 | Coverage of the search to replace LLLLLLoyd Carr |
No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 LSU will meet for the BCS title on Jan. 7 | Jim Tressel, on Ohio State playing LSU in New Orleans: "That's a challenge, no question about that, but it's a challenge I think our guys really want. LSU was No. 2 on my ballot and I think they're a heck of a football team." |
BCS got it right this time
December 4, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "College football playoff supporters need to find a new cause. The BCS worked this time. Deal with it. At the end of the looniest autumn in memory, the computers whirred and wheezed and spit out an entirely reasonable pairing for the Bowl Championship Series title game: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 LSU. As BCS controversies go, there was barely any smoke, let alone fire..."
Tuesday Question - Did The BCS Get It Right?
December 4, 2007 Source: CollegeFootballNews.com - "At the end of the day, did the BCS get it right? Four CFNers (Pete Fiutak, Richard Cirminiello, John Harris and Matthew Zemek) weigh in..."
Ohio State, LSU to meet for the title
December 2, 2007 Source: FoxSports.com - "Just a few weeks ago, it appeared as if Ohio State and LSU had both blown their shot at playing in the BCS title game with losses to unranked opponents. But in this strangest of college football seasons, both have played their way back into the championship, albeit with plenty of help from any number of teams who were unable to take advantage of the opportunities presented them..."
Buckeyes or Tigers will become first two-time BCS champion
December 2, 2007 Source: ESPN.com - "...After a season unprecedented for turmoil, the poll voters agreed by a large margin that the Buckeyes and the Tigers, both of whom lost in the final weeks of the regular season, should play for the national championship...The order of the final BCS standings, though expected, left two teams happy and plenty of others disappointed. In the eight weeks of BCS standings, the top two remained the same only once..."
LSU takes the second spot in BCS, will face Ohio St.
December 2, 2007 Source: ESPN.com - "LSU has a ticket to the title game. Everyone else has a pretty good gripe. The latest chapter in this crazy, unpredictable college football season was written Sunday when LSU won the sport's version of the lottery, being picked to play Ohio State for the championship and leaving about a half-dozen other candidates with plenty to complain about..."
 | Final BCS Standings - December 2, 2007
2007 Final Bowl Championship Series Standings Top Ten
| | Team | Harris Poll | USA TODAY | Computer rank | BCS Avg. |  | | 1. | Ohio State | 1 | .9870 | 1 | .9793 | 3 | .910 | .9588 | | | 2. | LSU | 2 | .9228 | 2 | .9453 | 2 | .950 | .9394 | | | 3. | Virginia Tech | 6 | .8228 | 5 | .8280 | 1 | .960 | .8703 | | | 4. | Oklahoma | 3 | .8842 | 3 | .8873 | 6t | .800 | .8572 | | | 5. | Georgia | 4 | .8663 | 4 | .8513 | 6t | .800 | .8392 | | | 6. | Missouri | 7 | .7428 | 7 | .7360 | 4 | .850 | .7763 | | | 7. | USC | 5 | .8232 | 6 | .8180 | 9 | .650 | .7637 | | | 8. | Kansas | 8 | .7340 | 8 | .7327 | 5 | .810 | .7589 | | | 9. | West Virginia | 9 | .6751 | 9 | .6733 | 10 | .640 | .6628 | | | 10. | Hawaii | 10 | .6677 | 10 | .6627 | 12 | .610 | .6468 | | | Extended computer rankings | | | Team | AH | RB | CM | KM | JS | PW | | | | Ohio State | 25 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | | | | LSU | 21 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | | | | Virginia Tech | 22 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | | | | Oklahoma | 18 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 24 | | | | Georgia | 20 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 19 | | | | Missouri | 24 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 22 | | | | Southern California | 17 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | | | | Kansas | 23 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 20 | | | | West Virginia | 16 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 18 | | | | Hawaii | 14 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 13 | | | |
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 | Heacock Captures 2007 Broyles Award
December 4, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "There’s no upset here. Ohio State’s Jim Heacock, the defensive coordinator for the most dominating defense in college football, has been named the nation’s top assistant coach. Heacock, in his 12th season as a Buckeye, was presented the 12th Annual Frank Broyles Award by officials from The Rotary Club of Little Rock during a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel on Tuesday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top NCAA assistant football coach..." |
  | LSU's Dorsey beats out Ohio State's Laurinaitis for trophy
December 2, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "A day after their teams landed in the national championship game, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis spent Monday night playfully talking trash in a hotel ballroom. They left with Dorsey holding the upper hand -- for now. Behind his 64 tackles and six sacks, Dorsey beat out Laurinaitis to win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the nation's top defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club..." |
Ohio State Football Award Winners
December 2, 2007 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State running back Chris 'Beanie' Wells was voted 2007 team Most Valuable Player as announced at the Football Appreciation Banquet this afternoon. Wells also received the Archie Griffin Award as outstanding offensive player, and the W.W. Hayes Award as outstanding player in the Michigan game. Linebacker James Laurinaitis received the Bill Willis Award as the outstanding defensive player. Vernon Gholston received three awards: the W.W. Hayes for outstanding play vs. Michigan; the Jack Stephenson for top defensive lineman; and the Agonis for outstanding play vs. Penn State.
Other award winners: Dan Dye (John Galbreath, top senior academics); Brandon Saine (first-year offensive player); Cameron Heyward (first-year defensive player); Trever Robinson (Ike Kelley, special teams standout); Marcus Freeman (Randy Gradishar, linebacker); Brian Robiskie (Paul Warfield, receiver); Brian Hartline (Paul Warfield, receiver); Malcolm Jenkins (Arnie Chonko, defensive back); Tyler Whaley (Bo Rein, most inspirational senior); Kirk Barton (Jim Parker, offensive lineman); Todd Boeckman (Rex Kern, offensive back); Donald Washington (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Kurt Coleman (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Anderson Russell (Jim Marshall Warrior); Jim Cordle (Jim Marshall Warrior)."
 | Next stop: New Orleans
December 2, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Two days after Ohio State's first loss of the season, when the Buckeyes were No. 7 in the BCS standings, former OSU coach Earle Bruce had a feeling. The Buckeyes were five days away from playing Michigan, but already Bruce was looking big picture. 'We're not out of that national championship game by any means,' Bruce proclaimed. 'It can happen, it can happen as sure as I'm standing here. Remember who said it, because it's going to happen I think.'..."
Team waits, celebrates, waits more
December 2, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Ohio State players jumped for joy last night, yelling as yet another higher-ranked team lost and gave the Buckeyes a spot in the national championship game. About 75 Buckeyes players and most of the coaching staff gathered in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to watch top-ranked Missouri meet Oklahoma and No. 2 West Virginia play Pittsburgh...'Everybody was going crazy,' fullback Tyler Whaley said. 'Coach (Jim) Tressel got a little smile on his face. He wasn't jumping around, he didn't show us his vertical (leap), but I've been around him enough to know he was a happy man.'..."
Upsets leave Ohio State standing at top
December 2, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "Three weeks after their unbeaten season, No. 1 ranking and dreams of redemption in the BCS title game seemed to turn to ashes, Ohio State is headed back to the ultimate game in college football...'I'm sure we'll be the underdog against whoever we play,' center Jim Cordle said earlier this week. 'Hopefully that can help us out. That plus, we've got to defend ourselves from last year, rebound from that and show the nation how good this team is. That's going to drive us this bowl practice season.'..." |
Buckeyes Headed To National Title Game!
December 1, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "The Buckeyes got the help they needed and more as Pittsburgh upset No. 2 West Virginia 13-9 and No. 9 Oklahoma beat No. 1 Missouri 38-17. As a result, OSU figures to move into the top two in the BCS and will play for the national title..."
Hello, New Orleans?
December 1, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Pittsburgh's upset of West Virginia seemingly opens door for Ohio State; No. 1 Missouri also loses..."
 | Now what?
December 2, 2007 Source: Yahoo Sports - Yahoo Sport's Dan Wetzel writes: "There was a dislocated thumb, an inaccurate news report, a hastily called press conference, a Mizzou meltdown, a Hokie revenge, a Sooner stunner, a Pitt uprising, a Les Miles redemption, a Mountaineer gag job and overwrought fan bases in all directions. In the strangest college football season in years, the last day went according to the chaotic script. Now it is anyone's guess what is next - which two flawed teams emerge from this flawed system to meet in the BCS title game Jan. 7 in New Orleans..." |
Call it BCS Armageddon
December 1, 2007 Source: FoxSports.com - "Missouri and West Virginia are out - that much we know. So who belongs? Ohio St. is a lock; who's the opponent? Don Borst looks at each contender's arguments..."
Vote: Will the BCS get it right? Source: ESPN.com
Matt Hayes of SportingNews.com wrote: "Look, I can't get excited about a team that lost to two average SEC teams -- one at home -- and a coach who says his team is undefeated in 'regulation.' That's like me saying I should've been valedictorian in college, but apparently, they count calculus, physics, economics and sports journalism classes. Then there's Ohio State. What do we know about the Bucks? They lost one game in regulation."
BCS Selection Show on FOX
Find out who is going where, as the complete BCS schedule is announced during the BCS Selection show on FOX. Tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET to find out who is going to the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl and the BCS National Championship Game. And don't forget to tune into the Championship Game on January 7, 2008 from the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
BCS suffers one final shakeup
December 2, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "...No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia each lost and blew their chances to play for the national title. That opened the door for Ohio State, the clear No. 3, to play in the BCS championship game Jan. 7 in New Orleans. There are no fewer than six candidates to face the Buckeyes - including Georgia, LSU, Kansas, Virginia Tech, Southern California and Oklahoma, the 38-17 winner over Missouri in the Big 12 title game. All those teams except Kansas have two losses. 'I'm getting ready to get in the fetal position and crawl under my desk,' joked Jerry Palm, the BCS analyst who runs www.collegebcs.com, when reached last night. Palm thinks LSU is the favorite to take the spot opposite Ohio State in the championship game, though he conceded nothing is for sure. 'Virginia Tech might have better computer rankings. Oklahoma might be better with the polling numbers,' Palm said. 'But I don't think either has the combination that LSU will have.'..." |
 | Coaches Poll
Source: USA Today
BCS Rankings
Source: ESPN.com
AP Poll
Source: Associated Press
Top 25 Overview - Week 14, 2007
December 1, 2007 Source: ESPN - Overview of all Top 25 Teams for the fourteenth week of the season, including Recap, Box Score, Play-by-Play, Drive Chart, Photos (links to 'previous weeks' results too) |
More credibility issues for Bowl Championship Series
December 7, 2007 Source: Tahoe Daily Tribune - "Boycott watching the Bowl Championship Series games.By viewing them, you support one of sports' most flawed postseason formats. The most qualified college football teams aren't in the five-best bowl games, and the championship game smells of a bias toward traditional powers being chosen because of what they have done in the past, not the present. Who really believes Ohio State and LSU would become finalists if college football went to an eight- or 16-team tournament this winter?...'
Chaos doesn't legitimize ignorance or stupidity of flawed system
December 2, 2007 Source: ESPN.com - "There's no disputing it: The just deceased college football regular season was crazier than ordering a chocolate martini at a biker bar...By sheer accident, nothing more, Ohio State and LSU will play Jan. 7 in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game..."
 | Reasonable Doubt? The question remains
November 28, 2007 Source: SI.com - One year later, fans still dispute Ohio St.'s worthiness...With Ohio State in the on-deck circle for the BCS title game, fans are attacking the Bucks' legitimacy. In the Mailbag, SI.com's Stewart Mandel discusses the OSU debate and more..." |
 | Beep! Beep! Watch out, New Orleans, Ohio State is coming
November 25, 2007 Source: CBSSports.com - Dennis Dodd writes: "The sound of Ohio State backing into New Orleans: It approximates that annoying "beep, beep, beep" of the thrash truck in reverse outside your house at 6 a.m....The Luckeyes were recently seen with the gag reflex on Nov. 10 in an embarrassing loss to Illinois. Their reward, after then beating mediocre Michigan? The Rose Bowl, just because the Big Ten contract says so...In a rebuilding year, with a defense that still hasn't figured out how to defend the spread, the Bucks are a heartbeat away from backing into a championship berth -- 15 days after last snapping a football..."
Spread the word: Mizzou-West Virginia is the game to watch
November 26, 2007 Source: CBSSports.com - Dennis Dodd writes: "Missouri is on the front page of the New York Times today. Ohio State is not on the front page of the New York Times, unless Maurice Clarett was just named a GA. Get it? Ohio State is old news. Real old news. Like finding the entire first season of Freaks and Geeks half off, old. The same goes for both the football team and the sitcom: Who wants to see that again? That's why Ohio State-West Virginia in the BCS title game does nothing for me. If the center holds, those two teams should not be playing for it all after the haze clears this weekend. That's assuming a lot considering this season, but for some reason or other Mike Freeman finds it a sexy matchup..." |
 | Ohio State fans should be wary
November 30, 2007 Source: Toledo Blade - "I would caution OSU fans on two fronts. 1. Be careful of what you wish. 2. Don't expect to be warmly embraced and welcomed back by fans in the other 49 states, any of the Canadian provinces except, perhaps, Labrador, and any country ending in 'slavia.' Because they don't think your team belongs. And, frankly, they have a point...."
West Virginia embracing life at the top
November 24, 2007 Source: ESPN.com - Mark Schlabach writes: "...If Ohio State fans want to avoid an upset stomach, they might not want to root too hard for Oklahoma to beat No. 2 Kansas or No. 4 Missouri in next week's Big 12 Championship Game in San Antonio. The No. 5 Buckeyes should really save themselves from being embarrassed for the second season in a row..." |
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 | Willie Mobley, of Eden Prairie (MN), one of the top defensive line prospects in the country, has committed to Ohio State. Rated a top ten defensive end, the 6-2 265lb Mobley said, "I love it at Ohio State. I liked everybody out there when I made my visit. Right when I got there I had this gut feeling that Columbus was the place for me. I am going to start out as a freshman as a defensive end...after that we are just going to see how my body fills out, and I think I could move inside. It is all up to coach Heacock." Mobley, rated the #2 player in the state of Minnesota, helped Eden Prairie win the state championship this season. For the year, he recorded 74 tackles and 12 sacks. In addition to Ohio State, Mobley had offers from over thirty schools including Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Tennessee, UCLA, Iowa, Minnesota and Arizona. Welcome aboard, Willie.
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 | Ohio State legend Bill Willis dies at 86
November 28, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "...Willis arrived at Ohio State in 1941 as a two-way lineman and track athlete. He became Ohio State's first black All-American in 1943-44. The 1942 team on which Willis was a star won Ohio State's first national title. The university honored Willis on Nov. 3 by retiring his No. 99 jersey..."
A Trailblazer On and Off the Field Source: Big Ten Conference - "A year before Jackie Robinson famously donned a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, Bill Willis' passion for football conquered the barriers of discrimination and changed the course of the game forever...the history of the former Ohio State standout and NFL Hall of Famer is far-reaching but almost unknown.
Pioneer deserves to be remembered
November 28, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "...Willis often played middle or nose guard in the Browns' five-man defensive line, but (Paul) Brown began dropping him off the line of scrimmage because his speed and pursuit often got him to the ball carrier... 'This technique and theory was the beginning of the modern 4-3 defense,' Brown wrote years later, 'and Bill was the forerunner of the modern middle linebacker.'..."
OSU Football Legend Willis Dead At 86
November 27, 2007 Source: Bucknuts.com - "...just over three weeks ago Ohio State retired jersey No. 99 in honor of football legend Bill Willis...the school's first African-American player chosen as an All-American...he passed away Tuesday evening at 86..."
Quotes about Bill Willis |
 | Malcolm Jenkins in Depth
Big Ten Network - "Malcolm Jenkins get personal with the Big Ten Network and shares his love for poetry and its realtionship to football."
James Laurinaitis: One On One
Big Ten Network - "James Laurinaitis talk with Big Ten tonight about being named the Big Ten's defensive player of the year."
Vernon Gholston: One On One
Big Ten Network - "Vernon Gholston, recently named Big Ten defensive lineman of the year, talks with Big Ten Tonight." |
 | Wells has broken bone in hand
November 21, 2007 Source: The Morning Journal - "He's had bone spurs, a high ankle sprain and a bruised thumb. Now you can add a broken bone to Beanie Wells' growing injury list. Wells appeared at the Ohio State Alumni Association banquet last night in Cleveland wearing a brace on his left hand. Turns out, he's played much of this year with a broken bone in the hand. Only, he just found out about it on Monday. 'I'm not sure when I broke it,' he said. 'It's been bothering me for awhile. They just finally x-rayed it (Monday).'..."
Wells runs way to Player of Week honor
November 21, 2007 Source: USA Today - "Ohio State running back Chris Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards on 39 carries against Michigan to earn this week's USA TODAY's Player of the Week honor. Each week during the season, readers can select their pick for USA TODAY's Player of the Week. The fan vote, open through noon ET on Tuesday, will comprise one-third of the award with one vote also going to college football editor Erick Smith and Gannett columnist Mike Lopresti..." |
Conference releases All-Big Ten Football Teams
November 19, 2007 Source: Big Ten Network - "As selected by Conference Coaches:...Laurinaitis was chosen defensive player of the year...Vernon Gholston was tabbed defensive lineman of the year... (also named to the first team) Chris "Beanie" Wells and Kirk Barton (were named) First Team Offense and Malcolm Jenkins (was named) First Team Defense. As selected by Conference Media: ...Defensive Player Of The Year: James Laurinaitis...(also named to the ) First Team Offense: Todd Boeckman, Chris "Beanie" Wells, Kirk Barton...(also named to the) First Team Defense: Vernon Gholston, Malcolm Jenkins...
Ohio State tops off All-Big Ten team
November 20, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State placed five players - running back Beanie Wells, right tackle Kirk Barton, defensive end Vernon Gholston, linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins - on the All-Big Ten first teams as selected by both the coaches and media, more than any other school...In the most glaring disagreement between the teams, OSU quarterback Todd Boeckman was chosen first team by the media, while the coaches named Michigan's Chad Henne as their first-team quarterback..."
Buckeyes haul in Big Ten honors
November 20, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The best player on the nation's top-ranked defense yesterday won the first of what is expected to be many postseason honors..."
Big Ten Teams Statistics
November 18, 2007 Source: Big Ten Network - "| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | Big Ten Stat Leaders | Total | Passing | Rushing | Receiving "
Michigan Game 11/17/07:
Offensive Player of the Week: Chris 'Beanie' Wells, RB
Defensive Player of the Week: Vernon Gholston , DE
Attack Force Award: Marcus Freeman, LB
Jim Parker Lineman Award: Kirk Barton, OL
Special Units Player of the Week: Shaun Lane , DB
Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award: Marcus Williams
Scout Team Champions: Defense: Ryan Lukens; Special Units: Mark Johnson; Offense: Dan Herron
The Big Ten has named Chris "Beanie" Wells the Offensive Player of the Week and Vernon Gholston the Defensive Player of the Week. |
Crew didn't work
November 20, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The Big Ten officiating crew that was involved in controversial games Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 did not work last weekend, lending credence to a report that they were suspended by the league. The seven-man crew, led by referee Steve Pamon, came under criticism from Purdue coach Joe Tiller for its work in a Nov. 3 game. A Sporting News report, citing an anonymous source, said the league suspended the crew for Nov. 17 games but that they would be allowed to work the Ohio State-Illinois game Nov. 10. In that game, Illinois running back Daniel Dufrene was ruled down, despite clearly fumbling before he touched the ground."
 | Six out of seven ain't bad
November 25, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "With six wins over Michigan in his first seven years, Jim Tressel is on a roll in The Game like no other Ohio State coach before him..."
The Vest keeps vexing archrival Wolverines
November 19, 2007 Source: Mansfield News Journal - "Jim Tressel contends he doesn't have Michigan's number, but who's he kidding? He has Lloyd Carr's AARP membership number, Mike Hart's license plate number and the cell number to Chad Henne's personal masseuse. Saturday's victory marked the third time Tressel has beaten the Wolverines with a quarterback playing in his first OSU-Michigan game. It was the third straight year Tressel has beaten the Wolverines, despite losing the turnover battle. He's beaten them twice with unranked teams. He's beaten them the last two years with both teams playing for an undisputed Big Ten crown. He's beaten them three times in four trips to Ann Arbor. He's beaten them four straight years, a feat duplicated only by Francis Schmidt (1934-37) and Woody Hayes (1960-63)..." |
Tressel the first
November 20, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Jim Tressel became the first OSU coach to win four Big Ten titles in his first seven seasons. Tressel's teams won a share of the 2002 and 2005 titles and outright championships last year and this year. Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce won three titles in their first seven years."
Ohio State's Tressel feels pressure from demands on time
November 21, 2007 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Jim Tressel typically gets asked about his coaching future when Ohio State is preparing to play Penn State and everyone wants to know whether he'll continue coaching, like Joe Paterno, into his 80s. Tressel always says no. His future likely will more closely resemble Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who retired Monday at age 62..."
Pasadena: Not so fast
November 18, 2007 Source: Associated Press - "All that stands between a Kansas-LSU matchup in the BCS national championship game are some tough opponents...If the Buckeyes catch a few breaks and find themselves in the BCS title game, the Rose Bowl will be without a Big Ten team. To qualify for an at-large bid, teams must finish in the top 14 of the final BCS standings. After Ohio State, the next best Big Ten team is Illinois in 18th place..."
National title game: Dominoes could fall OSU's way
November 17, 2007 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Conventional wisdom strongly suggests that Ohio State's national championship dream took its final breath about 6:25 p.m. last Saturday, when Juice Williams converted a key third down for about the 20th time that day. But has the patient really breathed his last? Perhaps not..."
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