Right: All Coach Jimmy T. is missing is a ukulele at the spring game draft. (OSU Photo)

The Ohio State Buckeyes will conclude spring tackle football practice with the annual LifeSports Spring Football game at Ohio Stadium, Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for approximately 1:30 p.m. ET, and it will be televised WBNS-10TV in Columbus, and by a live web stream at www.10tv.com.

The game will consist of four, 12-minute quarters, just like in high school, and the quarterbacks will wear the black, no-contact jerseys for the first period. But during the final three quarters, those black jerseys will come off and the QBs will be live, being able to run and get sacked just like in a normal game.

On Wednesday afternoon, preparations were underway as head coach Jim Tressel and his staff along with the team had their spring game draft in the team meeting room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

At quarterback for the Scarlet team will be sophomore Joe Bauserman, and his main targets throwing the ball will be sophomores DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas, along with junior Dane Sanzenbacher. In the backfield will be sophomore running back Boom Herron.

The offensive line for the Scarlet team will consist of: fifth-year senior Jim Cordle, juniors Bryant Browning and Connor Smith, sophomores Mike Adams and J.B Shugarts, plus junior Andrew Miller, sophomore Evan Blankenship, and junior Zach Slagle.

Defensively, the Scarlet will have: cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa and Andre Amos, linebackers Austin Spitler, Tyler Moeller and Andrew Sweat, and linemen Dexter Larimore, Doug Worthington, Lawrence Willson, and Thaddeus Gibson.

The Gray team will have sophomore Terrelle Pryor calling the signals and junior Brandon Saine getting the bulk of the carries at running back. Pryor will have the services of wide receivers Ray Small, a senior, and junior Taurian Washington, plus tight ends Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner.

The Gray’s O-line will have: fifth-year senior Andrew Moses, juniors Justin Boren, Chris Malone, Scott Sika, and Josh Kerr, sophomore Mike Brewster, and freshman Jack Mewhort.

The Gray team will have on defense: cornerbacks Devon Torrence and Travis Howard, safeties Kurt Coleman and Jermale Hines, linebackers Etienne Sabino, Brian Rolle and Ross Homan, along with defensive linemen Todd Denlinger, Keith Wells, Nathan Williams, Cameron Heyward, and Solomon Thomas.

With temperatures expected to exceed 80 degrees on Saturday, the Ohio State Department of Athletics and the University’s Office of Student Life, have invited OSU students to transform Ohio Stadium’s south stands into a beach-day atmosphere.

On Saturday, the students will have the south stands to bask in the sunshine and can enjoy all the festivities on and off the field for free. To gain free admission to Ohio Stadium, students with valid Buck IDs can enter south stands through Gate 32.

Saturday festivities will include beach-themed music, games and prizes, while all students are asked to wear beach attire like Hawai’ian shirts, board shorts, sandals, etc.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: The tarp that covers the infield at Bill Davis Stadium was never rolled up and Tuesday’s game was canceled. (File Photo)

After sweeping the Purdue Boilermakers in a three-game series this past weekend, the Ohio State Buckeyes currently sit in first place in the Big Ten, one-half game ahead of Indiana with a record of 9-3.

Overall, the Buckeyes are 29-8, but were unable to get win No. 30, Tuesday night, after their game against Bowling Green was rained out. No make-up date has been announced as of press time.

Ohio State last played on Saturday, winning both games of a doubleheader vs. Purdue. In the matinee, the Buckeyes won 7-4, and took the nightcap, 11-10.

In the first game, OSU scored four runs in the visitor’s half of the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead and never looked back after third baseman Cory Rupert hit a one-out single and left fielder Zach Hurley followed with double down the right field line moving Rupert to third. With runners at second and third, second baseman Cory Kovanda’s base knock scored Rupert, and center fielder Michael Stephens’ RBI single plated Hurley. After catcher Dan Burkhart reached on an error, Kovanda scored, and Stephens came around on Ryan Dew’s RBI single.

Ohio State starting pitcher Eric Best lasted 4.1 innings and surrendered three runs on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Drew Rucinski came on in relief of Best with one out in the fifth and earned the win by allowing just one run on three hits with a pair of K’s and three base on balls. Jake Hale recorded his ninth save of the season by pitching 1.2 innings without allowing a baserunner while fanning three.

In the second game of the twin bill, Stephens went 2-for-5 at the plate with two triples and four RBIs, while Burkhart was 2-for-4 at the dish and added four more ribeyes as the Buckeyes held on to win 11-10.

Purdue scored three times in the home half of the eighth and had the tying run at third base with two out, but Hale struck out Eric Nielsen to end the inning.

In the ninth, Hale retired the first two batters in order before issuing a base on balls and allowing a double down the right field line that once again put the tying run 90 feet away. But Hale was able to induce a ground ball with two outs to pick up his Big Ten-leading 10 save.

Up next, Ohio State will host Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium, Wednesday night. First pitch at Bill Davis Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

Tags: Baseball by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: QB Terrelle Pryor didn’t like having to wear the black, no-contact jersey. (AP Photo)

Using the modified Stableford scoring system, the Ohio State defense defeated the Buckeye offense, 56-55, in the semi-annual jersey scrimmage at Ohio Stadium, Saturday afternoon.

One thing we learned is that sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor does not like to wear the black, no-contact jersey, which he was eventually able to shed later on during the game, switching to a scarlet practice jersey. While wearing the black jersey, Pryor was forced to stay in the pocket, unable to run from the pressure. It also meant that sacks were a dime a dozen as players just had to get a hand on the quarterback.

Redshirt freshman defensive end Solomom Thomas recorded seven sacks, and as a unit the defense tallied 12 sacks the entire game while intercepting two passes.

Offensively, junior Brandon Saine gained roughly 85 yards on 17 carries and sophomore Boom Herron had about 45 yards on 11 tries. Pryor was 9-of-14 passing for 86 yards and an interception, while his backup, sophomore Joe Bauserman, went 11-of-23 passing for 117 yards with a TD pass and a pick.

Spring practice concludes with the annual Scarlet & Gray game, which will take place at Ohio Stadium on April 25, right after the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame men’s lacrosse game, which begins at 11:00 a.m. ET.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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