LB Austin Spitler (official thread)

[Mike80]

very true and i agree that he was playing with intensity, but u have to think in that situation, 4th and 23 and your down 24-10 about to get the ball back for your first possession of the 2nd half after LSU scored 24 unanswered points in the first half, here is your chance to get right back in the game and (although cam heyward had a stupid personal foul the very next play for punching the player in the jaw) giving them the automatic first down and ball in OSU territory on there very first drive of the half after your defense finally gets a stop when u critically needed the ball i can't comprehend at all no matter how hard you are going on that play

Good God the internet has killed the English language....

And Spitler barely missed the ball. Sometimes the greatest plays and the most damaging are a split second from each other.

 

[Wingate1217]

very true and i agree that he was playing with intensity, but u have to think in that situation, 4th and 23 and your down 24-10 about to get the ball back for your first possession of the 2nd half after LSU scored 24 unanswered points in the first half, here is your chance to get right back in the game and (although cam heyward had a stupid personal foul the very next play for punching the player in the jaw) giving them the automatic first down and ball in OSU territory on there very first drive of the half after your defense finally gets a stop when u critically needed the ball i can't comprehend at all no matter how hard you are going on that play

My eyes hurt just trying to read this drivel....

 

[bkochmc]

Oh well, my only concern for now, is what, if any negative impact this has on recruiting.

Not directed solely at you alpo but at every post similar to it. I don't understand how Monday's loss "negatively" affects recruiting. A recruit will also see:

• 3 national championship games in 6 years
• Big Ten champions 3 years in a row
• Only 3 losses in 2 years
• Playing consistently on the national stage
• A great coaching staff that prepares athletes for life after OSU (NFL, professional life, etc.)

If anything it is a positive... the recruits will see an opportunity to help OSU get over this two year bowl game drought.

As for Austin, the only blame that should be on Austin's head is the punt rush technique... I'm sure the moment and being so close to a game-changing play had something to do with that though (as others have said). His heart and hustle were definitely in the right place.

 

[O'Rourke]

Austin was about 2-3 inches away from maybe being the hero of the game, a block would have been HUGE. If anything he got there too fast and overshot the ball. I think the LSU punter made a great play just to get the punt off.

 

[alpo]

Not directed solely at you alpo but at every post similar to it. I don't understand how Monday's loss "negatively" affects recruiting. A recruit will also see:

• 3 national championship games in 6 years
• Big Ten champions 3 years in a row
• Only 3 losses in 2 years
• Playing consistently on the national stage
• A great coaching staff that prepares athletes for life after OSU (NFL, professional life, etc.)

If anything it is a positive... the recruits will see an opportunity to help OSU get over this two year bowl game drought.

As for Austin, the only blame that should be on Austin's head is the punt rush technique... I'm sure the moment and being so close to a game-changing play had something to do with that though (as others have said). His heart and hustle were definitely in the right place.

I'm with you 100%. I apologize, I am in and out of this website all day and this was a clear case of me not finishing my post, more like not even knowing what thread I was on, actually...I'm still learning. I remember thinking immediately afterwards, that the wadC or someone else would probably be on my case for being off subject. Thanks for your patience guys. Anyway...

First of all, Austin put forth tremendous effort and that is all anyone can ask, imo. He did a great job, just didn't get a break...s&#$ happens. No biggie.

Secondly, in fact, the loss may affect us positively, (may already have...alluding to other threads), so my point there was, 'if' thats all. But the thread is about Austin, (which I normally wouldn't even be on because I'm here for the recruiting news mostly) so I apologize for being dizzied up and digressing.

But thank you very much for calling me out on it!! You are my first. I'm flattered, AND, I am very glad that you are positive! I am too!
Lets beat usc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BuckeyeCrazy107]

When I watched him rough the kicker I got a flashback from the Hamby drop in '05. So close to becoming a hero...yet so far. Get'em next year and GO BUCKS!

 

[GoodLifeSean]

When I watched him rough the kicker I got a flashback from the Hamby drop in '05. So close to becoming a hero...yet so far. Get'em next year and GO BUCKS!

I just hope people aren't as big of Douche Rags as they were in '05... Shit happens and it's not as if that's the reason we lost. It kind of turned into a comedy (or tradgedy) of errors

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

Spitler went after that punter "butt up and balls deep." He JUST missed it. Was it a huge play in the game? Yes. Was it any worse that letting them score 31 in a row on us? Nope.

I will NEVER, and neither should any Buckeye fan ever take a shot at a kid who's out there busting his ass and playing the game right. Take shots at the guys making dum-ass personal fouls, holding, etc. NOT a kid who was being aggressive and was a 1/4 inch from being a hero.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

Spitler went after that punter "butt up and balls deep." He JUST missed it. Was it a huge play in the game? Yes. Was it any worse that letting them score 31 in a row on us? Nope.

I will NEVER, and neither should any Buckeye fan ever take a shot at a kid who's out there busting his ass and playing the game right. Take shots at the guys making dum-ass personal fouls, holding, etc. NOT a kid who was being aggressive and was a 1/4 inch from being a hero.

I agree wholeheartedly...but how in the hell did he miss it?!?! It's not his fault he missed it...but it sounded, looked, and should've been blocked. Something ain't right about that damn SEC...I don't know yet, but dammit, I got to find out what it is. I still don't think the best team won. But, LSU won on the field and that's all that counts.

 

[Buckeye_Nate]

Spitler went after that punter "butt up and balls deep." He JUST missed it. Was it a huge play in the game? Yes. Was it any worse that letting them score 31 in a row on us? Nope.

I will NEVER, and neither should any Buckeye fan ever take a shot at a kid who's out there busting his ass and playing the game right. Take shots at the guys making dum-ass personal fouls, holding, etc. NOT a kid who was being aggressive and was a 1/4 inch from being a hero.

The thing is, he wasn't playing the game right. If he tries to block the punt with the fundamental technique he was taught to use, one of two things happen:

A) He blocks the punt
B) He doesn't block the punt

Notice one glaring omission from those two scenarios is a 15 yard personal foul.

I'm not blaming him, but to ignore the fact that he made a costly mistake isn't the right approach either.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...I'm not blaming him, but to ignore the fact that he made a costly mistake isn't the right approach either.

Ignoring it might not be the right approach, but bringing it up in a public discussion forum 3 days after the fact might not be an optimal approach either (depending on the effect you are trying to have).

 

[Woody84]

Austin Spitler will be a great Buckeye. It was not his fault the bucks lost. He did what he has practiced a thousand times, try to block a punt. I hope he keeps his head up and plays just as hard next year. I would rather have someone get a flag for playing hard, then someone not going all out like he was doing.

 

[briegg]

Heard Austin will be seeing some time at Fullback this year with the recent losses to graduation.

 

[MONTbigBuck]

Heard Austin will be seeing some time at Fullback this year with the recent losses to graduation.

With Olson out, and only an incoming freshman at the position I had been wondering if this move was coming. Spitler is a team player, and the way he plays should make him an effective fullback.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Heard Austin will be seeing some time at Fullback this year with the recent losses to graduation.

Wow... first I've heard of him possibly moving to FB since he was a redshirt frosh. At this point, I think he's too valuable as the back-up to Laurinaitis... but then again, I'm not the coaching staff. Where did you hear this from?? Not doubting your sources at all briegg, but is this better suited for the rumor mill or is this genuine fact?

Austin would start at MLB for almost any other team in the Big Ten (I can't think of anyone that would start next year off the top of my head that would be better than him) and he's right up there with Homan as far as playing time for 2nd stringers at LB for us. I'm kinda hoping this isn't true, but if it is, this is a HUGE break for Mark Johnson to move up on the depth chart at MLB and it makes a pretty nice entrance for Sweat/Sabino (whoever will be the MLB out of those two) to step into 3rd string.