OSU at Minnesota

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Game Time

OSU at Minnesota

Where: Minneapolis, MN
When: Oct. 29
Kickoff: 12:10 P.M.
TV: ABC

Go Bucks!!! :)

[Wise1]

Ill be honest Ray, this one has me nervous..............

S

[Links r Us]

Originally posted by Wise1
Ill be honest Ray, this one has me nervous..............

S

Perch ~ with parity in the Big Ten, they all make me nervous ... the Ole' T'Girls from Texas would have 2 or 3 loses by now if they played with the Big-Boyz every week! :eek: :cool:

:)

[Tracker-32]

Links R Us your stupid....we've already taken out two of the best teams in the big ten in less than a year, and it would be easy to take out the rest of em, you don't need to worry about us....you need to worry about your buckeyes, your probably just jealous because they ain't as good as texas!!

T-32

[jeffmo]

tracker,do me a favor.post the total number of national championships won by texas.

[Frank in the Laurel]

As a "PSU" supporter....I'd be a little nervous about this one also, I thought this was one of the better teams we played this year and we could of just as easily lost as won, you know how the ebb and flow goes on occasion..."good luck buckeye's"....don't bet any titles or deeds on this one under any conditions...this team is alot better than their record indicates...when or do you play northwestern..man this big ten is getting very competitive in a hurry..

[brian]

The wildcats come to the 'shoe Nov 12th.

[Tracker-32]

Who's Number ( 1 )

TEXAS LONGHORNS BABY!!

T-32

[jeffmo]

still wondering....how many national championships texas has won?????????

[Wise1]

I dont beleive Texas has won any national titles so far !

As a matter of fact , this is only the second year I can recal them being even in the mix.

[Frank in the Laurel]

I believe but could be very wrong that "they" were the team that stolle one off of an undefeated PSU team and that wonderful president Nixon proclaimed it on national TV and the stupid sports writers went along with that honest guy...so, so long ago..but I think they won "ONE", but it could of just as easily been someone else...age does funny things to the memory!! Someone please straighten me out with who NIXON proclaimed national champs if it wasn't Texas..but I seem to think it was...????? frank

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Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Smashmouth Gophers force Buckeyes to alter approach

By JON SPENCER
Gannett News Service

COLUMBUS -- This might as well be a bye week for Ohio State's sack attack.

It's hard to lay a paw on an opposing quarterback when he spends most of his time handing off. It's even harder to put on the brakes and play what end Mike Kudla calls "gap sound" defense after spending the whole season chasing mobile quarterbacks out of spread formations.

That's part of the challenge awaiting the 12th-ranked Buckeyes in Saturday's game at Minnesota. The Gophers rank No. 1 in the nation at running the ball, averaging 299 yards a game behind twin threats Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell.

Coach Glen Mason, an OSU alum and former Buckeye assistant, calls passing plays about as often as his mentor, Woody Hayes.

"You can't say, OK, it's third-and-12, I'm going to go get a sack here," Kudla said. "Sometimes if you make a faulty move and leave something open, they expose that weakness.

"You can't just pin your ears back on third-and-long because they'll run in those situations. You've got to be sound and pay attention to what the formation is and where you are on the field."

Kudla has 5.5 of OSU's Big Ten-leading 31 sacks, but those are meaningless numbers this week against a team on its way to producing two 1,000-yard backs for the third straight year. Junior Laurence Maroney has rushed for a league-best 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns, complemented by sophomore Gary Russell (644 yards, 10 TDs), out of Columbus Walnut Ridge.

The Buckeyes counter with the nation's No. 1 run defense, giving up only 62.7 yards on the ground per outing. That, too, might be a meaningless number. Texas and Penn State, the two teams to beat OSU, had some success running the ball against the Buckeyes.

"I'm not too sure there are many offensive linemen stronger or faster than me," said Kudla, who has bench-pressed more than 600 pounds, "but there has to be that balance. This week it's going to take more power than speed from me because these guys are definitely going to run the ball. I've got to play a 'gap sound' game. It's going to take all 11 guys on defense executing each snap and really playing flawless."

Maroney's 258 yards against Wisconsin two weeks ago marked the third time this season he has gone over 200 yards. He ripped off a 93-yard TD, while Russell scored twice and rushed for 139 yards as the Gophers rolled up 411 yards on the ground.

Make that 411 wasted yards. Wisconsin scored on a blocked punt with 30 seconds to play for a 38-34 victory. The Gophers blew a 10-point lead in the final three minutes and then had all of last week to think about it during their first bye in three years.

"You need a little time to clear your head," tight end Matt Spaeth said.

Batteries presumably recharged, the Gophers -- ranked No. 22 in the USA Today coaches poll -- will attempt to end an eight-game losing streak at home against Ohio State and beat a third ranked team in the same season for the first time in history. The Gophers have beaten then-No. 11 Purdue (42-35 2 OT) and then-No. 21 Michigan (23-20) in Ann Arbor, snapping a 16-game losing streak to the Wolverines.

Ohio State is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent on the road since its 26-20 win at Michigan in 2001, Jim Tressel's first year at the helm. It might take the kind of defensive effort shown by Penn State in its 44-14 spanking of the Gophers on Oct. 1. Maroney was held to 48 yards on 16 carries and Minnesota managed only 113 yards on the ground.

"If we sit there and watch Penn State and say, oh, we just have to do what they did, then we're in trouble," Tressel said. "Minnesota is a different team in the (Metrodome). They're averaging 350-some yards in the dome the last couple of years. Playing at home, there's an energy you get.

"We have to do what we do and the combination of things -- offensively, defensively and on special teams -- that worked for Penn State."

Originally published October 26, 2005

http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BF/20051026/SPORTS04/510260342/1057

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Buckeye Trivia

The Buckeyes, who are 1-1 on the road this year, have won 10 of 18 league road games under Jim Tressel. They are only 1-4 on the road against ranked teams during the Tressel Era.

The Series

The two teams are meeting for the first time since 2002 when the Buckeyes won 34-3 in Columbus. They lead the overall series 37-7 and have won 18 of the 19.

Buckeye data

Coach Jim Tressel

45-13 (5th year/OSU); 180-70-2 overall

Statistical leaders

TB Antonio PIttman: 696 yards, 136 carries, 5.1 avg.

QB Troy Smith: 69 of 119, 1,032 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs

WR Santonio Holmes: 32 catches, 579 yars, 18.1 avg., 5 TDs

WR Ted Ginn Jr: 24 catches, 329 yards, 13.7 avg., 2 TDs

LB A.J. Hawk: 75 tackles, 9 TFLs, 4 sacks

LB Anthony Schlegel: 47 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack

LB Bobby Carpenter: 38 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 8 sacks

DE Mike Kudla: 19 tackles, 7 TFLs, 5.5 sacks

Gopher data

Coach Glen Mason

56-47 (9th year/Minnesota); 115-111-1 overall

Statistical leaders

TB Laurence Maroney: 1,133 yards, 208 carries, 5.4 avg., 8 TDs

TB Gary Russell: 644 yards, 85 caries, 7.6 avg., 10 TDs

QB Bryan Cupito: 82 of 149, 1,208 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs

WR Logan Payne: 19 catches, 268 yards, 14.1 avg., 1 TD

WR Ernie Wheelwright: 18 catches, 297 yards, 16.5 avg., 3 TDs

WR Jared Ellerson: 13 catches, 318 yards, 24.5 avg., 2 TDs

FS John Pawielski: 52 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT

The Matchups

Quarterbacks

Even though he's almost an afterthought in Minnesota's run-based attack, I saw Gophers quarterback Bryan Cupito -- a junior out of Cincinnati McNicholas -- in the state high school all-star game and he was the best quarterback on the field that night, including Justin Zwick. Lost in the shadows of tailbacks Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell, Cupito has completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,208 yards, with a 10-6 TD-to-INT ratio. Buckeye fans would kill for those kind of numbers from Troy Smith. Even his backers have resigned themselves to Smith committing at least one turnover a game. Seven turnovers in his last three road starts could negatively impact the Buckeyes in the Dome.

EDGE: Minnesota

Running backs

I don't care if OSU's Antonio PIttman were Jim Brown, Gail Sayers or Barry Sanders. His numbers would pale in comparison to Minnesota's dynamic duo of Laurence Maroney and Gary Russell. Collectively, they are worthy of the Heisman Trophy. Maroney, over 1,000 yards for the third straight year, might be a finalist anyway. The Buckeyes and their No. 1-ranked run defense could kill those hopes if Maroney's 48-yard effort against Penn State hasn't already. Pittman almost quietly has rushed for over 100 yards three times in the last four games, but is still looking for his first TD. Here's betting it comes Saturday as the Buckeyes try to grind out a victory and keep the ball away from the Gophers.

EDGE: Minnesota

Receivers

If Ted Ginn Jr.'s punt return TD against Indiana is a sign that he's also ready to break out on offense, it's going to make it awful tough to double-cover Santonio Holmes. His back-to-back games of over 100 yards in receptions means Holmes is going to start commanding a lot of attention again. Hopefully, the Buckeyes can start working Anthony Gonzalez back into the mix. Last time the Buckeyes played in a dome, Ginn and Gonzalez had big days, helping OSU rout Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Minnesota has been sneaky tough with its passing attack. With so much focus centered on stopping their running attack, the Gophers have been able to hit big plays. Five different receivers have caught passes of more than 30 yards. Ohioans Ernie Wheelwright (3 TDs) and Jared Ellerson (24.5 yards per catch) are inviting targets.

EDGE: OSU

Offensive line

Coach Jim Tressel believes this game is showcasing the best two centers in the Big Ten, maybe the nation. OSU's Nick Mangold is a big fan of Minnesota counterpart Greg Eslinger, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten pick. Eslinger and fellow senior Mark Setterstrom, the left guard, have started every game in their college careers. They pave the way for the nation's No. 1 running attack. The Gophers are averaging 299 yards on the ground and have topped 300 yards total offense in 33 of their last 34 games. Quarterback Bryan Cupito has been sacked only three times.

EDGE: Minnesota

Defensive line

Beginning Saturday, the Buckeyes will face four of the Big Ten's top 10 rushers in the next four weeks. Only after they run that gauntlet will we truly know if they have the top run defense in the land. The Buckeyes were so dominant against Indiana, banqed-up tackle Quinn Pitcock wasn't even missed. Hard to imagine Ohio State will have much luck padding its league-best sack total of 31. The Gophers put up a pretty big wall on the offensive line and just don't throw that much. Minnesota is giving up 192 yards a game on the ground in conference action, so the Buckeyes' OL should enjoy some success in the trenches. Minnesota's best player up front on defense is true freshman Steve Davis. The undersized end (6-2, 230) has five sacks, nearly half of the Gophers' 12.

EDGE: OSU

Linebackers

Minnesota coach Glen Mason ladled out the praise this week, saying the triumverate of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel is the best linebacking crew he has ever faced as a coach. Hawk has to be a favorite for the Butkus Award, Carpenter is a candidate for the Nagurski Award and Schlegel get the Media Award for being the most engaging personality. An injury to middle linebacker Mike Sherels kept him out of Minnesota's 38-34 loss to Wisconsin, but he's back this week. In his absence, the Gophers may have discovered a budding star in junior Mario Reese. In his first start, he had two sacks and forced two fumbles against the Badgers.

EDGE: OSU

Defensive backs

The Gophers have more Ohioans starting in their secondary than the Buckeyes -- two. For Minnesota, its veteran cornerback Trumaine Banks (Columbus Eastmoor) and strong safety Dominic Jones (Columbus Brookhaven). For OSU, the only Ohio kid currently starting in the backfield is strong safety Donte Whitner (Glenville). It was nice to see junior nickel back Brandon Mitchell come up with the victory-sealing interception TD at Indiana. After starting earlier in his career, he got lost in the shuffle before re-emerging due to an injury to Tyler Everett. When the Buckeyes went to a dime package against the Hoosiers, five of the six DBs on the field were underclassmen, including true freshmen Malcolm Jenkins and Jamario O'Neal. Bodes well for the future.

EDGE: OSU

Special teams

For all that hand-wringing about Ted Ginn Jr.'s slow start this season, if not for two penalties he'd have three returns for touchdowns. That would put him on last year's blistering pace when he ran back four punts for scores. One more punt return TD will make him the Big Ten career leader. The sophomore has five and shares the record with Iowa's Tim Dwight (1994-97). Minnesota's Jakari Wallace leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns and ranks fifth nationally with a 31.3 average. Redshirt freshman Jason Giannini (Canton Glen Oak), hero in the win over Michigan, is the Big Ten's second-ranked field goal kicker behind OSU's Josh Huston. Giannini has converted 12 of 15 and Huston 13 of 16.

EDGE: OSU


Originally published October 28, 2005

http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BF/20051028/SPORTS04/510280339/1057

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No. 12 Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31

No. 12 Ohio State showed off its speed on Minnesota’s fast track.

By beating the Gophers in a game of catch-us-if-you-can on the Metrodome’s artificial turf, the Buckeyes stayed in step in the congested Big Ten race.
Antonio Pittman rushed for two second-half touchdowns and a career-high 186 yards, springing Ohio State to a 45-31 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.
“He showed how fast he really is,” Buckeyes receiver Anthony Gonzalez said. “We all knew that, but hopefully everybody else realizes that now as well.”
The teams combined for 1,027 yards of offense, and that didn’t include Ted Ginn Jr.’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that gave Ohio State (6-2, 4-1) a 17-7 lead late in the first quarter.
The Gophers (5-3, 2-3) totaled 578 yards against the conference’s leading defense, the second-most allowed in Buckeyes history behind Illinois’ 659 yards in 1980.
Ohio State, which entered the game as one of four teams with one loss in conference play, won its third straight since losing at Penn State.
“Lately, for whatever reason, we haven’t been playing as well on the road,” Gonzalez said. “This was a big step for us.”
Buoyed by an average starting field position at their own 44, Ohio State’s offense bailed out their defensive teammates and broke open the game in the third quarter. Pittman’s 67-yard burst up the middle, his first score of the season, put the Buckeyes up for good, 24-17.
Nobody touched him.
“The offensive line did their job and opened up so many holes for me,” Pittman said. “I had no choice but to run through them.”
Troy Smith completed 14 of 20 passes for 233 yards and three scores, two to Santonio Holmes. Long known for a grind-it-out style, Ohio State seems to have found its stride with a remarkably balanced attack.
“We felt going into the Big Ten season if we could evolve to the fact where we always had a 100-yard back, then we could probably spread the ball around enough to have a good offense,” Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. “We’re starting to get consistent with that.”
Oh, yeah, the Buckeyes are pretty fast, too.
“I’ve been coaching long enough that I’ve seen some guys that will turn your hair gray,” said Gophers coach Glen Mason, whose team came back to the Metrodome hoping to make up for a 38-34 loss to Wisconsin on Oct. 15 when the Badgers blocked a punt for a touchdown with 30 seconds left.
Ginn is one of those guys Mason was referring to. One of the fastest players in college football, Ginn sprinted from end zone to end zone without being touched on that breath-stopping, 100-yard return.
Minnesota, which picked on Ohio State cornerback Ashton Youboty all afternoon, tied the game at 17 late in the second quarter on a pretty throw from Bryan Cupito to Jared Ellerson. He beat Youboty on a 5-yard fade route.
Lost in all of this was a career-best game by Cupito, who missed the Wisconsin game because of a shoulder injury. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 396 yards and a touchdown while wearing a brace. Cupito, from Cincinnati, is one of 16 Ohio natives on the Gophers.
“They might have all the great players and talent, but today we proved that we can play with those guys,” Cupito said. “There is no reason that we still can’t win out and go 8-3.”
Laurence Maroney, the Big Ten’s leading rusher for a Minnesota team that led the nation in yards rushing coming into the game, ran for 114 yards and a score on 16 first-half carries.
The Buckeyes, led by linebacker A.J. Hawk, were allowing only 62.7 yards per game on the ground — tops in the nation. They played more like that after halftime, holding Maroney to just 13 yards on nine carries. He also fumbled.
“Everybody is OK,” Maroney said. “We ain’t happy that we lost, but we know how to bounce back.”
After Pittman’s first touchdown, the Gophers marched to the Buckeyes 32 — but gave the ball and their chance of winning back after two curious play calls.
On third-and-2, Gary Russell ran right, stopped and threw softly across the field to Cupito — who was running up the left sideline. The ball hung in the air too long, and Malcolm Jenkins nearly intercepted it.
Then on fourth down, Maroney caught an option pitch from Cupito and tried to turn up the right sideline, but Mike Kudla chased him down and dragged him out of bounds short of the first down.
“We’ve got to get at least some points out of that,” Cupito said.
The fans wearing scarlet and gray in the northwest corner of the upper deck began chanting, “Let’s go, Bucks!” Pittman and Smith then led a drive for the clinching score — a 27-yard pass from Smith to Gonzalez.

Originally published October 29, 2005

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[THE CATKING]

Ohio State looked just fine. Texas struggled against a weak team in Oklahoma St. But who cares about Texas anyways? Besides these past couple years , ya have to go back to the Steve Wooster days, heck I was just a small lad then..... Besides, Texas isn't number one until they WIN a game against an undefeated Southern Cal team who has been #1 for a couple seasons and working on a third ............. THE CATKING !!!