 Chris Wells and the Buckeyes had a little trouble shaking loose from Akron on Saturday.
Ohio State Smothers Akron, 20-2
September 8, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked 11th by USA Today and 12th by the Associated Press, used a smothering defensive performance and two second-half touchdowns to defeat Akron, 20-2, Saturday at Ohio Stadium..."
Box Score
September 8, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Scoring Summary, Team Statistics, Individual Statistics, Drive Chart, Defensive Statistics, Play-by-Play"
 | Transcript From Ohio State Postgame Press Conference
September 8, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "It was hot out there. Well, our defense dictated the tempo of the entire football game. Akron did a nice job of a couple special teams plays early dropping us down in, back on our own two and earned a safety and then next time dropped us in there and..." |
"If we play like the way we played today against some of the teams we play, we're going to lose...I didn't come back to lose. I want to win them all."
Fifth-year senior tackle Kirk Barton |
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
What the Buckeyes had to say
What the Zips had to say
September 8, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch
Postgame Notes
Postgame Notes Quotes
Source: OSU Official Site
September 8, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and several OSU players break down the Buckeyes' victory for the media..."
September 8, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Player & Coach Tressel Comments for the media"
 | Akron Recap: Players' Comments
September 8, 2007 Source: CoachTressel.com - "Laurinaitis, Mo Wells and others share their thoughts on the Akron game during post-game interviews..." |
 | The Bottom Line
September 9, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Punt, punt, punt -- say it with me now, brothers and sisters. Punt, punt, punt, punt -- can you feel the energy? Punt, punt, punt -- sing it loud, sing it proud. Punt, punt, punt, punt -- can you count to 14? Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis..."
Report card
September 9, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "A: The Ohio State defense..." |
Football: Buckeye Notebook
September 9, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State recorded one of its finest defensive performances in team history Saturday vs. Akron..."
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
September 9, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "The-Ozone Note and Quotebook with comments from OSU coaches and players following the Akron game..."
Barton, Boeckman critical of mistake-filled offense
September 9, 2007 Source: Toledo Blade - "In the moments following Ohio State's 20-2 win over Akron yesterday, Kirk Barton, the Buckeyes' captain and senior offensive tackle, looked more disgusted and frustrated than anything else...'Nobody's really satisfied,' Barton said about the performance in front of 104,317 at Ohio Stadium 'We didn't take care of the ball the way our offense strives to, and we just can't have that. We put our defense in bad situations with five turnovers. We can't leave our defense hanging out to dry. They just bailed us out time after time.'..."
Buckeye Defense Comes to the Rescue vs. Akron
September 9, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "The OSU offense was inept for a half and snakebit for two halves, but a tremendous effort by the Buckeye defense more-than made up for five OSU turnovers against Akron. Check out the-Ozone game recap..."
 | Captain's Corner: Akron Gets Zip On Buckeye D
September 9, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "The Akron offense lived up to their team's nickname by getting Zip on the OSU defense. But would the offense's performance have been good enough to beat Washington? 1998 OSU captain Jerry Rudzinski answers that question and more in this version of the Captain's Corner..." |
OSU defensive line gets more assertive
September 9, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Anybody watching, from the top of C deck in Ohio Stadium to just yards away, could tell there was something different yesterday about the attitude of Ohio State's defensive linemen. 'They just let loose,' middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said..."
The Offense Owes The Defense Some Beers
September 8, 2007 Source: Eleven Warriors - "The OSU offense was inept for a half and snakebit for two halves, but a tremendous effort by the Buckeye defense more-than made up for five OSU turnovers against Akron. Check out the-Ozone game recap..."
Buckeyes defense stymies Akron Zips
September 9, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "The Buckeyes started six sophomores, four juniors and only one senior on defense. Several freshmen, including defensive end Cameron Heyward, saw significant minutes. Heyward and Glenville's Robert Rose, a sophomore, are filling in for starter Lawrence Wilson, the VASJ grad who broke his leg against Youngstown State..."
 | Buckeyes Pull Away, Down Akron 20-2
September 9, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Ohio State overcame five turnovers and enjoyed a command performance by its defense in pulling out a 20-2 win over visiting Akron Saturday at Ohio Stadium. QB Todd Boeckman shrugged off two interceptions to throw for 131 yards and two TDs. Beanie Wells added 143 yards on 20 carries. Click for more..." |
Tressel likes how 'Beanie' finished game
September 9, 2007 Source: Mansfield News Journal - "Beanie Wells called it "deferred gratification." That's the way Ohio State's sophomore tailback explained his fortune-turning performance in Saturday's 20-2 win over Akron...'Me and 'Doc' Tressel (running backs coach Dick Tressel) talked (today),' Wells said. 'He told me you have to think of deferred gratification. You can't dwell on one play. You have to play the full 60 minutes.'..."
A work in progress Buckeyes beat Zips, but offense not so impressive in second victory
September 9, 2007 Source: The Morning Journal - "It might be early, but two games into the season, Ohio State looks exactly as expected. The offense is throwing mud from its wheels while the defensive players have done all the heavy lifting to keep the team afloat. Ohio State may have handled Akron yesterday, 20-2, but no one on the offense left the field feeling very good about where things stand after chewing on two inferior in-state opponents..."
Ohio State Buckeyes struggle early, then pull away from Akron Zips
September 9, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "It's hard to do worse in victory than five turnovers -- two Todd Boeckman interceptions and fumbles by Brian Hartline, Devon Torrence and Rob Schoenhoft. In their past nine games, the Buckeyes have won the turnover battle just twice, and they are 8-1 anyway. But that luck will soon be tested. 'Washington, they are men,' Barton said. 'Their whole team is filled with men, so we have to be ready to roll. We need to be getting better every day, and it seems like we're either flatlining or getting worse.'..."
Buckeyes break open pitchers' duel
September 8, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "3-2 halftime lead turns into 18-point victory ..."
How Ohio State's opponents fared
| DATE | OPPONENT | SITE | W-L | THIS WEEK'S RESULT |
| Sept. 1 | Youngstown State | home | 1-1 | beat S. Dakota St. 23-17 |
| Sept. 8 | Akron | home | 1-1 | lost at Ohio State 20-2 |
| Sept. 15 | Washington | away | 2-0 | beat Boise State 24-10 |
| Sept. 22 | Northwestern | home | 2-0 | beat Nevada 36-31 |
| Sept. 29 | Minnesota | away | 1-1 | beat Miami U. 41-35 (2 OT) |
| Oct. 6 | Purdue | away | 2-0 | beat Eastern Illinois 52-6 |
| Oct. 13 | Kent State | home | 1-1 | lost at Kentucky 56-20 |
| Oct. 20 | Michigan State | home | 2-0 | beat Bowling Green 28-17 |
| Oct. 27 | Penn State | away | 2-0 | beat Notre Dame 31-10 |
| Nov. 3 | Wisconsin | home | 2-0 | beat UNLV, 20-13 |
| Nov. 10 | Illinois | home | 1-1 | beat Western Illinois 21-0 |
| Nov. 17 | Michigan | away | 0-2 | lost to Oregon 39-7 |
 | Up next: Washington Huskies
After a 24-10 win over No. 22 Boise State, the 2-0 Washington Huskies have a good chance to be ranked in the Top 25 when Ohio State visits Seattle on Saturday.
Boise State actually outgained Washington, but the Huskies forced four turnovers while committing only two. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Locker had another solid game for the Huskies, running for 83 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and throwing for 193 yards and another touchdown. He's big, athletic, mobile and he will offer the kind of quarterback challenge that the stingy Buckeyes defense doesn't see much in the Big Ten.
Saturday was Washington's first home win over a ranked team since beating Washington State in 2003. They'd lost to 11 consecutive ranked opponents at home since then. A win over the Buckeyes would be the kind of signature victory coach Tyrone Willingham could use in his third year with the Huskies after going 7-16 in his first two seasons. |
Ohio State Welcomes Akron to Ohio Stadium
September 5, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State (1-0) hosts Akron (1-0) at Ohio Stadium (102,329) in a noon game Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. The Buckeyes are coming off a 38-6 win at home over Youngstown State last Saturday, while the Zips defeated Army, 22-14, at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Press Release
| Series Information - Ohio State vs. Akron |
| | Ohio State leads 5-1 | |
| Date | Location | Result |
| 12/5/1891 | at Akron | OSU, 6-0 |
| 10/22/1892 | at Akron | OSU, 62-0 |
| 11/11/1893 | at Ohio State | OSU, 32-18 |
| 9/15/1894 | at Ohio State | Akron, 12-6 |
| 10/5/1895 | at Ohio State | OSU, 14-6 |
| 9/8/2001 | at Ohio State | OSU, 28-14 |
| Best Home Winning Percentage - Last Five Years ('03-'07) |
| Rank | School W-L | Winning % |
| 1. USC | 25-0 | 1.000 |
| 2. Ohio State | 28-1 | .966 |
| 3. Boise State | 24-1 | .960 |
| 4. Louisville | 23-1 | .958 |
| 5. LSU | 26-2 | .929 |
| 6. Oklahoma | 25-2 | .926 |
| 7. Texas | 23-3 | .885 |
| 8. Virginia Tech | 25-4 | .862 |
| 9. Michigan | 24-4 | .857 |
| 10. Wisconsin | 23-4 | .852 |
|
|
| Tale of the Tape |
| OSU | Offense | Akron |
| 38.0 | Pts/gm | 22.0 |
| 417.0 | Total yds/gm | 287.0 |
| 147.0 | Rush yds/gm | 133.0 |
| 41.0 | Carries/gm | 35.0 |
| 3.6 | Yds/carry | 3.8 |
| 270.0 | Pass yds/gm | 154.0 |
| 31.0 | Pass att/gm | 29.0 |
| 12.9 | Yds/completion | 9.1 |
| OSU | Defense | Akron |
| 6.0 | Pts/gm | 14.0 |
| 176.0 | Total yds/gm | 242.0 |
| 147.0 | Rush yds/gm | 58.0 |
| 34.0 | Carries/gm | 29.0 |
| 2.5 | Yds/carry | 2.0 |
| 91.0 | Pass yds/gm | 184.0 |
| 19.0 | Pass att/gm | 44.0 |
| 8.3 | Yds/completion | 8.0 | |
OHIO STATE DEPTH CHART as of September 4
OFFENSE
LT 75 ALEX BOONE** 6-8 313 JR.
73 Josh Kerr 6-5 276 R-Fr.
LG 71 STEVE REHRING** 6-8 345 JR.
70 BRYANT BROWNING 6-4 311 R-FR.
78 Dan Dye 6-3 277 5th/Sr.
C 64 JIM CORDLE 6-4 302 SO.
66 Andrew Moses 6-3 272 So.
RG 63 BEN PERSON** 6-4 321 JR.
77 Connor Smith 6-5 317 Rf-Fr.
RT 74 KIRK BARTON*** 6-6 300 5TH/SR.
70 Bryant Browning 6-4 311 R-Fr.
TE 88 RORY NICOL** 6-5 250 JR.
86 JAKE BALLARD* 6-7 255 SO.
87 Brandon Smith** 6-3 240 Jr.
FL 80 BRIAN ROBISKIE** 6-3 196 JR.
19 Taurian Washington 6-2 180 Fr.
QB 17 TODD BOECKMAN 6-5 243 JR.
11 Robby Schoenhoft 6-6 244 So.
TB 28 CHRIS WELLS* 6-1 235 SO.
34 MAURICE WELLS** 5-10 195 JR.
3 Brandon Saine 6-1 220 Fr.
FB 49 DIONTE JOHNSON*** 6-0 242 SR.
16 TREVER ROBINSON*** 6-0 225 5TH/SR.
42 Tyler Whaley 6-1 265 5th/Sr.
SL 9 BRIAN HARTLINE* 6-3 180 SO.
12 Dane Sanzenbacher 5-11 178 Fr. | | DEFENSE
DE 9 ROB ROSE* 6-5 294 So.
97 Cameron Heyward 6-6 282 Fr.
DT 84 DOUG WORTHINGTON 6-7 271 SO.
93 Nader Abdallah 6-5 297 Jr.
DT 92 TODD DENLINGER* 6-3 286 SO.
72 DEXTER LARIMORE 6-3 304 R-FR.
69 Bryan Gray 6-1 286 So.
DE 50 VERNON GHOLSTON* 6-4 264 JR.
78 Alex Barrow* 6-5 275 Jr.
9 Rob Rose* 6-5 294 R-Fr.
WLB 1 MARCUS FREEMAN** 6-2 236 JR.
51 Ross Homan* 6-1 230 So.
MLB 33 JAMES LAURINAITIS** 6-3 240 JR.
38 Austin Spitler* 6-3 234 So.
SLB 6 LARRY GRANT* 6-3 226 SR.
26 Tyler Moeller 6-1 203 R-Fr.
37 Thaddeus Gibson 6-3 228 R-Fr.
BC 2 MALCOLM JENKINS** 6-1 208 JR.
32 Eugene Clifford 6-2 191 Fr.
FC 20 DONALD WASHINGTON* 6-1 188 SO.
5 Chimdi Chekwa 6-1 185 R-Fr.
SS 4 KURT COLEMAN* 5-11 187 SO.
3 Jamario O’Neal** 6-1 199 Jr.
FS 21 ANDERSON RUSSELL* 6-0 205 SO.
8 Aaron Gant* 6-0 201 So |
| Specialists | PK 85 RYAN PRETORIUS* 5-9 175 JR.
20 Aaron Pettrey* 6-1 193 Jr.
KO 20 AARON PETTREY* 6-1 193 JR.
85 RYAN PRETORIUS* 5-9 175 JR.
H 48 JON THOMA 6-1 199 SO.
LS 56 DIMITRIOS MAKRIDIS 6-1 208 5TH/SR.
SS 96 JAKE MCQUAIDE 6-3 211 R-FR. | | P 15 A.J. TRAPASSO** 6-1 224 JR.
48 Jon Thoma 6-1 199 So.
PR 80 BRIAN ROBISKIE** 6-3 196 JR.
9 Brian Hartline* 6-3 180 So.
KR 34 MAURICE WELLS** 5-10 195 JR.
21 Anderson Russell* 6-0 205 So. |
| Jim Tressel said on his radio show that there was a "slim chance, if any" that defensive end Lawrence Wilson would be back this year. |
 | Jim Tressel On Rivals Radio
September 6, 2007 Source: Rivals.com - Tressel reflects on the YSU game and talks about the state of the team and upcoming game against Akron |
| Akron Week Interviews
September 7, 2007 Source: CoachTressel.com - "Coach Tressel and the players discuss their upcoming opponent, The Akron Zips..." |
Akron: The Essentials
September 5, 2007 Source: OhioStateScout.com - "The things you need to know about Akron going into this Saturday's game. Players to watch, themes to know -- its the essential guide to Akron, the most important notes about the Zips before the meeting in the Horseshoe..."
OSU vs. Akron Preview
September 6, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "
Tony Gerdeman's preview of the upcoming game with Akron..."
 | Buckeyes eager to improve line play
September 7, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Fans should find out Saturday against Akron how much the weekly Jim Parker award means to Ohio State linemen. In fact, it should be worth double. The award is supposed to go to the top lineman of each game, but offensive coordinator Jim Bollman did not award it after a 38-6 win over Youngstown State in the season opener. Eight times the Buckeyes ran the ball inside the Penguins 5-yard line and five times they were stymied or lost yardage..." |
Bad sign for Bucks?
Ohio State is a heavy favorite Saturday, but that might not mean much to the Big Ten Network announcers working the game, Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis. In each of the past three games the duo has worked, the underdog has pulled off a dramatic upset: Boise State over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, Florida over Ohio State in the national championship game, and last week's victory by Appalachian State. |
Akron Could Be Dangerous OSU Opponent
September 6, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "OSU welcomes in Akron this Saturday (noon, Big Ten Network) for a nonconference game at Ohio Stadium. The Zips pulled off a big upset at N.C. State last year. We look at the 2007 Akron squad as well as coach J.D. Brookhart. Plus, we have a ton of notables on this match-up..."
Game Data: Akron at Ohio State
September 5, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "We take a look at the pertinent data, depth charts and a prediction for Saturday's OSU-Akron game..."
 | Michigan upset, poor offensive line play among reasons Tressel is wary of Akron
September 5, 2007 Source: Canton Repository - "Six years ago, when Jim Tressel led Ohio State onto the field for the first time, the new coach was nervous. He just hoped his team would line up correctly. They didn’t. And that was against Akron, which happens to be Saturday’s opponent for the 12th-ranked Buckeyes..."
|
Crunching The Numbers: Ohio State-Akron
September 5, 2007 Source: OhioStateScout.com - "Each week we highlight some of the facts and figures surrounding the Buckeyes. For the Akron game, we take a look at Zips returning home, a dearth of interceptions and a near milestone for the old stadium by the Olentangy..."
Football: Assistant Coaches Meet with Media
September 5, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell, co-defensive coordinators, and Dick Tressel, running backs coach, visited with members of the media Wednesday after practice..."
 | Jim Tressel Note and Quotebook
September 7, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel met with reporters yesterday and discussed the current injury situation, the depth situation at wide receiver, and even took a little walk down memory lane to his days as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron..." |
Akron well-aware of what awaits
September 5, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "No one had to coax Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart to comment about Ohio State yesterday during his weekly luncheon. The Buckeyes impress him right down to little details..."
| Akron Looks Ahead to Ohio State
September 5, 2007 Source: The Palestra - "Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart is looking forward to playing Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus, but knows that MAC conference play is what makes or breaks their season..." |
The Bigger They Are
September 5, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "Akron wide receiver Jabari Arthur used his 6-4 frame to go over Army defenders for a career-high 11 catches last weekend in Akron's season-opening 22-14 win. At 6-1, OSU corner Donald Washington will have a definite height disadvantage if he finds himself matched up against Arthur, but Washington says he has an experience in his athletic background that may help him cope with the bigger Arthur. Check out the complete story..."
Zips' defense stars in win against Army September 4, 2007 Source: Akron Beacon Journal
Zips special teams may trouble OSU
September 5, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "If the Akron Zips (1-0) are going to have a special afternoon this week at Ohio State (1-0), it may be because of special teams. One thing the end of last season and the opening week of this season have proven is the Big Ten is vulnerable to speed. The Zips have some speed to offer and showed it in the return game against Army. Bryan Williams flashed his giddyup with a 70-yard kickoff return, and punt returner Andre Jones popped a 63-yarder in Akron's 22-14 win..."
Akron Zips Official Site
 Columbus Weather Forecast
Contact nothing new to OSU's Hartline
September 7, 2007 Source: Dayton Daily News - " Brian Hartline knows wide receivers are easy prey for defensive backs while crossing the middle of the field, but he's always been willing to risk life and limb just to make a catch. Or deliver a block. Hartline gleefully sacrificed his body on a pass play against Iowa last year, taking out two defenders while Anthony Gonzalez scored. 'I do like bringing back the physical side of (playing receiver),' Hartline said..."
 | Bucknuts TV: Donald Washington
September 7, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "One of the exciting young stars of the Ohio State defense is sophomore cornerback Donald Washington. He has made the transition from being a situational player as the nickel back a year ago to becoming a starter alongside Malcolm Jenkins this year. In this interview, he talks about new OSU assistant Taver Johnson, the defensive scheme and more...." |
OSU fans shouldn't be smug
September 7, 2007 Source: Akron Beacon Journal - "Just three words: Curb your enthusiasm. No, not for your team. Scream, exhort, cheer, allow dogs and cats that you own to live together, but get a grip otherwise. What am I talking about? Simple..."
Tressel was rooting for Wolverines
September 4, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "...'I’m never glad when a conference opponent loses outside of your game with them,' Tressel said on Tuesday. 'You’re always rooting for your brethren in the Big Ten.'..."
Babb Bits: It's All About The Coaching
September 5, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "The Michigan Wolverines have a reputation for being shaky in the special teams department. It reared its head once more in their loss to Appalachian State. But just how bad is it? Charles Babb did some digging, and the answer he found might surprise you..."
Babb Bits: It's All About Coaching (Pt. II)
September 7, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Earlier this week, Bucknuts contributor Charles Babb discussed the trend of poor special teams play in recent Michigan losses. But special teams is only part of the problem. Today, Babb looks back at Michigan's failures on defense..."
 | Young defense slow in learning curve
September 6, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State broke in a new set of skill players on offense last Saturday, but the 38-6 win over Youngstown State also showed the Buckeye coaches how young their supposedly more experienced defense is. 'It's amazing, some mistakes that you see, you're dumbfounded,' Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said Wednesday. 'You think everybody should know that, but they're just kids.'..."
Defense Ready To Come Up Big
September 5, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "There was much to like and little to criticize after the Buckeyes held YSU to 176 total yards Saturday, but the Buckeye defenders still want to make improvements vs. Akron the next time out. They'll try to do so without end Lawrence Wilson but with designs on a couple takeaways..."
Injury is blow to OSU defense
September 5, 2007 Source: Akron Beacon Journal - "Players and coaches for the Ohio State Buckeyes held high hopes for defensive end Lawrence Wilson this season. Fate had something else in mind for the junior from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School..." |
| The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
September 6, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "C-ish, Keeping it Simple, Upbeat Week, No Panic Yet, Filling in for Lawrence, Don't Forget Mo, Saine a Great Catch; and Dex Dominates; they're all covered in the-Ozone Note and Quotebook..." |
 | OSU place-kicker drop-kicks rugby
September 7, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ryan Pretorius abandons a pro career in Europe for American football ..."
Ryan Pretorius is a decade older than some of his teammates - and he’s loving it
September 6, 2007 Source: Canton Repository - "...Pretorius isn’t your normal college player. His age often is the butt of jokes, occasionally from Head Coach Jim Tressel. When Tressel and Pretorius are about to walk through a door, the head coach stops and opens it for his kicker. 'Age before beauty, Ryan,' Tressel cracks..." |
OSU finds freshman as good as advertised
September 6, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "One man -- and maybe one man only -- watched Dane Sanzenbacher catch a 3-yard scoring pass for Ohio State on Saturday without a raised eyebrow. Other fans probably wished they had placed a large bet a few months ago on the odds of Sanzenbacher scoring Ohio State's first touchdown of the season. They would have made a killing. Sanza-who? But that wasn't Greg Dempsey's reaction..."
 | OSU notebook: Coach crazy about Saine's talent
September 6, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Every time freshman Brandon Saine is mentioned, the eyes of Ohio State running backs coach Dick Tressel light up. It was no exception yesterday after practice..."
OSU notebook: Small set to return this week
September 5, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Receiver Ray Small practiced extensively yesterday and should return this week from a high ankle sprain that kept him out of the opener...Boeckman entrenched...Wilson's replacements...Hines up in air...Undeserving line..."
Small's impact could be big
September 5, 2007 Source: Dayton Daily News
Ohio State shouldn't want Carr up on blocks
September 5, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "There is enough venom on SackCarr.com this week to raise the depth of Lake Huron...It might be difficult for some Ohio State fans to grasp the concept, especially those who think Michigan is the big dog in the axis of evil, so let me spell it out for them the way all those juicy headlines over the weekend didn't: Appalachian State is not your friend..." |
Speed cited in Big House demise
September 5, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Quick QB was too much for Wolverines, Big Ten coaches say..."
 | Boeckman turns film critic after his first career start
September 5, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "Todd Boeckman started his first game at quarterback at Ohio State, celebrated the win with his family and friends, and then headed for a film festival. There was no DeNiro or Streep on the screen. This was sure not a romantic comedy, and it definitely wasn't all that suspenseful. Boeckman spent a long time poring over the video from Saturday's 38-6 victory over Youngstown State. He played, rewound, replayed and rewound each snap to learn more about what went right and to dissect what went wrong. 'I wanted to critique myself to see how I did,' he said during preparations for the 12th-ranked Buckeyes' game against Akron on Saturday..."
Tressel: QB Boeckman 'solid' but can make better choices
September 6, 2007 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Despite his glossy numbers, Boeckman fell short of being awarded a "winning" grade. OSU coaches are notoriously tough on their quarterbacks, and the St. Henry product wasn't surprised at getting such a harsh critique..."
Boeckman up to the task in Buckeyes' romp
September 3, 2007 Source: Cincinnati Enquirer - "Granted, the opponent was "only" Division I-AA Youngstown State, but new Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman had the Buckeye faithful asking "Troy Who?" three plays into it. Besides, ask Michigan about "only" playing a I-AA foe in the season opener. Michigan was shocked 34-32 by Appalachian State. Boeckman threw with touch and zip, and he threaded more needles than Singer..." |
Buckeyes' issues are all lined up
September 5, 2007 Source: The Morning Journal - "Despite the uncertainty surrounding the defensive line and changes on the offensive line, one position of strength entering the season seemed to be the left side of the offensive line. Whenever Ohio State needed to convert a short third down last year, the solution was to run left behind behemoths Steve Rehring and Alex Boone. Faced with a similar scenario on Saturday, Todd Boeckman was forced to fling a short touchdown pass on third down to Dane Sanzenbacher on the opening drive, because Ohio State failed to run in a touchdown despite Beanie Wells getting four cracks from inside the 6-yard line, mostly running left. Inside the 3, it was even worse: three carries that resulted in minus-1 yard..."
 | Anderson Russell knocks off rust
September 5, 2007 Source: Coshocton Tribune - "When Ohio State defensive end Lawrence Wilson crumpled to the ground with a broken right leg Saturday, free safety Anderson Russell felt sympathy pains. In his right knee. The season-opening 38-6 win over Youngstown State marked the first time Russell has played since blowing out his knee last season in the middle of OSU's run to a Big Ten title and berth in the national championship game..." |
UM defeat wakes up Ohio State
September 5, 2007 Source: Toledo Blade - "With a mid-major opponent like Akron next up for his Buckeyes, Tressel said the value of Michigan's shocking home loss was that it provided a lot of coaches with the opportunity to cite a prominent example of what can happen to any team..."
Michigan loss reflects badly on Ohio State
September 5, 2007 Source: Bucyrus Telegraph Forum - "Already the fallout from Michigan's loss has hit Columbus. The Buckeyes, who looked less than overwhelming in their opener against another supposed 1-AA patsy, were penalized by voters in both the AP and coaches’ rankings, dropping one spot in each poll despite beating Youngstown State by 32 points..."
 | Transcript From Coach Tressel Weekly Press Conference
September 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Hello, on this beautiful Tuesday, hope you had a great day laboring like the Buckeyes were. We had a great workout yesterday, a nice hot one again. Looks like this week will be another challenging week from a weather standpoint and as we work to get... ..."
Ohio State Football Player Quotes, Sept. 4
September 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "After Jim Tressel's weekly press luncheon, Buckeyes Donald Washington, Brian Robiskie and Ryan Pretorius met with the media to talk about their 38-6 win over Youngstown State last Saturday and the upcoming game with Akron..."
Tuesday Post-Practice Interviews
September 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Todd Boeckman, Vernon Gholston, Brian Hartline and Anderson Russell answered questions from members of the media Tuesday after practice at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center media suites..." |
Buckeye Notebook - Game 1 vs. Youngstown State
September 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site
Tressel Gives Updates On Small, Hines, Wilson, At Press Luncheon
September 4, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Here is a wrap-up of Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel's Tuesday press conferences. At the press luncheon, Tressel gave updates on several players, including Jermale Hines and the injured Lawrence Wilson. We also have Tressel's comments from the weekly Big Ten teleconference..."
FAST FACT: Coach Tressel has a 4-2 bowl record and a 5-1 record against Michigan. No coach in OSU history can match his 9-3 start in those two areas. (Source: CoachTressel.com)
Ground game prompts concern
September 4, 2007 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells shouldered the blame for a rushing attack that was anything but awe-inspiring in the opener against Youngstown State. But his offensive linemen insisted they were the ones who deserved to take the rap..."
Ohio State’s coaches usually select an offensive lineman of the week, but coach Jim Bollman didn’t put anyone up for the honor because he didn’t think anyone played well enough up front. "I just don’t think we were as far along as coach Bollman wants us and I’m OK with that," Jim Tressel said in seconding the decision to ignore the weekly award. Chris 'Beanie' Wells was largely ineffective in the 38-6 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday, losing yardage on most of his carries near the goal line. On five of the eight times the Buckeyes ran the ball inside the 5, they had no gain or minus yards. (Source: Coshocton Tribune)
Audio Slide Show
September 4, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Sights and sounds from the Buckeyes' opener"
 | Send An E-mail To Lawrence Wilson
September 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Lawrence had successful surgery over the weekend and OhioStateBuckeyes.com would like to give fans an opportunity to send Lawrence an e-mail wishing all the very best during his recovery and rehabilitation. Please submit any words of encouragement that you have for Lawrence to: webmaster@buckeyes.ath.ohio-state.edu. We will make sure to forward these along to Lawrence just to let him know that the Buckeye Nation is thinking about him and wishing him a full and speedy recovery." |
 | Immediate impact
September 4, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The freshman members of the Ohio State football team had a simple goal heading into the season opener. 'We just wanted to go out there and play, and try to contribute to the team,' running back Brandon Saine said. Too bad they couldn't count their contributions as tax write-offs; consider these:..." |
Wilson's injury might end up overshadowing all else from opener
September 4, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Dispatch beat reporters Ken Gordon and Tim May break down the opener and some of the issues that emerged:..."
 | Stewart Mandel's Power Rankings
September 4, 2007 Source: SI.com - "This has to be the first time in Power Rankings history that I've penalized a team for a loss by its rival..." (He ranked the Buckeyes 14th, dropping them from 11th) |
 | Boeckman enjoys feasting on Penguin
September 3, 2007 Source: CentralOhio.com - "Boeckman's 227-yard, two-touchdown performance Saturday went down a lot easier than his refusal to join Barton's double cheeseburger club, a society of high-cholesterol connoisseurs that traditionally meets for a "snack" in the team hotel the night before games. 'He turned it down ... like an idiot,' Barton said..." |
Moving On Without Wilson
September 2, 2007 Source: Scout Ohio State - "Lawrence Wilson was primed for a breakout season in 2007, but that will have to wait now. The junior from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary already had a sack in the first half before going down with a broken leg during the second quarter of the season opener. It will be up to a young group of ends to make up for the loss of Wilson..."
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 | Junior LB Whiting Commits To Ohio State
September 1, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Linebacker Jordan Whiting of Louisville (Ky.) Trinity said in August he was going to commit to OSU as soon as he received his OSU scholarship offer. Whiting received that offer today, and he made good on his word as he has committed to Ohio State..."
Trinity linebacker commits to Ohio State
September 2, 2007 Source: Louisville Courier Journal - "Jordan Whiting is only a junior on the Trinity High School football team. But the standout linebacker has already decided to end his recruitment. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Whiting committed to his longtime favorite school - Ohio State University - yesterday..." |
Appalachian State's welcome home
party included fans wearing
"Michigan Who" T-shirts.
 | Hundreds of Mountaineers fans celebrate upset win
September 1, 2007 Source: ESPN.com - "Shortly after Appalachian State pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in modern college football history by winning at Michigan on Saturday, the goalpost came crashing down. More than 600 miles away. In Appalachian State's own stadium..."
Michigan Monday
September 3, 2007 Source: The Ozone - "It was perhaps the greatest upset in the history of college football. Rivaling some of the biggest upsets in the history of sports, like the 1980 USA Hockey Team beating the USSR, or Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson. Tony Gerdeman analyzes the loss by The Team up North in Michigan Monday..."
OSU players shaking heads over UM loss
September 2, 2007 Source: Mansfield News Journal - "No cheering is allowed in the Ohio Stadium press box, but there was plenty of whooping and hollering in Saturday's post-game interview room as some media types watched the final seconds expire in Michigan's stunning 34-32 loss at home to defending Division I-AA champion Appalachian State. In the afterglow of a 38-6 win over 1-AA Youngstown State, some of Ohio State's players stopped in mid-sentence to soak in the news..."
Michigan is the laughing stock of the sports world
September 2, 2007 Source: SportingNews.com - "The students were so depressed, angry and utterly speechless that when the band played the fight song (The Victors) for the last time, everyone booed...."
UM's bluest day; Appalachian State stuns Wolverines
September 2, 2007 Source: Toldeo Blade
How Could Michigan Lose?
September 2, 2007 Source: CollegeFootballNews.com - "And you thought Boise State beating Oklahoma was big. How could this possibly happen? This is Michigan, Michigan, vs. Appalachian State. You and some friends should be able to throw on the Michigan helmet, jump up and touch the Go Blue sign, and by intimidation alone, beat Appalachian State...How big was this? It was the first time an FCS program, formerly called D-IAA teams, beat an AP ranked top 25 program. Of course, Michigan isn’t just any sort of top 25 program; this is Michigan. The alleged Leaders and the Best. The team that was supposed to be in the thick of the national title chase..." |
 | From the everyone has the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege department this quote from the Wolverines' Shawn Crable: "We are still in the race for the championship," Crable said. "If we come out and play well against Oregon and get a win, I think we will be right back in there." |
 | Mr. Bucknuts' Bucket Of Bullets
September 2, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Mr. Bucknuts celebrated the first game with 105,000 of his new acquaintances. He files the following report with some odd observations, some swipes at Michigan and Notre Dame and some facts you can use to win bar bets. All that and more in this week’s rendition of the Bucket of Bullets..." |
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