Category Archives: College Football
Ohio State’s Sights Set on Pasadena
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.
1954 Throwback Uniforms: You Be The Judge
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
Why Don’t You Play Someone?
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
Loss to USC Adds Fire to Tressel’s Hot Seat
After another loss in a big game against a top five team, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has now made it a habit for the Buckeyes to falter in these games. While many Buckeye fans will object to any such coaching change, after thinking thoroughly for the past five days, note zero posts in that time period, Jim Tressel may not have the superior job security he boasted only three years ago. Tressel’s predecessor, John Cooper, was fired because he couldn’t beat Michigan, something Jim has made a habit in his nine year tenure. But with losses to primetime non conference foes in bowl games and early regular season matchups, Tressel’s fate may be going down the same path. Lacking a true play calling ability and an overly conservative gameplan in the games that matter most, the Baldwin-Wallace grad has upset many fans with his inability to coach and win the game the past three seasons. Now, I will go into why Tressel and Cooper may be similar with the end of their careers on the horizon.
Highly Doubted Buckeyes Look to Reverse Trend
Once upon a time the Ohio State Buckeyes were heavily respected within college football circles. Winning big time games against non conference foes, Ohio State was one of the most feared teams in America. Winning BCS bowl games, matching up athletically on both sides of the ball and game planning correctly, the Buckeyes were a version of this year’s Floridas, Texas’ and USC’s.
Like Troy, The Trojan Empire Will Fall
Coming off a failed stint as the head coach of the New York Jets, Pete Carroll turned to Southern California to build an empire. In this empire, the players would be treated with money, cars, girls and the glamour of Hollywood, that’s enough to attract the average male right? With the first great season of success coming in 2002, the once prominent program was back on the rise, and nothing stood in their way.
The Canes Have Arrived
Swagger. This was what Miami created, the term that is used so much today was the brainchild of the orange and green, a program that dominated for over 25 years, winning multiple national championships along with sending dozens of players not only to the NFL but to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. After collecting their last national championship in 2001, with a stacked team led by Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Clinton Portis, Andre Johnson, Vince Wilfork and Kellen Winslow among others, the program hit many bumps along the road.
Ole Miss’ McCluster Turning Heads in the SEC
In a conference where defense rules, there’s a player smaller than most, at 5’8″ that is making the biggest of differences. Coming to the University of Mississippi as a wide receiver, Dexter McCluster was transformed into what would become the key to coach Houston Nutt’s “Wild Rebel” offense. The innovative formation, with plays that have been used at all levels of football, caused havoc in the SEC last season, as the Rebels stormed out in Nutt’s first season to a Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech in part of a 10 win season in which Ole Miss defeated the national champion Florida Gators in the Swamp.
Midshipmen Swin Rather than Sink vs Buckeyes
In Terrelle Pryor’s first game of his highly anticipated sophomore season, the former number one player in the country showed the potential and talent that was expected out of him from Jeanette, Pennsylvania. With all this said, the 6’6″ 235 pound burner didn’t do it alone. In the post Beanie Wells era, the Buckeyes featured Boom Herron and Brandon Saine, both who had quality games, and in my opinion, Saine looked the best, on each carry the junior was impossible to bring down on first contact. The Buckeyes featured a trio of new receivers, with Duron Carter impressing making spectacular catches similar to the ones his father made. As the offense moved efficiently, the defense had troubles of their own.
College Kickoff- Predictions for Week One
With the 2009 season getting underway, Week One has some interesting matchups and today I will explore the possible outcomes and who I expect to majorly contribute. With Oklahoma State and Georgia squaring off in Stillwater, the matchup between the Cowboys and Bulldogs has college football fans biting their nails waiting for Saturday along with the Dr. Pepper Showdown in Atlanta between Tyrod Taylor’s Virginia Tech Hokies and Julio Jones’ Alabama Crimson Tide. Today, I will discuss the biggest games and the winners. I’m as excited as you are for this season and lets kick it off.
