Ann Arbor is STILL a Whore!

For the eighth time in Jim Tressel's nine seasons as head coach in Columbus, the Ohio St Buckeyes topped michigan, 21-10, two weeks ago in the annual rivalry game. I said it in my preview and I'll say it again, I will never, EVER get tired of beating this team. I will never be one of those people who say "I like the rivalry better when michigan is good," because I love watching them be bad too damn much. Ohio St's sixth straight win ties them for the second-longest streak in the series. With the victory, the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title outright and keep michigan at home for the postseason for a second straight year, handing them their first back-to-back losing seasons since 1962-63.

Game Recap

Jon Thoma had a rare good punt on OSU's first possession, pinning the wolverines inside their ten. Two plays later, Tate Forcier was sacked and fumbled. Cameron Heyward scooped up the ball in the end zone, and just like that, it's 7-0 Bucks. Ohio St couldn't move the ball at all in the first quarter, and michigan managed one good drive that ended in a missed field goal.

Midway through the second, Forcier brought michigan down the field, but a good pass breakup by Kurt Coleman forced Jason Olesnavage to attempt another FG, one that he made this time, cutting the lead to 7-3. This score was way too close, and it was 14-3 in no time after a big run by Terrelle Pryor set up a 30-yard TD scamper by Brandon Saine. Both defenses played well to close out the half, and it was an 11-point Buckeye lead at the break.

Early in the second half, Pryor made his lone mistake of the ballgame, when he had a pass tipped at the line and was intercepted by Jonas Mouton at midfield. A few minutes later, Forcier hit Vincent Smith for a score to make it 14-10. Why are we letting these guys hang around? Pryor didn't let them do so for long, as on the next possession OSU had what was surely their best drive of the game. Dan Herron capped off the 11-play, 89-yard drive by catching a pass from TP to put the Bucks up, 21-10. Other than the touchdown, every other yard on the drive came on the ground, with Pryor, Herron, and Saine all contributing pretty much equally.

In the 4th quarter, Tressel was perfectly content with just running the clock out and letting michgian beat themselves. Kurt Coleman and Devon Torrence each picked off Forcier, and things didn't get any better for the wolverines when backup QB Denard Robinson came in, as he was promptly intercepted by Thaddeus Gibson and sacked on 4th down by John Simon. Ohio St dominated the running game (outgaining michigan 251-80 on the ground), came up with some big defensive plays (winning the turnover battle 5 to 1), and won (again) 21-10.


Game Notes

Game Ball
Just like last year for this game, Jim Tressel gets the GB for his complete and utter dominance over that school up north. He improved his record to 8-1 against his archrival, and shows no signs of letting up any time soon. He came in with the game plan of running right down their throats, limiting Pryor's mistakes, and playing solid defense. Check, check, checkmate. Hey haters, remember five weeks ago when you wanted to run this guy out of town? His michigan record alone should guarantee him a lifetime contract. (Oh yeah, perhaps his five straight conference titles/BCS appearances, too.)
Game Balls to date: Pryor, Defense (2), Saine, Coleman, Posey, Heyward, O-Line, Tressel

michigan Weekend
As always, the three days I spent in Columbus for this weekend were an absolute blast. Thursday's Mirror Lake experience was unbelievable yet again. In no way was it embarrassing that I participated even though I'm no longer a college student, especially since I've never actually attended Ohio St, but still joined in the jumping four of the past five years. The weekend as a whole was just a real good time. I can't wait until we beat these clowns again next year!

It Smells Like Roses
Finally, Ohio St has gone BACK, to Pasadena. It's been 13 long years since the Buckeyes have been in the Rose Bowl. Thirteen! On New Years Day 1997, Eddie George and company defeated Jake Plummer and Arizona St, 20-17, when Joe Germaine hit David Boston with 19 seconds left in one of the greatest games I've ever witnessed. Now the Buckeyes will return to face the Pac-10 champion, which will be decided this Thursday night when Oregon plays Oregon St. Either team would be a tough game for the Bucks, but both winnable. I'll provide a preview once everything is officially announced.

All-Conference Snubs
The All-Big Ten team was announced this past weekend, and the conference's outright winner and #1 defense only managed one first teamer, with SS Kurt Coleman being the lone representative. That's some bullshit. D-Lineman Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson both should have got some consideration, but ended up on the second team. Other second teamers were LB Ross Homan, RB Brandon Saine, and OG Justin Boren. Wisconsin RB John Clay was conference Player of the Year. I could see not having any offensive players, but this defense was far too good to only get one guy on the 1st team. I could also make a case for LB Brian Rolle and CB Chimidi Chekwa for 2nd team.

Up Next: TBA
As usual, the Buckeyes now wait for over a month until they play their Bowl game. Illinois finally woke up and decided this is a terrible idea, and scheduled non-conference games both last week and this coming week. Hopefully more Big Ten teams will start to do this, or the conference can just get a 12th team and have a Championship game, something that is long overdue (Notre Dame, Pitt - I'm talking to you).


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(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)