Mr. Smith Goes to Columbus
Click the Logo to return to home
By Edward Mauler
10/27/04 (Lantern)
All is well again in Buckeye land - the Ohio State football team has ended its worst losing streak under coach Jim Tressel and the team has just notched its first Big Ten victory this season. Buckeye fans, for now, can untie the noose knot in their buckeye necklaces.
Much of OSU's success Saturday against Indiana can be attributed to back-up quarterback Troy Smith, who excelled for the Buckeyes in his first start. He threw two touchdowns passes, inspired the offense with his leadership and gave the OSU offense a much-needed oil change - Smith rushed for 58 yards, was sacked only once and did not turn the ball over.
"Once I get a chance to go out there and play I just let my football game speak for itself," Smith said.
The redshirt sophomore, from the same high school - Cleveland Glenville - as teammates Donte Whitner and freshman sensation Ted Ginn Jr., said he must improve on other areas of his game, despite being content with his decision making in the outing against Indiana. Tressel said he agreed with Smith and said he was happy with his command of the offense against Indiana.
"Our offensive player of the week is Troy Smith. He did the most important thing that any quarterback can do, and that's lead an attack that didn't turn the football over," Tressel said at yesterday's press luncheon. "And for the historians out there, I haven't found a game where the Ohio State quarterback had zero interceptions and rushed for more than 50 that we've ever lost. My experience has been and my research has been, if the quarterback doesn't turn it over and he adds to your rush game, you're going to have a chance to win the football game."
Smith did not ride into battle against the Hoosiers alone, though. The offensive line pulled themselves out of the quicksand in the trench and opened up holes for the running backs. OSU rushed for 282 yards, led by freshman Antonio Pittman's 144 yards on 20 carries.
"And then obviously Antonio Pittman, I think has shown us all along - as far back as the spring - that he's going to contribute and he's been working to earn opportunities and has earned some," Tressel said. "I hope he wants the ball every snap, and I think he does. So does Mo."
"Mo," senior running back Maurice Hall's nickname, stood for "mo" playing time Saturday. Hall stepped in for suspended running back Lydell Ross, started and ran for 44 yards on seven carries - good for 6.1 yards per carry.
"If I do get a chance to run the ball, I want to take it to the house and that's every time," Hall said. "That's what I'm trying to do, make the best of every opportunity I get."
The Buckeye players can pat themselves on their backs for dominating the now 2-5 Indiana Hoosiers, but reality must set in for OSU. The Hoosiers might have the worst defense in the Big Ten, but Penn State and its No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the league comes to Columbus on Saturday.
Penn State did not allow an offensive TD to Iowa on Saturday in its 6-4 baseball-esque loss to the Hawkeyes. Two weeks ago, Iowa lit up the scoreboard against OSU to the tune of 33 points.
"As we said a week ago, Indiana was an improving football team and I think they are better than they've been in the last few years," Tressel said. "I don't think they're as good as Penn State, so obviously as we move forward to get ready for the Nittany Lions, the challenge has become greater."
The 30-7 victory over Indiana on Saturday might have temporarily stopped the scarlet-and-gray bleeding and three-game losing streak, but the Band-Aid might not hold this Saturday when OSU takes on Joe Paterno's defensive-minded Nittany Lions.
The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings against Penn State, but the series record between these two former Big Ten powers is tighter than Tressel's sweater vest. In the last three games, OSU is 2-1 and has only outscored Penn State 61-54.
Overall, Penn State leads the series 10-9, but OSU holds a 6-5 record against the Nittany Lions in the Horseshoe. Last season, the Buckeyes fell behind 17-7 at Happy Valley but pulled out a victory, 21-20. The game-winning TD pass to wide out Michael Jenkins stunned Penn State fans with 1:35 left in the game. Expect another nail-biter Saturday in the Ohio Stadium.
