Following the 2001 Outback Bowl where South Carolina defeated Ohio State 24-7, then-Director of Athletics Andy Geiger fired head coach John Cooper after the Buckeyes finished the season 8-4.

During the hiring process it came down to two finalists, Minnesota’s Glen Mason and Youngstown State’s Jim Tressel.

Mason, a former player under legendary head Coach Woody Hayes and a 1972 graduate of The Ohio State University, spent eight years as an assistant at OSU under Hayes and former head coach Earle Bruce. He was Bruce’s offensive coordinator from 1980-86.

Tressel was also an assistant for Bruce as the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach at Ohio State from 1983-85.

We all know which coach Geiger picked, as Tressel enters his sixth year at the helm of the Buckeyes, while Mason enters his 10th season guiding the Golden Gophers with a career record of 58-50 at Minnesota.

Mason has also done a fine job recruiting in Ohio, with 15 of his players on the 2006 roster hailing from the Buckeye state, and seven of those calling the Columbus area home.

Last year, Minnesota became the first team in history to have two 1,000-yard rushers in three consecutive years as junior Lawrence Maroney gained 1,464 yards on 281 carries with 10 touchdowns, and sophomore Gary Russell racked up 1,130 yards during his 186 attempts and added 18 TDs during the 2005 season.

That streak will probably come to a screeching halt after Maroney declared himself eligible for the NFL and was drafted in the First Round (21st overall) by the New England Patriots.

Russell, who was expected to be one of the top running backs in the Big Ten this season, enrolled at Inver Hills Community College for the spring term with the hopes of improving his grades so he can return to the Gophers. He was expected to step into the lineup for Maroney who left for the NFL.

Earlier this month, Russell and several of his family members met with school officials in a last-ditch effort to resolve his academic situation. Dismissed from school last winter because of academic shortcomings, Russell tried to improve his grades at a junior college. But school officials told Russell and his family that he will not be readmitted to summer school, a prerequisite for his return.

Russell, a Columbus native and a graduate of Walnut Ridge High School, has two years of eligibility remaining. He cannot transfer to a Division II or Division I-AA school and play football because he was not academically eligible when he left Minnesota. His only option would be to enroll at an NAIA school, if he wants to play this year. Chances are that he will sit out and wait until the 2007 NFL Draft.

That leaves last year’s third-string running back, junior Amir Pinnix (6-0, 195), as the top returning rusher after gaining 467 yards on 78 carries with one touchdown in 2005.

In past years, the Gopher offense has been ground-oriented, but that may change this season with the emergence of senior quarterback Bryan Cupito (6-3, 205).

Cupito, a Cincinnati native and graduate of McNicolas High School, threw for 2530 yards on 176-of-297 (59.3 %) passing with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Gophers also return all three of the top pass-catchers in 2005.

Columbus native and a former teammate of Russell at Walnut Ridge, junior wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright (6-5, 215) returns after leading the Gophers in receptions (37, tied), yards (568), and touchdowns (5, tied).

Senior wide receiver Logan Payne (6-2, 205), who also led the team with 37 catches for 529 yards and two touchdowns, along with senior tight end Matt Spaeth (6-7, 275) who hauled in 26 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns, both return.

The Gophers also have to deal with losing three starters on the offensive line, with junior tackle Steve Shidell (6-5, 290) and center Tony Brinkhaus (6-3, 295) as the only returnees.

Defensively, the Gophers bring back seven starters in their 4-3 scheme, but the biggest holes to fill are on the defensive line with just one returning starter, the undersized sophomore Steve Davis (6-2, 235) at defensive end, who led the team with six sacks last year as a true freshman.

In the linebacking corps, three of the four starters that played last year return with senior Mario Reese (6-3, 230), and juniors Mike Sherels (6-0, 240) and John Shelvin (6-1, 225) back for 2006.

In the secondary, three starters return for the Gophers, and out of the four who will start for Minnesota in the defensive backfield, three are Columbus natives and products of City League football.

Senior Trumaine Banks (5-11, 190), yet another Columbus native on the Minnesota roster and a graduate of Eastmoor Academy, moves from cornerback to free safety, where he has started the last three seasons.

Taking his place at cornerback will be redshirt freshman Keith Massey (6-1, 195), who also hails from Columbus and attended Brookhaven High School.

Another Brookhaven grad returns as the starter at strong safety, sophomore Dominic Jones (5-8, 190), while the other starting corner will be Jamal Harris (6-0, 185.)

In last year’s game, OSU tailback Antonio Pittman outdueled the Big Ten’s leading rusher by gaining a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Troy smith passed for 233 yards and three touchdowns to lead the 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes to a 45-31 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers in front of 54,825 fans at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

Minnesota’s Lawrence Maroney, the leading rusher in the Big Ten, was able to churn out 114 yards on 16 carries in the first half. But he did not have similar success in the second half as the nation’s best rushing defense held Maroney to just 13 yards on nine carries and a fumble.

The Buckeyes’ scored on the game’s opening possession by going 80 yards in seven plays as Smith connected with Santonio Holmes on a 41-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio State an early 7-0 lead just two minutes and 18 seconds into the game.

Following the kickoff, Minnesota drove down to the OSU 14-yard line on their first possession of the game, but on a third-and-8 Gophers’ quarterback Bryan Cupito was unable to get the ball to Jared Ellerson. Minnesota kicker Jason Giannini was wide right on a 32-yard field goal attempt and the Buckeyes held on to a 7-0 advantage.

Ohio State countered on the change of possession by moving down to the Minnesota 14-yard line in eight plays, a drive that was capped off by a 31-yard field goal by Josh Huston that put the Buckeyes ahead 10-0 with 7:09 remaining in the first quarter.

Minnesota responded quickly by going 80 yard in six plays. Starting at their own 20-yard line, Cupito would complete a 14-yard pass play to Ernie Wheelwright before Maroney would dart down the right side for a gain of 53 yards. Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins dragged him down at the OSU 13-yard line, which saved a touchdown.

The Gophers would score four plays later when Maroney plunged in from the 1-yard line to cut the Buckeyes’ lead to 10-7 with 5:16 left in the opening quarter.

That touchdown was quickly negated thanks to the speed of Ted Ginn, who ran 100 yards untouched through the Gophers’ kick coverage for a score that put the Bucks’ on top 17-7 just 13 seconds later.

Minnesota would add points on their next two possessions to tie the game at 17-all as Giannini kicked a 30-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first quarter, and Cupito would find Ellerson for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 11:57 left in the second quarter.

The closest the Buckeyes’ would get to the end zone to close out the first half came on the following possession as OSU advanced the ball down to the Minnesota 24-yard line. But on a fourth-and-1, Smith was stuffed for no gain on a quarterback sneak that ended the drive.

The Buckeyes would put the peddle to the metal in the second half and raced out to an early two-touchdown advantage as the OSU defense toughened up in the third quarter by holding the Gophers’ to three-plays-and-out on the first possession of the frame.

Starting on their own 28-yard line, it would take just two running plays by Pittman to put Ohio State back on top. After the first play netted five yards, Pittman busted through the middle of the Minnesota defense and raced 67 yards for his first touchdown of the season to give OSU a 24-17 lead with 12:47 left in the third quarter.

In effort to tie the game once again, Minnesota would go six plays and drive down to the OSU 32. Faced with a fourth-and-2, Buckeyes’ defensive end Mike Kudla chased down Maroney for no gain on the play, giving the ball to the Buckeyes’ on downs.

Ohio State capitalized on their defensive stand by going 68 yards in seven plays that was capped off by a 37-yard pitch and catch from Smith to flanker Anthony Gonzalez that put the Buckeyes’ ahead 31-17 with 7:46 left in the third quarter.

Cupito, who finished the game passing for 396 yards, got 68 of those on Minnesota’s next scoring drive as he hit Jakari Wallace for a gain of 32 which was followed with a 44-yard strike to Ellerson that put the Gophers’ on the OSU one-yard line. Gary Russell would dive in from there on the next play as the Gophers’ came within a possession of the Buckeyes’ at 31-24 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.

The rest of the game was basically all Ohio State, as Pittman would add a four-yard touchdown run with 13:28 remaining in the game. Smith later threw his third touchdown pass of the game, in which Holmes’ caught his second of the contest’ on a 30-yard connection following a fumble by Maroney that was forced by OSU safety Nate Salley and was recovered by defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock.

Minnesota would score with 58 seconds left on a one-yard run by Russell that made the final score a little closer, but the game was already decided.

The Buckeye defense yielded 578 yards to the Gophers, which was the second-most in school history. OSU allowed 659 yards of total offense to Illinois in 1980, but the Buckeyes still won the game 49-42.

Ohio State’s 45 points were the most since they scored 50 points vs. San Jose State in a 50-7 win in 2002. The point total vs. Minnesota is the highest on the road by a Jim Tressel-coached team and the most by the Buckeyes since a 45-14 win at Iowa on Nov. 7, 1998.

Analysis and Prediction

While Minnesota finished the 2005 campaign ranked seventh in NCAA Division I-A (third in the Big Ten) in total offense averaging 494.8 yards per game, and tied for 10th (first in the Big Ten)in scoring 35.8 points per game, it remains to be seen if Pinnix can take up the slack left behind with the losses of Maroney and Russell in the Gophers’ rushing attack.

On the other side of the ball, Minnesota finished 90th in DI-A (sixth in the Big Ten) in total defense allowing 412.7 yards per game, and 80th (eighth in the Big Ten) allowing 29.0 points per game.

The biggest problems that faced the Gophers’ during the 2005 season was their defense against the pass as Minnesota was ranked ninth in the Big Ten Conference (97th in DI-A) in pass defense allowing 257.1 yards per game and ninth (111th in DI-A) in sacks with 3.67 per game average.

While Minnesota may not have a real difficult time scoring points this year, it would also seem that they will also have a hard time keeping their opponents off of the scoreboard, too.

Ohio State 42, Minnesota 21

Next I preview the Fighting Illini of Illinois.

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner is just one of many that have either played at or coached for Miami University, also known as the “Cradle of Coaches.”

Miami has been the training ground in football for eight national “Coach of the Year” recipients, including Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John Pont and Bo Schembechler. Also with Miami ties are NFL coaches Sid Gillman (an OSU grad) and Weeb Ewbank.

Even OSU head football coach Jim Tressel, National Coach of the Year in 2002, was an assistant at Miami (1978-80), as well as men’s head basketball coach Thad Matta (1994-95, 1996-97).

Tressel will square off against three former players and/or coaches who once hailed from Oxford with Northern Illinois’ Joe Novak, Illinois’ Ron Zook and Hoeppner. Before his sudden death, Northwestern’s Randy Walker was a Miami graduate and former head coach for the RedHawks.

This season, Coach Hep returns seven offensive starters, six defensive side of the ball, and a total of 36 letter-winners from last year’s team that finished 4-7.

Junior quarterback Blake Powers (6-4, 235) returns after setting single-game school records with 37 completions and 57 attempts at Iowa, and set the new Indiana single-season touchdown pass record with 22. Overall, his 212 completions and 376 attempts are second on IU’s single-season chart, and his 2,305 yards are fourth in single-season school history.

With the graduation of veteran tailbacks Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington, a trio of redshirt freshmen will compete for playing time.

Demetrius McCray (5-11, 189) was the Florida Class 4A Player of the Year in 2004 after rushing for 1,642 yards and 29 touchdowns at Armwood High School in Brandon, Fla. Justin Carrington (6-0, 204) gained nearly 1,900 yards and scored 26 touchdowns his senior season at Liberty High School in Leesburg, Va., and Bryan Payton (5-9, 208) impressed the Hoosier coaching staff with his hard-nosed running style last fall.

Wide receiver is arguably Indiana’s deepest position, as the Hoosiers return six players who each caught at least 10 passes a year ago.

Sophomore James Hardy (6-7, 216) was one of the nation’s top wide receivers in 2005. A second team all-conference selection and Rivals.com Freshman All-American caught 61 passes for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 61 receptions are third in single-season school history, the 893 yards are fifth, and the 10 touchdowns are second.

Jahkeen Gilmore (6-0, 211) had 30 receptions for 383 yards and was the Hoosiers’ third-leading receiver last fall. James Bailey (6-2, 199) was one of the top comeback stories in college football in 2005, finishing as his team’s fourth-leading receiver after his involvement in a March 2005 auto accident that forced him to spend two weeks in a hospital and another two weeks in a wheelchair. He caught 27 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns.

With the departure of offensive guards Adam Hines and Brandon Hatcher along with offensive tackle Isaac Sowells, Indiana returns just two starters after Chris Mangiero (6-1, 305) bounced back from a foot injury suffered midway through the 2004 season to start all 11 games at center in 2005. He also played at offensive guard.

Senior Justin Frye (6-5, 296) has started 33 of his last 34 games at either right guard or right tackle. He was Indiana’s right tackle for the first seven games of the season before moving to right guard for the final four games of the year.

Though not considered a returning starter, fifth-year senior Scott Anderson (6-6, 308) started the final four games of the 2005 season at right tackle.

Indiana suffered two key losses at defensive end, as all-conference selection Victor Adeyanju and steady Ben Ishola graduated. Senior Kenny Kendal (6-3, 248) and junior Tyler Altman (6-0, 255) were the backups, so both players will figure prominently this fall. Kendal started all 11 games for the Hoosiers in 2004 and was the team leader with 5.5 sacks on the season. Kendal closed the year with 8.5 tackles for loss, good for third-best on the team.

Inside, Indiana returns considerable experience in juniors Joe Kremer (6-2, 295) and Charles Emerson (6-5, 266) with sophomore Greg Brown (6-2, 303). Brown started four of the 11 games in which he played in 2005. Emerson recorded 23 tackles (18 solo, five assisted) in 11 games played last year and started in four of those contests. Kremer played in all 11 Indiana games in 2005.

This is another position impacted by graduation, as two of the top four tacklers, outside linebacker Kyle Killion and middle linebacker John Pannozzo, graduated. Junior middle linebacker Adam McClurg (6-0, 230), sophomore Geno Johnson (6-2, 204) and senior Jake Powers (6-1, 230) are the top three returnees.

Indiana returns all four secondary starters. Senior safeties Will Meyers (5-11, 201) and Troy Grosfield (6-0, 182) recorded 84 and 57 tackles, respectively. Tracy Porter (5-10, 181) and Leslie Majors (5-9, 159) are each back for their third season at cornerback. Porter led the Hoosiers’ with three interceptions.

In last year’s game, OSU quarterback Troy Smith ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as Ohio State gained 240 yards on the ground and had another strong defensive effort lto lead the 14th-ranked Buckeyes to one of their most lopsided victories of the season, a 41-10 rout of the Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

Indiana lost its 13th straight in the series and still hasn’t beaten the Buckeyes at home since 1988.

But Ohio State didn’t need creativity to win this one as Coach Tressel took a page out of Woody Hayes’ playbook, running right at the Hoosiers.

Antonio Pittman was the setup man, running 26 times for 133 yards, while Smith finished the job. Smith carried 12 times for 55 yards, and scored on runs of 1 and 23 yards while completing 14-of-23 passes for 226 yards, including a 23-yard TD strike to Santonio Holmes.

Ohio State’s swarming defense was more impressive.

Indiana gained only 42 yards rushing, nearly half coming in the final minutes, and finished with 137 total yards. Blake Powers, who entered the game with a single-season school record 20 TD passes, was 13-of-29 for 72 yards and failed to throw a touchdown for the first time all year.

Even receiver James Hardy, the Hoosiers’ big-play threat, couldn’t get going. He had two catches for 27 yards although he appeared to be hobbled by a leg injury.

Ohio State still was far from perfect, though.

While OSU converted an Indiana fumble and a short punt into first-half touchdowns, the Buckeyes also blew several chances to take control. Smith was intercepted at the goal line, and a personal foul penalty nullified Ted Ginn Jr.’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Hoosiers problems were more costly. Twice, Indiana started drives inside the Ohio State 40 and failed to score points. Its only touchdown came when linebacker John Pannozzo ripped the ball away from Ginn in the third quarter and scored on a 57-yard return.

Ohio State matched that two possessions later when Brandon Mitchell intercepted Powers’ underthrown ball and ran it back 57 yards to make it 31-10.

Indiana’s problems started when punt returner Troy Grosfield botched a catch at the Indiana 35 and Antonio Smith recovered for the Buckeyes. Three plays later, Troy Smith connected with Holmes for a 7-0 lead.

After Joe Kleinsmith hit a 39-yard field goal, Troy Smith ran 1 yard and Josh Huston hit a 23-yard field goal to make it 17-3 at the half.

Ohio State delivered the knockout after Pannozzo’s touchdown return. Troy Smith ran 23 yards for a score, then came the interception return and Ginn scored on a 62-yard punt return.

Analysis and Prediction

Even with Powers returning with some very good receivers to throw the ball to, the running game for Indiana is a huge question mark. In 2005, the Hoosiers ranked 75th in total offense among the 117 Division I-A teams and last in the Big Ten averaging 350.8 yards per game. Indiana also finishing last in the conference in rushing (78th in DI-A) at a 131.2 yards per contest.

Last year, Indiana ranked 93rd in Division I-A in total defense (amazingly that was seventh-best in conference) giving up 417.7 yards per game. They were best at stopping the passing game, yielding just 202.5 yards per game, good for second-best in the Big Ten (35th in DI-A) behind Ohio State, who allowed just 200.8 ypg.

But as we saw in the 2005 matchup at Bloomington, the Hoosiers could not stop the run, and finished the year ranked 110th in DI-A (10th in the Big Ten) allowing 215.2 yards on the ground per game.

With the stable of running backs that the Buckeyes have, this game won’t be a huge rout since OSU will keep the ball on the ground for the most part, but should win easily.

Ohio State 42, Indiana 14.

Next I preview the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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If there ever was a defining moment during Ohio State’s 2005 football season, it came on the last play of the first half in the game against the Michigan State Spartans on October 15, 2005, at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State entered the game with a record of 3-2, just coming off of a heartbreaking loss at Penn State, and were ranked 15th in the latest Associated Press poll.

The Buckeyes had played most of the first half without much heart, seemingly going through the motions against the 16th-ranked Spartans, who came into the game with a record of 4-1 which included an overtime win over Notre Dame, and an overtime loss to Michigan.

Two fumbles by Ohio State led to 10 points for Michigan State as the Spartans claimed a 17-7 lead, and following Ted Ginn’s mishandling of a Brandon Fields punt, MSU recovered the ball at the OSU 26 with 1:20 left to play looking to add to their margin.

Michigan State would get down to the Ohio State 15-yard line following a nine-yard run by quarterback Drew Stanton, but a sack and a quarterback sneak resulted in a loss of two yards as the final seconds of the half ticked off the clock.

Facing a third-and-12, the MSU field goal team raced out to the field, disorganized from the start. As the Spartans lined up for the field goal attempt, the left side of the offensive line expected quarterback and holder Drew Stanton to spike the ball to stop the clock, while the right side went into field goal blocking protection.

Nate Salley easily sliced through the left side of MSU’s offensive line and blocked the kick, followed by Ashton Youboty picking up the loose ball and racing 72 yards for the touchdown on the final play of the first half. Josh Huston’s successful PAT cut the Spartan lead down to 17-14 as both teams headed into the locker rooms for intermission.

That was a 10-point swing in a matter of seconds after the 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Earlier in the first quarter, MSU’s John Goss connected from 32-yards away.

Michigan State’s John L. Smith following the game on the blocked kick:

“We were going for the spike (to stop the clock). We practice the fast field goal. We time it out in practice. We have someone count the guys so there are not 12 or 10 players on the field. We have them line up, and before they go out, I tell them if we’re going for the kick, the fake or a spike and that didn’t happen. When the guys lined up, I heard someone yell, `Field goal’ and it wasn’t me. So that comes down to me.”

And quarterback Drew Stanton added this:

“We would have spiked the ball so our offense had time. I even tried to get us toward the center because I knew we would try for that. But, I heard someone yelling, ‘Field goal! Field goal!’ and it was a huge miscommunication. No one knew what was going on.”

Michigan State took the first turnover of the game - a fumble by Antonio Pittman - and drove 47 yards in eight plays to take a 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field goal by Goss.

On the ensuing kickoff, Santonio Holmes fumbled the ball at the OSU 18 and it was recovered by Michigan State at the OSU 4-yard line. The Spartans punched it in three plays later on a three-yard run by Jehuu Caulcrick as MSU claimed a 10-0 lead with 4:34 to play in the first quarter.

OSU quarterback Troy Smith let Holmes redeem himself on the fifth play during Buckeyes’ next possession when he hauled in a 51-yard touchdown reception that closed the gap to 10-7 with 2:37 left to play in the opening stanza.

Michigan State took possession after a 76-yard punt by A.J. Trapasso with 14:12 remaining in second quarter and marched 84 yards in 12 plays which took nearly six minutes off the clock.

The drive was capped off on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Stanton to wide receiver Jerramy Scott as Michigan State went ahead 17-7 with 6:30 to play before halftime.

Michigan State outgained the Buckeyes 248-157 in total yards in the first half. Stanton completed 15-of-19 passes for 166 yards, and the Spartans rushed 27 times for 82 yards.

For Ohio State, Smith completed four first-half passes for 106 yards and one score, while the Buckeyes ran 10 times for 51 yards, including eight carries by Pittman for 40 yards. Holmes had two grabs for 90 yards and one score.

In the second half, Ted Ginn Jr. turned a pass play designed for a first down into a 57-yard touchdown that finally put the Buckeyes in front 21-17 with 10:21 to play in the third quarter.

On third-and-4 from the OSU 43, Ginn made the catch on a square-in route just across midfield and he raced down the left sideline for the go-ahead score.

Michigan State responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive to reclaim the lead on an eight yard touchdown by running back Jason Teague, who went untouched over the right side as the Spartans moved back in front 24-21 with 4:53 to play.

The Spartans’ tried to add to their lead with a 37-yard field goal attempt by Goss with 7:12 to play in the game, but Youboty blocked the kick. It was the Buckeyes’ second blocked field goal of the game.

Five plays later the Buckeyes reclaimed the lead for good after Smith hit Holmes for a 46-yard scoring strike down the left sideline, then escaped a shoestring tackle and dove into the front corner of the end zone. That effort put the Buckeyes up 28-24 with 4:56 to play.

The defense turned it up another notch and forced Michigan State to punt on fourth down. Holmes returned the punt 26 yards to the MSU 19.

On the first play of the drive Pittman gained 18 yards down to the MSU 1-yard line, then Smith scored on a quarterback keeper on the next play that extended OSU’s lead to 35-24 with 1:29 to play in the game.

Smith completed 10-of-15 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, while Pittman rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries, and Holmes had five receptions for 150 yards and two scores.

MSU quarterback Drew Stanton completed 26-of-36 passes for 340 yards and one score, but was plagued by the “Silver Bullet” defense most of the afternoon. The Buckeyes’ recorded 12 sacks for a minus-58 yards.

Head Coach John L. Smith returns six starters on both side of the ball from last year’s team that finished 5-6. After the Spartans began their season with wins over Kent State, Hawaii, Notre Dame, and Illinois, MSU managed just one more win in their final seven contests, a 46-15 victory over Indiana.

Drew Stanton returns after throwing for 3077 yards and 22 touchdowns during his junior campaign. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior completed 236-of-354 (66.7 percent) of his passes and was intercepted 12 times.

Michigan State returns both top rushers from last year with 5-foot-9, 202-pound sophomore Javon Ringer and and 6-foot, 245-pound junior Jehuu Caulcrick. Ringer led the Spartans with 817 yards on 122 carries and four touchdowns, while Caulcrick gained 478 yards on 89 carries with a team-high seven TDs.

Stanton’s two main targets from last year also return with 5-foot-10, 186-pound senior Jerramy Scott, and 6-foot-6, 227-pound senior two-sport star Matt Trannon.

Scott led the Spartans in receptions (49), yards (722), and touchdowns (4). Trannon hauled in 40 passes for 573 yards and added four more touchdowns before averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the basketball team in 22 games.

Michigan State returns two offensive linemen for last year, right tackle Mike Gyetvai, a 6-foot-7, 302-pound junior, and left guard Mike Cook, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior.

Three of the four starting defensive backs from a year ago return for the Spartans, as junior strong safety SirDarean Adams (6-0, 230), senior free safety Greg Cooper (5-11, 192), and senior cornerback Demond Williams (5-9, 175) gear up for another season in East Lansing. Adams was fourth on the team with 60 tackles and led the Spartans with three interceptions.

The leading sack man from a year ago also returns as defensive end Clifton Ryan (6-2, 302) will play his senior year wearing green.

Other starters returning for the Spartans are linebackers, with senior David Herron Jr. (6-2, 252) and junior Kaleb Thornhill (6-2, 235). Herron was second on the team in tackles last year with 65, while Thornhill was third with 63.

Analysis and Prediction

This will be another tough road game for the Buckeyes, and the Spartans will be a better team than their 5-6 record from 2005 indicates, but I don’t think they have enough defensively to stop OSU, with the Buckeyes winning in a shootout.

Ohio State 49, Michigan State 35

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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Kirk Ferentz is one of the top young coaches in the Big Ten, and once again he has his Iowa Hawkeyes on the brink of winning a conference title and a possible BCS bowl berth.

While the Hawkeyes have played in four straight January bowl games, it seems that an early season collapse has killed their chances for any share of the Big Ten crown or a trip to a BCS bowl game.

Last year, in the second game of the season, the favored Hawkeyes lost to in-state rival Iowa State 23-3.

The two weeks later, Ferentz and his Hawkeyes traveled to Columbus for a showdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the conference-opener for both teams.

OSU quarterback Troy Smith rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and added 191 yards passing with two more scores to lead the eighth-ranked Buckeyes to a 31-6 pasting of the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes before 105,225 fans at Ohio Stadium.

Tailback Antonio Pittman gained 171 yards rushing on 28 carries. The two 100-yard games by Pittman and Smith marked for the first time since 1976 that Ohio State had a 100-yard rusher at quarterback and running back in the same game. The last time OSU accomplished that feat was against Michigan State on September 11, 1976, in Ohio Stadium when quarterback Rod Gerald had 104 yards and running back Jeff Logan went for 112.

While the offense was firing on all cylinders, it was the defense that limited Iowa to a season-low 137 yards. The Hawkeyes were held to minus-9 yards in 18 rushing attempts. It was the first time Ohio State has held a team to negative rushing yardage since 2003 against Indiana, when the Buckeyes limited the Hoosiers to -12 yards on 32 attempts.

Not only was the rushing defense in its’ prime, but it was the pass rush that harassed Iowa quarterback Drew Tate all game. The Buckeyes had five sacks against Iowa, which had tied a season-high. The Buckeyes had five sacks in the season opener vs. Miami.

Leading the way was senior linebacker A.J. Hawk, who recorded a team-high 11 total tackles and 1 1/2 sacks against Iowa.

The Buckeyes’ would start their first possession of the game at their own 19-yard line, and the opening drive covered 81 yards in 15 plays, capped off when Smith threw a bullet to sophomore flanker Anthony Gonzalez for an eight-yard TD strike with 7:43 left in the first quarter.

After both teams traded punts back and forth, Ohio State would get the ball for their third possession of the game at the Buckeyes’ 19-yard line with 1:41 remaining in the opening stanza.

Six plays and 81 yards later, Smith rushed through the left side of the Iowa defense from the shotgun formation and hit paydirt just 30 seconds into the second quarter which pushed the OSU lead to 14-0.

If there were any problems with the Buckeye’ offense last year, then it would have to be the tendency to put the ball on the ground. The next two possessions by Ohio State ended with fumbles inside the Iowa five-yard line.

The Buckeyes started the opening drive of the second half at the OSU 22-yard line and marched 78 yards in 10 plays, that even included a 10-yard gain by Pittman on the “Statue of Liberty” play. The drive was capped off on a four-yard run by Smith from the shotgun formation, and OSU was well in front with 9:59 left in the third quarter leading 24-0.

Later in the fourth quarter following an interception of a Tate pass by OSU cornerback Donte Whitner, his second interception of the season and fifth of his career, the Buckeyes’ set up shop at the Iowa 40-yard line. Just four plays later, Smith hit Gonzalez on a crossing route for a gain of 29 yards and a touchdown as Ohio State went ahead 31-6, which would be the final score.

The Hawkeyes ended the 2005 campaign with a 7-5 record and in a third place tie in the Big Ten standings. A pair of heartbreaking, last minute losses to Michigan and Northwestern separated Iowa from at least a piece of its third Big Ten title in four years.

Coach Ferentz returns 14 starters, seven on offense and seven on defense.

Iowa will begin the 2006 season with three-year starter and All-American candidate Drew Tate calling the signals. Tate was a first-team all-Big Ten selection in 2004.

Tate’s numbers were better in 2005 and his ability to scramble and be creative on the run is a definite asset. He is poised for another record-breaking season as Iowa’s quarterback.

Tate (6-0, 192) threw for 2,828 yards and 22 touchdowns. He completed 219 of 352 passes. The completions and attempts are the fourth highest single season totals in Iowa history while the yardage rank fifth best. His 2005 passing efficiency (146.35) was fourth in the Big Ten and 20th nationally. In addition, his 235.7 yards a game passing was third best in the league.

For the third straight year, Iowa is well stocked at running back. However, there was a big difference between 2004 and 2005. Two years ago the Hawkeyes lost its top three running backs to season ending injuries and the fourth and fifth backs were also injured during the season. Last year, personnel at running back stayed relatively healthy and the results showed it.

Junior All-America candidate Albert Young (5-10, 209), a second team All-Big Ten selection and a co-MVP on the Iowa team last year, rushed for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns. He was 17th nationally in rushing yardage.

The loss of three outstanding receivers makes this an area where the Hawkeyes will need some fresh new talent to step forward. Gone are Ed Hinkel, Clinton Solomon and Matt Melloy.

Three starters return on the offensive line. Seniors Mike Jones (6-5, 302), Mike Elgin (6-4, 288) and Marshal Yanda (6-4, 305). All are considered extremely versatile linemen with the ability to play many positions. Just last year Jones started at left and right tackle and left guard. Yanda split starting time between left guard and right tackle.

A very young and inexperience defensive line returns in 2006 with one season under their belt.

Sophomores Matt Kroul (6-3, 271) and Mitch King (6-3, 264) saw extensive duty as redshirt freshmen. Kroul started all 12 Iowa games while King was a starter in the final nine contests.

Hoping to push Kroul and King will be sophomore Ryan Bain (6-2, 282). Bain played as a true freshman last year and registered 21 tackles and four sacks. Others expecting to get playing time are redshirt freshmen Vernon Jackson ((6-1, 265) and Travis Meade (6-0, 280).

Senior outside linebacker Edmond Miles (6-1, 228) started every game last year. He will provide leadership and the only extensive experience to the linebacking position. He was Iowa’s third-leading tackler in 2005 with 68 stops, nine tackles for loss (-23 yards) and one interception.

The return of starting safeties Marcus Paschal (6-0, 207) and Miguel Merrick (6-0, 203), provides somewhat of a security blanket after losing both starting cornerbacks to graduation. Paschal has 23 career starts and Merrick 12. Paschal was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick last year and had 62 tackles while Merrick totaled 59.

Juniors Charles Godfrey (6-1, 208) and Adam Shada (6-1, 185) will fill the positions vacated at the corners. Each started three games last season.

Analysis and Prediction

While Iowa’s young defensive line began to jell as a unit as the season went along, losing linebackers Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge will be very hard to replace along with both starting cornerbacks from a year ago.

Offensively, Iowa will be one of the best in the Big Ten, but will the defense stop anybody?

This will be one of the Buckeyes’ toughest games all year, based on the fact that this is a night game played in Iowa City, but Ohio State will prevail.

Ohio State 31, Iowa 21

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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Ah, rivalries.

While all Buckeye fans will point to the season-ending clash versus Michigan as Ohio State’s top rival, what team does the Nittany Lion faithful cast as their arch nemesis?

Judging by the fact that when Penn State’s Big Ten Champion football t-shirts depicted the scoreboard of last year’s game that the Nittany Lions won 17-10 over the Buckeyes, most in Happy Valley would point to the school in Columbus as their biggest rival.

In last year’s epic battle at Beaver Stadium, Ohio State could not generate much offense, particularly in the second half as the Buckeyes were shutout in the final two quarters. Ohio State managed just 230 yards of total offense for the game, with 81 of those yards coming from the only touchdown drive OSU was able to muster during the second quarter.

Two Ohio State turnovers by quarterback Troy Smith cost the Buckeyes’ dearly, as Smith was intercepted in the second quarter that resulted in a Penn State touchdown. His fumble on Ohio State’s final drive of the game ended any hopes of sending the game into overtime.

Defensively, Ohio State dominated as expected, allowing just 190 yards of total offense. In the second half, Penn State was only able to generate 45 yards on a scoring drive that resulted in a field goal during the Nittany Lions’ opening possession to start the third quarter, then Penn State was held to just 18 yards the rest of the game.

Ohio State scored on their second possession of the game as the Buckeyes’ drove 44 yards in 12 plays that was capped off by a 30-yard field goal by Josh Huston.

After getting a first down on a quarterback sneak, the Buckeyes entered the red zone at the Penn State 19-yard line. After a run by Brandon Schnittker that gained a yard and an incomplete pass from Smith to Santonio Holmes, OSU faced a third-and-9 at the PSU 18-yard line. Smith went back pass, was flushed out of the pocket, and raced for five yards before being tackled by Penn State’s Dan Connor. OSU settled on a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead with 6:41 remaining in the first quarter.

After both teams traded punts, Penn State would begin the second quarter with the ball at their own 26-yard line. The vaunted OSU rushing defense buckled during the drive, as the Nittany lions were able to gain 74 yards all on the ground that was capped off by a 13-yard touchdown run by Derrick Williams to give Penn State a 7-3 lead with 10:20 left to play in the first half.

Penn State would scored another touchdown in a span of 2:33 to take a 14-3 lead after Smith was intercepted on Ohio State’s next possession. On a third-and-9 from the OSU 14, Smith dropped back to pass and was picked off by Calvin Lowry at the OSU 38-yard line, who raced down the far sideline until he was knocked out-of-bounds at the OSU 2. Three plays later, Michael Robinson snuck in from the one-yard line and Penn State had a commanding lead.

Ohio State responded by engineering their one and only sustained drive as the Buckeyes went 81 yards in 14 plays that was capped off by a 10-yard run by Smith who dove in from the three to get the ball across the goal line.

With Penn State leading 14-10 at halftime, the only points scored in the second half came on a 41-yard field goal by Penn State’s Kevin Kelly on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Ohio State only crossed the Penn State 40-yard line once in the second half, but Huston missed a 50-yard field goal with 1:58 left in the third quarter.

On Ohio State’s final drive of the game that started at the Buckeyes’ 6-yard line following a holding penalty, Smith would lose a yard on the first play and OSU would call a timeout with 2:19 left in the contest. Following the break in the action, Smith would connect with Ted Ginn Jr. for a gain of 26 yards to the PSU 31-yard line, hit Santonio Holmes on a 21-yard pass play to the PSU 48, and a three yard completion to Roy Hall that moved the Buckeyes’ into Nittany Lion territory.

Facing a second-and-7 at the PSU 45-yard line, Smith dropped back and was sacked by Penn State’s Tamba Hali. Smith fumbled as he was hit at the OSU 48, and the loose ball was recovered by PSU’s Scott Paxson with 1:21 left to play.

Penn State would kneel down on three plays to run out the clock and end the game.

One thing is for sure, Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman’s game plan last year was dull and unimaginable, to say the least.

Holmes had just four catches for 41 yards, while Ginn had a mere three receptions for 40 yards. Which is a total of seven for 81 total yards, with 45 of those yards coming on two plays during OSU’s final drive.

The Buckeyes’ leading rusher was Antonio Pittman who had 58 yards on 15 carries, while Smith netted 53 yards in 19 attempts.

Entering his 41st season as head coach this year, Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions return 34 letter winners and 11 starters from last year’s 11-1 team that captured a share of the Big Ten title.

JoePa will have to do without the services of second-team, All-Big Ten quarterback Michael Robinson. In his place is junior Anthony Morelli (6-4, 214).

It seems that in the eyes of Penn State fans that Morelli is the second coming of Dan Marino, though most insiders from Paternoville will say he’s the best quarterback in State College since Kerry Collins.

Unlike Robinson, who was a tremendous athlete and could run out of the pocket, Morelli is a less mobile drop-back passer.

Morelli was of the most sought after quarterback prospects in the country in 2003 after being selected to the SuperPrep All-American and USA Today Top 25 Supreme Team.

Morelli passed for 3,455 yards and 36 touchdowns in in his final two years as a started at Penn Hills High School in suburban Pittsburgh.

In limited duty as a backup last year, Morelli was 13-of-20 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown.

Helping him out with the running game is senior tailback Tony Hunt (6-2, 219), who rushed for 1,047 yards on 174 carries (6.0 avg.) with six touchdowns in 2005.

Morelli will have plenty of experienced targets to throw to as all three of the top receivers from last year’s team return.

Sophomores Deon Butler (5-10, 163) and Jordan Norwood (5-10, 160) both return. While they may lack in size, they do not lack speed on the outside.

Butler hauled in 37 passes for 691 yards and nine touchdowns, while Norwood caught 32 balls for 422 yards.

Possibly the best receiver of the group is sophomore Derrick Williams (6-0, 201), who had 22 receptions for for 289 yards and a score. He also rushed for 116 yards on 22 carries and three more touchdowns.

Other than starting a new quarterback, the other big concern for Coach Paterno is having to replace four starters on the offensive line. The only returning starter is senior tackle Levi Brown (6-5, 324), who was a first-team All-Big Ten preseason selection by The Sporting News.

The defense is even more depleted, with just four starters returning from last year’s team.

Gone are defensive ends Tamba Hall and Matthew Rice, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, and the entire secondary of Chris Harrell, Calvin Lowry, Anwar Phillips and Alan Zemaitis.

The Penn State linebacking corps returns intact, led by OLB Paul Posluszny (6-2, 229), who has been selected the pre-season National and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is ranked No. 5 on the Watch List for the Heisman Trophy by Lindy’s Football.

Winner of the 2005 Butkus and Bednarik awards and a consensus All-American, Posluszny is the only defensive player listed on Lindy’s Heisman Trophy Top 10 Watch List.

Of course, as all Buckeye fans know, those awards should of went to A.J. Hawk.

Posluszny suffered partial tears of the anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee in the fourth quarter of the 26-23, triple-overtime victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

The injury did not require surgery.

Also returning are middle linebacker Tim Shaw (6-1, 233) and outside linebacker Dan Connor (6-3, 220).

The only other returning starter on defense for Penn State is tackle Jay Alford (6-3, 288).

Analysis and Prediction

While Penn State’s linebackers are strong, losing Hall and his 11.5 sacks as well as the entire secondary will make things difficult for the Nittany Lions to stop the high-powered offense of Ohio State.

Morelli will be able to get his feet wet playing Notre Dame at South Bend two weeks before the showdown in Columbus on September 23 against the Buckeyes, but he will still be in the learning process.

Ohio State 31, Penn State 17.

Friday, I preview the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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Bowling Green head coach Gregg Brandon will lead his young group of Falcons into Ohio Stadium for a matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday, October 7.

The Falcons finished the 2005 campaign with a record of 6-5 and captured the MAC East title with a record of 5-3.

But Brandon will have to replace five starters on offense that ranked 27th in Division I-A averaging 427.7 yards per game, and six starters on defense that ranked 65th allowing 379.6 yards per contest.

The biggest shoes Brandon has to fill is at quarterback, losing Omar Jacobs who skipped his senior year to enter the NFL Draft. Jacobs was a fifth-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The frontrunner to take the job is redshirt sophomore Anthony Turner (6-2, 226), who saw action in eight games last year, making two starts.

Turner was 52-of-85 passing for 492 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He rushed for 170 yards on 53 carries, adding another three touchdowns on the ground.

Turner’s best performance came against Western Michigan after Jacobs left in the first quarter with an injury.

In relief, Turner threw for 242 yards on 20-of-38 passing in a 45-14 loss to the Broncos.

In BGSU’s spring game, Turner completed 17 of his 28 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns.

The problem is, Turner was convicted of disorderly conduct in March, which has resulted in a one-game suspension. Turner will have to sit out in Bowling Green’s season-opener against Wisconsin at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 2.

That means redshirt freshman Freddie Barnes (6-2, 185) will have a chance to unseat Turner as the starting quarterback.

The running game will be a major concern for the Falcons, who lost their top two tailbacks from a year ago, and utilize a one-back offense.

Listed first on the spring depth chart is junior running back Dan Macon (6-1, 210), but he was redshirted last year after playing six games in his sophomore season and in seven contests during his freshman year of 2003.

The top returning running back for the Falcons is sophomore Bobby Thomas (5-10, 200), who rushed for 183 yards on 42 carries.

In the receiving corps, two starters return from an offense that uses three to four-wide sets with senior Ruben Ruiz (6-4, 247), and redshirt sophomore Corey Partridge (5-11, 187).

Partridge was fifth in receiving last year, hauling in 23 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Ruiz was sixth with 11 receptions for 174 yards and two scores.

The offensive line returns three starters, including two-time All-MAC performer, junior Kory Lichtensteiger (6-3, 305), After starting in 23 games at left guard in his first two years, he will slide over and play center this season.

Bowling Green’s 4-3 base defense will bring back five starters from last year’s squad, led by the Falcons’ leading tackler from a year ago, senior weakside linebacker Terrel White (5-10, 224).

White had 100 tackles (56 solo) with nine tackles for loss and three sacks.

Two starters return on the defensive line with senior right end Devon Parks (6-3, 252) and senior tackle Brad Williams (6-3, 256).

Parks had 56 total tackles with 8.5 for loss and forced three fumbles. He is the top returning pass rusher with three sacks during the 2005 season.

Williams had 63 total tackles with 33 unassisted to go along with 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

In the secondary, two starerts return with sophomore cornerback Antonio Smith (5-10, 175) and junior free safety Deaudre Perry (6-1, 214).

Smith had two interceptions last year and returned both for touchdowns, while Perry started in eight games in 2005 and had 62 tackles and a pick.

Analysis and Prediction

This is a very young Bowling Green team that will journey downstate to play the Buckeyes. Just six out of the 22 starters listed on the depth chart are seniors with six more juniors. This could be Ohio State’s most lopsided game of the season.

Ohio State 63, Bowling Green 7

Next Monday, I begin my previews of OSU’s Big Ten opponents with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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