Archives for November 2011

Michigan Preview

November 25, 2011 by 1 Comment

I just realized why having the Ohio State/Michigan game during Thanksgiving weekend — it will be really hard to have more than five uninterrupted minutes of blogging time in between Thanksgiving dinner, its subsequent sleepy time and the impending Black Friday pilgrimage that the lady folk of the Kaiser clan make early Friday morning, leaving me, your humble blogger, with the task of coralling the kids for the entire day. So this year’s preview will be brief. I hope as the second longest tenured blogger in the rivalry (as far as I can tell) I get that lee-way. Next year someone else in the MotSaG family can deal with this.

So considering everything that has happened over the past 12 months/3 months/11 games, we are about to test the eternal truth — can a victory against Michigan erase the pain of a lackluster season? Can playing spoiler once in a decade still bring satisfaction? Discussions I’ve had with fellow Buckeye fans have all had a familiar line of reasoning — yes, we’ve had some recent success against Michigan but they still haven’t suffered. 2-10-1 takes a long time to get over for those of us who lived through it.

The recent news lessens the blow of this gut-punch of a season but there is still a chance for this season to end happily. Beating Michigan will certainly help that.

If it’s previews you’re looking for, you can always read 11 Warrior’s. If you want to know what the enemy thinks, with all their hopes and dreams riding on The Game, go read MGoBlog. And because there’s a good chance Michigan could prevail, consider this from Brian:

Win will cause me to… I don’t even know anymore. Michigan has never won The Game in the history of this blog.

And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

I’ve got Ohio State playing the spoiler for the first time in forever. OSU 21 UM 17

You?

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Ohio State becomes even more Urban….. Meyer

November 23, 2011 by 7 Comments

Even though our Editor in charge is already celebrating Turkey Day and hasn’t approved this posting there are too many other legitimate news organizations reporting the rumors to ignore it. The Columbus Dispatch is all in on this story so why shouldn’t we be as well?

Some time next week most likely Tuesday during the OSU vs Duke basketball game The Ohio State University will name their new head coach Urban Meyer. While nothing is official until OSU and Urban both sign on the dotted line there are too many reputable people saying it is a done deal for it not to be. Furthermore, OSU and Meyer both have skirted around the issue never saying it is true or false. if it were blatantly false then all they had to do is say he wont be the coach in 2012 period. Rumors are he will sign for 7 years and 40 mill dollars. Most in the know though say no figures have been finalized.

Lastly, most of the people reporting this news are also saying Coach Luke Fickell will be retained in some form of Coach in waiting or Asst Head Coach helping with the defense and recruiting. If this is true to me it feels like Christmas came early. Getting a HOF coach and also the heart and soul of the coaching staff to stay and join him is a coup de ta.

Again I repeat nothing is official but all signs point to this is really happening. Although it doesn’t replace the man known as The Senator fully it does soften the blow immensely and will stabalize recruiting and seal Ohio back up from the evilness of the North. How excited does this make you fellow OSU fan or does this worry you?

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Poll Dancing: Week Twelve, or DIE DIE DIE BCS DIE!!!!!

November 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Ah, what a weekend of football.  The BCS machine is scrambling, trying to convince you that you want to see a rematch of two teams from the same conference (even though you apparently would have hated that in 2006) and that it would be totally cool if a team that didn’t win its division played for the national title (even though that was a most uncool proposition in 2007).  Yeah, the BCS pushers are basically going to argue for whatever nonsense makes their system look like it “got things right.”

But this year, it’s not going to, because there is no getting it right in a two-team postseason this year.  The most the BCS can hope for is getting it acceptable to most and then trying to poke holes in all of the arguments that arise afterward.  Here, then, are some of this year’s possible end-games.  Feel free to cheer for whichever of these makes you most happy.  You know what I’ll be hoping for.

Best-Case For BCS-Lovers

Thanks to the Big 12’s absurd boost in the BCS computers (now up to +8.1 spots vs. human polls on average), if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma next week, the Cowboys can still make the BCSCG.  Additionally, if LSU wins out, they will remain #1 and the title game will seem okay to most fans.  Maybe you’ll think another team belongs there, but you can live with this.  In this scenario, Houston will need to lose to Tulsa (who is also unbeaten in CUSA play) or to Southern Mississippi in the CUSACG to ensure there are no unbeaten non-champions at season’s end.  It would also be nice if all other one-loss teams lost.

Most-Likely Scenario (Mid-Level Controversy)

Based on current betting lines, Houston, LSU, Boise State, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Stanford should all win this weekend.  Chances are Oklahoma is going to be favored over Oklahoma State based on the fact that OU’s defense is ranked 40 spots higher than OkSU’s–in other words, the Sooners are going to win.  If that happens, there will almost certainly be multiple one-loss teams following conference championship week and they will be very close in the BCS rankings.  One of them will go to the BCSCG and the rest will complain.  Those complaints become even louder if the one-loss team is Alabama unless you think 5 other AQ conference commissioners are totally fine with the SEC taking both title game spots.

Total Chaos

This begins with Arkansas beating LSU, which is pretty unlikely.  That results in a 3-way tie atop the SEC West that must be settled by BCS ranking.  How that shakes out will already be controversial since the three tied teams just happen to be the top three teams in the current BCS standings and will probably remain the top 3 as long as OU beats OkSU (they will).  Step two is whichever team ends up on top losing to Georgia the following week, opening up the door for two teams from the same division playing for the national title even though neither of them actually won that division.  Jim Delany will murder three people (possibly at random) if this happens.

Also in this scenario: Houston and all non-SEC one-loss teams win out (including bowls), creating a jumble of teams with legitimate claims to the title.  And just for good measure, all Big Ten and ACC teams murder their bowl opponents (except when cancelled out by aforementioned one-lossers; also Big Ten takes precedence over ACC when the two play each other), adding the possibility that those conferences are better than critics thought.

Filed Under: BCS

Adolphus Washington picks OSU

November 22, 2011 by 2 Comments

The #1 recruit in Ohio made it official today picking OSU as the school he will attend college. Five star DE Adolphus Washington picked OSU today over Michigan St. and Cincinnati. The 6’6″ 240 lb DE from Cincinnati Taft HS is a pure pass rusher and is expected to get plenty of early playing time. He is ranked as the 3rd best DE in the country and is an ESPN 150 member and a Under Armor ALL-American and US Army player of the year candidate.

His teammate Dwayne Stanford a 3* WR was suppose to be a package deal but he was swayed last week on his trip to Oregon to pick the Ducks. I am sure the OSU offensive strategy of not using WRs this year probably helped his decision.

UPDATE: When Adolphus Washington was asked if he thought the next OSU head coach would be Urban Meyer. He responded, “I hope so”.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Penn Shtate Recap – Questions Answered…Painfully

November 20, 2011 by 4 Comments

Weekly questions……

1.) Will OSU slow down Silas Redd and hold him under 100 yards?

Yes, but apparently the OSU defense had never seen the wildcat before this game.

2.) Will OSU score any TDs? 

Yes, but could have really used one more.

3.) Over/Under passing attempts for Braxton set at 8. What do you got?

Over (17).  Completed 7, but that 8th completion should have been a touchdown…looking at you traiterous catching abilities of Corey Brown

4.) Who has more rushing yards Boom or Braxton?

Braxton…created many opportunities for PSU defenders to pick up jockstraps on option plays.

5.) How many times will Braxton be sacked in this game?

I only counted two, but I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong

6.) Greater number of media mentions? OSU NCAA Issues or Penn State Issues.

Really didnt seem to mention either too much.

7.)What is the final score?

meh

This team cannot afford to start in the hole again this week against UM.  UM will be fired up and they will be ready (Well..they better be ready).  Regardless, I am still not sold on UM, as they really dont have a good win under their belt this year in my opinion.     Dont say Nebraska that team has been awful since it lost to Northwestern, regardless of its results against Penn State in State College.  Sorry, I am sure that will draw some ire of the readers, but this feels like a role reversal in the making from the 1993 game where OSU came in at 9-0-1 (with a lone tie at Wisconsin).  UM looks like a paper tiger right now.  Granted, OSU is losing to paper tigers and any other type of oragami-type of animal right now, so I guess we’ll just have to see how this week goes.  Just remember…last regular season game of Walrus-Ball.

btw…Any coaching staff that could keep Shazier on the bench for this long should be fired, rehired, and fired again just for principle.

 

YNBA

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Penn State Live In Game Chat

November 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Week 13 Open Thread

November 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We’ve still got some time before the most boring game of football since the Game of the Century assaulted our eyeballs and sensibilities a few weeks ago. Why not join in the weekly open thread before the offensive explosion that is Ohio State/Penn State happens.

Feel the excitement!

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Penn Shtate Preview

November 17, 2011 by 6 Comments

(This was post was supposed to be posted tomorrow, but thanks to the site’s EIC fat fingering, it went live early. Either way, enjoy. – ed)

The season is almost over and it can’t end any faster for our beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.  Off the field issues, poor performances by the coaching staff and players, and inconsistent play on the field by the “rotating” team leaders have left us where we are today.  Where are we?  Sitting pretty with a smooth 6-4 record and a more than realistic chance of losing the final two games of the season to finish 6-6.  Thanks poor decision-making of college students (tattoos…smh) and adults (covering up tattoo bartering exercise with lame excuses).

Speaking of poor decision-making…get a load of Penn State.  Someone should put together a case study on how to “not” run a school or athletic department in times of legal duress.  This should be written up after someone puts together a case study on how to “not” run a school or athletic department in times of NCAA duress.

I have a special place in my heart for a few schools.  They exist in this special place for various reasons.  Michigan is a no-brainer and this isn’t a Michigan preview, so we will just save that vitriol for another time thank you very much.  You would think that Wisconsin would be here, but really Wisconsin…they are the semi-attractive girl in high school that you know could look really good if she would just stop chewing on tree bark, smoking marlboro reds like a chimney, and eating the cafeteria pizza everyday (like a boss) in her spare time.  I’ve got no time for her right now and it really doesnt matter.  You already know how her story is going to end.  She will remain ugly (ie be Wisconsin) and pop out a bunch of large ugly kids (ie. Wisconsin recruiting) before the marvels of modern dentistry, exercise, and nicorette are bestowed upon her.

Penn State is the school that encounters most of my disdain.  Why Penn State?  Talk to any living alumni or current student and they will all tell you the same thing.  “Penn State does it the right way.”  Ya know…with honor and stuff.  We have all heard this for years no matter which team you supported.  Even the media has jumped on it in the past that JoePa and mighty Penn State can do no wrong.  While high profile schools like OSU and even Michigan have been in the crosshairs of the media and the NCAA for misdeeds (extra practice yielding no better on-field results for Michigan and tattoos yielding no better on-field results for Ohio State),  Penn State and everyone that associates with the school has been “white-towering” all of us.  They have been for years.  I have always held the belief that State College has protected the Penn State name from a lot of things that we will never hear about.  The only reason we have recently heard about the increasing number of incidents is because of Al Gore’s fantastic invention of the internet.  Players can’t escape the scrutiny of social media with message boards and twitter.  State College is the Ohio college geographical equivalent of Ada (Home base for Ohio Northern).  If Ohio Northern packed up its bags and left Ada, there would be no more Ada (Yes, the Hardees would close down fo realz).  Plain and simple, the lifeblood of State College (just like Ada on a larger scale) is Penn State University.  We have the same thing out here with Washington State in Pullman.  All of these schools are geographically located in areas of their respective states that no one wants to visit unless they are required (or maybe if you are on the run from the law).  I know that this may be a reach to someone that supports Penn State, but bear with me and hear me out.  Maybe, just maybe, it benefits State College to never place the school or its athletic department (aka the football team) in harm’s way if the town can avoid it.  I am not saying that everyone that lives there is a liar and wouldn’t do the honorable thing (that distinction goes to the coaching staff for the PSU football team), but let’s just say that it is not out of the realm of possibility that the people in authority turned their heads upon seeing some poor player behavior.  I know…it is a foreign concept that would never happen in Ann Arbor or Columbus.  I may be kidding a little bit only for the simple reason that it does happen in these places, but the sheer population does not allow for these things to swept under the rug as easily as it is in a place like State College.  I have often had (scary, scary) visions of Joe Paterno going all Coach Kilmer (Try and tell me you didn’t just pull a “I don’t want your life” and have visions of Vandermemes past.) on the State College PD for late night extra-curricular activities starring the players of the PSU football team.   The fight club mantra of “On a long enough timeline. The survival rate for everyone drops to zero.”  can also be fairly equated to major football programs.  There is absolutely no way that Penn State could be that clean.  It isn’t possible.  It is like saying that graduates of SEC schools outside of Vandy and Florida can read beyond an 8th grade level.  Sorry, it isn’t believable…not to me and not to anyone.  I actually hope that Mike McQueary is telling the truth, because if he did go to the police…well…it will make this cover-up (Another Penn State dirty little secret) look even worse.

*rant fin

Now onto the game?

Oh yeah…I guess there is a game this week between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.  I guess there was also some type of email that was sent out telling OSU fans and students to keep it on the level this weekend and not be John Q. Wisconsin fan, John Q. Penn State fan, or even John Q. Michigan fan tailgating on the golf course.  I appreciate the sentiment, but if the roles were reversed and OSU was playing at any of these schools (maybe an exception of UM), we would not get the type of “quarter” that is being asked of us by our own university.  From urine bags to beer cans, Penn State fans have earned every bit of the upcoming vitriol this weekend and every weekend going forward.

One of the biggest surprises of the year (outside Denard’s annual post-September Heisman collapse), has been Penn State’s ability to put together a solid season rolling off to an 8-1 start prior to an almost expected loss to Nebraska.  Granted, this has been thanks to the B1G scheduling gods for putting Minnesota on the schedule 6 times before having to play anyone with a pulse until Nebraska rolled into town.

On offense, PSU has a solid ground game with Silas Redd who is averaging over 100 yards per game and basically is the PSU offense.  Penn State has been winning in spite of the terrible QB play (imo) of the walk-on Matt “Moxie” McGloin.  He is more of a blue-collar QB that will make plays through sheer will where a lack of talent may be exposed.  McGloin has at least eliminated the amount of interceptions this season with only three for the season.  It is going to be a lunchpail game for Penn State.  They are going to run the ball…A LOT.  This should help OSU’s defense, if they are ready to start tackling people on Senior day.  If Silas has 60+ yards in the 1st half, I would just start punching yourself in the balls over and over again instead of watching the second half.  This would be a perfect game to get Christian Bryant into the star position and have him run around and try to make something happen against the run game, because that guy is feast or famine against the pass (mostly famine).

Penn State has never had any issues with playing defense in the past and it wont be the case in this meeting either.  They are currently 3rd in the FBS in scoring defense, which is around the area where we normally find the OSU defense in this statistic…but not this year my friend.  OSU is 16th in this category, so the expectation will probably have this game in the low 20’s on either side.  As is always the case, there will be a defensive lineman that plays the game of his life against OSU and that one will most likely be Devon Still.  Still has had a very good season and should show favorably in this game if Shugarts isn’t available.  This terrifies all OSU fans…or at least it should, as OSU is craptastic at protecting the QB this season (dead last in the B1G in sacks allowed).  Did you know that Ohio State is 27th in the country in rushing offense without a single player in the top 14 rushers in the B1G?  I am not sure if they will hit their 200 yard rushing average in this game, but let’s hope for everyone’s sanity in Columbus that they get close.

Game Prediction:  PAIN and lots of ugliness.  This game will be won on the ground unless Moxie has another first half like he had  last season in Columbus.  Most of us on the OSU side would prefer the second half Moxie show up in Columbus again where he was a walking “pick 6” machine. Obviously, the game will be won on the ground, which is the way Old Testament God intended in the B1G.

So that leaves us with the weekly questions……

1.) Will OSU slow down Silas Redd and hold him under 100 yards?
2.) Will OSU score any TDs?
3.) Over/Under passing attempts for Braxton set at 8.  What do you got?
4.) Who has more rushing yards Boom or Braxton?
5.) How many times will Braxton be sacked in this game?
6.) Greater number of media mentions?  OSU NCAA Issues or Penn State Issues
7.)What is the final score?

YNBA Score Prediction: 20-17 Ohio State

Filed Under: College Football, Ohio State Football

Penn State By The Numbers

November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Since I more or less stole the format for the By The Numbers posts whole from Black Shoe Diaries, I’ll just point you to their post. (Just remember, the good guys are in the right column this week).

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Buckeyes get the Schott rocking

November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In only the second game of the 2011/2012 Mens basketball season the 3rd ranked Buckeyes hosted a fellow top 10 team. The Florida Gators ranked 8th in the nation came into a seemingly revitalized VCA where the students are grouped together and actually on the first level where they can make a lot of noise and disrupt the opposing team. The Buckeyes are extremely young with 11 freshman or sophomores on the team. OSU started 4 Soph. in Smith, Craft, Sully, and Thomas along with senior William Bufurd. The gators have a bevy of upperclassmen that they mix in with some younger players.

Early on the youth of OSU showed as Florida seemed to have their way driving the ball down the court and dishing it off to wide open shooters behind the line. The Gators hit 4 of 5 behind the arc before the 16 min TV timeout and had a sizable lead. Coach Matta quickly subbed in some other guys to give him a chance to calm the guys down and remind them to play better defense. It seemed to work well as OSU closed out the first half by going on a run and taking 35-32 halftime lead.

In the second half of the game the Buckeyes controlled the pace and played well on defense while hitting some big shots. OSU had gotten the lead up to 15 points late in the second half before OSU again showed their youth and inexperience by letting the Gators climb back into the game although it proved too little too late as OSU won the game 81-74.

OSU was led in the game by William Bufurds 21 pts and 6 rbs. OSU had 4 players score in double figures led By Buford with 21 and Jared Sullingers 16 pts and 6 rbds and DeShaun Thomas 15 and 6 and Aaron Crafts 13 pts and 7 assts. Coach Matta stayed true to his typical self not playing many bench players in big games. Evan Ravenel and Jordan Siebert got most of the bench minutes with 14 each. They gave the starters time to rest and played great defense and even a little offense.

It was a good win early in the year against a really good opponent. The Gators were an elite 8 team last year and are solidly a top 10 team this year. OSU will have plenty of time to get better before their next big game when DUKE comes to town on November 29th with 4 cupcake games. They will need to get these bench players more playing time and experience before then and rest the starters for tougher games. All in all OSU is off to a 2-0 start and the skies the limit this year.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football
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