QB Joe Bauserman (official thread)

[Buckskin86]

Ex-pitcher Bauserman happy to be Buckeyes' QB
RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer
Thursday, September 8, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) ? It's been a long, strange trip for Joe Bauserman, from baseball phenom to Buckeyes quarterback.

A prized baseball and football star in Virginia and Florida high schools, he spent three years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a pitcher. When that path seemed to fade, he walked on at Ohio State to play football. Now, he finds himself as the starting quarterback for the nation's No. 15 team, the focal point of 105,000 fans each Saturday afternoon.

A hardy outdoorsman ? his college major is Fisheries & Wildlife ? the 25-year-old Bauserman isn't overwhelmed by how long it took him to become an overnight sensation. He doesn't have regrets and he accepts what comes his way.

"If I would have stuck it (baseball) out, who knows what would have happened?" he said. "I might have made it. I might have had shoulder problems, I might not. Whatever."

Quiet and unassuming, he's the elder statesman of an Ohio State program that has been pounded by NCAA allegations, violations and sanctions over the past 10 months. The controversy helped force three-year starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor to the NFL, opening a huge vacancy that Bauserman has helped to fill.

Bauserman, along with true freshman backup Braxton Miller, were both superlative in a season-opening 42-0 victory over Akron. The Buckeyes take on Toledo this week. Ahead lie difficult games against Miami, Colorado, Michigan State and Nebraska.

Many think the talented Miller will gradually take over the job. But not everyone.

"I've seen that young man and I just think he's a winner," Toledo coach Tim Beckman said of Bauserman. "He fits with what Ohio State wants to do."

During his three years at Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla., Bauserman had been pursued to play football at every Top 25 program in the country. Instead, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being taken in the fourth round of the 2004 amateur draft as a pitcher. He had a fastball in the low 90s, a sharp breaking curve and one publication said he had the best changeup in the Pirates' farm system.

"We were both drafted the same year and he's just one of those guys I gravitated toward, our personalities were a lot alike," said Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, Bauserman's road roommate while playing in the Gulf Coast League.

Bauserman was 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA in nine games that rookie season, striking out 35 in 38 2-3 innings with 10 walks. He followed it up the next year with a 6-2 mark at Class A Williamsport and a 2.84 ERA. The following summer, at Class A Hickory in the Sally League, his numbers fell to 6-8 with a 4.01 ERA.

Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen played with him in what would be his final season.

"He was already kind of on his way out," he said. "He had a good arm, you knew that just by watching him. He was into football, I guess he just thought that was the way to go."

There was the pull of football, of course, but there were also the endless bus trips and the monotonous routine of the low minors.

Even those that make it to the majors have doubts along the way.

"When you're on the bus at 4 a.m., going to God knows where," Walker said, "like Columbus, Ga., maybe, and you've got a game in 10 hours, there are some guys that are like, 'Why in the world would you do that?'"

Cont...

http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Ex-pitcher-Bauserman-happy-to-be-Buckeyes-QB-2161330.php

 

[tundra1]

All he needs is a supermodel wife and he's Tom Brady, except with a degree from a better university.

FIFY.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Any chance we could preemptively lock this thread down?

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Tough day for Joe today.

Looked like he just couldn't get things to go his way. Hopefully he uses this as a learning experience and is better for it.

 

[generaladm]

It looked to me like JB was having some problems with his release point all game. The overthrown balls seemed to come out of his hand early, like it slipped; but even the passes that were on target looked funny coming out of his hand. If it was a tactile issue (sweat, rosin, etc.) you would think it would have been worked out, but it seemed to be consistent all game. Hopefully, it will get solved in practice this week.

 

[Pryor2Posey]

It had me wondering if the little pumps Joe makes on his deep throws messes up his grip. A lot of those came out like wounded ducks... All in all, I wasn't pleased with what I saw. It's a positive he didn't turn it over, I suppose.

 

[generaladm]

It had me wondering if the little pumps Joe makes on his deep throws messes up his grip. A lot of those came out like wounded ducks... All in all, I wasn't pleased with what I saw. It's a positive he didn't turn it over, I suppose.

Until OSU plays a team with 20' tall CBs, I think we're cool. But seriously...rough game for Joe, but better against UT than anyone else. Lots to work on this week.

 

[BuckNut65]

The boo birds were out already at the Shoe today....that didn't take long

 

[MD Buckeye]

16 of 30 for 189 yards, 1 TD & 0 INTs

Sure he missed a few throws, but the OLine play certainly didn't help. The key is that he didn't turn the ball over. I want to see Braxton get some PT just as much as anyone else (well, maybe not as much as GeorgiaBuck), but things could certainly be a lot worse. A close game may be what this team needed. 2-0 & that's all that matters.

 

[HOLYBUCKEYE10]

I don't get the point of comitting to a two QB system for now and say Braxton will get some time, and then when Joe has been doing poor all game long, they don't give Braxton a shot. I am not against throwing the ball away at times, but it seemed like he NEVER tried to even gain a few yds or something with his feet. To top it, he couldn't hit recievers today well at all. To me the only reason he stayed in this game is b/c he is a veteran.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Did Joe have a great day? Nope, but put yourself in his shoes. He just came off a BIG game last week with all of Buckeye Nations expectations on his shoulders. He did the best he could with what he had. Sorry but this is the reality of life fellas, sometimes its just not your day.

Ever had just an "off" kind of day? These guys are allowed to as well. The biggest testament to Joe today is that he didnt show any ill emotion when he made a mistake. He didnt complain, bitch to his receivers, or blame other people. Joe didnt have a great FOOTBALL game but his mature leadership spoke notes today! Way to go Joe.

 

[MaxBuck]

Quarterback play will be critical to our success this season. Hope Joe rebounds from a pretty poor day. It's clear the coaches don't see Braxton as a contributor at this point, for reasons that are unclear to me.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Quarterback play will be critical to our success this season. Hope Joe rebounds from a pretty poor day. It's clear the coaches don't see Braxton as a contributor at this point, for reasons that are unclear to me.

Probably because you arent at practice and cant evaluate him daily from a head coaches position.

 

[Magua]

Joe Bauserman off day = 16/30 189yds 1 TD 0 INT & the W
Terrelle Pryor off day = 17/31 221yds 1 Td 2 INT 2 Fumbles Lost & the L

I'll take Joe's "off" day today.

A blocked punt, missed FG, fumble while we're driving and killing the clock, Stoney's dropped 4th down catch while driving, shitty tackling on quick hits, plus numerous other plays resulted in a very piss poor performance today. I don't think Joe was the main reason.

 

[scott91575]

Joe Bauserman off day = 16/30 189yds 1 TD 0 INT & the W
Terrelle Pryor off day = 17/31 221yds 1 Td 2 INT 2 Fumbles Lost & the L

I'll take Joe's "off" day today.

A blocked punt, missed FG, fumble while we're driving and killing the clock, Stoney's dropped 4th down catch while driving, [Mark May]ty tackling on quick hits, plus numerous other plays resulted in a very [censored] poor performance today. I don't think Joe was the main reason.

This might have been his average day for all we know. Too early to say this is as bad as it gets.