In a crazy week of sports that involves championship weeekend in the NFL, Cavs-Lakers in the NBA and arbitration in Major League Baseball, here a few interesting facts that are products of this week. Read the rest of this entry »
In a sport where many parents across the country put the lives of their young men into the hands of a coach, who is supposed to serve as that young man’s second father figure while on campus and guide him through the rigors of college life, this statement is becoming a thing of the past. Now, we have a major problem on our hands. When college football fans say incoming freshman on the recruiting circuit change their mind too often, they need to look at the coaches recruiting them. These student athletes are expected to look up to their coaches, but when their coaches leave them hanging to dry when another job presents itself, whats not to say that the recruits are just following in line. The latest of the pandemic came this month.
On a day where Brady Quinn’s alma mater entered a new era with Brian Kelly, the trend of losing in Cleveland froze just as the weather suggested. With wind chills reaching -15 degrees, the 1-11 Cleveland Browns virtually ended any playoff reservations the defending Super Bowl champs were hoping to make.
Led surprisngly by a stout defensive assault, Rob Ryan’s bunch got pressure all night on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who continued to struggle, completing 18 passes for 201 yards, but failed to get the ball into the endzone. The Browns, on the otherhand were far from a Mistake by the Lake on Thurs
day night, gashing the usually tough Pittsburgh run game for 171 rushing yards and a touchdown, the first by any Browns running back in over six games. Using the wildcat extensively with five tool hybrid wideout Josh Cribbs, the Kent State alum bruised the Steelers for 191 all purpose yards and a key rush on third down which saw Cribbs break mulitple tackles for a 16 yard gain and kept the ball in the Browns’ possession.
Coming off a 30-23 loss to the San Diego Chargers last week, hopes were high for Eric Mangini’s club and the usually ill fated Cleveland fan base was sent home with a victory behind the performance of a defense that was filled with no names who have been given their chance this season. A key example is Marcus Benard, a 24 year old Jackson State grad who coming into the game had three tackles in his NFL career. Blowing past the right side of the Pittsburgh offensive line, Benard collected two sacks and lived up to his nickname, “King Kong Benard.” Also important in the constant pressure put on Roethlisberger was Corey Williams, the constantly criticized six year vet who also had two sacks and five total tackles. Along with Benard and Williams, Brian Schaefering, David Bowens, Hank Poteat and Kaluka Maiava collected sacks, who?
This has been the story all year long for this Browns team. With a roster full of fill in’s and add on’s, this group has proven to Mangini that they can play and with 11 draft picks in the next upcoming NFL Draft, the future looks bright in Cleveland. If this rag tag group of players can send the defending champs home with a loss and end their playoff hopes, imagine what this team can do when given a doze of talent.
Aside from Cribbs, Chris Jennings took a load of the carries tonight, running the ball 20 times for 73 yards and a 15 yard scamper late in the second quarter. When it seemed the wheels were reading to fall off late in the game, the defense once again stepped up for the Browns and made sure the reeling Steelers would go back to Pittsburgh with an unprecedented fifth straight loss and an invitation to the golf course this January.
How does it feel Pittsburgh?
As the Florida Gators head to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game to face #2 Alabama, this will be Tim Tebow’s final game in the almighty conference which everyone fears. With a victory, Tebow could truly go down as one of the greatest college football players of all time. A second straight win against Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide would give Tebow his third conference title, a spot in his third national championship game and presumably his second Heisman Trophy. Read the rest of this entry »
After an 11-year battle with cancer, Stefanie Spielman passed away today at the age of 42. Wife of ex-Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman, Stefanie had been fighting cancer since she was first diagnosed on July 11th, 1998. Her cancer had come and gone three times before the final time she learned the cancer had come back in March 2007. She was the face of breast cancer awareness for millions of women from all walks of life.
LIVESTRONG founder Lance Armstrong had this to say about her passing today.
“Today we have lost a leader in the fight against cancer. Stefanie was a living example of courage and strength to everyone around her. Her perseverance was unmatchable. While the cancer community marks her passing, my family and I will keep the Spielmans in our thoughts as they say goodbye to their beloved wife and mother. For her sake, we will continue the battle she fought against a disease that claims too many women all over the world.”
Her husband, Chris, played at Ohio State from 1984-’87, and played high school football in Ohio at Massilon Washington High School.
On a day where the Ohio State offense had Terrelle Pryor complete 82% of his passes, Brandon Saine and Boom Herron both rush for a combined 200 yards and a backup quarterback making his first career start in a stadium ten times the size of his hometown, many would think the Buckeyes would roll. This was the opposite today as it took an overtime goal, I mean field goal from the former MLS pro Devin Barclay in a game where Ohio State defeated #10 Iowa 27-24 in front of 105,455 frantic fans. Read the rest of this entry »
Out for the last month with an injury to his non throwing arm, Cincinnati QB Tony Pike came in for two short appearances in a game where the undefeated Bearcats at 10-0, committed uncharacteristic mistakes in part of a 24-21 win. In front of the largest crowd in Nippert Stadium history, Brian Kelly’s team looked as if their Cinderella season may be nearing midnight. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m back!!! After a long and grueling two month period without an internet connection at my house, I am back on reporting duty for Behind The Box Score. To start my process back, I would like to talk about the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team led by a sometimes hated quarterback, a heavily conservative coach and a defense that would even make Arnold Swartzenegger cringe. Ten games into the season, it looks as if this team is going to another BCS Bowl Game, no not the Fiesta Bowl, this time the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Another good part of the situation, the Buckeyes, with a win on Saturday, are likely to play the newly re-instated LeGarette “KO” Blount and the Oregon Ducks, no, not the USC Trojans.
Fresh off a 24-7 victory over Penn State in Happy Valley, the Buckeyes (8-2, [5-1]) face an Iowa team coming off a shocking loss at home to Northwestern, which the Hawkeye faithful sa Kirk Ferentz’s team lose not only their undefeated season but clutch quarterback Ricky Stanzi to an ankle injury that will have him sidelined for the rest of the season. A team that had been so great in the fourth quarter behind the calm and collected Stanzi, now face a tough rest of the season, with sophomore Ryan Vandenburg behind center and a trip to Columbus. The complete opposite was the case for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes ACTUALLY won a big game Saturday. Behind the arms and legs of Terrelle Pryor, the Ohio State offense found a groove, roaring out to an early lead behind a seven yard scamper from Pryor, getting the Buckeyes into the endzone. By halftime, Tresselball had paid off and Ohio State led 10-7. Going into the second half, to the average Buckeye 
fan, the situation looked all too similar. Throughout the past three big games, Ohio State had played well the entire game and then faltered late to lose the game. This wasn’t happening on Saturday, as late in the third quarter Pryor and DeVier Posey hooked up for a 62 yard touchdown pass on first down noless, really shows that Hell can freeze over. Holding a 17-7 lead, this Buckeye defense would not relent. Behind the mercilessness of Cameron Heyward, who had two sacks and was wrecking havoc on any lineman the Nittany Lions put on him, Ohio State limited Penn State to 201 yards of total offense, well below their normal average. Grinding out the final fifteen, Ohio State scored again on a six yard pass from Pryor to Brandon Saine that put any comeback virtually out of reach. Leaving Beaver Stadium unscathed, a showdown in the ‘Shoe was eminent to happen.
The game Saturday against Iowa is one that could either make or break Ohio State’s season. Favored by 17 points, it’s very likely that the Buckeyes will once again win with defense and have a few spectacular plays sprinkled in from Pryor. If TP can cut down on his mistakes, and keep the defense guessing with his superior blend of athleticism, there is no reason Ohio State won’t roll. Vandenburg completed a measly nine of 27 passes on a Wildcat defense that saw the Buckeyes drop 45 on them in Evanston last year. With that said, this game is Ohio State’s and there is nothing the Hawkeyes can do to take it away. Allowing only 14 points the past three weeks, Hawkeyes RB Brandon Wehger will need to have a great game for this one to swing Iowa’s way. Shutting down star back Evan Royster last week, Wehger, who lacks the athletic ability of Royster, will be another name on the long list of running backs to not reach the 100 yard milestone against this defense. When it’s all said and done, Ohio State wins 28-7.
For the Michigan game this year, you can expect something different in the look of the game. As it seems every single football team from college to the NFL has done so far in 2009, Ohio State is donning retro uni’s for the 106th installment of The Game. Ex-Buckeye Brandon Smith placed pictures on his Twitter feed of the new jerseys and helmet. The only other time that Ohio State wore throwbacks were in Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Boise State, why don’t you play someone? You constantly whine about not getting the national respect that you claim you deserve. The 39th ranked strength of schedule (found it here) that you have currently have will most likely Read the rest of this entry »
Behind the Box Score is a sports website run by Zach Fleer and Jason Morrow.
