TE Jake Ballard (Super Bowl Champion)

[WoodyWorshiper]

Have to admit, I had flashbacks of Gonzo in The Game in '05. You see more ridiculous one-handed catches or guys reeling in batted balls all the time, but a guy going up and high pointing the ball within fractions of an inch of his leaping ability -- in the clutch -- just gives me the willys.

Great catch Ballard. You've cemented your moment in Buckeye lore for all time.

Great post. Only thing missing is: Where in the hell is "HAYN'S" snapshot of "The Catch 2010 Version?"

Peace

 

[JBaney45]

2nd bowl game in a row Jake's come up with big time catches.

If only they had been able to find him in the regular season

 

[NateG]

Jake started his career with an unbelievable diving TD catch and ended it with this..... way to bookend an awesome career.

 

[Gandolf]

What a catch! Without it, this game might have ended very differently.

How high up do you think the ball was at the point of the catch?

 

[NateG]

What a catch! Without it, this game might have ended very differently.

How high up do you think the ball was at the point of the catch?

9 and a 1/2 to 10 foot.

 

[cjmik_75]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq541U98rlk"]YouTube - 2010 Rose Bowl Jake Ballard[/ame]

Sorry if it's a little shaky.

 

[NateG]

Loved how Musberger called one right just before the catch...

 

[Gothmog8]

Thanks for a great 4 years Jake. You had little opportunity but you made the most of the catches when they came. I loved seeing the hometown represented in scarlet & gray and I hope to see you as the first one to go into the NFL.

:osu:

 

[NateG]

From

to

 

[DontHateOState]

God Bless Jake Ballard.

I want to hug that man.

 

[MU-Buck]

And then he just gets up, hands the ball to the ref and heads back to the huddle.... I love the Buckeyes!!!!!!

 

[Deety]

It was a tremendous catch. He seemed to fly out of nowhere to pick that up.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Jake sure made the most of his catches. The TD vs. IU in '06, TD vs. MSU and PSU in '07, the shoe string grab in the Fiesta Bowl, and now the Rose Bowl catch. Probably would've been a star at a place like Iowa or Wiscy but I doubt he'd trade the team success he had here for that.

 

[Buckskin86]

Time to leap

One part of Jake Ballard wanted to scream "Hallelujah." A pass was headed his way in the fourth quarter.

"As tight ends, we don't get a lot of chances to make catches, so I definitely wanted to make that one," the senior said.

The 6-foot-8 Ballard rose to the occasion, pulling in the 24-yard pass from Terrelle Pryor, outjumping a couple of shorter Ducks. It came on a third-and-13 from the OSU 45-yard line, giving the Buckeyes a first down at the Oregon 31 and keeping in motion the clinching touchdown drive.

"It really hasn't hit me yet what this all means," Ballard said. "I was just glad to help out in any way I could to help get a victory in my final game as a Buckeye."

Ohio State notebook: Pettrey punctuates his career | BuckeyeXtra

 

[MU-Buck]

How did we not throw more jump balls to him all year once we were in the redzone?