1967.

It is called the Big House (probably more often than Michigan Stadium) because legendary TV announcer Keith Jackson nicknamed it.

Ann Arbor's population doubles the day of home games. People decked out in maize and blue come from all over, with "M" flags on their cars. The area around Michigan Stadium becomes a carnival of sorts, as a golf course across the street is turned into a parking lot and party spot.

Plenty of history has been made here. Since the stadium was completed in 1927, when the capacity was a mere 85,753, three Heisman Trophy winners, 95 first-team All-Americans, five national championship and 30 Big Ten championship teams have called Michigan Stadium home.

But on its own, the Big House is simply an overgrown high school stadium. There are no chair backs. Official capacity is listed at 107,501, but they squeeze the extra few thousand into those bleachers. To increase the capacity by 5,000 before the 1998 season, they simply made the bleachers narrower.

Despite its size, Michigan Stadium has a reputation for being relatively quiet. The crowd is older, and it gets riled up for Notre Dame, Ohio State and certain third-and fourth-down situations in games such as today's. And the stadium slopes back at such a flat angle that noise is not bottled up as it is at Ohio State.

But with the big crowd today, SDSU will know it's in the Big House.

"The players will feel that tradition when they go into the stadium (today)," said former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, who now works for ESPN. "San Diego State will know it's in a big-time situation. Those kids will have something to remember."

 

[rocketman]

Cleve, I had the same thought....but then I decided to let them see for themselves just like every other collection of fans that thought they were ready.

Sometimes debate is pointless...

Yeah, just ask Chad Henne...thank god we showed that cocky bastard.

 

[High Lonesome]

Excellent point on the Texas Tech fan's perspective having visited the 'Shoe, gregorylee! My personal favorite has been the SDSU players' comments from last year. For the Longhorns, this article was published Sept 18, 2004, prior to San Diego State playing Michigan at Michigan Stadium. The year before, SDSU played the Bucks at the 'Shoe.

I had heard that the seat size in the big house was like 12" across where as neyland stadium in tenn. had 18" seats. the story said somthing to the effect of if rocky top changed the size of their seats it could hold an extra 10,000 people. Now thats impressive. As far as the shoe goes, I have zero doubt that it will be an extreamly intense environment. Any time you have that many people allowed to tailgate all day(that are use to playing at noon no less) the crowd is going to be nuts. If you have read any of my posts you already know that i feel that buck fans are more confident and outspoken than mich. fans so I am expecting an environment about like feyettville or Baton Rouge +20,000 or so people. Anyone that doesnt think that night games make a diffrence need only look to LSU. There is a reason that they play all of their games at night and it is not because it makes it easier on the visiting team. One of the ole miss coaches said last year that every time he goes there he is afraid that he is gonna get hit on the head with an empty whisky bottle. That, my friends, tells the stroy, night game = more drinking= louder = more brash fans, and provides the team with something "different" to get excited about

No doubt this will be a tough road game and it is clear that you guys love your stadium but this pissing match about whether or not Texas can handle it is pointless, annoying, and sure to be repeated in a couple of months.

more than anything i am curious to know about ya'lls team and how you think that you will gameplan. Are you relying on big plays to score? sp teams? or do you expect to have the kind of offense that can drive the whole field?

On defense, is it really as simple as, "spy vince young" or do you think that they might try a more elaborate game plan? How do you think you match up against an offensive line that is shapping up to be the best line that UT has had in over a decade and some say ever? In my oppinion this is where the game will be won/lost to do it in an environment like the shoe is just gravy.

 

[osugrad21]

No doubt this will be a tough road game and it is clear that you guys love your stadium but this pissing match about whether or not Texas can handle it is pointless, annoying, and sure to be repeated in a couple of months.

Yet you visit this tOSU board daily for more of this discussion.....

 

[High Lonesome]

quick note: I didn't proof read that post so if there are error galore please don't unleash the grammer nazis on me

i visit the board daily to talk about football, history, and get a perspective on who ya'll think will give texas problems, maybe this is just a topic i dont get into, more than anything i visit looking for a change on my daily routine of the same ole stuff on horn/aggy/sooner boards.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

has nothing to do with what we think and everything to do with numbers

before the rosebowl texas was tied with nebraska in all time wins, since they didnt win a bowl game texas is now one all time victory ahead of nebraska into the # 3 spot behind Mich. and ND

oh i thought you were referring to the quality of the win. :)



actually thackattack....that was one of the few times you will find on here that i wasnt being sarcastic

 

[High Lonesome]

well since that post i have been proven wrong. I guess thats what I get for listening to abc. Regardless Texas is still top 5 in all time victories so it made the same point. Texas is better than Auburn.

 

[Zurp]

On defense, is it really as simple as, "spy vince young" or do you think that they might try a more elaborate game plan? How do you think you match up against an offensive line that is shapping up to be the best line that UT has had in over a decade and some say ever? In my oppinion this is where the game will be won/lost to do it in an environment like the shoe is just gravy.

I don't think the Bucks need to spy VY. I think the DBs are good enough to defend his passing game (from what I've heard, it's his weak point, if there is one), and the D-line and linebackers, I believe, can contain his running. The D-Line is solid for the Bucks, and the linebacking trio - let's just say that when the worst of the three is Schlegel, it has to be an awesome group. I don't think I'm worried about Texas Offense vs. OSU Defense.

Its the other way around that I'm more interested in. The Buckeye O-line has improved a bunch since begining of last season, and the three receivers (Holmes, Ginn, Gonzo) have really opened the field for the Bucks. The running game is unproven (Pittman played at times last year, but hasn't seem to convinced the "regulars" on this message board of his abilities, and Haw red-shirted). And, of course, the QB situation is a big debate on this message board. scUM scored 37 on Texas last year, but the excuse I've heard is Texas' poor kick-off coverage gave scUM good field position. I've heard "y'all" Texas fans saying the UT defense is good. (I won't argue, as I don't know enough.)

And when it comes to special teams, I feel pretty good. The Bucks lost the MVP (in my opinion) for the past 3 years (Nugent). But Huston has some experience kicking. I think he can be solid. And, of course, the Bucks have Ginn and Holmes returning punts, kicks, or whatever, and if UT had trouble with scUM, I think Ginn can give UT BIG troubles. I predict a low-scoring game, where special teams makes a huge difference. (TresselBall for 4 quarters.)

 

[HorninFortWorth]

I would hope in the 9 months between this game and the Rose Bowl the Horn coaching staff has made covering kicks quite a priority. UT has way too many athletes to have such crappy kick coverage.

On another note I would think it is pretty much a given ESPN Gameday will be up there for this game but I know Ohio State has had an interesting relationship in the last few months with that network. Anyone think this will matter as far as that show being on campus September 10th?

 

[osugrad21]

On another note I would think it is pretty much a given ESPN Gameday will be up there for this game but I know Ohio State has had an interesting relationship in the last few months with that network. Anyone think this will matter as far as that show being on campus September 10th?

The only thing that will matter is if tOSU allows them on campus this time....they were told no for the scUM game