I haven't read the entire 'aftermath' portion of the thread, so forgive me if this has been said already.
I was at the game, and although we could only put up 6 points, in my opinion this was the best game I have seen our OL play all season. We were playing against a VERY fast top-10 defense and still had that game in control with 11 minutes left. Shit, we were still moving the ball very well on the last drive before the pick. I'm always very proud of our Buckeyes, but I was exceptionally proud this weekend. Nobody gave our OL a chance, and although PSU did shut down our run game, Pryor did have time to throw the ball and he threw it better than he had all season. From my perspective in the seats, we absolutely torched their secondary and if Pryor were more experienced with check-downs and taking his 3rd and 4th reads, we put that game away in the 3rd quarter (considering how well our defense was playing).
Correct me if I'm wrong, I think it was the deep pass down the sideline to Saine (or maybe it was Robiskie?), but on that play the TE was, I kid you not, open by 10 yards in all directions on a little TE go route. If we hit him there he walks into the endzone and the stadium probably collapses. I think that's just inexperience on Pryor's part, and he'll be able to hit those routes in time. I'm not complaining because I believe that was a 30- or 40-yard completion to Saine, but we make it a two-touchdown game if we hit the TE there. As fans I guess we'll always be doing the 'if only' analysis, but damn I really wish we'd have utilized the TEs more..it was wide open all night.
Since it was my first game in the 'Shoe I really have no comparison as to how loud it was, but I can tell you that nobody within yelling distance was sitting down or quiet when PSU had the ball. The defense was throwing their arms in the air every play pumping up the fans, and I believe we made it as difficult as possible for PSU's offense. If you ask their offense, I will guarantee they'll tell you that's the loudest atmosphere they've ever experienced. When 105,000+ people are screaming in sync (and we set a new attendance record of 105,711), no doubt it's hard to hear. I mean, for Christ's sake we held a top-10 offense to 3 points for 3 and a half quarters. No joke, after they missed that FG I literally felt the stadium shake. It was an amazing atmosphere and although we couldn't come out with a win, I wouldn't trade my first regular season game in the 'Shoe for anything in the world. Truly spectacular.
Just a quick side note: I believe I read the box score from ESPN and it said that PSU had zero penalties..I think (though I could be just wishfully remembering stuff) that's incorrect. They had a pass interference call sometime in the first half IIRC.
I have read some posts in this thread and it seems that most are being a little too critical of the fumble. From my perspective that was absolutely the right read to bounce it outside. They put like 40 guys in the box and there was just no chance he picks it up through the middle, though I could be wrong. When he bounced it outside he fooled everybody but one, and if he breaks the tackle he picks up like 40 yards and probably even scores. I've heard that the ball was just punched out (I couldn't really see from my seat), and honestly I think it was only a matter of time before this came back to bite Pryor in the ass. He's carried the ball loosely all season, and when it mattered most he had it punched out. As shitty as it is to have it happen at the time it did, he won't be making that mistake again.
I didn't have too much interaction with PSU fans since I was on the opposite side of the stadium, but I only heard one classless PSU fan. Similarly, I only saw one or two classless tOSU fans. Overall, it was a very sportsmanship-wise game.
As we were walking out of the stadium, I overheard a couple fellow Buckeyes discussing how we're now 'officially' out of the national championship game, and they sounded dejected. I turned around and said, "You know, we're pretty spoiled anymore. What ever happened to the days when just beating scUM was a winning season, when winning the Big Ten and going to the Rose Bowl was 'the best season we've ever had'?" All of a sudden we win a national championship and everything short of another one means the season is total failure? I say be grateful, Buckeyes, for the excellent coach, staff and talent we have every season.
Sure, we can analyze and criticize, but the fact of the matter is that we're Buckeyes. We live and die with The Ohio State University, we bleed Scarlet and Gray, and whether we win or lose we still will. Our team goes out every Saturday and each Buckeye plays their ass off. Does every loss hurt? Sure, but I'm far from disappointed. Let's be realistic, this is a great time to be a Buckeye.
