Whether it was the Thursday night tilt with Marshall that lifted the lid on this 2010 season, or this Tuesday night bowl game, these weeknight games don’t quite lend themselves to parties as weekend or New Year’s Day matchups do. So with Gregg on site in the Superdome representing Buckeye 50, I’ll park in front of the tube and close out this 2010 OSU football campaign with one of our stream-of-consciousness game reports.
So we’re about 15 minutes to kickoff, and I don’t think anyone knows whether DickRod still has a job in Ann Arbor. Reports were that he was out, but now UM’s AD is denying it- for the time being. Another meeting is scheduled between Dave Brandon and Rodriguez tomorrow. Seems to me that would indicate they’re (stupidly) planning on keeping him. Why not pull the plug? If you do it tomorrow, you’re just prolonging the agony. I know some Buckeye fans would love Brandon to sign DickRod to a lifetime contract of being Tressel’s bitch, but for the sake of the rivalry, the Wolves need to put the Rodriguez era behind them, Harbaugh or not.
Nice to see ESPN kicked Ron Franklin to the curb. The network has long had a reputation as a smarmy “boy’s club”, but Franklin has always to me come off as one of those pompous, smug, know-it-all’s that populate Bristol. He never cared for Ohio State, which he obviously didn’t have a monopoly on, but beyond that it was nice to see a sexist jerk get his just dues.
Hogs win the toss and Mallett and Co. want the ball. “D” needs to send an immediate message…Drew Basil nails a line drive to the endzone and we’re off from the Arkansas 20…Holy smoke, Joe Adams had an 80-yard TD down the seam and dropped it. First bullet dodged…Another drop on 2nd down…Better heat on third down and Mallett misses his tight end Franklin; nice job by Heyward…Jordan Hall gets dropped immediately on the punt and Bucks will go from their own 26…
“Boom” gets 3 but a dumpoff gets nada on second down…TP finds Corey Brown and move the sticks- nice route…Bucks are accelerating the pace…Two more “Boom” carries gets the ball to the Hog 38…Jake Bequette hits Pryor’s arm and forces an incompletion- Shugarts was whipped…Breaks are bouncing our way early- Pryor is off and running for a first down and looks like he may go the distance if he keeps his balance. He loses the ball inside the 5, and two Razorback defenders knock each other off the ball. Dane Sanzenbacher swarms in and scoops it up for a touchdown! Kudos to Todd Blackledge for immediately recalling Dane’s TD reception against Penn State where he caught a ricochet. Arkansas saw a potential first-play TD pass dropped, and that gets bookended with Dane’s recovery for a score…
Bucks go for unorthodox onside kick but ‘Backs recover around midfield…Two Knile Davis runs move the ball to the OSU 40, then he comes right back with 5 more…Mallett hits D.J. Williams over the middle and he never went down as Ross Homan tried to bring him to the turf. Williams springs up and scores. Man, this game has already had its share of bizarre plays! ESPN goes to break but the TD will stand; can’t blame Homan, that was incredible strength by Williams to plant his hand and his knees never went down…Well, I stand corrected- Williams’ ball wrist was ruled down, so back the ball comes to the 17…Mallett goes right up top to Adams on the fade and Travis Howard has no prayer. We’re tied at 7…
Pryor almost throws a pick on second down- pass was too high…Nice scramble on third down from TP and he finds Stoneburner for a catch-and-run of 24, but it looks like Jake’s knee was down as he caught it, so the RAC yards won’t count…Bucks try play-action right away but Posey’s doubled and TP’s gotta scoot- short gain…Dane gets loose behind a LB and hauls one in down to the 20…”Boom” keeps his balance around the left side and gets to the 9…”Boom” pops up the middle and goes in standing up- no one laid a glove on him. The idiot that ran the infamous tattoo parlor on Sullivant Avenue could’ve run through that hole…Hog “D” is on its’ heels…14-7, Big Ten…
Flipped over to the Big Ten Network where the men’s hoopsters are playing- poor decision on Matta’s part. Got there just in time to see Sullinger get his first foul a minute-and-a-half into the game…Screen to Joe Adams gets the ball out to the 33- man, can he motor…Davis breaks a draw for 12 more; both defenses are coughing up chunks of yardage…Davis for 8 more- Bucks are getting drilled at the LOS…Back to Davis again for the first…Dexter Larimore gets to Mallett for a sack, with an assist from Adam Bellamy- MUCH needed!...Nathan Williams brings the heat on third down and forces an incompletion…Nice special teams work by Arkansas downing the punt at the 1. Last time the Bucks were in this predicament against the Maize and Blue “Boom” broke a big one; we’ll see how they approach it this time…
Pryor pushes ahead for one, then “Boom” powers to the 9…Hogs stand Herron up on third down, and Buchanan punts away to the ‘Back 46…Mallett goes deep for Hamilton but Chekwa makes a nice play to break it up. Chim landed on his arm/wrist a little awkwardly and he’s coming out. And as Brad Nessler accurately points out, every replay of it looks worse- Chekwa might be done for the night…Buckeye “D” forces 3rd-and-6, and then get a 5-yard gift with a Razorback false start. The 3rd-and-11 mystery will be unraveled in the second quarter. 1st period done and Bucks lead it by 7…
Basketball Bucks are on an 8-0 run and are even with Iowa at 17 in Iowa City…Mallett finds Gragg for a first down- Homan lost him…Heyward makes a nice stop on Davis to bring up a 3rd-and-3…Davis burrows for 2 and Bobby Petrino doesn’t hesitate- he’s going…Mallett’s going to the air and either Heyward or Williams bats the SOB down- Buckeye ball!...Pryor misses Posey on a deep shot, but fakes to “Boom” on second and pegs Reid Fragel who motors all the way to the Arkansas 30. Bucks “O” is executing nicely and is keeping the ‘Back “D” off balance…Chipping away with “Boom” down to the 14- tough running!...Short toss to Zach Boren gets nothing…Pryor backpedals away from pressure and fires to the endzone- Dane scoops it right off the rug for six more…Another review coming up- he pinned it against the pads and OSU leads it by 14…
Mallett immediately finds Joe Adams to the ‘Back 40 to start off this drive- secondary has got to try and hold on for dear life…Jarius Wright gets most of the holding penalty yardage back on a short toss…2nd-and-1- Heyward blows in and drops Davis for a loss. Blackledge has it right- Heyward is playing like a man…Mallett goes back for Adams and he drops an easy one- punt team, please!...
Pryor pulls a Houdini on first down and somehow manages 3…Stoneburner gets open for 16, and then Brandon Saine spins out of trouble and dances to the Arkansas 48…Dane shows a spin move of his own and moves the sticks again. Offense is humming…Posey is open on a third-down post but can’t haul it in. Barclay looking at a 50-yarder and he hooks it…5:15 to go ‘til half, Bucks up 21-7…
Davis runs on first down and runs right into Cam Heyward- loss of one…D-line is here to play!- back to back sacks! Heyward, Dex and Johnny Simon are flat smokin’…Bucks have 68 yards to navigate with about 3 minutes to go…3rd-and-4 arises and Pryor finally finds Posey for the first down…Nice throwback toss to Stoneburner- Tress has definitely played with the X’s and O’s in preparation for this one…Pryor airmails it deep to Posey and 43 yards later the Bucks are on the board again. 68 yards in about a minute…Posey was well covered but made the play…Bucks have to survive this last 1:59 and they’ll have the ball to start the second half…
Arkansas on the move…to the OSU 40…3rd down, and Cam barrels in and forces an incompletion…4th-and-10, :22 left, Bucks take time as Arkansas has gotta go…False start again for the Razorbacks. Blackledge points out they’re the most penalized team in the SEC, and it’s coming home to roost…Mallett finds Adams for the first down; time out, Hogs…Adams is open in the endzone and drops another, mercy…Looked like Williams was the intended receiver and Adams tried to get it late…Completion to the 3 yard line- out of bounds. Arkansas uses its last timeout with 4 seconds left. Do you take the FG or try and score and risk coming up empty like you did on that 4th-and-1? Petrino settles for the three and OSU takes a 28-10 lead in at the break. Ordinarily, I don’t watch Gameday, but I might have to see what Mark May has to say…
Nice return by Jordan Hall to start the second half, out past the 30…Chimdi is definitely out, according to Holly Rowe…Pryor gets 17 on first down, with Arkansas jumping offside to boot; flag declined, ball at midfield…”Boom” doesn’t get much on first or second down, and he’s slow to get up after the second tote…TP throws one up into traffic and is lucky it’s not picked…Two Razorbacks had a shot at it and it dropped; punt time…Davis pops through for 11 and he’s sitting on 94…Bucks have got to keep him in check…Sideline pass almost picked by Christian Bryant after a Torrence tip…Davis comes back and earns a first down to midfield…Adams gets open on the left sideline- secondary is gonna be riddled after this game…Fade route to Adams goes out of bounds…Between injuries and cramps, the defense is getting racked up…Davis comes up short on a run, and Hocker comes in for a 46-yarder. Lotta leg and it’s 28-13…
Bucks start at their own 27, and “Boom” gets flattened on first down. DON’T get conservative now, Tress! Let’s go…TP scrambles for 8- HUGE 3rd-and-2…Pass for Saine broken up- terrible forced throw…Adams fumbles the punt but Arkansas gets on it…Hogs start at the 15, and Davis gets two on first down…Pass for Wright on the sideline is juggled and dropped…Adams is hemmed in on a slip screen and isn’t going anywhere. Three and out, way to go, D…
Bucks take over at their 45…Pryor rolls and fires for Posey, who scoops a low throw off the carpet…Two runs net 8, Bucks in hurry up and it doesn’t matter as Herron is short…Barclay is gonna take a shot from 47 yards away…He is dead on and the lead increases to 31-13…
Defense needs to keep it up. Mallett’s gotta go to the air and the D-line has to keep bringing the heat…Adams snares his 9th catch of the evening for a first down- 120 yards total…Rolle buries Williams for a loss of one on a catch in the flat…Davis pounds for 16 into Buckeye territory…Mallett avoids heat and finds Williams for a couple…Davis knocks out another dozen or so. Torrence ripped it out but Arkansas recovers…Wingo comes in for a change of pace and gets 14 more. Yards are coming in chunks. Wright beats Torrence on the fade from 22 yards away and Mallett is right on the money. 31-19 and the Hogs go for two. Good grief, OSU takes a timeout. Just play defense, Tress! Why burn a timeout for God’s sake? There’s a whole quarter left. Heyward got helped off. It’s a war of attrition right now…Williams gets hit short of the goal line but sticks the ball over and it’s a 10-point game. Hines made the hit and held him momentarily but the cavalry was late coming over…Bucks have GOT to score on this drive…
Pryor gets nothing on a first down option and old ‘mo has definitely switched…Bucks have to run one more play but some of the players don’t think so…Screen to Herron gets nothing and Justin Boren has to fall on the ball as it gets bobbled around…Pass is ruled incomplete and we have to play 4 more seconds before the third quarter is officially over…This game has had a little bit of everything…OK, Bucks will have a 3rd-and-10 from their 25…Pryor gets the first down on a dandy scramble but Shugarts gets a stupid holding call and this third quarter is never going to end. Now it’s 3rd-and-20- Pryor escapes trouble and heaves for an open Saine, but it floats out of bounds…Are we sure this quarter’s over? Bucks have to punt to start the fourth…
Punt only travels to midfield. Great field position for Mallett…3rd-and-9 from the Buckeye 49- pass complete to Williams on Dominic Clarke for a first down…Pass to the fullback gets 3…Dex and Cam sandwich Mallett for a sack- 3rd-and-13…Mallett looked for Williams on a tight end screen and had to throw it away…Punt gets caught on the fly at the three...We need a nine- or ten-minute drive with points at the end…
Herron tries the left side on first down and it stood up, with no whistle blowing. He shakes free and gets dropped in the endzone for a safety. Sucks but it’s the right call, he was still going…31-23 and we’ve got 11 minutes to go still…’Backs start from their own 44…Brian Rolle misses an open-field tackle on Jarius Wright, who was lucky to get the ball since it hit John Simon, and he parades upfield for 24 yards to the OSU 28…Arkansas calls time for some reason, so each team has two left…Two running plays lose two; Blackledge just pointed out how we have two freshman playing in the secondary and God bless ‘em, they’re trying to run…Pass is high for Gragg, the tight end, and falls to the turf…Hocker’s in for a 47-yarder and he drills it. This kid’s a freshman? Geez, what a leg…Bucks by 5 with 8:55 to go…It’s time to put this game in Pryor’s hands, the running game is going nowhere…
Pryor loses two on an option keeper. The Superdome is absolutely rockin’…Just get a first down…TP escapes to the 19; they need 5 to move the sticks…Pryor rolls right and outruns three defenders for the first down…”Boom” gets nothing on first down. Get Pryor outside…He does roll left but everyone in an Arkansas jersey is seemingly there and he has to throw it away…3rd-and-10, but of course J.B. Shugarts has to pick the worst time in the world to get his usual false start. What an undisciplined idiot…3rd-and-15 coming up and still 6 minutes left…Terrelle gets loose around the right side and gets all but about 2 feet. Clock is stopped at 6:10 and the whole offense is around Tressel. No punter coming in; Bucks are going…Herron dives and would’ve had the first down but you gotta bring the ball with you. Bucks recover his fumble but don’t get the first...Arkansas takes over at the OSU 38, and although Davis gets 5 on first down, Heyward gets held…Mallett feels the heat and Homan almost picks him on a bad throw…2nd-and-20…Davis gets a screen toss for 4- nice stop by Homan…under 5 minutes to go…Mallett puts it right on the numbers for Ray and he drops it…Arkansas has got to punt and once more Breeding drops it inside the 5. 4:33 to go…
Herron gets a great hole and bursts to the 22- no safety this time…”Boom” over the left side for very little…Pryor keeps around the left side and is about a yard shy. Clock will be under 3 minutes when they get this next snap off...Pryor milks more clock and sneaks for the first down- nice push up front. Arkansas has two timeouts left…Herron pops for 3 but for a heartbeat he looked like he was gonna break it. Timeout, Arkansas…Hogs are selling out with the run defense. Blackledge accurately points out if Herron or someone else breaks the first wave, they’re gonna be gone…Bauserman has to come in for a play- Pryor’s leg got tweaked some on that sneak…”Boom” gets a couple more, and the ‘Backs take their last timeout with an even two minutes left. Move the sticks here and this game is over…
“Boom” manages a couple over the left side, and the Bucks can bleed it down to about a buck-fifteen. They call their last timeout right at 1:15…Ben to punt, and for the love of God, it’s blocked. Are you kidding me? Williams drops it on first down…Homan brings the heat right up the middle and Mallett throws it right into Solomon Thomas’ hands and this one’s in the books, finally…My goodness, everyone in that ‘Dome got their money’s worth…One turnover in the whole game and it bounces OSU’s way. The SEC bowl futility streak is over and the Bucks will finish at 12-1 and in the top 5 for 2010…I’m having to calm some of my Facebook friends- they’re freaking out on me…
(6)Ohio State 31 (8)Arkansas 26
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January 4, 2011
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, LA
Attendance 73,879
By Joe-S-U
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