Game Thread Illinois 28, Ohio State 21 (final)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Benching benefits Illinois QB
His two best games came after seeing backup play
Saturday, November 10, 2007 3:51 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Robert K. O'DaniellAssociated Press
Illinois quarterback Juice Williams passed for 207 yards and rushed for 133 last week in a victory over Minnesota.



Illinois has every intention of squeezing an upset out of top-ranked Ohio State this afternoon in Ohio Stadium. Talk about a situation made for a man named Juice.
"I think this game is going to be filled with excitement," Illinois quarterback Juice Williams said. "Me being only 19 years old, I always dreamed of playing in an environment like this, on ABC, against the No. 1 team in the country. It is going to be a great feeling being out there, an honor.
"But at the same time, I'm going to be out there to take care of business, just try to go out there and execute the offense."

Continued.....

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Wariness of being whacked OSU seniors want final home game to be good
By George M. Thomas Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
COLUMBUS: Kirk Barton, Ohio State's right tackle and consummate quipster, likens the end of this year's senior class to an episode of the late, great HBO television series The Sopranos.
''It's a lot of anticipation. You'll be sad when it's over, but you watch the reruns when you get old,'' said Barton, a Perry High graduate.
While it might be a somber moment for some of the players once they realize that time zipped by, there's still a final home game to play against the Illinois Fighting Illini at 3:30 p.m. today at Ohio Stadium.



Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

It's Illinois on the clock
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]OSU guards against looking to Michigan[/FONT]
Saturday, November 10, 2007
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS There's a countdown clock to the Michigan game inside top-ranked Ohio State's practice facility. As the Buckeyes walk around campus, friends, family and fellow students mention the annual regular-season finale with the Wolverines.

Even the Buckeyes keep an eye on their rivals.

"We go in after our game and we want to see what everyone else has done," linebacker Austin Spitler said. "Obviously, Michigan is one of the first teams we look at, what they did that day. They're always in the back of our heads."

They're just not in the front part, at least not yet.

As much as everybody in scarlet and gray wants the showdown they call "The Game" to get here, first the Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) have a tough test with Illinois (7-3, 4-2) today.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Blade

Article published Saturday, November 10, 2007
Illini's versatility poses threat for OSU defense

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS - You don't have to be a stat geek, or use rotisserie for something other than cooking a whole chicken, to know that occasionally numbers mean something. Not all numbers, and certainly not the saturation bombing of numbers we endure with college football, such as pass defense efficiency ratings and kick coverage net return yardage average. But in the buildup to this afternoon's Big Ten semi-showdown between two-time conference defending champion and No. 1 ranked Ohio State, and Illinois - certainly the most improved team in the league - one entry in the endless set of integers seems to close the gap between these teams quite a bit.

Cont...

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

MarionStar

Buckeyes squarely focused on Illini
By JON SPENCER
For The Advocate

COLUMBUS -- Jim Tressel hasn't taken the time to stop and smell the sweet fragrance of success during Ohio State's unexpected 10-0 run toward another national championship game. He barely remembers to breathe. "Once the preseason begins and you walk in the door and you take a deep breath, you say, 'OK, we're not going to breathe until who knows when ... Thanksgiving dinner. Then you go to work on each day," said the coach of college football's top-ranked team.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

Buckeyes' run defense will face stern test

OSU will have hands full with Illinois running game that is sixth in the nation with 261.3 yards per game.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/osu/2007/11/09/ddn111007osub1.html#​

By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer

Saturday, November 10, 2007


COLUMBUS ? Three things to watch when Ohio State hosts Illinois today at Ohio Stadium:
1. The Illini running the ball. Quarterback Juice Williams isn't known for his passing ? in fact, many think he's not even Big Ten-worthy throwing the ball. But he leads an offense that is sixth nationally in rushing and gains 261.3 yards per game on the ground. The Illini are last in the Big Ten in passing, at 152.6 yards per game.

Continued......

 

[Bestbuck36]

The keys to the game today are simple:

Punch 'em in the mouth early and often and ride the talent home.

Cause them to make mistakes both offensively and defensively.

Protect the ball on offense.

Win the field position battle.

Sound familiar?

 

[cjmik_75]

The keys to the game today are simple:

Punch 'em in the mouth early and often and ride the talent home.

Cause them to make mistakes both offensively and defensively.

Protect the ball on offense.

Win the field position battle.

Sound familiar?

without looking ahead, of course, as a fan you can look ahead, but it sounds like the beginning of this 04 highlight of The Game.

compliments of WWH


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zbpY3ny2TA"]YouTube - The Game 2004 (Ohio State vs. Michigan)[/ame]

 

[skaduzy]

I have been watching Gameday and am getting really upset with Mark May bashing us. tOSU deserves to be #1! Wish he would keep his big mouth opinions to himself......................
:osu: GO BUCKS!

 

[Tonyank]

I have been watching Gameday and am getting really upset with Mark May bashing us. tOSU deserves to be #1! Wish he would keep his big mouth opinions to himself......................
:osu: GO BUCKS!

I love it, we play better as an "underdog"

I say F em all, just win baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[skaduzy]

 

[Nordberg]

I have been watching Gameday and am getting really upset with Mark May bashing us. tOSU deserves to be #1! Wish he would keep his big mouth opinions to himself......................
:osu: GO BUCKS!

I hate it too. I have gotten used to it though. Mark May and Colin Cowherd are the worst.

I agree with BestBuck. If we protect the ball on offense, and our D-fense comes to play, we should look pretty good today.

 

[starBUCKS]

I hate it too. I have gotten used to it though. Mark May and Colin Cowherd are the worst.

I agree with BestBuck. If we protect the ball on offense, and our D-fense comes to play, we should look pretty good today.

At least May pegged Lauranitis a Heisman finalist.

 

[TJnTN]

It's gameday bishes!!! Let's kick some Illini ass.

 

[NateG]

Underdog redemption trains rolls again baby!!!!!