Wednesday, January 5, 2005 5:50 PM
TOUGH PLACES - MATTA-BALL TIME @ Illinois
In the bustle of today's news, we hopefully haven't forgotten that we MERELY play the #1 team in the country tonight at 9:00 PM Eastern time.
I have not been to every basketball arena in the Big Ten, but between the ones I have been to and the one's others have seen, it seems the consensus is that the worst places for Ohio State to play away from the Schott are Illinois (Assembly Hall), Michigan State (Bressler Arena) and Indiana (Assembly Hall - but only when IU is playing well). IU basketball fans appear to be very similar to Ohio State football fans in that if we play a big opponent and/or are playing well, the Horseshoe is VERY intimidating. Otherwise, it is merely a good home field advantage.
Assembly Hall in Champaign is a VERY tough, loud and unforgiving place. If we get down by a lot at any point, it will be tough. Illinois plans to smother Terrence Dials and force us into outside shooting. Offensively, they want their outstanding guards to take control of the game.
I know someone who spoke with JJ Sullinger and he said that our team, as far as he can tell, is not intimidated going into this game. They are not overconfident, just not in shock and fear going into the game. This clearly is a testimonial to the confidence level and coaching they have received from Thad Matta and the rest of the coaches.
Now, whether MATTA-BALL gets going or not tonight will be another story. I personally look for a close game and think Illinois will be shocked at what we throw at them. No matter what, it will be a great test and we should come out of this game all the better, win or lose. One thing I know for sure; we won't be beaten by 40 points like we were last year. Don't miss it!!
pjs buck
Wednesday, January 5, 2005 11:30 AM
ANDY GEIGER TO RETIRE "EARLY"
OSU held a press conference today to announce the early retirement of Andy Geiger. He will remain in his position until the end of June, 2005, or if a suitable replacement is found he might possibly leave sooner. It was emphasized that this was totally voluntary and had nothing to due with the controversies currently happening. He indicated he was worn out and that work was no longer fun, thus feeling it was better to depart sooner than his previous date of 2006.
We will have more details later.
pjs buck
January 29, 11:30 a.m.
A Few Recruits Going Elsewhere
A few big names OSU was in on have chosen to attend other schools. The commitments are as follows:
Leon Hart, OL, Columbia, SC - Auburn
Brandon Braxton, OL, Youngstown Ursuline - Oklahoma
Chris Zellner, DE/TE, Sarasota, FL - Miami
Stay tuned!
jdm/rb
January 29, 8:30 a.m.
Albert Dukes Commits to Ohio State
Ohio State has landed a verbal commitment from Belle Glades, FL star receiver Albert Dukes. Dukes hails from the same program that produced current OSU wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Dukes shot up the recruiting lists after an outstanding senior year. This is yet another very good catch for Ohio State.
Don't look now, but this recruiting class is finishing strong, something that did not happen last year. Stay tuned.
blb
January 28, 9:30 a.m.
Quick Hitters
--As most have probably seen by now, Tim Spencer is the new running backs coach for the Chicago Bears. More on a potential replacement later. Good luck to Coach Spencer in his new job.
--Ohio State has landed another verbal commitment, Louisiana defensive tackle Nader Abdallah. Abdallah had quite the impressive offer list including Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame and many others. Abdallah sounds like a great addition to this year's class.
--Per today's USA Today, Maurice Clarett has decided to forego winter conditioning with the team. A sign that he won't be a Buckeye this year? Possibly. A ruling on Clarett's case against the NFL is expected to be issued by the end of the weekend. That probably won't be the end of this, however. There almost surely will be an appeal by the losing party. Also, if Clarett does win his case, he can still decide to return to Ohio State. Stay tuned.
blb
January 26, 4:45 p.m.
. . . and more recruiting!
Recruiting has always seemed like it would be a stressful time for a five star athlete, and I think that is what we have seen with Fred Davis. Rumors are flying about the way he left Toledo, and it is hard to tell what actually happened. Fred Davis has done what he thinks is best for Fred Davis, and we should wish him luck. Good luck at USC Fred.
Now, for some good news. In a position where the Bucks are a bit thin, help is on the way. Kyle Mitchum officially announced for the Bucks today at his press conference. Mitchum is a very big addition to this year's recruiting class. Welcome aboard Kyle!!
jdm/rb
January 25, 2:00 p.m.
Recruiting (What else?)
The recruiting page has been updated. There are a few names that I could have added to the this page, but I still feel OSU is too long of a shot to add. There has been talk that PA quarterback Anthony Morelli is still considering Ohio State, but nothing concrete. It still seems to be a longshot that he would end up at OSU. MD defensive end Derrick Harvey supposedly is still considering OSU, but it still seems unlikely that Harvey end up at OSU. Mammoth OT Roland Martin from Chicago was also left off the recruiting page, but Martin could have one eye on Ohio State (although it's unlikely Martin ends up at OSU.)
OSU still appears to have quite a few top prospects that are still considering Ohio State, but the available scholarships are running low. Many prospects are not announcing a decision until signing day or a few days before. If OSU has to keep a scholarship available to a prospect that may or may not choose Ohio State on signing day, that could mean that Ohio State could lose out on others that want to be Buckeyes. This is a sticky situation and one that has burned Ohio State in years past. Hopefully OSU can determine where most of these prospects are going to commit before signing day.
I will be on SportsTalkCleveland internet radio (and WKNR 850 in Cleveland) to talk recruiting at 7:30, February 5 (signing day). It should be a good day for the Buckeyes.
blb
January 24, 11:00 a.m.
Recruiting Picture Coming in Focus
It had been rumored for some time, but now some of the bigger sources are reporting that Kyle Mitchum has verbally committed to Ohio State. Mitchum is ranked as a top 10 O-line prospect by multiple sources and will become the 4th O-line commitment for the class of 2004. This is a major get for the Buckeyes.
While adding Mitchum to this year's class, Ohio State has dropped Austintown Fitch WR Miles Williams. Sources say that it was questionable whether or not Williams would be admitted to Ohio State based on the university's internal standards. Williams, who apparently was told that he would not have an LOI (letter of intent) sent to him on signing day, has now verbally committed to Michigan State.
So who will fill the remaining spots in this class? Good question, as no one outside of the program really knows how many scholarships Ohio State will hand out on signing day. Some of the best bets appear to be:
Fred Davis, WR - Toledo Rogers WR has created a lot of drama for recruiting fans. Many think he ends up at OSU, but Miami and So Cal still appear to be right in the thick of things.
Devon Lyons, DB/WR - PA prospect is deciding between Ohio State and Miami. Some now think OSU is the school to beat.
Dennis Kennedy, RB - Under-the-radar type prospect from Florida wants to be a Buckeye. If the offer comes, he will jump on it. Tough call though, as to whether or not that offer comes.
Ryan Anderson, DE - Blue-chip prospect from Wisconsin is thought to favor Miami and Ohio State. OSU would really like to land Anderson. Tight race here.
Anthony Reddick, S - Ft. Lauderdale prospect is said to be choosing between Ohio State, Miami and Georgia. Many thought OSU was done with DB's in this class, but they seem to really like Reddick. Close one to call.
Albert Dukes, WR - Fast rising prospect from Santonio Holmes' high school is thought to be deciding between Ohio State and NC State. NC State may have the slightest of advantages.
Nader Abdallah, DT - Louisiana product really likes Ohio State, but will he come this far north? As the days pass, chances seem less likely Abdallah becomes a Buckeye.
Dwayne Jarrett, WR - NJ receiver likes OSU, Virginia and So Cal. His decision may affect Davis' and vice versa. Some think OSU now trails.
Javier Estopinan, LB/DE - Florida prospect likes OSU and Florida. If scholarship is there from OSU, he may take it, but some think the 'ship won't be there.
Leon Hart, OT - Blue chip O-line prospect is thought to be leaning toward Auburn, but OSU is not giving up. Probably a longer shot, though.
There are others in the picture, but these seem to be the most likely candidates right now for OSU to land.
blb
January 22, 8:00 a.m.
January 19, 8:30 a.m.
Finishing Strong
Ohio State is primed for a strong finish to the 2004 recruiting campaign. It seems likely that this class will be considered to be the #3 class nationally behind LSU and Southern Cal come signing day. Ohio State has 21 verbal commitments and likely can still take 5 or more in this class. Because some of the prospects are enrolling early (or have already enrolled), OSU can count some of the incoming recruits toward the 2003 class, which will in essence allow OSU to take more than 25 recruits this year.
Right now, it looks like OSU can take up to 26 in this class and still be within the 85 total scholarship limit. OSU can also "over-sign" on signing day thanks to a change in the Big Ten rules last year. With OSU still in on many big-time prospects, they may even try to take more than 26 in the class. If the coaches know that certain underclassmen will not be back, then they are may attempt to get 27 or maybe more in this year's class.
Who will fill the remaining 5 or more spots? Let's look at it by position....
QB: OSU is likely done recruiting QB's.
RB: OSU would love to land Darius Walker (from GA) in this class. If they can't get Walker, they could possibly grab Dennis Kennedy from Florida. Expect 0 to 1 RB from here on out.
WR: OSU may take two between Fred Davis, Dwayne Jarrett, Albert Dukes and Devon Lyons. Expect 1 to 2 WR's from here on out.
TE: OSU is done at this position.
OL: OSU looks like they will land Kyle Mitchum. They would certainly take Leon Hart if he wants to come aboard and they may take Jeremy Zuttah from NJ. Expect 1 to 2 O-linemen from here on out.
DL: OSU has a shot at DT Nader Abdallah, DE Chris Zellner, DE Rhyan Anderson, DE Olu Hall, DE Javier Estopinan and DE Willie Young. Expect anywhere from 0 to 2 D-linemen from here on out.
LB's: OSU would surely take James Bryant, but will likely not end up with any more LB's.
DB's: OSU is likely done at this position.
P/K: OSU is done at these positions
blb
January 19, 7:30
January 17, 3:30 p.m.
Updates
I have been out of town all week and will not be back until late tomorrow night. jdm/rb is taking care of the bigger news update, but I won't be able to get to do a full recruiting update until Monday evening. As you probably read, Fred Davis' announcement will be delayed, likely until signing day. Stay tuned.
blb
January 15, 10:00 a.m.
He's baaack
Maurice Clarett, remember him? Big Mo plead guilty to a reduced charge, and has now apparently been cleared to start working out with the team (the OSU football team). Is this a first step to coming back, or is he simply getting in shape for the NFL draft? The next couple of weeks will tell the tail as a decision in his case against the NFL is expected February 1. Even is he wins, rumors are swirling that Clarett is considering a return to the Buckeyes as reports on his draft status have not been as good as expected. Stay tuned!!
jdm/rb
January 13, 7:00 p.m.
One More in the Bag - Commit 21
Nick Patterson, a DB/ATH from Florissant, MO, (Hazelwood Central) has committed to the Buckeyes. Patterson announced at a 6:30 p.m. press conference. His vitals are: 6-1, 200, 4.5 with a GPA over 4.0 while taking honors classes. Patterson definitely fits the Tressel mold with good grades, speed, and versatility as he could play WR or DB at the next level. Welcome aboard Nick!
jdm/rb
January 11, 11:45 p.m.
Recruiting News: Buckeyes Land Two More
Detroit LB/DE Vernon Gohlston verbally committed to Ohio State to be part of the 2004 class. Ohio State turned the tables on Michigan, actually nabbing one from their stomping grounds, something Michigan often does to Ohio State. Gohlston is a bit raw, but has some freakish skills. His Nike camp numbers and measurements were quite impressive: 6'3", 238, 4.45 and a 31.6 inch vertical. According to Gohlston, the OSU coaches liked the fact that he can play both DE and LB. Gohlston finished his senior year with 103 tackles, 7 sacks, and 16 tackles for losses.
OSU also got a verbal commitment from Dublin Coffman D-lineman Alex Barrow. Barrow's stock was on the rise this past month. Many think he has a very big upside at defensive tackle. Counting the playoffs, Barrow finished the year with 92 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. Now those are some numbers for a DE. His star is rising by the second. Although Barrow played DE this past season, he will could play DT or DE at the next level. Reports say the 6-4, 250 pounder has run a 4.9 40, but Barrow may need a year to hit the weights.
Barrow and Gholston give Ohio State 20 commitments in this class. Ohio State may add another 4 to 6 players in this class. OSU coaches are not permitted to speak publicly about high school prospects until after signing day, but the following uncommitted prospects are thought to be near the top of OSU's wish list: Fred Davis (WR, Toledo Rogers), Kyle Mitchum (OL. Erie, PA), Leon Hart (OL, Columbia, SC), and James Bryant (LB, Ready, PA).
Some other top prospects visited this weekend. Metairie, LA defensive tackle Nader Abdallah was said to have had a great visit. Abdallah isn't ranked that high by the gurus but has a great offer list Florida State, Tennessee, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Abdallah is not ready to make a decision at this time, but OSU appears to have a legitimate chance with Abdallah should a spot remain open for him.
Greenbelt, MD defensive end Derrick Harvey is very highly touted prospect many thought OSU was a long shot for. They still may be a bit of a longer shot, but Harvey spoke positively of his OSU visit this weekend. He is one of the top few DE prospects in the nation.
blb
January 8, 10:15 p.m.
Snyder and Tucker Named Co-Defensive Coordinators
Jim Tressel has named Mark Snyder and Mel Tucker as his new co-defensive coordinators, filling the spot vacated by Mark Dantonio who took the head coaching job at Cincinnati. Tucker will remain the defensive secondary coach. Luke Fickell will take over Snyder's job as the LB coach and Jim Heacock will coach the entire defensive line. The Buckeyes are still a coach down and plan to add a new assistant coach in the near future.
blb
January 7, 10:30 p.m.
2005 Class Filling Up Quickly
It was reported earlier today that Raceland, KY kicker Aaron Pettrey is prepared to accept a scholarship offer at Ohio State for the 2005 season. That means Pettrey, who graduates this year, would actually grayshirt and not go on scholarship until January 2005. Pettrey could enroll at Ohio State before that, but would have to pay his own way and would not be part of the football team until 2005. The timing, of course, has everything to do with the departure of current Buckeye kicker Mike Nugent who will be a senior in 2004.
Pettrey, like many other OSU kickers/punters, is a very good athlete, playing QB as well as serving as his team kicker this past season. Pettrey made good on 8 of 13 field goal attempts including a state record 58 yarder. His kickoffs cleared the end zone line most of the time and sometimes split the uprights. Pettrey threw for over 2,500 yards and threw for 22 TD's as a senior and 32 TD's as a junior. His career completion percentage was over 71.3%, a Kentucky state record.
If Pettrey follows through and accepts the offer, as he suggested he would, he could be the 4th member of the 2005 class. Ohio State already has verbal commitments from Lakewood St. Edwards offensive lineman Alex Boone and Cleveland Glenville phenom Jamario O'Neal.
Current verbal commitment Joe Bauserman, a QB from Tallahassee, FL, has said that he will likely not sign a LOI next month and wait to see what happens in the Major League Baseball draft later this year. Bauserman could be a first round pick in the MLB draft. If he chooses football over baseball, Bauserman will likely be part of the 2005 OSU class.
Another player that is already being treated like a 2005 commitment is Cleveland Benedictine tailback, and Mr. Football, Ray Williams. Williams is not expected to qualify academically to be part of the 2004 class, but there is a great chance that Williams will spend one year at a prep school and then enroll at Ohio State.
As it stands now, Ohio State will have 14 scholarship seniors on the roster in 2004. With 2 to 5 scholarships already accounted for in 2005, you can bet that the coaches will be very selected with future '05 offers. But the 2005 class appears to be off to a great start and the OSU coaches should be able to settle for nothing but the nation's best in filling out the rest of the '05 class.
blb
January 6, 9:45 a.m.
Recruiting
January 5, 7:30 a.m.
Buckeyes Finish 4th in both Polls
LSU and Southern California ended up splitting the National Championship with LSU winning the coaches poll and So Cal winning the AP poll. Ohio State finished the season 4th in both polls, behind both of these teams and Oklahoma. So, yes, the same Oklahoma team that lost their last two games of the season, basically getting dominated in both games, finished ahead of Ohio State in both polls. All I can do is shake my head.
Also, the coaches who are part of the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll did NOT vote LSU a unanimous #1. Three coaches voted Southern Cal #1. Sports talk radio should have a field day with this subject today.
Recruiting
The recruiting page was updated over the weekend. Some news since the update....
--Toledo Rogers WR Fred Davis reportedly will announce a decision by the end of the week. Ohio State is thought to lead, but So Cal may still be in the picture.
--Ohio State is back in the picture for blue-chip WR Dwayne Jarrett from NJ, who will now decide between So Cal, Virginia and Ohio State. Jarrett is rated almost as high as Fred Davis and shined more than Davis in the Army National High School All-Star game on Saturday. Jarrett is 6'5" with big-time athleticism.
--OSU is apparently out of the race for Georgia TB Darius Walker.
blb
January 3, 8:15 p.m.
Recruiting
The recruiting page has been updated. If you missed it, OSU's latest verbal commitment Ted Ginn put on quite a show today at the Army National High School All-Star game, earning MVP honors. This kid is some kind of athlete.
blb
January 3, 10:30 a.m.
Gamble Gone
In case you missed it last night, Chris Gamble told the media after the game last night that he will forego his senior season and declare himself eligible for the 2004 NFL draft. This had been rumored for some time. The leading candidates to replace Gamble are Ashton Youboty and E.J. Underwood.
Ginn a Buckeye
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has let the cat out of the bag, making Ginn's announcement scheduled for national TV at today's Army National All-Star Game anticlimactic. As many had thought and hoped, the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year will play his college ball at Ohio State. Ginn may be Ohio State's most highly touted commitment since Orlando Pace some ten years ago.
blb
January 3, 9:45 a.m.
Tressel/Buckeyes Prove Doubters Wrong Once Again
I should have known not to doubt Coach Tressel and this group of overachievers. Last night, this team jumped all over a great football team and hung on, beating a Fiesta Bowl (big) favorite for the second straight year. Tressel now runs his bowl record to 2-1 to go with his 2-1 record against Michigan. And as has happened many times before, although Ohio State did not get it done against Michigan, they did finish the season with a better record than the team up north.
Game Balls to....
--Craig Krenzel. I'm sure Craig will be the answer to a trivia question in a future Fiesta Bowl game. That question being: Who is the only player to win the Fiesta Bowl MVP back-to-back years? Yes, Krenzel struggled with his accuracy at times, but led a great overall offensive effort and threw 4 TD's. To Craig Krenzel: Thanks for the memories you created and the class you displayed on and off the field. You are forever etched in stone as one of the all-time Buckeye greats.
--John Hollins and Harlen Jacobs. These guys put in the same amount of practice time as everyone else but normally sit on the sidelines for 59+ minutes a game. It was nice to see these two get their 15 minutes of fame after blocking a punt (Jacobs) and returning it for a TD (Hollins).
--Bobby Carpenter. The sophomore was all over the field last night and notched both of Ohio State's sacks.
--The entire offensive line. Best performance of the year, bar none and it was done against a great defense.
--Michael Jenkins. A usually reserved Michael Jenkins showed as much emotion as I have ever seen from him. Another typical Jenkins performance in a big Buckeye win: 5 catches, 96 yards and 2 TD's. Jenkins also eclipsed David Boston's all-time receiving yardage record at Ohio State, finishing his career with 2,898 yards. Thanks for the memories Michael.
--Santonio Holmes. With his 2 TD's yesterday, that gave the redshirt freshman 5 TD's in his last 4 games. Those opponents in the last four games were none other than Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan and Kansas State. The sky is the limit for Santonio.
--Brandon Joe. Some clutch runs by Mr. Joe down the stretch helped the Buckeyes hold on. The junior fullback finished with 46 yards on 11 carries.
--The Buckeye rush defense. Darren Sproles 13 carries for 38 yards. Ell Roberson 16 carries for 32 yards. Game, set and match.
--BJ Sander. It became clockwork for BJ in the second half of the year. When the Buckeyes were near midfield, you could count on BJ dropping a punt inside the opponent's 20 yard line, if not the 10 yard line. Last night was no exception. Thanks for the memories BJ.
--Donte Whitner. Played his role nicely as the nickel back, notching 5 tackles and played well on special teams. If you know little about Whitner, you might want to make note of this right now; the kid is headed for stardom now that Will Allen will be moving on.
Top 5 Ranking Awaits
Not since the Woody Hayes era has Ohio State finished the season in the top 5 in back to back years...at least not until now. Yesterday's upset of Kansas State all but ensures Ohio State of a final top 5 ranking after last year's National Championship. Look for the Buckeyes to finish, at worst, 4th, behind the So Cal, Oklahoma and LSU and maybe 3rd ahead of the Sugar Bowl loser.
Tressel Bashers
To those Buckeye fans who do nothing but complain about Jim Tressel: Get a new hobby. It doesn't get any better than Jimmy T. If you can't enjoy this, then you will never be happy
In Tressel's three year tenure, he has coached his team to a National Championship (the first one in 34 years, mind you), coached his team to back-to-back BCS bowl victories, (will have) coached his team to consecutive top 5 finishes, beaten Michigan twice (something it took his predecessor 11 years to do), helped raise the team GPA from 2.4 to 2.8 (source: SI), and won several National Coach of the Year Awards (2002 season). This year's top 5 finish will come after losing the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy. And this year, Coach T saw 21 of his players make All-Academic Big Ten. The next closest school had 14 on the team.
Folks, we are truly blessed to have Jim Tressel at Ohio State. Criticizing this man week in and week out is laughable.
Daily Link updates by 11:00.
blb
January 2, 6:30 p.m.
Fiesta Time
Final tidbits before kickoff...
--It appears that Ell Roberson will play tonight, but could be held out a series or more. Right now, Roberson faces just a curfew violation, but could later face sexual assault charges. Having Roberson is key for Kansas State. With him ailing for a few game span earlier this year, KSU was not the same team without him.
--There has been talk that this Buckeye team is finally healthy, but there has also been talk to the contrary. All three starting LB's still appear to be dinged up. In fact, the Columbus Dispatch is listing Bobby Carpenter as the starter on the weak side tonight ahead of Robert Reynolds. Carpenter is said to be ailing, himself. Mike D'Andrea will sit out tonight's game with a shoulder injury. Offensive lineman Mike Kne will also miss tonight's game with an injury. Guess we won't know how healthy the LB's are until we see the Buckeye defense in the first quarter tonight.
--Word from Tempe is that there seems to be more K-State fans than OSU fans, which I guess is no surprise. OSU fans (25k+) should still hold their own in Sun Devil Stadium tonight.
--Not Fiesta Bowl related, but USA Today Defensive Player of the Year, Ted Ginn, is expected to announce his commitment to Ohio State tomorrow. Hopefully, more will follow suit soon there after.
Next update will likely be tomorrow morning. Go Bucks!
blb
January 2, 10:30 a.m.
January 2, 9:15 a.m.
Roberson Accusations
Like many Buckeye fans, I expect, I am trying to find out the latest details on the Ell Roberson investigation. If you missed it last night, Ell Roberson was questioned by police after a 22-year old woman told Scottsdale Plaza Resort personnel that she was raped by the Kansas State quarterback in the early morning of January 1st. According to Paradise Valley Police Lt. Ron Warner, the case is a "he said, she said" situation. Roberson and two other Wildcat players were questioned but not charged in the case.
Since there is no strong evidence against Roberson at this point, it is possible, if not likely, that Roberson will not be penalized by the Kansas State coaches in regards to these allegations. But Roberson could be penalized for a team curfew violation. The alleged assault happened around 3:30 a.m. local time Thursday morning, obviously way past the team curfew.
A medical examination is being or has been conducted, but results are not expected until next week. More information as it becomes available.
The daily links page should be updated by 10:30 a.m.
blb
January 1, 11:00 a.m.
Fiesta Bowl Thoughts
As I mentioned before, if Ohio State comes out with the same level of enthusiasm as they did against Michigan, this will be another double digit loss. On the other hand, if OSU is fired up and keeps this close, I don't know why you wouldn't like Ohio State's chances; winning close games has become habit for the Buckeyes.
Keys for Ohio State: Well, the biggest key was mentioned in the last paragraph - "Be ready to play." The players can tell you how fired up they are, but make no mistake about it; it is disappointing for the Buckeyes to have ended up in the Fiesta Bowl, when they could have landed in the Sugar Bowl playing for all the marbles. Coach Tressel and the rest of the coaches need to play the "no respect" card again and again. Almost everyone is picking Kansas State in this game, and I have even seen one news source predicting a K State blowout.
Next, Ohio State must try to get something going on the ground. Fans can complain all they want about Tressel not opening up the offense, but if Krenzel has to throw the ball 30+ times, this Buckeye team is in trouble. Lydell Ross showed Buckeye fans late in the season that he has talent too, but can he stay healthy? He didn't against Michigan and the Buckeyes immediately had their backs against the wall. It is hard to have a lot of confidence in the Buckeye running game right now with Ross' propensity for injuries and the fact that there is no one to back him up.
Conversely, Ohio State must find a way to contain Darren Sproles. Notice I didn't say "shut down" Sproles. I think Sproles is going to get his 80+ yards. Now, if he hits the 150 yard mark, Kansas State likely ends up with a "W". I believe the Buckeye performance against Michigan (re: stopping the run) was an aberration. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sproles hit the century mark, but I think OSU will hold him "somewhat" in check. Remember, this is still the number one ranked rush defense in the country.
This should go without saying, but Ohio State really needs to win the turnover battle. Kansas State has way too many weapons and is too strong defensively for Ohio State to turn the ball over multiple times against. For Ohio State to win this game, they need to win it playing good old fashion Tressel-ball. Force turnovers, don't turn the ball over, play field position, play tough defensive and capitalize when the offense is in scoring position.
The Call: I may have let my heart overrule my head picking Ohio State on the road at Michigan. There were many games this year I thought Ohio State could clearly lose, but I picked them to win each week when I made my predictions. The last time I picked against Ohio State was in last year's Fiesta Bowl. Hopefully the result is the same again this year....with me being wrong and the Buckeyes being Fiesta Bowl winners. Prediction: Kansas State 20 Ohio State 10.
blb
December 31, 5:30 p.m.
Shoe Hats are Here!
The Buckeye 50 Yard Line is now proud to offer the one and only Shoe Hat. Well, make that the two and only Shoe Hats. The original Shoe Hat can be found at some stores in central Ohio and is also available here, but the Championship Edition Hat is only available online. Click here to go to the Shoe Hat page.
The Shoe Hat was developed by Andy Dutcher, a cancer survivor. Partial proceeds go to benefit the James Cancer Hospital. Also, each hat made in Ohio, something that Andy takes a lot of pride in. All orders ship via UPS within 72 hours.
Fiesta Bowl opinions later tonight.
blb
December 31, 9:45 a.m.
December 30, 9:45 a.m.
December 29, 8:15 p.m.
blb
December 29, 8:45 a.m.
December 28, 6:45 p.m.
Fiesta Bowl Matchup
The buzz is finally in the air; we are five days away from the Fiesta Bowl. 20 years from now, will it be that big of a deal to OSU fans whether the Buckeyes finished 11-2 or 10-3? Probably not, but I think this game is extremely important from a public perception standpoint. If Ohio State loses this game, that means they will have finished the season with a loss to Michigan and a loss in the bowl game, something that was common in the John Cooper era. And if that happens, believe me; you will hear the "We're back to where we were with John Cooper" talk. Not that the potential talk will make it so, but Ohio State needs to prove that 2002 was not a fluke. A win over an outstanding Kansas State team would almost assure the Buckeyes a top 5 finish and send a message to those outside of Ohio that Ohio State is definitely a major power in college football.
Can Ohio State beat Kansas State? Absolutely, but it is not going to be easy. Those who aren't impressed with Kansas State, you might want to take a closer look. If you thought Purdue's defense was good, Kansas State's is better and the Wildcat offense is much more potent than the Boilermaker offense. Ohio State is going to have to be on their game, or I honestly feel this could end up much like the Ohio State - Michigan game. But what does OSU have going for them that they did not have going for them in Ann Arbor? Let's take a look...
--Ohio State will be well rested headed into this game. The team is as healthy as they have been in some time. The Purdue game seemed to take so much out of Ohio State mentally and physically, especially OSU's defensive line. A healthy Smith, Scott, Anderson and Fraser is tough foursome to handle.
--As good of a coach that Bill Snyder is (and he is probably underrated), it is hard to bet against Jim Tressel in post season games.
--Chris Perry may have been the exception and not the rule. Ohio State still has the #1 ranked rush defense in the land and with this much time to prepare for Darren Sproles, they just may be able to shut him down. Look what the Buckeye defense did against arguably the best back in the country in last year's Fiesta Bowl.
--An outstanding Michigan team fired on all cylinders against what look liked an exhausted Ohio State team. The Wolverines were as motivated as they could be. But that 2 TD loss was the worst in three years for Tressel. No other ranked opponent (and OSU has played their share) has been able to do that against a Tressel team. It seems hard to believe that a Tressel team would let this happen to them two games in a row.
More tomorrow.
blb
December 28, 9:15 a.m.
Links
The daily links page has been updated. With the Fiesta Bowl less than a week away, I will be trying to get to the links each morning until January 3rd or 4th.
blb
December 27, 2:30 p.m.
About K State
In six days, Ohio State will be facing a Kansas State team that may be playing better football than any other team in the country heading into the bowl games. For those not familiar with K State, here are some of the things that stand out:
--5'7" TB Darren Sproles was without a doubt the offensive player of the year in the second half of the season, if not the whole season. Sproles finished with 1,948 yards, 2,650 total yards (includes return yardage), and 18 total TD's. His numbers the last 6 games? 1,118 yards at an average of 7.6 yards a pop. The last game saw Sproles shred what many thought was the #1 defense in the land for over 300 total yards from scrimmage.
--Multidimensional QB Ell Roberson threw for over 2,000 yards and was just shy of 1,000 yards on the ground. Roberson threw 24 TD's against just 11 picks and has been sacked only 13 times all year. He is one of the very best dual-threat QB's in the nation.
--6'5" WR James Terry caught 60 passes for 1,174 yards and 13 TD's this year. He has been too much for many cornerbacks to handle
--K State has 5 D-linemen that recorded at least 6 sacks this year. K State recorded 51 as a team. That is 7 more sacks than any Big Ten team had.
--K State scores 37 points a game and gives up just 15. They rank in the top 20 nationally in the following categories: Rushing Offense (6th), Passing Efficiency (15th), Total Offense (17th), Scoring Offense (8th), Rushing Defense (15th), Pass Defense (8th), Pass Efficiency Defense (9th), Total Defense (5th) and Scoring Defense (4th).
--K State's FG kicker Joe Rheem is 7 for 8 from 40-49 yards this year.
--K State has blocked 9 kicks this year, with safety Rashad Washington blocking 4 of them.
--Three K State players had 90 or more tackles this year: LB Josh Buhl (171), Bryan Hickman (104), SS Rashad Washington (90).
--FS James McGill (no relation to Norma, we hope) had 6 INT's.
--In case you were on another planet and missed it, K State completely dismantled #1 ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship 35-7. Since Ell Roberson recovered fully from his early season injury, this team has been untouchable.
Many wondered (myself included) why the spread for the game was so high (KSU is a 7 point favorite), but on paper, it's no contest. Fortunately for Ohio State, the game is not played on paper, and Coach Tressel is not one for stats...just final scores. More tomorrow.
blb
December 26, 9:15 p.m.
Recruiting
The recruiting page has been updated. OSU-K State notes and opinions later this weekend.
blb
December 24, 12:45 a.m.
UC's Gain is OSU's Loss
It had been rumored for some time, and that rumor became fact earlier today when it was announced that Mark Dantonio was hired as the new head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats. Congratulations to Coach Dantonio on his new position. He did an outstanding job as defensive coordinator of Ohio State, to say the least, and he will be missed. How much will he be missed? That of course is open to debate.
Ohio State has always been able to attract top-notch assistant coaches and there is no reason why this should not continue to be the case. But Dantonio was one of the top few coordinators in the country in my opinion. He is not going to be easily replaced. I had hoped that he would would be on board a few years longer, but I can't blame him for taking the job with a future Big East program and the money he is supposedly going to make.
As for a new defensive coordinator, the hottest rumors see the following candidates as having the best shots (in order): Mark Snyder (current LB coach at OSU), Jim Heacock (current D-line coach at OSU), Bo Pellini (current defensive coordinator at Nebraska), Bob Davies (not currently coaching). I am sure Jim Tressel will make a good decision as to who is the best choice to coach his defense. Snyder seems like a real up-and-comer, like Dantonio was when Ohio State pulled him away from Michigan State three years ago. The smart money seems to think he is the front-runner for the job.
blb
December 19, 5:30 p.m.
Ohio State Gets 17th Commitment
The Buckeyes got a verbal commitment today from Pickerington Central punter A.J. Trapasso. With BJ Sander graduating, it was important for the Buckeyes to land a punter in this class. Trapasso (6-1, 220), who played tailback as well as handling the punting duties for Pickerington Central this past season, will enroll early and be able to practice with the team in April. Trapasso averaged just under 42 yards per punt this past season and ran for 1,400 yards.
blb
December 18, 7:00 a.m.
Ohio State Athletic Department Cleared
A committee investigating potential academic misconduct within Ohio State's athletic program cleared the program of any wrongdoing yesterday. The NCAA, apparently satisfied with Ohio State's investigation, will not reopen the investigation. Click here for Bucknuts piece on the investigation and yesterday's announcement.
Opinion: It is extremely sad that this investigation cost the university almost $100,000 after the New York Times printed allegations from a disgruntled ex-OSU teaching assistant with admitted mental problems and several run-ins with the law. There have been allegations about Maurice Clarett and other Ohio State football off-the-field issues that have turned out to have merit, but the fact that the New York Times ran with this story with such little to go on back in July is further indication that this once outstanding newspaper has completely fallen from grace.
OSU Coaches Eying New Jobs?
As reported a few weeks ago, Ohio State defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio appears to be a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Cincinnati. How serious Dantonio is about the possibility of becoming UC's next head coach is still uncertain. Dantonio is presently coaching the Ohio State defense as they prepare for their Fiesta Bowl matchup with Kansas State, which is a good sign if you are a Buckeye fan. However, multiple sources have reported that UC has been in contact with Dantonio about the vacancy. Former Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie is no longer a candidate for the job. Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich is being mentioned as a candidate.
OSU linebacker coach Mark Snyder will not be coaching at Akron in 2004 as previously rumored, but could end up in South Carolina. Sources indicate that there is, at a minimum, mutual interest from Snyder and South Carolina Head Coach Lou Holtz in regards to the defensive coordinator vacancy at South Carolina. Other sources indicate that Snyder has indeed been offered the job.
Stay tuned.
Bowl Practice
I meant to post this yesterday, but did not get a chance to. If you missed it, The O-Zone reported Tuesday that Chris Gamble has been held out of practice due to a thumb injury. In his place with the first-teamers has been true freshman Ashton Youboty. Will Allen also revealed that he tore ligaments in his hand in the Purdue game and had surgery after the Michigan game. Allen is not practicing, but says that there is "no question" that he will play in the Fiesta Bowl.
Another interesting piece from the O-Zone is one linked here that discusses some of the up and coming youngsters emerging in practice. The one name that is coming up consistently is O-lineman Doug Datish, who can play every position on the line.
Recruiting
The recruiting page was updated yesterday and should continue to be fully updated at least once every ten days from now until signing day. Buckeye Sports Bulletin has a free link to the Bill Kurelic chat transcript from yesterday with some updates about OSU's chances with several prospects.
There are three key names that OSU has pretty good chances with and that most Buckeye recruiting fans are keeping close tabs on: Ted Ginn - CB/ATH Cleveland Glenville, Fred Davis - WR Toledo Rogers and Kyle Mitchum - OL/DL Erie, PA. Ohio State could very well land all three of these blue-chip prospects. If they do so, this will end up being an outstanding recruiting class.
There has been talk that recruiting was fizzling a bit, but again, should OSU land these three, it will be almost impossible to not view this class as at least a top 5 to top 8 class in the nation. And in addition to these three, it is Bill Kurelic's opinion that OSU still has a 30% chance or better with all of the following top-notch recruits: Xavier Lee, Darius Walker, Devon Lyons, Carlos Feliciano, James Bryant, Vernon Gholston, James Bryant, Anthony Reddick, and Nick Patterson.
A couple other highly touted prospects that OSU may have a legitimate shot (or better) of landing are Javier Estopinan, Willie Young and Jacky Claude. Also, if you missed it, Ohio State is said to be getting a verbal commitment from Beaver, PA blue-chip TE Rory Nicol in a public announcement today.
blb
December 17, 2:30 a.m.
Ohio State Land Blue-Chip Tight End
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Beaver, PA tight end Rory Nicol will announce (publicly) Thursday morning that he will attend Ohio State. Nicol is ranked as a top top 2 to top 4 TE prospect nationally and is a big fan of Ohio State's Ben Hartsock. Nicol, 6'5", 245, is an outstanding run blocker and a phenomenal athlete. He chose Ohio State over Florida and Pittsburgh.
blb
December 15, 7:45 a.m.
Recruiting
blb
December 14, 3:30 p.m.
OSU lands Euclid Athlete
Euclid, OH MLB/DE Brandon Smith has verbally committed to Ohio State over West Virginia after recently receiving a scholarship offer from Ohio State. Smith played MLB for Euclid this past season at 6'3", 230 pounds, but may move down to DE at the next level. Smith has very good speed in the 4.6 range and sports an impressive bench press maximum of 320. Smith is a good student with a 3.4 GPA and has scored a 20 on his ACT. Welcome aboard Brandon!
More recruiting tonight.
Tomorrow is Last Day for X-Mas Print Orders
Tomorrow is the last day we will be able to take framed print orders if you wish to receive them by Christmas. Click here to go to the (new) framing page.
blb
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