Fiesta figures to be a coming-out party for Buckeyes' 2009 lineup
December 27, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Bowl season is always the start of next season as much as the end of this one. That means the Fiesta Bowl is both a farewell to the 28 Ohio State seniors and the start of Terrelle Pryor's team...(the seniors) a group that would form the backbone of a 43-5 run over the next three seasons...Now they will give way to what should be the next defining Ohio State class, the current freshmen group that includes quarterback Pryor, offensive linemen Michael Brewster, J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams, receiver DeVier Posey and linebacker Etienne Sabino..."
 | Gentry An Inspiration To His Teammates
December 25, 2008 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - "There were plenty of worthy candidates to be the last player recognized on senior day, but this year's choice was a no-brainer. Former walk-on Tyson Gentry has been inspiring his teammates during his tenure at Ohio State, and senior day gave the Buckeye faithful a chance to show Gentry their appreciation..." |
 | Leap Year: 12 months in the life of Terrelle Pryor
December 23, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "He went from delaying his college choice to Ohio State's first freshman starting quarterback in 30 years, from the most hyped football recruit in the country to Jim Tressel's pet project. Whatever Terrelle Pryor does for the rest of his football career, 2008 set it all up. He's the present and the future. Here's how 2008 happened -- from Jan. 5, 2008 to Jan. 5, 2009 -- as he was introduced to the nation in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, to making his first bowl game start next month in the Fiesta Bowl..." |
 Buckeyes keep up national recruiting prowess
December 19, 2008 Source: The Morning Journal - "Ohio State's football team received some excellent news Tuesday when Youngstown Ursuline junior defensive end Jamel Turnel verbally committed to play for the Buckeyes as part of the 2010 class. He is the second member of the class and many recruiting services list him as the No.1-rated junior football player in the state of Ohio. Turner, who joined four-star outside linebacker J.T. Moore of Boardman as the second commitment of the 2010 class, had 94 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 23 sacks as a sophomore and led the Fighting Irish to the Division V state championship earlier this month. Turner's commitment is just the latest positive recruiting news for the Buckeyes, who are enjoying unmatched success on the recruiting trails the last 24 months...Ohio State's current freshmen class was ranked No. 4 by both Scout.com and Rivals.com coming into the season ...Ohio State's 2009 class currently is ranked No.1 by Scout.com and No. 3 by Rivals.com..." |
| Bucknuts TV: Tressel On Fiesta Bowl, Williams, More
December 16, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Ohio State is in the midst of preparations for its matchup against Texas in the Fiesta Bowl and OSU head coach Jim Tressel held a press conference after practice on Tuesday. Tressel delved into a number of subjects, including Nathan Williams, Joe Bauserman, Shaq Rowell, which OSU juniors turned in their paperwork to the NFL, the health of Beanie Wells and much more..." (includes 14 minute video) |
  Ohio State's Laurinaitis highlights AP's All-America team
December 16, 2008 Source: USA Today - "James Laurinaitis idolized A.J. Hawk, Chris Spielman and the other great linebackers who played for Ohio State before him. Now, in at least one area, he has surpassed them. Laurinaitis became a three-time AP All-American...on the first team released Tuesday. Ohio State has a history of great linebackers from Hawk to Spielman and Tom Cousineau to Randy Gradishar. Hawk and Spielman were both two-time AP All-Americans..."When people throw my name in that group of players, I just laugh," Laurinaitis said. "It's extremely complimentary to be thought of in the same category."...The defense featured Laurinaitis' teammate, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins...Laurinaitis was recruited by the Buckeyes out of Minnesota, and came to Columbus with relatively modest goals considering where he ended up. He wanted to make the travel squad as a freshman, start as a sophomore, receive some type of all-Big Ten recognition as a junior and be an All-American and Butkus Award candidate as a senior. By the time his sophomore season was complete, he had accomplished all his goals. Laurinaitis said having Hawk and fellow star linebacker Bobby Carpenter, both seniors when he was a freshman, to learn from had an enormous affect his career. 'You learned a lot about work ethic,' Laurinaitis said in a telephone interview Tuesday. 'We'd go through a two-day (practice) and I'm looking to go to sleep and those guys were in the weight room working out. If it worked for them, I had to do it.' When Carpenter and Hawk moved on to the NFL, Laurinaitis moved into the starting lineup in 2006. The son of a professional wrestler — Joe Laurinaitis was known as "Animal" from the WWE's Legion of Doom — James drew plenty of attention for his play and his family ties. He led the Buckeyes with 115 tackles and five interceptions and won the Nagurski Award as national defensive player of the year. In 2007, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Laurinaitis won the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker and this season he capped his stellar three-year run with the Lott Trophy for top defensive player. 'I'm not the freak athlete other guys are,' Laurinaitis said, 'but I'm the guy coaches can depend on to be accountable and know my assignments.' (From The Cleveland Plain Dealer: "...Four of the five All-American teams recognized by the NCAA have been named and Laurinaitis is on three of them -- the AP, the Walter Camp and the American Football Coaches Association. The last team, named by the Sporting News, will come out Wednesday. Here's a rundown of Laurinaitis' career honors: • Won three individual awards in three different seasons, the Nagurski (2006), the Butkus (2007) and the Lott (2008). • Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice, joining Illinois' Dana Howard and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald as the only players to do that. • One of only a handful of three-time All-Americans in AP history, joining among others Pitt offensive lineman Bill Fralic (1982-84), Georgia running back Hershel Walker (1980-82) and Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green (1978-80). • Selected as the fifth three-time All-American in Walter Camp history, joining UCLA defensive back Ken Easley (1978-80), Pitt's Green, Georgia's Walker (1980-82) and North Carolina defensive back Dre' Bly (1996-98)..." |
Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Tickets Available to Public
December 12, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "The general public will be able to purchase Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Tickets beginning at 9 a.m. Dec. 17, Bill Jones, Ohio State assistant athletics director for ticketing, announced Friday. Fans will be able to order by calling 1-800-GO BUCKS. The 2009 Fiesta Bowl will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium (73,000) Jan. 5, 2009. Ohio State will face the University of Texas. Game time is 8 p.m. EST. Game tickets are $155. There is no limit. Fans may also purchase tickets to College Football’s Biggest Party for $20. Parking passes also are available for $30. Tickets will be mailed prior to the Christmas Holiday or left at will call."
Dry sales for the desert: Buckeyes fans not clamoring for another New Year's Fiesta
December 16, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State is making tickets for the Fiesta Bowl available to the public Wednesday, just one signal that the Buckeyes' latest trip to Arizona isn't the most popular party of the season...Not since the Alamo Bowl four years ago, off a rebuilding four-loss regular season, and the 1995 Citrus Bowl before that, has Ohio State had tickets left over to create a public sale. For a BCS bowl, this is new territory. Some amount of OSU's allotment of 17,500 tickets, at a cost of $155 each, go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 1-800-GO-BUCKS..."
Buckeye buzz is lacking for Fiesta Bowl
December 16, 2008 Source: Austin (TX) Statesman - "At College Traditions, a campus-area store stuffed with Buckeye jerseys and knickknacks, owner Kelly Dawes was asked what kind of buzz the Fiesta Bowl was creating. 'There really isn't any,' Dawes said. 'I hate to say that. Usually at this time of the year when the bowl is announced on Sunday the phone starts ringing on Monday.' Over at the nearby Varsity Club, general manager Tony Mollica took a short break from reassembling a metal Christmas tree that had been knocked over at a recent party. 'I haven't heard that much buzz,' agreed Mollica, whose bar/pizza place is about as big an Ohio State game-day tradition as the band's dotting of the "i" in Ohio..."
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Jamel Turner Commits to OSU
The Buckeyes have landed a huge prize, grabbing a commitment from the No. 1 junior in the state of Ohio, Youngstown (OH) Ursuline's sack machine Jamel Turner. Turner is a top five prospect in Ohio's class of 2010 talent. Had 23 sacks as a sophomore, winning first-team All-Ohio honors in Division V. Scout's writes: "Turner is a 'tweener defensive end / outside linebacker who would make an ideal OLB in a 3-4 defense. Is tall, well-built with a long body that hints of great physical upside. Utilizes his high-cut frame and good acceleration to cover a lot of ground as vertical attacker. Overall, shows coveted range as a perimeter defender and good backside chase speed. Utilizes his long wingspan effectively locking out and separating blockers at the point attack. Can be difficult to seal and reach as an edge player." The highly coveted recruit had interest and offers from dozens of schools including Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Stanford. Welcome aboard, Jamel!
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Bucknuts TV and Photos: Top Ohio Junior Turner Picks OSU
December 16, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "'I have talked to coach (Jim) Tressel and let him know I will attend Ohio State University,' Turner said. 'I spoke to coach Tressel about a week ago. He was very excited. I plan to go down to their junior day this Saturday. I'm very excited.' The 6-foot-2 and 215-pound Turner led Ursuline to a 15-0 record this season which included a 21-0 victory over Findlay Liberty-Benton in the Division V state championship game. In that contest Turner had seven and a half tackles and one and a half sacks. In two seasons Turner has 40 plus sacks including 23 when he was a sophomore. It is no surprise he has drawn interest from schools all over the country. Turner had over a dozen scholarship offers...'It's my home school and I'll be playing in front of my family,' Turner said. 'Most likely I'll play outside linebacker and maybe drop into coverage some.' ..."
 Laurinaitis wins Lott Trophy
December 14, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis was named the winner of the 2008 Lott Trophy as college football’s impact player of the year in ceremonies this evening at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. Laurinaitis, the first two-time finalist for the Lott Trophy, was selected over Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Florida State defensive back Myron Rolle and Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry for the award which emphasizes integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity in a college defender. Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, namesake of the award, was the host of the event. Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson was the keynote speaker. Laurinaitis was introduced by Hall of Famer Howie Long, a member of the Impact Foundation board, who talked about the relationship he formed with OSU’s three-time All-American last year on the college football awards circuit when Long’s son Chris was a candidate for many of the same awards. Long closed his remarks by saying, 'Most of all, this is a guy I would have liked to have played with as a teammate, and Ronnie would have too.'" Laurinaitis is a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year who led the Buckeyes in tackles with 121. The All-American was a Lott finalist last year. |
| Jenkins Picks Up Thorpe Award
December 12, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "Malcolm Jenkins became the second Ohio State player to win the Jim Thorpe Award, which was handed out Thursday evening at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show in Orlando. The only other OSU player to win the Thorpe Award – given annually to the nation’s best defensive back – was cornerback Antonie Winfield in 1998. Jenkins, a senior cornerback, was selected ahead of two other finalists: USC junior safety Taylor Mays and Tennessee sophomore safety Eric Berry. The 6-1, 202-pound Jenkins is a three-time, first-team All-Big Ten selection. He was also named first-team All-American this season by the Football Coaches Association of America. The Associated Press team will be released later this month..." (Includes video from ESPN of Malcolm Jenkins winning the Thorpe Award) |
Defensive end Williams arrested
December 11, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State freshman defensive end Nathan Williams was arrested and charged with criminal theft and possession of criminal tools on Wednesday. The Dayton Daily News reported that Williams was arrested for shoplifting three shirts worth $80 from a Macy's in Dayton. He faces arraignment in Fairborn Municipal Court on Tuesday. Coach Jim Tressel was out recruiting and could not be reached for comment..."
Freshman: I took the blame, not the shirts
December 12, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Ohio State freshman defensive end Nathan Williams said his arrest Wednesday on a shoplifting charge is a case of trying to protect a friend. Williams, 19, said, 'I took the blame for somebody; I didn't do anything.' He said he was with a friend, and as they were walking out of the store, the alarm went off. His friend told him he had the three shirts, and Williams agreed to take the shirts -- and the blame. 'If he got in trouble for this, he would be in jail,' Williams said, explaining that his friend has been in legal trouble previously. 'So I took his back.'..."
Big D from Texas?
December 8, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Whether you admire or abhor the offensive onslaught in the Big 12 this season, find 500-yard games invigorating or insulting, Ohio State is going to help answer maybe the biggest question in college football this season. Can anyone in the Big 12 play defense? Comparing the offensive statistics for Texas and Ohio State, meeting in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5, makes the game look like the Harlem Globetrotters against those kids from "Hoosiers." While Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is averaging 287 passing yards per game, Ohio State's single-game high in passing yards this year is 244 in the opener against Youngstown State. Of the 195 games in major college football this season in which a team gained at least 500 yards of offense, Big 12 teams did it 45 times, including five by Texas. Big Ten teams did it 13 times, including none by Ohio State..."
Coach Tressel talks BCS Selection Source: Big Ten Network
Tressel After Fiesta Bowl Announcement Source: Bucknuts
 Buckeyes Will Mess with Texas in Fiesta Bowl
December 7, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "The Buckeyes are back in a BCS bowl game for the fourth-straight year and the sixth time under head coach Jim Tressel. Ohio State finished No. 10 in the final BCS standings and will play No. 3 Texas in the Fiesta Bowl at 8 p.m. ET, Monday, Jan. 5 2009 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Buckeyes finished 10-2 and 7-1 in the Big Ten, winning a share of its fourth-consecutive Big Ten title. Texas finished 11-1 and 7-1 in the Big 12 South in a three-way tie with Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Ohio State has now qualified for seven BCS games in the 11-year history of the system, which is tied with USC and Oklahoma for the lead among all programs. The game will mark just the third meeting all-time between the Buckeyes and Longhorns after the two teams faced each other in 2005 and 2006. Texas won, 25-22, in 2005 in Columbus and Ohio State, 24-7, the next year in Austin. This is the ninth-straight bowl appearance for the Buckeyes, the eighth overall for the Buckeyes under Tressel and the 40th in program history – the most of any Big Ten school. Ohio State is 4-2 all-time in BCS games, winning the Sugar Bowl in 1999 and the Fiesta in 2003, 2004 and 2006..." |
Ohio State’s BCS Bowl History:
1999 Sugar Bowl: Ohio State 24, Texas A&M 14
2003 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 31, Miami, Fla. 24 (2OT) – National Championship
2004 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28
2006 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20
2007 BCS Championship: Florida 41, Ohio State 14
2008 BCS Championship: LSU 38, Ohio State 24 |
OSU, Texas look like Fiesta match
December 7, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The pieces fell into place with yesterday's college football action to set up a projected matchup in the Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Texas. The pairings for the Fiesta, in addition to the Sugar, Orange and Rose bowls and the national championship game, will be announced tonight. But yesterday, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith was taking nothing for granted. He worked to promote a Fiesta Bowl that would be just the third meeting between the Buckeyes and Longhorns, with Texas winning in Columbus in 2005 and Ohio State winning in Austin in 2006. 'Two great programs -- that would be an unbelievable matchup, and this would be the rubber match, so to speak,' Smith said. 'The synergy around such a matchup would be so great.' If the Fiesta passes on Ohio State in favor of matching Texas with unbeaten Utah, Smith said Alabama vs. Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl also would be ideal. 'With it being the Sugar's 75th anniversary, they would probably want a blockbuster-type game,' Smith said. 'Ohio State and Alabama would fit that bill.'..."
No Buckeye fatigue at the Fiesta
December 2, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "The Fiesta Bowl committee likely holds the key to Ohio State's bowl fate, so the question is: Are Fiesta officials wary of having the Buckeyes for the fifth time in seven years? 'Do you think the Steelers would let us use the phrase, 'One for the thumb?' ' was Fiesta president John Junker's response. 'Can you have too much of a good thing? I guess it's possible.'...A Sugar Bowl official recently told The Dispatch they are poised to take the Florida-Alabama loser. And Junker yesterday all but guaranteed that if Oklahoma wins the Big 12 title game, the Fiesta will take Texas. Once those two selections are made, the order is Fiesta, Sugar and Orange. Utah and Cincinnati must be selected to play in a Bowl Championship Series game, and the at-large schools likely to be considered are Ohio State and Boise State...There have been three BCS games involving schools from non-BCS leagues, and each is among the seven lowest-rated of the 42 all-time BCS games: Utah versus Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta (a 7.4 rating), Boise State against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta (8.4) and Hawaii versus Georgia in the 2008 Sugar (7.0)..."
Chris “Beanie” Wells: MVP
Wells also received the Archie Griffin Award as outstanding offensive player, the W.W. Hayes Award as outstanding player in the Michigan game and the Rex Kern Award as the outstanding offensive back.
James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins: Bill Willis Award as the outstanding defensive player
Alex Boone: Jim Parker, offensive lineman
Brian Robiskie: Paul Warfield, receiver
Malcolm Jenkins and Kurt Coleman: Arnie Chonko, defensive back
Nader Abdallah: Jack Stephenson, defensive lineman
James Laurinaitis: Randy Gradishar, linebacker
Other award winners: Terrelle Pryor (first-year offensive player); Nathan Williams first-year defensive player); Ryan Lukens (John Galbreath, academics); Shaun Lane (Ike Kelley, special teams standout); Tyson Gentry (Bo Rein, most inspirational); Kurt Coleman (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Thaddeus Gibson (Agonis Rick Meyer, Penn State game standout); Rory Nicol (Jim Marshall Warrior) |
Check out all of the polls on our Polls, Rankings & BCS page...link below
| An Ohio State-Utah Fiesta Bowl?
December 4, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "The Fiesta Bowl has always been the most likely destination for Ohio State, but now a new opponent for the Buckeyes could enter the picture. Ohio State vs. Utah anyone? BuckeyeGrove.com, the Rivals site that covers Ohio State, is reporting that possibility today, and I talked enough to the guys there to understand how it could happen. The BCS and FOX would be making an effort to create not only a national title game but almost an undercard for the national title game by matching up presumably the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the BCS, Texas and the SEC title game loser, in the Sugar Bowl..." |
 | A full look at the Buckeyes' BCS bowl scenarios
December 2, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "The BCS bowl pairings will be revealed Sunday at 8 p.m. on FOX. There's still the chance that Boise State could be chosen instead of Ohio State for a BCS bowl and send the Buckeyes to the Capital One Bowl, though I think there's a better chance of Jim Tressel hiring Charlie Weis as his new offensive coordinator. So assuming that Ohio State will play in a BCS bowl, here's my attempt to explain why the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange Bowls all remain as possible landing spots for Ohio State..." |
2008 BCS Analysis
November 30, 2008 Source: College Football News - "...10. Ohio State - Good things always seem to happen for Ohio State at the end of the regular season. With the Oregon win over Oregon State, it's now between the Buckeyes and Boise State for the tenth BCS slot. Let the discussions begin between the Sugar and the Fiesta Bowl about the Utah situation, neither one will want Cincinnati, who'll go to the Orange Bowl. With Utah lobbying hard for the Fiesta, and with the Sugar not wanting Boise State, look for the Buckeyes to go to New Orleans for the second year in a row..."
Sooners receive BCS nod in Big 12
December 1, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Buckeyes glad to have Ducks lined up on their side...Fiesta officials are said to be interested in pairing the second-best team from the Big 12 -- likely Oklahoma or Texas -- against Ohio State, though Utah and Boise State also are under consideration..."
Babb Bits: BCS Gearing Up For Another Mess
November 30, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "It looks like the BCS may be in danger of producing another controversial championship game, this time involving taking Oklahoma over Texas despite the Longhorns having a win over the Sooners. Charles Babb talks about that dilemma, OSU's BCS chances, Notre Dame and more...The Media and Coaches (not the BCS) are Unfair...What was pretty clear to even many football neophytes but apparently a mystery to the Irish administrators, their fans, and the national media is now an openly discussed topic. Notre Dame jumped the gun by giving Charlie Weis, an unproven head coach with not so much as a signature win, a ridiculous contract..."
Laurinaitis makes OSU history as three-time All-American
December 4, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins were named first-team All-Americans on the American Football Coaches Association team today, an honor that allowed Laurinaitis to make OSU history. The AFCA is the first of the five universally recognized All-American teams to announce its honorees. The Sporting News, Associated Press, Walter Camp and Football Writers have yet to announce their teams. With his placement on the team, Laurinaitis became the eighth three-time first-team All-American in Ohio State history, joining Chic Harley (1916-1919), Wes Fesler (1928-1930), Lew Hinchman (1930-1932), Merle Wendt (1934-1936), Archie Griffin (1973-1975), Tom Skladany (1974-1976) and Mike Doss (2000-2002). According to NCAA standards, Laurinaitis has the chance to become just the third three-time consensus All-American in OSU history, joining Harley and Fesler..."
 | 2008 Turkeys Of The Year
November 27, 2008 Source: SI.com - Rich Rodriquez is listed #1 in Sports Illustrated's 2008 Turkeys Of The Year (captioned photo gallery of 23), and the only representative from the world of college football. They write: "We're all for moving up. But you signed a long-term deal in West Virginia, bolted for Michigan less than a year later and then tried to back out of paying the price? And now, after the worst year ever in Ann Arbor, you knuckle-slap the fans? Maybe it's you that ought to be looking for a life, Rich..."
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Spurrier supports President-elect Obama's playoff proposal
November 24, 2008 Source: SI.com - "South Carolina's coach strongly backs President-elect Barack Obama's contention that the sport should have an eight-team playoff to decide a national championship. 'A lot of people don't think it's going to happen, but I sort of believe it will happen if President-elect Obama pushes it hard enough,'..."
Could Weis be cooked?
November 24, 2008 Source: Yahoo! Sports - "Notre Dame fired both Tyrone Willingham and Bob Davie for a similar job performance to Charlie Weis...Two weeks, two desperate late-game visions involving Charlie Weis. He survived a furious rally at Navy, he didn’t Saturday against Syracuse. He looked both battered by the elements and out of his element. Saturday it was another blown lead, another crushing loss, another round of questions about whether this guy is capable of waking the echoes at Notre Dame as he had once assured with over the top braggadocio..."
How Will Mack Brown Vote?
November 24, 2008 Source: College Football Talk - "...in next week’s USA Today poll? Assuming Texas beats Texas A&M, Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State and Texas Tech beats Baylor, the Big 12 South will have a three-way tie, and the tiebreaker for which team goes to the Big 12 championship game will be the BCS standings...The coaches’ poll is one-third of the BCS standings. Brown has a vote. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops doesn’t...Brown could vote the Longhorns No. 1 and leave the Sooners off his ballot entirely...Or...he could...have his own team No. 2 and Oklahoma No. 10...My guess is that Brown will vote his own team higher than Oklahoma, but not by such a large margin that it makes a mockery of the poll. But there’s no question that Brown having a vote and Stoops not having one could give Texas an edge over Oklahoma." (Webmaster Note: Read B(C)S BS - 2008 Thanksgiving Update in the Op-Ed Blog.)
The Fan Rip Script
November 23, 2008 Source: Southern Pigskin - "Too frustrated after a loss to bash your head coach or criticize your team? No worries. We here at SouthernPigskin.com have created a universal rip-script for any and all fans for every losing team. Lose in week one? Rip-script. Lose two weeks later? Rip-script. Get pummeled at home by a heavily-favored power? Rip-script. Lose on the road to an undermanned patsy? Rip-script. The formula is fool-proof and interchangeable. Just plug in your team, your players or your head coach – and unleash the fury within!...The Rip Script:..." |
Michigan Game Game 11/22/08:
Offensive Player of the Week: Beanie Wells, RB
Defensive Player of the Week: Kurt Coleman, DB
Attack Force Award: Cameron Heyward, DT
Jim Parker Lineman Award: Steve Rehring, OG
Special Units Player of the Week: Shaun Lane, DB
Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award: Austin Spitler, LB
Scout Team Champions: Offense: Zach Slagle; Defense: Garrett Goebel; Special Units: K. C. Christian |
Big Ten Announces All-Big Ten Teams, Award Winners
November 24, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "The Big Ten announced the 2008 All-Conference football teams and individual award winners tonight as selected by the coaches and a media panel. After sharing the 2008 Big Ten Championship, Ohio State and Penn State picked up two individual awards a piece while Iowa also claimed a pair of individual honors...Buckeyes’ linebacker James Laurinaitis became the third Big Ten player to earn back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors while quarterback Terrelle Pryor was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year...First team selections in the coaches poll included offensive tackle Alex Boone, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins. The coaches named Beanie Wells and Marcus Freeman to the second team. Boone, Laurinaitis and Jenkins were also named to the first team by the Big Ten writers. The writers also named Wells to the second team along with Freeman and Kurt Coleman. Coleman, Nader Abdallah and Rory Nicol were given honorable mention honors by the coaches. The writers tabbed Abdallah, Nicol, Terrelle Pryor and Brian Robiskie as honorable mention players..."
"Laurinaitis and Jenkins were named finalists for national awards and will be part of the Home Depot ESPNU awards show on Dec. 11 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Laurinaitis is one of three players up for the Bednarik Award, given to the best defensive player. The other finalists are linebacker Rey Maualuga of Southern California and end Aaron Maybin of Penn State. Jenkins is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back. The other finalists are Eric Berry of Tennessee and Taylor Mays of USC." (Source: Columbus Dispatch)
All-Big Ten Football: Some are sure, some surprises
November 24, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis is a better player than he was a year ago, so it's no surprise he repeated as the best defender in the Big Ten...Pryor best freshman: As I wrote in Monday's paper, he was really the only choice, and both the coaches and media went with him...Wells on second team: Ask any coach in the Big Ten who they'd rather have, Beanie Wells or Michigan State's Javon Ringer, and every one would pick Wells...JoePa as best coach? I was stunned that a part-time coach -- and any head coach that sits in the press box and doesn't make it to the locker room for halftime isn't a full-timer -- won the Coach of the Year..."
Keeping it alive for five: OSU wins fifth straight game over archrival Michigan 42-7
November 23, 2008 Source: The Morning Journal - "The vitriol and hatred cascaded down from the cold, concrete stands of merciless Ohio Stadium like tsunami wave as Michigan's players and coaches sulked off of the field after an embarrassing 42-7 loss to archrival Ohio State yesterday. The Buckeyes had just meted out a methodical and bruising beating to their counterparts from the north on the field and now it was the scarlet-and-gray clad fanatics turn to be seen and heard. Fans young and old, some sober and some a bit lubricated, taunted the Wolverine players and several held out five fingers, signifying the five consecutive Ohio State victories in a row over Michigan, which was a first by the Buckeyes in the 105 games played between bitter rivals. Wolverine defensive end Will Heininger walked slowly off the field as he held his maize-and-blue, uniquely striped Michigan helmet up high like a soldier would proudly hold Old Glory on the battlefield. Yes, the Wolverines had been physically routed on the gridiron field of battle yesterday, but the Meeechigan pomp and arrogance still remained firmly in tact. Heininger's actions did nothing to quell the fans voracious thirst for Wolverine blood. It only incited it..." |
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