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33-29
CELEBRATE! & CARMEN OHIO POSTGAME
"It was unbelievable. It was an unbelievable effort. We have had our ups and downs, but we did not stop playing tonight. The coaches believed in us and we believed in ourselves." - Mike Brewster
"It was a great feeling. We definitely wanted this win very bad. The team kept on fighting and guys never gave up and we went out there and got it done." - Dan 'Boom' Herron
Late Touchdown Pass Lifts Buckeyes Over Badgers October 29, 2011 Source: OSU Official Site - Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller found classmate Devin Smith wide open for a game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left to give Ohio State a thrilling 33-29 Homecoming upset of No. 11/12 Wisconsin Saturday night in front of 105,511 at Ohio Stadium...
Andrew Sweat, Ryan Shazier, Braxton Miller and 10 thoughts on Ohio State's win over Wisconsin October 30, 2011 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - 1. Ohio State's run defense was impressive. Wisconsin running back Montee Ball managed 85 yards on 17 carries, a 5-yard average, but his only run that really hurt the Buckeyes was the 40-yard draw on the fourth-quarter drive that brought Wisconsin to within 26-21.
OSU linebacker Andrew Sweat said the Buckeyes watched film of last year's game, when they were blown off the ball by the Badgers, and the linebackers realized they couldn't run laterally and set themselves up to be blocked by linemen getting to the second level.
"It was all about being physical and getting in gaps and staying in gaps and being square," Sweat said. "We knew if we could build a wall and make (runs) leak out, our corners and safeties could tackle them."...
CFN Analysis: Wisconsin at Ohio State October 29, 2011 Source: CollegeFootballNews.com - The Buckeyes ended any discussion of a rebuilding season by defeating #12 Wisconsin 33-29. The Ohio State defense shut down the vaunted Badger rushing attack, holding them to 104 yards on 28 carries. While this number might not seem impressive, Saturday’s game was the first time this season that Wisconsin had failed to eclipse 200 yards rushing...After defeating ranked teams the last two weeks, the Buckeyes now find themselves in second place in the Legends division behind Penn State. With three of their final four games at home - including a November 19 home date with the Nittany Lions – OSU should have an excellent chance to win out...
What we learned in the Big Ten: Week 9 October 30, 2011 Source: ESPN - 1. The race to Indy is wide open:..., 3. Ohio State has reasons to believe: An Ohio State program that has been beaten up on and off the field in recent weeks and months finds itself with new life -- and a very real chance to make noise in the Leaders Division. The Buckeyes defense seems to be getting better by the week and stifled Wisconsin for much of Saturday night's game. Braxton Miller is the same player we saw at the start of the month and showed he not only can pass the ball but make a huge throw at the most important time. Ohio State has zero margin for error if it wants to reach Indianapolis, but Luke Fickell and his players seem to be thriving on adversity and, as Fickell often says, the need to gain momentum. Right now, the Buckeyes have momentum entering a month where they've always thrived.
Five Things: Wisconsin October 30, 2011 Source: Eleven Warriors - Bullets bully Badgers...The gameplan worked virtually to perfection in the 1st half as the Bullets held Wisconsin to 10 rushing yards on 12 carries. The 2nd half saw Bucky fare a little better with 17 carries for 79 yards but subtracting a 40 yard run from Montee Ball, the stats shrink to 16 for 39. For the game, what was the nation's 8th ranked rushing attack averaging 252 rush yards per game totaled just 89 yards on 29 carries. The defensive line was most responsible for slowing the Badger attack, specificallly Simon, Hankins and Bellamy. Big Hank actually recorded seven stops on the night as he continues to show stamina is not the problem it was a year ago...
10 Things We Learned from a Party in the ‘Shoe October 30, 2011 Source: The Ozone - 2. This team has more heart than we thought. After the Buckeyes blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, I turned to a number of my colleagues and told them that this OSU team has no heart. It was the second time this season they blew a two-score lead in the fourth quarter and it looked like they were going to fall to 1-3 in the Big Ten when they could easily be 3-1. Heck, they could be 4-0 with a decent game plan against Michigan State. The fourth quarter of Saturday’s game just seemed to fit this team perfectly. They had found yet another way to create a spectacle and a new way to lose. Only they didn’t lose. With just over a minute on the clock after they fell behind, the Buckeyes battled back. Jordan Hall went 42 yards on the kickoff. Boom Herron fought for a big first down and then of course Braxton Miller saved the day. It was impressive to see this team fight back after all the reasons they have been given to quit.
3. Suddenly the Big Ten title goes through Columbus, again. How can this be possible? This team was done after just two games in conference play, and yet all of a sudden they are back in the race...
Team Totals
WIS
OSU
FIRST DOWNS
15
16
Rushing
3
13
Passing
11
3
Penalty
1
0
NET YARDS RUSHING
89
268
Rushing Attempts
29
58
Average Per Rush
3.1
4.6
Rushing Touchdowns
1
3
Yards Gained Rushing
117
285
Yards Lost Rushing
28
17
NET YARDS PASSING
253
89
Completions-Attempts-Int
20-32-0
7-12-0
Average Per Attempt
7.9
7.4
Average Per Completion
12.6
12.7
Passing Touchdowns
3
1
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS
342
357
Total offense plays
61
70
Average Gain Per Play
5.6
5.1
Fumbles: Number-Lost
0-0
2-1
Penalties: Number-Yards
3-9
4-37
PUNTS-YARDS
7-243
6-247
Average Yards Per Punt
34.7
41.2
Net Yards Per Punt
30.1
40.2
Inside 20
1
3
50+ Yards
0
1
Touchbacks
0
0
Fair catch
1
2
KICKOFFS-YARDS
5-332
7-457
Average Yards Per Kickoff
66.4
65.3
Net Yards Per Kickoff
40.8
45.7
Touchbacks
0
0
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD
3-6-0
6-32-0
Average Per Return
2.0
5.3
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD
6-137-0
5-128-0
Average Per Return
22.8
25.6
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD
0-0-0
0-0-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD
0-0-0
0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards
0
0
Possession Time
24:12
35:48
1st Quarter
7:41
7:19
2nd Quarter
3:58
11:02
3rd Quarter
7:02
7:58
4th Quarter
5:31
9:29
Third-Down Conversions
6 of 15
11 of 20
Fourth-Down Conversions
0 of 1
1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances
2-2
3-3
Touchdowns
2-2
2-3
Field goals
0-2
1-3
Sacks By: Number-Yards
3-5
3-28
PAT Kicks
3-3
3-3
Field Goals
0-0
2-2
Adam Rittenberg talks with Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller following the Buckeyes' 33-29 win over Wisconsin.
Miller time: Freshman's heroics lift OSU October 30, 2011 Source: ESPN - About the only thing more surprising than Braxton Miller's on-the-run, nearly-past-the-line-of-scrimmage, 40-yard touchdown heave with 20 seconds left on the clock was what he had done moments earlier...The Shoe was deflated. Miller wasn't. Before Miller took the field for the decisive drive, he let Fickell know things would be OK. He winked...
Big Ten helmet stickers: Week 9 October 30, 2011 Source: ESPN - Ohio State QB Braxton Miller: The freshman continues to grow before our eyes, and he had his best games yet in the 33-29 upset of Wisconsin. Miller ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, and while he only passed for 89 yards, he threw the 40-yard game-winner with 20 seconds left. Special mention also goes to Buckeyes running back Dan Herron, who had 160 yards rushing on 33 carries...
Sunday Observation: Wisconsin October 30, 2011 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - The Ohio State football team was close to suffering yet another heartbreaking loss in a big conference bout. Instead, the Buckeyes snatched the last-minute win from Wisconsin at home. Get all the observations and notes from the Buckeyes' season-saving win...
The Buckeyes rushed for 268 yards, the most given up by the Badgers since Cal Poly gained 276 on Nov. 22, 2008.
Ohio State allowed just 10 rushing yards on 12 carries in the first half and 89 yards on 29 carries for the game. Wisconsin entered the game ranked eighth nationally with 252.1 rushing yards per game. The Badgers rushed for 200 yards in each of their previous six games. It's the fewest rushing yards gained by Wisconsin since it had 87 at Iowa on Oct. 17, 2009.
The Buckeyes are now 20-1 when Herron rushes for at least 55 yards. His streak of games with a rushing touchdown ended at 13, the most by a Buckeye since Keith Byars (21) in 1983-84.
John Simon picked up where he left off against Illinois, recording another 2 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss.
Adam Bellamy recorded a sack, his first, and a tackle for a loss.
The blocked punt by Ryan Shazier was the first for Ohio State since Jonathan Newsome blocked a punt Oct. 30, 2010 at Minnesota.
The crowd of 105,511 was the seventh-largest in Ohio Stadium history.
The 16 fourth-quarter points for Ohio State were the most points in a quarter since the Buckeyes scored 14 in the third quarter, matching the previous season-high set in the third quarter Sept. 24 against Colorado. Source: OSU Official Site
Three points
Star of the game Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller. His 44-yard touchdown run with 4:39 left built a 26-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Then, after Wisconsin’s rally, his scrambling 40-yard throw to Devin Smith in the end zone gave the Buckeyes the win.
Turning point When Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat hit Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson as he was about to throw on the game’s final and untimed play. The Badgers, beaten by a “Hail Mary” pass a week earlier, tried to do the same to the Buckeyes.
Repercussion The Buckeyes are still alive in the Big Ten Leaders Division and have the tiebreaker over the Badgers. But they need some help against Penn State, which is undefeated in the Leaders. Regardless, coach Luke Fickell might have gotten the big win he needed. Source: Columbus Dispatch
It was over when... Andrew Sweat's hit caused QB Russell Wilson's pass on the game's final play to fall harmlessly to the turf.
Gameball goes to... Braxton Miller. The Buckeye QB only had seven completions, but his last one was the game winner.
Stat of the game... 2. For the second consecutive week, Wisconsin lost on a late touchdown pass that was reviewed. Source: ESPN
One-liner: Hail Mary not so full of grace for Badgers.
The view How the team sees it: We dance on our own “W.” It’s called a “W”in.
How the pollsters will see it: Nice bounce back, Buckeyes.
How Buckeye Nation will see it: Only the NCAA can stop us now.
Gospel according to Luke What he said: “We stayed square.” — describing the defense
What he meant: “Even if at the end there we got bent out of shape.”
They said it As heard on TV: Memo to Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge: Boron is a chemical element. Boren, as in Zach, is an Ohio State fullback. Otherwise, the best duo in college football broadcasting was right on the money. As for sideline reporter Holly Rowe, when did she start wearing Craig Sager suits?
As heard in the press box: “That wasn’t a Hail Mary; that was a ‘Thank you, Jesus.’” — describing Miller’s go-ahead 40-yard TD pass to Devin Smith
Numbers for dummies 35: Minutes that Ohio State fans remained on the field after the win
5: Inches that Miller was behind line of scrimmage on winning pass play
4: Freshmen who delivered huge plays for Ohio State (Miller, Smith, Ryan Shazier on the blocked punt and Curtis Grant on the recovery)
4: Remaining regular-season games, all of which suddenly appear winnable after last night’s rally
Just wondering: How is a destiny moment created? Easy. First, run 44 yards for a fourth-quarter TD. Second, throw 40 yards for another score with 20 seconds left when everyone in the world except you, and maybe your teammates, think the sky just fell. Braxton Miller. Speechless. Source: Columbus Dispatch
Big sequence for Basil Kicker Drew Basil found a way to gain some hits in the first half, delivering the Buckeyes’ only points with a 39-yard field at 2:55 of the second quarter to cut the Wisconsin lead to 7-3. The field goal hit high off the left upright at the north end of the field, then bounced through. On the ensuing kickoff, Basil made hit No. 2, getting the tackle on Jared Abbrederis at the Wisconsin 29-yard line when it appeared the Badgers return man was about to break free.
Bryant near miss costly The Buckeyes had Wisconsin facing third-and-7 at the Ohio State 22 midway through the first quarter as quarterback Russell Wilson fired over the middle for running back Montee Ball. OSU safety Christian Bryant for an instant appeared to have made the interception. Instead, Ball hauled in the pass, thrown just behind him, and rambled to the end zone for the only touchdown of the half. Columbus Dispatch
Obvious stars Miller, who delivered two of the more astounding Ohio State plays in recent memory. First came the 44-yard touchdown run that gave the Buckeyes a 12-point lead with 4:39 to play. Then came the scrambling, arching 40-yard pass to Devin Smith in the end zone for the win. But of course, it might have been for naught had Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson gotten off his last pass unfettered. Instead, linebacker Andrew Sweat hit him just in time.
Unsung workers Defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins was again among the tackle leaders with seven, spending most of the game on the field along with John Simon, Adam Bellamy and Garrett Goebel on the front four.
Strategically speaking The Buckeyes kept pounding away at the middle of the Badgers defense, and as excruciating as it was to watch at times, it paid off when Daniel Herron broke through on a 57-yard run on the first play of the second half. Those who thought Ohio State had to throw a lot — at least compared with the four passes at Illinois two weeks ago — were proved wrong with 268 yards rushing, led by Herron’s 160. But, of course, the biggest play of the game was a pass.
Exposed The Wisconsin defense. While many were touting the Badgers as late as two weeks ago as being national championship contenders, the big question was how their defense would hold up when they started playing real competition (Nebraska excepted). That’s two straight weeks the Badgers have given up more than 30 points.
Stat that matters Wisconsin, which earned its name with a punishing running game, gained just 89 yards rushing. Of course, 44 of that came on one run by Montee Ball in the fourth quarter that got the Badgers back into the fray. For the most part, the Ohio State defense stopped the run first then played pass defense. Columbus Dispatch
Adam Rittenberg talks with Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat following the Buckeyes' 33-29 win over Wisconsin.
Ohio State-Wisconsin report card
October 30, 2011 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Ohio State's young linebackers on special teams -- A, Christian Bryant's big hits -- B..., Ohio State's throwback uniforms -- C...
The Bottom Line October 30, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Ohio State Report Card Offense (3 leaves), Defense (3 leaves), Special teams (4 leaves), Coaching (4 leaves), Opponent (3 leaves), Officiating (2 leaves)
Jon Spencer's Buckeye Report Card for Wisconsin October 31, 2011 Source: Mansfield News Journal - Offensive Line Grade B..., Running Game Grade A..., Passing Game Grade C..., Defensive Line Grade B..., Linebackers...Grade B..., Secondary Grade B..., Special Teams Grade B..., Coaching Grade B-...
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, on whether his team came into the game with a “hangover” from the last-second loss at Michigan State the week before: “There wasn’t any hangover. They were chomping at the bit to get going.” Source: Associated Press
Tough sledding early October 30, 2011 Source: UWBadgers.com - Number one, Ohio State had a good plan of attack. They rushed John Simon off the edge, creating havoc. Simon created all sorts of problems in terms of assignments. The combination of Simon and Andrew Sweat helped shut down Wisconsin’s running game. That, along with a hard-hitting secondary that might have been the best tackling group of defensive backs that the Badgers will face all season long.
It’s a matter of trying to get a few first downs to keep the offense on the field. There were three drives in the first half where the Badgers came up fourth-and-1. On those drives, the Badgers faced a third-and-4, third-and-3 and third-and-1. That’s really what contributes to the lack of offense, or at least the lack of consistent offense; the inability to convert some of those third-and-fives or less. Coming into the game, Wisconsin was No. 2 in the country in third-down conversions...
They said it: "Hopefully the rest of my life I won’t have to relive what I’ve lived through the last two weeks." — Wisconsin free safety Aaron Henry
Telling stat: Wisconsin couldn’t move the chains. The Badgers were just 5 of 14 on third-down conversions while falling behind 26-14. They entered the game having converted 48 of 82 third-down plays for a 58.5 percentage that ranked second in the nation. They faced fourth-and-2 at the OSU 38, trailing 20-14 midway through the fourth quarter, when Montee Ball was stopped short on a run. Wisconsin’s offensive line, featured this month in Sports Illustrated, fell far short of its acclaim. Source: Columbus Dispatch
Wisconsin October 29, 2011 8:00PM
"I just see a different guy than I saw before. He’s got so much more confidence. I’m sure he understands and feels way more comfortable with the offense, controlling the huddle — all those little things. I really just think he’s been going out there and playing like he knows how to play and being calm and playing natural." - Mike Brewster on Braxton Miller
WISCONSIN WILL WIN IF: Russell Wilson hasn't lost his mojo. Wilson had a rough game in Wisconsin's 37-31 loss to Michigan State last week, complete with two very regrettable throws that ended up getting intercepted, but his stats still weren't very bad, and he's still the second-rated passer in the NCAA so far this season, barely trailing Robert Griffin III. That said, for as great as MSU's defense has been all year long, Wilson's not going to get much respite this week -- even though the Buckeyes' defensive production hasn't yet reached its overall talent level yet.
OHIO STATE WILL WIN IF: It gets four quarters of dominance from its defense. Ohio State's biggest win of the season came against Illinois, when it stifled the Illini attack and surrendered all of seven points for the game. In OSU's most embarrassing loss, the defense still only allowed 10 points to the same MSU team that just put 37 on the scoreboard last week. And for two and a half quarters, Nebraska had been bottled up by the Buckeyes, trailing 27-6. We know how that one turned out, of course, but that's the point: If the Buckeyes go hard for 60 minutes, they can effectively shut down just about anybody. And if OSU doesn't bring defensive intensity for the entire game, an offense like Wisconsin's is more than capable of racking up points in a hurry.
X-FACTOR: The crowd. Ohio Stadium has long been the paramount of the Big Ten's arenas, and it's not hard to see why: the place is huge, seating over 100,000 fans, and its double-tiered setup makes those rabid Buckeye partisans even more deafening, which they usually are. Usually. But with OSU's struggles, the fans have been muted at times, even turning downright hostile during the MSU 10-7 victory in the conference opener. If Wisconsin can jump all over the Buckeyes early -- particularly with defensive stops -- the crowd should be a little more hospitable for Russell Wilson and company to run their offense. Source: CBSSports.com
Key to the game vs. Wisconsin October 28, 2011 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Ohio State playing with nothing to lose...Ohio State is an underdog. Play like it...
Wilson’s play at QB adds to challenge for defense October 28, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Coach Luke Fickell wants the Ohio State defense to treat its game on Saturday against Wisconsin as a chance to prove itself on prime-time TV, not as an appearance on Fear Factor. That’s even though the usually burly, bullish Badgers have never looked more frightening than they do this season under the direction of senior transfer Russell Wilson. The quarterback’s ability to keep plays alive, running and passing, was on display again last week as he rallied the Badgers from 14 points down to tie Michigan State in the fourth quarter — only to see the Spartans win on a Hail Mary touchdown pass...
What do you Want to see on Saturday? Wisconsin Edition October 28, 2011 Source: The Buckeye Battle Cry - Controlling the line of scrimmage. If the Silver Bullets can out pressure on Russel Wilson, we saw that he can turn the football over. The Buckeyes need a lot of pressure up front to disrupt the running game as well....Braxton Miller showing more confidence in the pocket. I would like to see him get a chance to complete some passes on first and second down and early in the game. Also, when he drops back, I would like to see 1..2..3 step and get rid of the ball. Don’t want to see him hold onto the ball too long...
Why you should watch: This is a key Leaders Division clash, as each program is surprisingly looking up at Penn State. The loser of this game will have a difficult time rebounding to win the division. It will be interesting to see how the Badgers respond to their first bit of adversity coming off the first loss of the season. And trying to rebound on the road at Ohio State exasperates the situation. Ohio State enters the game off a bye week and feeling confident coming off a gutty victory at Illinois. More motivation for the Buckeyes: They are looking to avenge a 31-18 loss at Wisconsin last season.
Keep an eye on: The Badger special teams. Wisconsin a field goal blocked, a punt blocked for a touchdown and also allowed a Spartan punt roll inside the 5-yard line, which helped set up a Michigan State safety. In a six-point defeat, attention to the details of special teams can make a big difference. The coaches must tighten this unit.
Key matchup: Wisconsin’s offensive line vs. Ohio State’s defensive line. This is power on power with guys like Wisconsin’s Peter Konz and Kevin Zeitler vs. Ohio State’s John Simon and Johnathan Hankins. Whoever owns the trenches in this encounter will have a great chance to win the game.
Numbers game: 71 tackles for Badger linebacker Chris Borland, which leads the Big Ten and is tied for 14th in the country.
Keep an eye on: Ohio State QB Braxton Miller. The true freshman brims with potential, but he’s a work in progress who is suffering growing pains. In his last game—a win at Illinois—Miller completed just 1-of-4 passes. He will have to pass better—and more often—to be a team like Wisconsin.
Key note: The Badgers have been explosive this season. Wisconsin has 18 scoring drives that have lasted less than two minutes and already have 46 plays of longer than 20 yards. Last season, the Badgers had 55 20-plus yard plays in 13 games and 24 scoring drives that lasted less than two minutes. Wisconsin has had at least four plays of 20 yards in every game in 2011. Source: Big Ten Network
What to watch in the Big Ten: Week 9 - Buckeyes' last stand: Ohio State's season likely comes down to Saturday night's game against Wisconsin. A win would change the vibe around the Buckeyes' program and Fickell, who some fans have already written off as they pine for Urban Meyer or another Scarlet and Gray savior. If Ohio State beats Wisconsin and Penn State loses to Illinois, the Buckeyes would have a very real shot at a Leaders division title (pending the NCAA infractions committee's ruling, of course). Ohio State hosts Penn State on Nov. 19 and would have momentum on its side entering the season's decisive month. Coming off of a bye week, Ohio State is holding a Scarlet-Out in The Shoe in what should be an electric atmosphere Saturday night. Source: ESPN
Ohio State seeking big plays from linebackers vs. Wisconsin October 26, 2011 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Ohio State may trot out an unusual defense against Wisconsin on Saturday, one that the Buckeyes haven't used very often lately. A defense with three linebackers...
Two-Minute Drill: Fickell’s Tuesday Press Luncheon October 25, 2011 Source: The Ozone - Ohio State’s Head Coach answered questions about the upcoming night game against Wisconsin, the alternate jerseys and the status of running back Jaamal Berry, all while dodging questions about the future of his job in Columbus...
Buckeyes face fourth consecutive ranked opponent Saturday under the lights.
The series between the Buckeyes and the Badgers shows Ohio State with a 53-17-5 lead. In games played in Columbus, the Buckeyes lead 29-7-3.
Ohio State ranks 12th nationally in fewest points allowed at 16.2 ppg.
Braxton Miller is one of just three true freshman starting QBs among FBS schools.
Ohio State has allowed just one 100-yard rusher in the past 26 games at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State will be donning uniquely designed, highly advanced Nike uniforms Saturday against Wisconsin, honoring the 50th anniversary of
The Ohio State University’s undefeated 1961 championship season Saturday will be the 90th Homecoming celebrated at Ohio State with the Buckeyes 64-19-5 in Homecoming games.
Calling the Ohio State / Wisconsin game for ESPN this weekend will be Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe.
Eddie George, OSU’s 1995 Heisman Trophy winner, will be honored at halftime Saturday
This week's Captains: John Simon, Mike Brewster, Andrew Sweat.
Saturday night, at halftime of Ohio State's Homecoming game against the Wisconsin Badgers, Eddie George will be honored as the 23rd Buckeye football player to be enshrined into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. A 1995 team captain and the sixth Buckeye to win the Heisman Trophy, Eddie George truly left his mark on Ohio State.
He holds the single season and single game rushing records...
And he ranks second only to the great Archie Griffin in career yards.
In 1995, he rushed for a school-record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns.
No one will ever forget his memorable 314-yard game against Illinois or his 207-yard game vs. Notre Dame.
Eddie was a consensus All-American in 1995 when he was also honored with the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Doak Walker and the Jim Brown Awards.
A first-round draft pick by the Houston Oilers, Eddie was the 1996 NFL Rookie of the Year.
He would go on to play nine years in the NFL and earn four Pro Bowl berths.
He received his degree in landscape architecture from Ohio State in 2001, the same year his No. 27 jersey was retired by the school.
Today, this businessman, radio personality, husband and father resides in Tennessee with his wife, Taj, and their sons Eriq and Jaire.
Badgers Should Provide Prime-Time Test October 28, 2011 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - The next game on the Ohio State schedule is perhaps the most anticipated contest of the season: the Buckeyes' revenge game vs. a top-15 Wisconsin team under the lights in Ohio Stadium. The Badgers are coming off a loss to Michigan State but boast excellent statistics, which can be found in this preview that includes depth charts, rankings and more...
Preview: #12 Wisconsin at Ohio State October 28, 2011 Source: Eleven Warriors - People have been saying it all week: Ohio State can't beat Wisconsin without passing the footed ball through the air, mostly comprised of nitrogen, and then have it settle into the awaiting arms of wide receivers/tight ends, who are mostly comprised of water. Well, maybe not in those exact same words, but the general idea is that it's been repeated ad nauseam in a variety of different ways and it is absolutely 100% true. What concerns me is that I'm still not sure who the hell Miller is going to throw to; sure, Stoneburner is supposed to be the de facto safety net, but he hasn't found ways to get open consistently. My bet is on Philly Brown being the main guy, but ultimately it won't matter if Miller wasn't able to use the Bye week to bone up on his understanding of blitz packages...
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Preview October 28, 2011 Source: The Ozone -This will be the best running game that the Buckeyes will face this season, and that includes the Miami Hurricanes, who rushed for 240 yards against them, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who rushed for 232 yards. Unfortunately for Ohio State, this will also be the best passing game they will face as well. Quarterback Russell Wilson is second in the nation in passing efficiency (204.91), and has thrown for 1,780 yards and 16 touchdowns, with just three interceptions...
CineSport's Brian Clark previews Saturday's UW-OSU game with Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Preview: Wisconsin at Ohio State October 28, 2011 Source: The Cleveland Fan - Wisconsin’s defense is ranked 9th nationally, giving up just 286 yards per game. They lost their most dominant player from a year ago in J.J. Watt, but the defensive line has held its own in spite of that. DE Louis Nzegwu and DT Patrick Butrym are the guys most likely to jump out at you with their play on that line. At linebacker, the Badgers have had tons of injury problems over the last two years, but now they have Chris Borland and Mike Taylor back healthy, and playing together they are probably the strength of the defensive unit. They run and tackle well, and both can deliver a blow...
Ohio State vs Wisconsin Preview October 28, 2011 Source: Men of the Scarlet and Gray - The rushing performance against Illinois has not gotten the attention it deserves...I don’t care if OSU was rushing against JoeBob’s Tire and Lube University – it’s almost impossible to run against a box stacked with ten defenders. And yet OSU did it for the entire afternoon… with no magic, no trickery. OSU is 19-1 when Boom Herron gets 55 yards. Do you think Boom will get 55 yards this week? I’m betting he can...
2011 Wisconsin Badgers Game Preview October 27, 2011 Source: Buckeye Planet - Head-to-Head: Wisconsin OL versus OSU OL The Wisconsin line has been bulldozing opponents all season long. They lost last week but put up over 200 yards both rushing and passing against the #1 statistical defense in the country. Before that no one had even slowed them down, especially in the run game. Wilson definitely adds a dynamic element to the offense, but without superior blocking and a seamless transition to a different type of QB by the line, his talents would be nowhere near maximized. It would not be at all surprising to see 2-3 Badgers on the first or second team all-B1G this year. They also have high quality depth along the entire front, something that few if any teams can match. This program has produced superstars like Joe Thomas and Gabe Carimi in the recent past, and the development of offensive linemen doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Edge: Wisconsin...
CFN Preview - Wisconsin at Ohio State October 27, 2011 Source: CollegeFootballNews.com - What Will Happen: Wisconsin will play like the Michigan State game never happened. Braxton Miller will throw three interceptions, the Badger running game will take control early, and the Buckeyes will have to try to mount a comeback. It won’t be pretty, and there won’t be any hangover whatsoever. CFN Prediction: Wisconsin 31 … Ohio State 13...
Wisconsin offensive lineman Josh Oglesby and running back Montee Ball talk with UWBadgers.com following Tuesday's practice as the Badgers prepare to face Ohio State on Saturday.
Ohio native Chris Borland talks about Badgers' defense and challenge of facing OSU in Columbus
Bret Bielema, Big Ten Teleconference October 25, 2011
The Badgers lead the Big Ten in both scoring offense and rank second in scoring defense. Wisconsin and Stanford are the only two teams in the country to rank among the top 10 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Junior RB Montee Ball leads the nation with 19 TDs. That is eight more than any other Big Ten player.
UW ranks among the top 10 nationally in 16 categories: fewest fumbles lost (tied for first), third-down conversions (second), punt returns (second), passing efficiency (second), fewest turnovers lost (tied for second), passing defense (fourth), fewest tackles for loss allowed (fourth), scoring offense (fi fth), scoring defense (sixth), red zone offense (sixth), fourth-down conversions (tied for seventh), rushing offense (eighth), total offense (eighth), total defense (ninth), red zone defense (tied for ninth) and fi rst downs allowed (10th).
Sophomore walk-on WR Jared Abbrederis leads the Badgers with 30 catches and is second on the Badgers and seventh in the conference in receiving yardage. In addition to starting every game at wide receiver this season, Abbrederis leads the country in punt returns, averaging 22.3 yards per return.
Quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Big Ten and is second nationally in passer efficiency (204.9).
The Badgers rank second in the country in third-down percentage, converting 48 of their 82 third-down attempts (58.5 percent). UW has also converted four of its fi ve fourthdown attempts, resulting in just 19 punts. Only three teams in the country have punted fewer times (Baylor, Stanford and Navy).
QB Russell Wilson is a big part of that success. On third down this season, he is 33-for-42 (.786) for 390 yards, eight TDs and one interception. That translates to a pass efficiency of 214.7. On third-and-long (5+ yards) he is 22-for-27 for 266 yards and UW has converted 16
of those 27 third downs (59.3 percent).
Bret Bielema became the sixth-fastest Big Ten coach since 1946 to reach 50 career wins. Only Bo Schembechler, Joe Paterno, Earle Bruce, Lloyd Carr and Jim Tressel reached 50 wins faster than Bielema.
"It was unbelievable. It was an unbelievable effort. We have had our ups and downs, but we did not stop playing tonight. The coaches believed in us and we believed in ourselves."
