Game Thread THE GAME: #1 Ohio State 42, #2 Michigan 39 (11/18/06)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Championship may look familiar

Not all like idea of rematch in title game

Friday, November 17, 2006

Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- Among his jokes and tales of the past, former Buckeyes coach Earl Bruce had a very real message about the significance of the Ohio State-Michigan game when he addressed the players on Sunday night.
"If we lose this game, we better not show our faces around town," OSU safety Brandon Mitchell said. "He says you have to walk around Columbus with your head down."
But the Buckeyes would have to lift their chins if they were headed for the national championship game. The threat of rematch in the BCS title game in Glendale, Ariz., has added a weird vibe to Saturday's game between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country. The players don't want to back away from the concept, yet they don't seem particularly enthused about it either.
"A bowl game I don't think would have the same feel," Mitchell said. "For some reason I don't think it would be the traditional rivalry we're used to seeing. Playing it in Columbus or Ann Arbor has a lot to do with it as far as the fan base goes."
And there are some people who flat out hate the idea.
"I don't want to see a rematch," said former OSU quarterback and current ESPN and ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit. "I will be shocked if there's a rematch. I think it's winner take all."
"I think that's unlikely, I think that's very unlikely," former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said before launching into a lament about the old days, when only the winner of the Big Ten could go to any bowl game at all.
It will come down to the BCS rankings and how far the voters in the coaches poll and Harris poll drop the loser. Whether other big-time, one-loss teams lose will have an effect as well.
On one hand, Ohio State would seem to be the more likely candidate to reach the title game as a loser, if only because voters could drop them on their ballots from 1 to 2 and still keep them in the title-game scenario. And though the Buckeyes currently are ranked third in the computer portion of the BCS, adding Michigan to the schedule, win or lose, will boost their standing in the computer tabulations.
On the other hand, Michigan might be more apt to hang around the top two with a loss, in part because they'd be cut some slack for losing on the road and maybe given another shot outside Columbus.
"If Michigan wins, I don't think you'll see much of an uproar over wanting a rematch," said Pete Fiatuk, publisher of collegefootballnews.com, "because if they already beat Ohio State in their house, why should they have to repeat it on a neutral field? Whereas if Ohio State wins, people may want to see them on a neutral field."
While Mitchell wouldn't like the neutrality, OSU defensive end Jay Richardson was intrigued by the possibility.
"It would probably be the biggest game in college football history," Richardson said. "If anything, it would gain something because the two teams involved are a rivalry game, and to have a rivalry game for the national championship, that would be huge. The way things are shaking out right now, you almost have to think that's the way it'll be."
At the start of the season, the Buckeyes typically have three primary goals - win the Big Ten, beat Michigan and win a national title. It's hard to believe they could fail on the first two counts and still reach the third. If a rematch does occur, it's clear the Buckeyes would rather go as the winner.
"It's for the national championship. It's not like we'd get there and say, 'We played them already, we don't want to play the game,' " running back Antonio Pittman said. "That's what we work for all year is to get to the national championship and to win it."
And mischievous OSU offensive lineman T.J. Downing almost seemed to relish the idea of a rematch.
"I'm sure it'd be fun," Downing said, "and I know - I hope - we'd be 2-0 after it."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[scooter1369]

That rocks

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

38 Special - No. 1 vs. No. 2


Friday, November 17, 2006


When top-ranked Ohio State takes on second-ranked Michigan in Columbus, it will be the 38th time in the history of Division I-A college football that the top two teams in the Associated Press Top 25 rankings have been paired against each other. For the Buckeyes, they join the 1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and 1945 Army Black Knights as the only No. 1s to play a second-ranked team twice in the same season.
In all-time meetings, the top-ranked team has a 22-13-2 record (13-6-2 in the regular season, 9-7 in bowl games). Below is a look at the battle for number one (home game in CAPS; otherwise played at neutral site):

Sept. 9, 2006 Ohio State at TEXAS; OSU, 24-7
Jan. 4, 2006 Southern Cal vs. Texas; Texas, 41-38 Rose
Jan. 4, 2005 Southern Cal vs. Oklahoma; USC, 55-19 Orange
Jan. 3, 2003 Miami-Florida vs. Ohio State; OSU, 31-24, 2OT Fiesta
Jan. 4, 2000 Florida State vs. Virginia Tech; FSU, 46-29 Sugar
Jan. 4, 1999 Tennessee vs. Florida State; Tennessee, 23-16 Fiesta
Nov. 30, 1996 Florida at FLORIDA STATE; FSU, 24-21
Jan. 2, 1996 Nebraska vs. Florida; Nebraska, 62-24 Fiesta
Jan. 1, 1994 Florida State vs. Nebraska; FSU, 18-16 Orange
Nov. 13, 1993 Florida State vs. NOTRE DAME; ND, 31-24
Jan. 1, 1993 Miami-Florida vs. Alabama; Alabama, 34-13 Sugar
Nov. 16, 1991 FLORIDA STATE vs. Miami-Florida; Miami, 17-16
Sept. 16, 1989 Notre Dame at MICHIGAN; ND, 24-19
Nov. 26, 1988 Notre Dame at SOUTHERN CAL; ND, 27-10
Jan. 1, 1988 Oklahoma vs. Miami-Florida; Miami, 20-14 Orange
Nov. 21, 1987 NEBRASKA vs. Oklahoma; Oklahoma, 17-7
Jan. 2, 1987 Miami-Florida vs. Penn State; PSU, 14-10 Fiesta
Sept. 27, 1986 Oklahoma at MIAMI-FLORIDA; Miami, 28-16
Oct. 19, 1985 IOWA vs. Michigan; Iowa, 12-10
Jan. 1, 1983 Georgia vs. Penn State; PSU, 27-23 Sugar
Sept. 26, 1981 SOUTHERN CAL vs. Oklahoma; USC, 28-24
Jan. 1, 1979 Penn State vs. Alabama; Alabama, 14-7 Sugar
Jan. 1, 1972 Nebraska vs. Alabama; Nebraska, 38-6 Orange
Nov. 25, 1971 Nebraska vs. OKLAHOMA; Nebraska, 35-31
Dec. 6, 1969 Texas at ARKANSAS; Texas, 15-14
Jan. 1, 1969 Ohio State vs. Southern Cal; OSU, 27-16 Rose
Sept. 28, 1968 Purdue at NOTRE DAME ;Purdue, 37-22
Nov. 19, 1966 Notre Dame vs. MICHIGAN STATE; Tied, 10-10
Jan. 1, 1964 Texas vs. Navy; Texas, 28-6 Cotton
Oct. 12, 1963 Oklahoma vs. Texas; Texas, 28-7
Jan. 1, 1963 Southern Cal vs. Wisconsin ;USC, 42-37 Rose
Nov. 9, 1946 Army vs. Notre Dame; Tied, 0-0
Dec. 1, 1945 Army vs. Navy; Army, 32-13
Nov. 10, 1945 Army vs. Notre Dame; Army, 48-0
Dec. 2, 1944 Army vs. Navy; Army, 23-7
Nov. 20, 1943 NOTRE DAME vs. Iowa; Pre-Flight ND, 14-13
Oct. 9, 1943 Notre Dame at MICHIGAN; ND, 35-12
Note: Associated Press rankings started in 1936.
- Rich Fletcher

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

A case of the Sniffles

What was behind the search of Wolverines players before the 2004 game? This K9 has the straight poop

Friday, November 17, 2006


When Michigan players arrived at Ohio Stadium before the 2004 installment of The Game, bomb-sniffing dogs were waiting to give their bags a once-over. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was furious with the search, saying it was "extremely disrespectful."
Depending on what side of the Ohio-Michigan border you stand, the incident was either bush-league harassment or a necessary security check in a time of war.
To find out which it was, The Plain Dealer tracked down Sniffles, a German shepherd who works for a Columbus-area K9 unit. Sniffles was on the scene two years ago.
Q: So, why'd you guys do it?
A: Why did we do it? Two words, Sherlock: pig ears. Ever taste those? We'll do anything for pig ears.
Q: No, no, no. Why did Ohio State do it? Why sniff the Michigan bags?
A: The bags weren't all we sniffed. We're dogs, you know. Heh-heh. But seriously, we'd gotten a credible threat that someone was trying to sneak a weapon onto the field, so we acted. Turns out it was a whole bunch of weapons, with names like Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez . . .
Q: Did you guys find anything?
A: No weapons, no bombs, no game plan. Nothing.
Q: Lloyd Carr thought the whole thing was some kind of cheap stunt, didn't he?
A: That's because the final score was 37-21 Buckeyes, baby.
Q: So what does a bomb smell like?
A: Kind of smoked and burned, like the Michigan secondary after Saturday.
Q: So you think Ohio State is going to win?
A: Come on. Is a St. Bernard Catholic?
Q: I think the saying is, "Is the Pope Catholic?"
A: Of course the Pope is Catholic. Where'd you do to school, brainiac, Michigan?
Q: So what do you think about the rivalry?
A: It's great. I love how everybody says they respect the other side. They're lying, you know. Dogs can sense that.
Q: Oh yeah? What else can you sense?
A: I can sense when someone is afraid.
Q: Really? So who's afraid as we approach kickoff?
A: The merchants on High Street and anyone with a subcompact car parked near campus.
Q: You're not expecting any unrest like we saw in 2002, are you?
A: I hope not. Actually, I'm not worried. These are college students here. So I'm sure they'll go back to the dorms and spend the rest of Saturday studying.
Q: So are you going to be sniffing the Michigan players again this year?
A: No, we have different orders.
Q: Which are?
A: We've been told that a few fire hydrants dressed as Michigan players will be trying to sneak into the stadium. But we'll have 'em covered.
-- John Campanelli

 

[k_stone_69]

from a Buckeye perspective in _ichigan

First off let me say this, I have been a life long Buckeye fan and always will be. Born and raised in Youngstown and attened Youngstown State from 1994-1997. (the tress years) but still a diehard Buckeye.

But now I live in _ichigan and this week has been...

different.

The radio programs, the local news, the douchebags at work playing that stupid fight song over and over again I sorta expected.

What I've heard and seen in this last two or three weeks is they are concerned about quite a few things. Make no mistake I feel fans on both sides are nervous, tsun fan (how I'd like to refer to the tools whose only response is "who holds the overall record in The Game") has been a lot less arrogant this year and it's something to ponder.

Not just fear of losing, but how their team may lose. I think alot of it has to do with the way the World Series turned out for the Tigers, everyone and their brother was wearing Tigers garb of some sort, which before this season was rarely seen.

Maybe they feel if they just don't blow it out like they did for the Tigers they'll have different results.

The Game is huge, no doubt, but if the winner of The Game doesn't go on to win the Nat'l Campionship it will almost be an even bigger disappointment (to the fan base).

tsun fan has been oddly quite this week (other than that stupid song). Talking about The Game with tsun fan(s) the one thing that gets repeatedly stated is "Ted Ginn scares the hell outta me"

Not Troy, or Tress, or even the Defense (which they feel hasn't faced a real QB all year)

It's Ginn, they fear his HUGE game is coming.

This has been a week I have been anticipating all season for.

And now it's finally here and I think the "world series hangover" might be holding back tsun fan.

Take it for what it's worth.

I've been pretty clear to tsun fan that I feel the common games are the real barometer for me, even though in The Game you can throw out all the stats and records, I have repeatedly stated that this will be an Epic Battle but in the end the bucks will not only cover the, now 7 point spread, but cover it easily.

I've put my two cents out there and tsun fan has done nothing.

It is 9:30 am on friday so there is still time but I don't see it coming.

To all those who will be attending The Game saturday,


BE LOUD!!!

VERY VERY LOUD!!


:osu:

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

A game with no equal

Many factors add up to this Buckeyes-Wolverines contest possibly being one of the best ever
Friday, November 17, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Is Ohio State-Michigan on Saturday the biggest regular-season game in the history of college football, a heretofore untraveled intersection of tradition, talent and Brent Musburger?
As Jim Tressel said this week, bowl games are a season unto themselves, and to compare a game that rises above the schedule to a multimillion-dollar BCS creation is pointless. The BCS is just for determining a national title. This is something more. This is Ohio State-Michigan.
You can run out of fingers counting up previous Games of the Century. But we do know this is just the 38th matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the AP poll; the 23rd of those 38 taking place outside of a bowl; the 14th of those 23 to be played in November or December of the regular season; and the sixth of those 14 played since the invention of ESPN.
History will judge this game by what happens on Saturday. Right now, all we have is math -- and it all seems to add up.
Take: Greatest rivalry in college football
When the College Football Hall of Fame convened a panel to rank the 24 greatest rivalries at all levels of the sport, Ohio State-Michigan was No. 1.
"I would certainly agree with that," said Hall of Fame curator Kent Stephens. When ESPN chose the greatest rivalries in all of sports, Ohio State-Michigan was No. 1, ahead of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, even though ESPN broadcasts so many Boston- New York games each season.
When the congressional delegations from Ohio and Michigan in the U.S House of Representatives submitted a resolution in 2003, it wasn't about BYU and Utah. It took 22 uses of "whereas" to reach the end, where it was resolved that "the House of Representatives recognizes The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines football game as the greatest rivalry in history."
Technically, that might mean that anyone who disagrees with all those whereas-es can be arrested.
At 103 games, Ohio State-Michigan is the 16th most-played Division I-A rivalry. At 89 games, it's the 11th-longest uninterrupted series. It includes two of the top five teams in all-time winning percentage.
Nebraska-Oklahoma and Auburn- Alabama are in lulls in terms of national prominence for their rivalries. Army-Navy faded long ago. UCLA of late hasn't been able to keep up with USC. And Miami and Florida State are both suffering this season, though that rivalry was too new anyway.
So go ahead and argue -- and get ready for those handcuffs.
Plus: Biggest game in this rivalry
Ohio State football historian Jack Park remembers how Buckeyes fans waited through 1970 for a shot at revenge. Michigan had ended Ohio State's 22-game winning streak in 1969, and a chance at rectifying that couldn't come soon enough.
"All that summer, at picnics or Fourth of July barbecues, all people could talk about was, We've got to get Michigan back,' " Park said.
Both teams were unbeaten on Nov. 21, 1970, Ohio State at 8-0 and Michigan at 9-0, the first that had happened since the game was moved to the end of the season for good in 1935. Park remembers Ohio Stadium being filled an hour before kickoff, as Ohio State went on to a 20-9 victory.
It was the kind of anticipation that Park thought could never be matched.
"I can't imagine anything being bigger than that game," Park said. "But this game could be as big. And it could be the greatest game, especially if it comes down to the end like in 2002, on a pass to the end zone that's going to be a touchdown or an interception."
Still, the 1970 game was matchup of just No. 4 vs. No. 5 in the polls. It wasn't one of the eight times that the Ohio State-Michigan game has included the No. 1 team in the country: Michigan in 1947, 1948 and 1997, and Ohio State in 1954, 1968, 1969, 1973 and 1975. Four other times the game has included the No. 2 team in the country. But never both of them.
"This is about as big as it gets," said former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. "I don't know what else you can do. Two teams that have been dominant all year long and, let's face it, there's no rivalry that compares to this."
Times: Modern- day hype
ABC commentator Paul Maguire won't even be in Columbus. He'll be watching the game from a control truck in California while preparing to call the Cal-USC game Saturday night. But the Youngstown native believes the rest of the world should shut down at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
"This is a Super Bowl game, it really is," Maguire said. "The BCS championship is something else. This goes beyond all championships and all other things. If you don't watch it, there's really got to be something wrong with you. I don't care if your team is playing on television someplace else, you better watch this football game.
"I can't imagine that anyone who likes the game of football would think about missing this game. Everyone that's listening, they have the day off Saturday, and Kirk Herbstreit will pick up their check."
Ohio State has issued more than 1,100 media passes for Saturday, 100 more than any previous game. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who was raised in Michigan and played Class AAA ball in Columbus, will be among the celebrities at the game. ABC has bumped its pregame show to an hour, which will follow "SportsCentury: Woody Hayes," which will air at 2 p.m. And ESPNU, that channel that everyone complained about when the Buckeyes' game with Indiana was broadcast on it, is running more than 60 hours of Michigan-Ohio State programming this week.
ABC officials won't predict what the ratings will be, but remember that the OSU-Texas prime-time game on Sept. 9 drew more than 13 millions viewers and was the most- watched college football game in a decade. And that was a No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the second week of the season. This is No. 1 vs. No. 2 in November, and ESPN and ABC have the promos to prove it.
Equals: Biggest regular-season game in college football history
With the winner headed for the BCS Championship game, this is like a playoff game in the regular season. And that matters to everyone.
"I think when Woody and Bo were here, I think it was as big as it got, because it was Ohio State and Michigan, and national championships and Big Ten championships always seemed to be on the line," said Herbstreit, who will be in the broadcast booth Saturday. "But since Jim Tressel has been here and Lloyd Carr has taken over, I think it's come back full circle with, again, not just Big Ten bragging rights, but with the BCS. One team or the other always seems to have something at stake. And that's why I think the entire nation, whether you're a Pac-10 fan or an SEC fan, I think you have a great appreciation for what's at stake here."
Pete Fiatuk is the publisher of cfn.scout.com, which several years ago compiled a list of the 100 greatest games in college football, a list currently being revised for release again next year. He said No. 1 is the 1984 Miami-Nebraska Orange Bowl, while last year's Texas-USC Rose Bowl will be No. 2, with 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma the highest- ranked regular-season game at No. 3.
"Old people get all weepy over Nebraska-Oklahoma in '71 because everyone pointed to that for a full season," Fiatuk said. "This one came out of nowhere because no one expected Michigan to do this."
He also considers this to be a down year for college football in general, considering the Buckeyes and Wolverines "the two best teams of a bad lot instead of two killers," Fiatuk said. "And the Big Ten has stunk this year."
Still, he understands the argument. He knows the math, which could lead to another meeting in the BCS title game.
"If it's not the biggest of all time, it certainly has to be in the top 10," Fiatuk said. "Unless they have a rematch. That would make this kind of meaningless."
That would call for a different equation.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Breaking down Michigan

Friday, November 17, 2006


OFFENSE

Running back Mike Hart has fit perfectly into the new zone blocking scheme employed by Michigan's offensive line this year. He's only 5-9 and 196 pounds, but Hart's bread and butter is between the tackles, and he will find any crease created within the blocking scheme -- and then he almost always breaks the first tackle. . . . Hart is a workhorse, leading the nation with his 278 carries this season, but will be spelled by a capable backup in Kevin Grady. . . . On deep balls, quarterback Chad Henne is at his best, and most accurate, when he has time to set his feet and settle his head. But he's not much for throwing or making plays on the move. . . . Michigan's running game tends toward the left, which is no surprise. Junior left tackle Jake Long will be a first-round NFL draft pick some day. . . . Hart won't give the ball up. He has fumbled just three times in his entire career and lost only one of them, in 2004. . . . They like to drag receiver Steve Breaston across the middle on short routes and hit him coming across the field. But he will also drop his share of balls. . . . Receiver Mario Manningham was Henne's deep target before requiring arthroscopic knee surgery in the middle of the year. He missed three games and played some last week against Indiana, but still hasn't gone full out for a full game. "I think it was about getting him on the field, just to give him confidence back in his leg, so he knows his limitations, if he has any," said ESPN and ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit. . . . No. 3 receiver Adrian Arrington, at 6-3, is very good at going up and getting the ball, especially in the end zone. Six of his 31 catches have been for touchdowns.

DEFENSE

Trying to run outside toward defensive end LaMarr Woodley, with his speed and ability to get off blocks, is pointless. He flops back and forth between the left side and right side, so it's important to know where he is. When he rushes the passer, and he has 11 sacks, he will go after the ball and has forced four fumbles this season. . . . Cornerback Leon Hall got off to a slow start but has been excellent in the second half of the season. He has three interceptions and 18 pass breakups, which ties Michigan's single-season record. He's aggressive and not afraid to jump routes, which could leave him vulnerable to double moves if a quarterback has time to throw. . . . The rest of the secondary -- safeties Brandent Englemon and Jamar Adams and corners Morgan Trent and Charles Stewart -- can be thrown on, which plays into Ohio State's regular use of four- and five-receiver formations. . . . Linebacker David Harris is a hitter and as good as any linebacker in the Big Ten and probably deserved to be a Butkus Award finalist. His 85 tackles are nearly twice as many as any other Wolverine. . . . On defense is where Michigan has to win the game. "I think Ohio State has more talent on offense than Michigan has on offense, and I think Michigan is a little more talented on defense than Ohio State is on defense," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. . . . Defensive tackle Alan Branch is a beast at 6-6 and 331 pounds. He doesn't have huge stats, but he takes up blockers and has the speed to chase down ballcarriers, too.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Garrett Rivas has made 15 of 18 field goals, but Michigan has just 12 touchbacks on its 67 kickoffs, which means Ted Ginn Jr. will get a shot. . . . Punter Zoltan Mesko from Twinsburg averages a solid 41.2 yards per punt. . . . Steve Breaston is the all-time Big Ten leader with 1,599 yards on punt returns, including four touchdowns. . . . "In a game like this, it may come down to the kicking game," Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said.
-- Doug Lesmerises

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Breaking down Ohio State

Friday, November 17, 2006


OFFENSE

Ohio State puts at least four receivers on the field at least 25 percent of the time, and the best plan might be to do that even more often, especially with No. 4 receiver Brian Hartline catching two touchdowns last week. . . . No one has been able to cover Anthony Gonzalez in the slot all year, and Michigan doesn't look to have anyone who can change that. . . . Ted Ginn Jr. was walking around this week without the soft boot he had been using to protect his broken toe. He should be going full speed at Michigan's Leon Hall. . . . Michigan State had some success with frequent use of planned rollouts, moving the pocket away from the pressure of that defensive line. Troy Smith should have no problem throwing on the move. . . . Smith has run the ball just 58 times this season, half as often as last year, but against this defense, his ability to scramble is Ohio State's No. 1 weapon. . . . Left tackle Alex Boone is expected to start after missing two games, and he is desperately needed back, but even he will have a tough time with Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley. . . . Running back Antonio Pittman has bounced outside effectively this year, but he said he prefers to run inside. He should stick to that plan today. Bouncing outside against the speed of this defense will only lead to losses. . . . No defense requires the short-yardage skills of No. 2 back Chris Wells more than Michigan's defense. Will Jim Tressel go to him despite his fumbling problems? He may have to. . . . If a comeback is needed, the Buckeyes have scored 110 fourth-quarter points, more than double Michigan's fourth-quarter total. . . . Tight end Rory Nicol floats in and out of the offensive game plan week to week, but he will be needed most to help block those defensive ends. His blocking has been up and down this year as well.

DEFENSE

James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman are as good of a pair of cover linebackers as you will see, so there won't be much open in the middle of the field for the UM passing game. . . . Cornerback Antonio Smith has been great against the run, but no one really knows if he can cover anyone. Mario Manningham in the slot at times may get the answer. . . . "We haven't been tested deep as much as we thought we would be, but we know Michigan is going to come here and throw it deep," strong safety Brandon Mitchell said. The recognition skills of free safety Jamario O'Neal, improving since he was made a starter in the middle of the year due to injury, will be a big part of whether the Buckeyes handle that. . . . Defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson both have the pass-rush skills to get after pocket passers like Chad Henne. ... Laurinaitis is a sure tackler with a nose for the ball, and he will have to find Mike Hart and not let him shake that first contact. . . . "Defensively, they may be better than last year, and that's not a hit on last year's defense at all," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "But they may be more athletic, and those other guys that played last year are all playing on Sunday [in the NFL]." . . . The Buckeyes have forced 27 turnovers, more than anyone else in the Big Ten, but Michigan has committed only 10 turnovers, the fewest in the Big Ten. . . . Linebacker Curtis Terry seems to get better every game.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter A.J. Trapasso was one of the stars of the win over Texas, but he has been average since then, though his 41.2-yard average isn't bad. . . . Kicker Aaron Pettrey has 32 touchbacks on his 54 kickoffs, a big edge over Michigan. He is 8 of 11 on field goals but has made five straight, his last miss coming eight games ago. . . . Ted Ginn Jr. is second in the conference in punt returns, but only eighth in kick returns. This is the type of game, and he is facing the kind of kick coverage, where he could break one.

-- Doug Lesmerises

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Clarett presence sent stars north?

Friday, November 17, 2006 Jodie Valade

Plain Dealer Reporter

Each time Mario Manningham snags a pass, every time Prescott Burgess makes one more power ful tackle, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has one person to thank: Maurice Clarett.
That's one theory, at least. That's one explanation for how Manningham and Burgess, two of Ohio's top products, both hailing from Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, managed to escape the savvy clutches of Ohio State.
Both spurned the Buckeyes for Ohio State's most hated rival, Michigan.
And one recruiting expert thinks the former high school teammate of both - Clarett - is the reason why.
"It had everything to do with Maurice Clarett," said Duane Long, recruiting editor for Ohio High Magazine and Bucknuts.com. "Prescott Burgess did not get along with him. I think it's becoming more widely known now, but it's not a real secret from my perspective."
Burgess and Manningham were not available to comment for this story.
But if Long is right - if OSU's decision to bring in the player who scored the game-winning touchdown in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl impacted Burgess' decision - then Burgess affected Manningham's college choice as well.
Manningham went to Michigan, in part, because Burgess was there. And Burgess steered clear of Ohio State, in part, perhaps, because Clarett was there.
STARSD8

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Many plays, one acts

Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel embraces his job, but the best part is making the calls on game day

Friday, November 17, 2006

Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus -- Jim Tressel might carry himself like a senator, speak like a pastor and run a multimillion-dollar football program like a CEO, but he thinks like a football coach.
So in the midst of college football's biggest rivalry, he can embrace the tradition and enjoy the hoopla while knowing there's nothing quite like calling plays come game day.
"That's probably as much [fun] as there is," Tressel said.
"Probably the most fun is working with the kids and watching kids grow. And probably the second part of the job that's the next most fun is a having a chance to sit down and scheme and try to find out what your guys do best and try to do that, and figure out what [the opponent is] going to do to try to stop you."
Quarterback Troy Smith -- who walked in at 8:30 Monday morning carrying breakfast and plopped down next to Tressel and quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels to watch some Michigan film -- has seen the gleam in their eyes.
"They're coaches because athletically they don't do some of the things they used to love doing," Smith said. "Now it's a cerebral thing, and this is the way they go about getting their highs through the day."
While Tressel will be getting his highs on the sideline Saturday, offensive coordinators Daniels and Jim Bollman will be in the press box, Daniels offering suggestions in the passing game, Bollman in the running game. But it's clear who's making the calls.
"Tress tells me to go get him hot dogs," Daniels joked. "I tell him I've got a mouthful, I'm not bringing him one."
This week, Tressel will butt heads with 38-year-old first-year Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, who has been credited with turning around the Wolverines defense by letting loose a unit loaded with talent. His "play fast" mantra has helped create the best run defense in the country. So like every week, Tressel has been shuffling through his playbook.
"It starts over every week on Sunday," Tressel said. "It's an ongoing thing. You study yourself heavily in February and March, and prepare yourself in the spring to find out what your guys can do, then you start moving in the preseason to further understand what you're best at, then you start developing things against your opponent."
You never know what he might find in there. Two weeks ago against Illinois, Smith took a couple of steps to the left and toward the line before hitting Brian Robiskie with a big pass, a little step-up throw that hadn't yet seen the light of day.
"That was simply because of the coverage they played that we hadn't seen all year," Tressel said. "That was always in the stack, but we hadn't used it because of the coverage."
So a new plan has been put into place, maybe with a couple of plays created just for the Wolverines.
Tressel has been doing something right during his four wins in five tries against Michigan.
"I can't figure out if he calls plays differently or if he saves plays for that week or why he's been able to have success against Michigan," ESPN analyst and former OSU quarterback Kirk Herbstreit said.
With multiple formations, from five wide receivers to two tight ends and a fullback, Tressel possesses a play-caller's dream with his smorgasbord of talent.
"That's a luxury," Daniels said. "I think it's harder when you have one guy you can count on, because guess what, the defense knows it, too."
But if English and the Michigan defense do have Tressel figured out Saturday, he will also be ready to throw a week's worth of preparation out the window.
". . . I can't tell you how many times we've taken that game plan and slipped it in our back pocket and said, Hey, they're not doing what they've been doing recently. Where's what we were doing four weeks ago when so and so did that?' " Tressel said.
If that happens, Tressel will be open for whatever ideas Daniels and Bollman can offer from above.
"When we're on defense, it's a constant discussion, next time we're in a third and medium, this looks good, that kind of thing," Daniels said. "The passing part for the most part is Tress and I, and there's a switch on the phone where Bolls can talk to the other people involved in the run game. So there's an awful lot of communication.
"Once we're on offense, it becomes a little bit more specific. If it's a run situation, [Tressel will say], OK, Bolls, what do you think?' Or if there's a passing situation, What do you think?' "
But in the end, it's clear the call rests with one man.
"He's got a great feel for things as far as how the game is flowing," Daniels said. "He does a great job of understanding defensive teams' tendencies, the percentage of times they blitz in this situation or that, even to the point of where are on we on the field, backed up or in midfield or in the red zone.
"He can do what he wants because he's the boss."
So he gets to have the most fun.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4479

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Talking points

Friday, November 17, 2006

Ohio State's four senior captains speak to the team each Thursday after practice. We don't know exactly what they say, but from conversations with them and their teammates, and the way they have handled themselves all year, we can guess at the typical role each plays with the team in those speeches and in practice:
COMIC
Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock
Bashful by nature, he will show his other side when he's comfortable, and as a captain he has taken on the role of entertainer, finding photos or crafting inside jokes to send the players out on a light note and creating memories they won't soon forget.
COACH
Defensive tackle David Patterson
Earnest and spiritual, he plans to be a high school coach and teacher someday, and you can see him expressing sincerity about the everyday aspects of football life, motivating without cheerleading.
CALM
Center Doug Datish
The history aficionado is matter-of-fast and professional, more about how he says it than what he says. He is admired by his teammates for taking what they viewed as cheap shots in games this year and refusing to retaliate, not wanting to risk a penalty that would hurt the team.
CARE
Quarterback Troy Smith
Constantly expressing his passion for his teammates, he has evolved from me-first to team-first since he first became a starter. He seeks now to make the work and the success of every player part of a communal effort, figuring the whole is stronger than its parts.

 

[Best Buckeye]

In this , the biggest game of the year, we play for all the marbles, the prize, bragging rights for a year, and the unmitigated joy of winning this game. Do not believe that tsun is not deathly afraid of losing yet another game to us. They are. They know that they are the underdogs and have doubts as to whether they can beat us. And deservedly so. Everyone knows our own players and theirs just as they know theirs and ours.
Is this going to be a GAME or not?

Our fans vs tsun fans
Tress vs carr
the Bucks vs the wolverwienies
OSU vs tsun
All this equals VICTORY tomorrow at the shoe.
GO BUCKS!

 

[scarletandgrey]

Man I can't wait for this game. I've been listing to the radio the whole day and all they're playing is buckeye music. It has me pumped up big time.

GO BUCKS!!!!!

 

[CookyPuss]

I heard a good interview with AJ Hawk last night on the radio here in Cincinnati. First, he said he didn't bet much on the Bucks because he doesn't like to do that (he's a well known miser) but he is confident. He was talking about his relationship with Brady Quinn and was asked if the Buckeyes had any secrets on the Domers. He basically explained that Tress and Co. had done such a great job of scouting that they knew exactly what ND was going to do in almost any situation (not so much the formation as what the play was trying to accomplish). He said that Quinn is an excellent QB and gives nothing away, so they were reading the schemes and not the players. Basically, he said the ND runs the same stuff over and over but they do it well. He said he has watched some of their games this year and knew what they were going to do. So what does this have to do with The Game?

:scum3: ichigan is like the Domers in this respect. You know what they are going to do. They run the same schemes over and over. They line it up and play hard. They are damn good at it, but also damn predictable. I also heard an interview with Merril Hodge and he commented the the difference he sees with the Buckeyes is that they have so many more "elements" than scUM. He also said that when he moved to this area he chose to be contrarian and not be a fan of tOSU. He said after watching what they do in the running game, he couldn't help but become a fan.

The point: You just can't gameplan tOSU the way you can scUM. The Bucks have a clear edge in being able to make adjustments and calls on the fly in addition to having a balanced attack. Tighten it up, spead it out, option, shot gun, shot Ginn, double-reverse flea-flicker, etc. I have no clue what Tress has planned for this one, but it is going to be fun to watch.

:scum4: :gobucks3: :gobucks4:

 

[Best Buckeye]

O-H