Archives for January 2007

Ginn and Pittman Announcing today

OSU FootballWe had the bittersweet news from Gonzo last week and we’re expecting news from both Antonio Pittman and Ted Ginn, Jr. today.

I think it’s a foregone conclusion with Antonio Pittman. He’s holding his press conference from his high school in Akron, Ohio. It would seem odd that he would announce that he was staying away from campus, so Pittman is most likely gone. Pittman was a great running back and he’ll be missed, but this announcement should usher in the Beanie Era.

Ted Ginn, Jr. is a different story. The sportsMonkey and I were discussing this last week, and we were debating whether he would be going or not. His dad has said that his injury will not affect his decision. He’s projected as being picked in the middle of the first round, which is my argument for him going. The monkey thinks he’ll be coming back for a senior season, building his legacy from “Totally Awesome Buckeye” to “Super Hero Buckeye” status. He could shatter most receiving and returning records and help the younger Buckeyes learn the ropes. He could ascend to the Buckeye Mount Olympus.

We should know who’s going where today.

UPDATE (sportsMonkey here):
Michigan fans are now rejoicing. (Thanks to Woody Hayes for the update.)

MotSaG up for coveted BQ

Blog/site newsbq.jpgThe 2006 College Football Blog Awards are out, and we’re honored to be nominated for the Brady Quinn Award.

The Brady Quinn Award
FOR: The prettiest blog, the best layout and design.

CRITERIA: An aesthetic appeal, whether from a stylish banner, a pleasing layout, or an eye-catching incorporation of blog technology.

So, what is it? Is it our banner, featuring the first five Heisman winners from OSU? (Side note: update is in progress, obviously…) Our attractive Google ads? Is it our stylish scarlet and gray (okay, white) colors? Is it our well-stocked sidebar? Our classy yet non-intrusive Google ads? Is it our soft gray image borders, bringing out the rugged handsomeness in Brady Quinn’s dark eyes above? Our buckeye leaf icons? Our Google ads?

Other nominees for the 2006 BQ include another Buckeye site, and one each from Texas, Tennessee, and USC:
Buckeye Commentary
Bevo Sports
Rocky Top Talk
Trojan Wire

If you run a blog, head on over and cast your vote!

And in case we don’t say it enough, thanks for stopping by Men of the Scarlet and Gray.

Gonzo to announce this afternoon

OSU FootballAnthony Gonazales will be holding a press conference this afternoon at 2 PM to announce his plan to either stay for his senior year or declare for the draft. Personally, I think he’s going to stay. He said in a post-game interview after the BCS Title game that he didn’t want his career at Ohio State to end like that. The NFL has informed him that he would go in the second round of the draft, since this year’s class has a handful of really good receivers.

Ted Ginn, Jr. and Antonion Pittman will also be making annoucements in the next week or so.

If Gonzo goes, I wish him the best of luck. If he stays, I hope he has a monster year. No matter what he does, we will never forget this:

Anthony Gonzalez

Gee, thanks Roy!

OSU FootballHow Roy Hall (#8) ended his (and Ginn’s) Buckeye career, 14 seconds into the title game:

ginnFoot.jpg

Image credit: Satan.

Fire away

Blog/site newsOkay, fans and fellow blog-brethren. In the interest of engaging in therapeutic self deprecation, and to give the trolls cramming our boards something constructive to do, we’re hosting another contest.

For this photo, tell us what these guys are saying to each other, or write a good caption:


smithLeak.jpg

Post your input to the comments section.

Ah, well…

OSU FootballJust following up el Kaiser’s analysis with a few thoughts of my own.

I know I might not speak for all of us here at MotSaG, but if you’ve gotta lose…

…you want to lose like that.

To a better team.

To a team that played above its own capability, a team that played as a single unit, a team that played clean football, and a team that executed a near-perfect game plan.

You don’t want your team to lose because of some gimmicky trick plays, you don’t want them to lose because the officials stole the game, you don’t want them to lose to a dirty team, and on and on and on.

I know it might be hard for Buckeye nation to accept, but the fact is that OSU’s defense gave up 80 points in the last 8 quarters of the season. Clearly, the young, inexperienced defense, that had performed above expectations through most of the season, began to get worn down after 13 games. Something in OSU’s films proved useful to Carr and Meyer.

Offensively, we have to admit this hard fact: Tressel got outcoached. When the time came for offensive adjustments, he refused, even panicked; after the most dangerous weapon on his team was sidelined. Once Ginn went out, Meyer doubled Gonzo and ordered a zone blitz on every play, and the OSU coaches did not adjust with a single quick toss, reverse, draw, screen play, or anything else that is designed to work against the defenses that Urban was using. Tressel, et. al. stuck with the seven-step zone read, until it was too late to try anything else, and Smith paid the price.

And can someone please take Alex Boone out to the Gitmo barracks and give him a code red?

But I’m starting to dive into analysis, here; and that it was I wanted to avoid.

Simply enough: Florida was better, the BCS worked again, and as soon as the disappointment wears off, I’m sure this OSU team will still be remembered as something to be quite proud of.

Congrats to the Gators. Congrats to Urban Meyer, who is no doubt the primary candidate for the OSU coaching job if Tressel goes to the Browns (not that I’m starting any rumors or anything!).

So comes to a close the Tressel and Smith era; just as the Matta and Oden era begins. Ah, the life of a Buckeye fan!! Still better than rooting for anyone else.

Championship Game – Semi-live update

We’ll be checking in from time to time for a semi-live blog. We know most everyone will be watching, so it won’t be anything great, but we hope everyone enjoys the game.

End of the first half

Florida: 34
OSU: 14

Ugggh. I’m not feeling very good right now.

Final

Florida: 41
Ohio State: 14

Now that I’ve had a few minutes of “alone time” I’ll just share a few observations. Not really in the mood for some in-depth analysis, for obvious reasons.

First and foremost, even though our Buckeyes got out-played in every way tonight, this has still been an excellent season. 12-0 was no small feat, with big wins over Texas and Michigan. The Heisman Trophy for Troy Smith was a fitting end to a superb regular season. The Buckeyes provided with thrills and happiness for 12+ weeks, and for that, I’m thankful.

Secondly, all the credit to Florida and Urban Meyer. They had a great game plan and executed it well. They were well coached and that defense was stifling. Congratulations to them.

It’s hard to pinpoint a moment in the game or a particular weakness or strength that made the difference, but here are a few:

Losing Ginn to injury was a huge loss. Not having a burner that could stretch the defense and occupy two defenders cannot be understated. It was a huge loss.

The fumble on the 5 yard line the possession after failing to convert on fourth down. That hurt. Going for it on fourth on our thirty was gutsy and I think it was the right call, but it ended in disaster. That 10 point swing was huge.

Their defensive front four was huge. They played lights out, and we could not find any offensive rythm. We were playing on our heels all night.

The pass defense was horrible. It seemed like there was a gaping hole in the middle of the field EVERY PASSING PLAY. Adjustments weren’t made soon enough.

Our defense was put in a lot of bad situations early on. The aforementioned fumble, the two personal foul penalties on the kickoff and a subsequent punt really put a strain on our defense. That was huge, giving them short fields and they converted each opportunity. Our defense came out in the second half and played inspired but got no help from the offense.

I feel bad for the seniors going out on a sour note like this. It shouldn’t have to end like this, but someone had to win and someone had to lose.

Congratulations to the Gators, you guys played lights-out and shocked Buckeye fans (and everyone else) everywhere.

And thanks to the 2006 Ohio State football team. You came up short but we still love you. GO BUCKS!

Countdown to Gametime

 

It’s game time!

 

Championship Week – Florida – Open Thread

bcs07.jpg

OSU FootballThe longest 51 days EVER have finally come to an end, placing us a meager 12+ hours from kick-off of the BCS National Championship Title Game between your (and our) Buckeyes of The Ohio State University and the Gators of the University of Florida. If today isn’t your least productive day of 2007, tomorrow most certainly will be. I’m still waiting for the Mayor to shut the city down on Tuesday so everyone can recover.

good stuff to read. You won’t be doing anything else today, will you? I’ll be the first to admit, though, I’ve read enough analysis to make one’s eyes bleed. It’s all good stuff, believe me, but I’m through. I just want the game to be here, like now!

But by now, you’ve read the articles, read the blogs and forums, and you’ve already decided what color your “2006 National Champions” football T-shirt is going to be (mine will be gray). Now’s the time to put your money where your mouth is. It’s the last prediction thread of the season. Bring your A-game, everyone.

Of course, we’ve got Vegas’ take on the game. They’re still giving the Buckeyes 7 points with an over/under around 46 points. So what say you? What’s the final score? Are going over or under with the points?

Urban Meyer supposedly thinks Chris Leak is just as good as Troy Smith. That’s like comparing Superman to the Shoveler. What was he thinking? How many more yards will Smith account for than Leak? (o/u 100 yards)

Little Animal Laraunaitis has been taking the ball away from everyone this season. Does he get an INT against the Gators?

Finally, as this is the last game for a lot of seniors, which senior (excluding Troy, of course) has the biggest impact on the outcome of the game?

el Kaiser’s predictions
Final Score: OSU: 31 UF: 17
Troy is going to razzle and dazzle while Leak is continually frustrated by OSU’s D. Troy smith accounts for 101 yards more, over.
While Little Animal has a big game, he does not intercept a pass. He will, however, be responsible for at least one turnover.
Quinn Pitcock is the senior that has the biggest impact. If Quinn and the boys can shut down the run, forcing Florida to pass more than they want, it will be huge. He’ll also be bringing the pain with his pass rush. Pitcock will be HUGE.

sportsMonkey’s predictions
Final Score: I think Florida will “earn” 14 points, while OSU will finish between 28-35. Florida could score a late TD against OSU’s freshman class after the game is out of reach. So I’ll split the difference and predict 31-17, OSU (although that number seems to indicate Florida will score a FG, which they can’t seem to do this season).
Leak vs. Smith: Under 100 yards difference for two reasons: I expect Leak to play catch-up, inflating his numbers, and I expect to see Tressel give Zwick a graduation present with a series or two behind center (assuming the game is out of reach).
Little Animal: Leak is the worst QB (INT-wise) OSU has seen this year, so I think he gets an INT tonight.
Which senior?: The always-underappreciated Stan White, Jr. will sacrifice his body for Smith, Pittman, and Wells one last time. Honorable mention: Pitcock and Roy Hall

Zeke’s predictions
We’ve already had two 31-17 predictions and I would agree that the 10-14 point difference is about right. The Buckeye’s have too many weapons for the Florida defense to stop. I have to admit I was tempted to predict a low scoring affair, but when all is said and done the Buckeyes will get their points and Florida will get a late TD and 2-point conversion to make it seem respectable.
Final Score: OSU: 35 UF: 22
100 yards is a lot; however, Troy Smith plays his best in big games. Smith ends his Buckeye career with more than 350 total yards as compared to less than 250 for Chris Leak, Over.
I suspect that little animal will be doing a lot of spying during the game, especially when Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin are in the game. LA will contribute mightily to the game, but not with an INT.
John Kerr is going to be huge! In all seriousness, Brandon Mitchell is the senior that has the biggest impact. Even though Laurinaitis does not get an INT, I do expect the secondary to get a couple. Mitchell will get one and have another solid yet quiet game.

Battle of the Blogs — BCS edition

Blog/site newsToday, the MotSaG team was honored to provide an article for the game-day edition of CSTV’s Battle of the Blogs.

We were a little nervous about the question we drew, not only because our fellowOSUbloggingbrethren have set the bar high this week, but also because our topic is a pretty hard one to argue.

The debate topic we received:

Which conference was better in 2006? The Big Ten or the SEC?

This was a pretty hard thing to argue. Who really knows? In the end, we decided to wimp out and have a pair of legendary SEC and Big Ten icons argue it out for us.

Check out the transcript of their conversation after the jump.

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