Preview: #2 Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
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 #2 Ohio State 0-0, 0-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
August 30, 2008 12:00 PM ET - BTN —— Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH |
 Youngstown State 0-0, 0-0 Missouri Valley Roster | Schedule |
First, the obligatory plea to banish all future games against FCS opponents. USC doesn’t do it. Even Michigan State has never played an FCS team. They are no-win games for the team and they don’t do the Buckeyes any favors in polls or national perception. If Vegas isn’t even handing out a line for a game, you know it probably won’t benefit your SoS.
I realize it’s Heacock’s brother and Tressel is helping out the school that gave him his chance early in his career, but hopefully this game will be the last we see of an FCS opponent (future schedules seem to confirm the administration agrees with this line of thinking).
Now that we have that out of the way, it’s hard to put into words how pumped we are for this game. After hearing all about the multitude of weapons, the formations, Beanie, the no huddle and LeBron in Freakin’ Cleats it’s like peeking two months early to see you had Voltron coming for Christmas and that day has finally arrived.
Add to this the late announcement that Time Warner had finally come to terms with the Big Ten Network and this game, whether you’ll be at the stadium or watching with friends, should have a little more juice to it than your run-of-the-mill opener against FCS competition.
Opponent
Last season the Penguins of Youngstown State made their first-ever visit to Ohio Stadium and were rightfully roughed-up by a reloading, but talented Buckeye team. On a Saturday overshadowed by Appalachian State, they were held to two field goals and under 100 yards both rushing and receiving. And that was with four-year starter Tom Zetts, owner of just about every school passing record, leading the charge.
This season the Penguins must break in a new quarterback, most likely junior Todd Rowan (#15), owner of one career completion. Fellow junior Brandon Summers (#6), a transfer from Toledo, could also see snaps as could all-conference wide receiver Ferlando Williams (#1) in a direct-snap manner. Williams was held in check by Ohio State last season, but clearly looks to be YSU’s most potent offensive weapon.
That great talent neutralizer, the spread, will be more prominently featured than last season when Youngstown State operated out of the set at various times in the Horseshoe. The Penguins will also be looking for better rushing production this season, but won’t see that happen until next weekend at the earliest.
The 38-6 final didn’t really reflect how well Youngstown State’s defense played last year. Entering the fourth quarter, they had managed to hold the Buckeyes to 24 points, and on the afternoon limited the Buckeye rushing attack to 147 yards on 41 attempts — good enough for a meager 3.6 yards per carry.
Jon Heacock’s defense will be lead by two-time all-conference and preseason first-team All-American Mychal Savage (#96) at tackle. He’s good and an argument could be made that he is one of the few Penguins good enough to play for the Buckeyes (especially given his position), but he’s only one guy and the other 10 will be overmatched.
The Penguins will be game for a while and they’ll come out fired-up to play in the largest stadium in the state that many of them grew up in, but in reality, this team would have problems staying with the 2004 Buckeyes, let alone this unit.
NOTES: The Penguins are ranked #12 in preseason FCS polls… YSU is 7-0 in games played in August and 11-1 in their last 12 openers… Youngstown native and former 49er owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. will donate $750k to YSU for construction of a new indoor practice facility — at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
BUCKEYE BREAKDOWN
The one thing you always want to avoid in a game like this is a key injury. Last season, the Buckeyes weren’t so fortunate, losing Lawrence Wilson for the season in the 2nd quarter. The really sad part is that he was off to such a hot start with two TFLs and a sack before he went down. Wilson is a little dinged-up heading into the opener this season, but if there’s one Buckeye looking forward to this matchup, he has to be the guy.
Unless that guy is Beanie Wells. Wells was held to a disappointing 46 yards on 16 carries, by far his lowest average of the season at 2.9 yards per carry. He did see the endzone on the day, but you have to imagine he’s chomping at the bit to pile up chunks of yardage. He’ll have to get his numbers in a hurry because if things go as planned, he may not see too much of the field in the second half. Still, there’s a good chance that at least one Penguin defender will be driven about three feet deep into the turf by way of stiff-arm before Boom hits the field.
Boeckman used the YSU game last season to solidify a grip on the starting quarterback position and had a good day, finishing 17 of 23 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. His go-to guy on the afternoon was Robiskie, who finished with 9 receptions for 153 yards — much of that before the half.
The third receiver battle has received a lot of play heading into the season and we should get a glimpse of who will begin to emerge there (Dane Sanzenbacher as of now, by all accounts), though a game like this may not present enough opportunities for one player or another to put real distance between himself and others.
FinallyPerhaps the biggest question heading into the game is when Pryor will see the field. Tressel has said that Todd will come out for the third or fourth series and right now it’s anybody’s guess as to whether it’s Bauserman or Pryor that will come on in relief. Bauserman was the firm number two just a few days ago, but Thursday the Vest seemed to indicate that the two were sharing that second spot. I can only imagine the reaction in the ‘Shoe if it’s Pryor that comes in on that third series.
The defense, for not having many question marks just a few weeks ago, enters the game without the services of Kurt Coleman and backup defensive back Andre Amos. Sophomore Jermale Hines, a former Glenville quarterback and linebacker, will assume the starting strong safety duties in light of Coleman’s injury and Jamario O’Neal’s suspension. The secondary will have some new faces, but it will also be an excellent opportunity to get some of the younger guys minutes against a spread-type offense.
Despite the strong showing last year, the Buckeyes should look to improve upon their two sacks and zero interceptions. Did I mention that getting through the afternoon injury-free would be a nice bonus as well?
NOTES: Last season three freshman scored touchdowns against the Penguins: Dane Sanzenbacher, Taurian Washington and Brandon Saine… The Buckeyes will be gunning for victory #799… Ohio State hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent since 1921 (Oberlin — shout-out to the wife)… The Buckeyes have won 29-straight home openers since losing to Penn State to start the 1978 season.
PREDICTION: OSU 42, Youngstown State 3
30 Responses
24 hrs from right now I will be tailgating!! I love football season…
emac - 08/29/08 @ 8:16 am - #
I get the feeling that as much as we want to see from the Buckeyes in game one its just going to be Beanie’s show. After reading about his dissappointment in his first two games last year I get the feeling the gate is about to open and out of it will come the meanest, fiercest, and most dangerous bull from the pen.
He’ll get minimal touches, but he’ll lay 150+, 2TDs, and three massive stiff-arms minimum on the Penguins.
BrotherBuck - 08/29/08 @ 8:33 am - #
Thank you, Jason, for saying that Beanie will be chOmping at the bit instead of chAmping at the bit. I see that mistake made far too often. Well done. So excited for this season!!
Rod - 08/29/08 @ 8:33 am - #
If beanie gets 20 carries, I’ll be shocked. I think 15, and he breaks off 3 long ones. 2 memorable Stiff Arms of Justice.
And I can’t wait to see Boom tucking in behind Mike Adams or JB.
I bet TP gets sacked on his first non-handoff play.
Dan Isaacs (most of these were typed as lowercase letters.) - 08/29/08 @ 10:19 am - #
I have to agree with you on your plea to stop scheduling 1-AA teams. As a Penn State fan it makes me disgruntled to know I have to pay fulll price for everything for what usually amounts to a scrimmage against some school that has no realistic chance. Penn State plays Coastal Carolina this weekend and Eastern Illinois looms on the 2009 schedule (Youngstown State is on our 2010 schedule, if that holds up).
Should be an easy win this weekend for the Buckeyes. I’m anxious to see Pryor in whatever action he sees. Enjoy the season opener Buckeye fans.
Kevin - 08/29/08 @ 10:30 am - #
The Dispatch is reporting that Tressel signed a revised contract and will be the top paid in coach in the Big Ten…like he should be.
emac - 08/29/08 @ 10:53 am - #
I expect a slow start from Beanie - that seems to be his M.O. He’ll have a couple of tune-up games, then explode in the conference schedule. He may get some yardage against Troy, though, because I think that game will be closer than people expect.
OSU 45-10, or 42-13. Go Bucks!!!
Joe Fox - 08/29/08 @ 11:01 am - #
Normally I’d agree about Beanie starting slow… But the comments he’s been making to ESECPN have me feeling differently (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/bigten/0-1-314/Beanie—I-could-have-played-a-lot-better-.html).
I’s with BrotherBuck and the camp that think he’ll come out of gate ready to mow down defenders with that arm of his. If he does, and the line play if what we hope it will be, he should be able to leave the game at half time and be happy with the numbers that he put up.
Is it Saturday afternoon yet??
DT - 08/29/08 @ 11:50 am - #
Another light schedule for the Overrated BrownEyes. Can’t wait to see their fans all jazzed up just to be let down as soon as they play someone with some talent.
The F-Eyes - 08/29/08 @ 12:19 pm - #
Hey F-Eyes, report to my office. I’ve got a tea bag waiting for you.
Principal Skinner - 08/29/08 @ 12:39 pm - #
Less than 24 hours now…
Corey - 08/29/08 @ 12:54 pm - #
Count me in with the Beanie hot-start crowd. I’d say it’s 50/50 whether he takes the first handoff of the game 70+ yards for six.
Jason - 08/29/08 @ 2:55 pm - #
First carry something like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnuk4X6tajs
Nick - 08/29/08 @ 3:17 pm - #
First carry something like this……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnuk4X6tajs
Nick - 08/29/08 @ 3:18 pm - #
tomorrow is for the fans… who cares what the score is?? Get alot of underclassmen some playing time and get Pryor some snaps. Other than that….. run the clock down quick and end the game without injury— Saturday nite start preparing for the Bobcats who are not as bad as they look (but not a supreme challenge either)!!!
Mitch G. - 08/29/08 @ 3:24 pm - #
They had the scheduling guy on 1460 one day talking about how they schedule OSU games. He gave a good explanation as to why they had to put FCS on the schedule.
When the Big Ten allowed a 12th game, OSU had to fill a slot. He said that because football pays for all the other programs, OSU needs a homegame. So, they had to scramble to get a team, and the only teams that were available who’d be able to play our home games without us returning the favor (ala, the home and home series like USC/Texas) are FCS schools. But now since we’ve had time to schedule, they’ve remedied that situation.
Keith - 08/29/08 @ 3:27 pm - #
I know Beanie might not see much of the field if they get a huge lead in the 1st half, but dammit, he’s on a Heisman hunt. I want to see at least 250 yards and 2 TDs.
Steve - 08/29/08 @ 6:07 pm - #
You Ohio football fans really got it bad. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to cheer either the Crowns, Bungels or Crapeyes. At least your pro teams know they suck. The Crapeyes will fool you into thinking their going places just to screw you in the end.
The one thing the overrated Crapeyes are good for is a nice laugh and the end of the season. It’s fun to laugh at the suckered fans too.
Woody Hayes is Crying - 08/29/08 @ 8:06 pm - #
Woody, thanks for the proof of your vapid existence.
Jason - 08/29/08 @ 11:00 pm - #
Woody is crying…good to hear you have important things to do with your time. Go back to goldendome nation or where ever it may be your shitty existence stems. The smallest circle in hell is reserved for blog shit talkers, cruising boards of teams they are desparate to beat but can’t. If you were a LSU fan, a UF fan, you would have just come out and said it. Alas, you hide like the herpes infested trailer trash you really are. Get back to the meth lab before your momma gets home from third shift, bitch.
COB - 08/30/08 @ 10:03 am - #
You Ohio football fans really got it bad. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to cheer either the Crowns, Bungels or Crapeyes. At least your pro teams know they suck. The Crapeyes will fool you into thinking their going places just to screw you in the end.
The one thing the overrated Crapeyes are good for is a nice laugh and the end of the season. It’s fun to laugh at the suckered fans too.
Woody Hayes is Crying - 08/30/08 @ 12:19 pm - #
WHY THE OHIO STATE SUCKS
1. The pretentious use of “the” preceding “Ohio State.”
2. Ohio State has a losing bowl record.
3. Reggie Germany somehow maintained his academic eligibility at Ohio State with a 0.0 GPA.
4. Placing stickers of pot plants on their helmets, in some scheme designed to reduce the importance of team achievements.
5. Woody Hayes is idolized by Buckeye fans, instead of shunned due to his violent nature which consists not only of hitting Clemson players, but assaults in other incidents.
6. Art Schlichter’s career as a compulsive gamber and criminal began and was nurtured at Ohio State.
7. Sammy Maldonado was a fine student and citizen in high school, and then became a problem child and poor student at Ohio State. He resurrected his education, career and life, transferring to Maryland.
8. Maurice Clarett developed from a decent high school student and football player into a criminal at Ohio State.
9. Jim Tressel is responsible for the Maldonado and Clarett situations, as well as Marco Cooper, Troy Smith and other Buckeyes receiving payments, yet Buckeye fans continue to apologize and ignore this behavior, even pretending that he runs a clean program.
10. John Cooper is not reviled by Buckeye fans for his pathetic graduation rates, or any of the scummier elements of the Buckeye program, but for one thing: 2-10-1.
11. Ohio State has had four major infractions with the NCAA. And they’re damn lucky they didn’t have any with Clarett and other players receiving payments.
12. Ohio State continually changes their jerseys. You may have noticed that this website has the same colors as their jerseys: red and black. There is no gray on their jerseys. I guess they don’t have a tradition worth upholding.
13. Ohio State’s “greatest” tradition is the “Dotting of the I.” Forgive me for not being impressed by the talent required for some tuba player to bow. This is particularly embarrassing, since the script Ohio was invented by the Michigan Marching Band in 1932.
Woody Hayes is Crying - 08/30/08 @ 12:22 pm - #
STUPID OHIO STATE TRADITIONS
1. The band wears berets when not marching on the field. This is French, and quite effeminite.
2. The team colors are the same colors of the Vichy French -red and black. This is French.
3. The band plays French tunes. Pregame, they play “Francais Nationale Defile March.” During halftime, they play the 1812 Overture simply so they could play the French national anthem.
4. Their mascot is a bearded mime. This is French.
5. The mime is known by the of Brutus. Aptly named, Brutus derives from the Latin brutus, meaning “heavy, dull and stupid.”
6. After a rare TD, the Ohio State Band celebrates in the gayest way possible. They give each other piggyback rides, band members celebrates by swinging a stuffed banana around and around.
7. Sweatervests are very big among French men. This is French.
8. Carmen Ohio has Ohio State fans mimicking the hand motions for Y-M-C-A.
9. Ohio State thought so little of their Buckeye Grove tradition (where a Buckeye tree is planted for each Buckeye to win 1st team All-American honors) that they destroyed the grove and replanted the trees in 2001.
10. Ohio State copied the “Tunnel of Pride” idea from Michigan, as it looks very similar to Michigan players touching the Go Blue banner. Oh, and this so-called tradition is 12 years old.
11. The idiotic practice of putting stickers on a helmet.
12. The most recognizable song the Ohio State band plays is “Hang On Sloopy,” a mediocre pop song.
13. The Buckeye jerseys are … wait a second, there is NO tradition there, because they change their jerseys so often - two changes in the last two years.
14. The Ohio State band’s uniforms are copied from the Salvation Army.
Woody Hayes is Crying - 08/30/08 @ 12:25 pm - #
STUPID OHIO STATE TRADITIONS
1. The band wears berets when not marching on the field. This is French, and quite effeminite.
2. The team colors are the same colors of the Vichy French -red and black. This is French.
3. The band plays French tunes. Pregame, they play “Francais Nationale Defile March.” During halftime, they play the 1812 Overture simply so they could play the French national anthem.
4. Their mascot is a bearded mime. This is French.
5. The mime is known by the of Brutus. Aptly named, Brutus derives from the Latin brutus, meaning “heavy, dull and stupid.”
6. After a rare TD, the Ohio State Band celebrates in the gayest way possible. They give each other piggyback rides, band members celebrates by swinging a stuffed banana around and around.
7. Sweatervests are very big among French men. This is French.
8. Carmen Ohio has Ohio State fans mimicking the hand motions for Y-M-C-A.
9. Ohio State thought so little of their Buckeye Grove tradition (where a Buckeye tree is planted for each Buckeye to win 1st team All-American honors) that they destroyed the grove and replanted the trees in 2001.
10. Ohio State copied the “Tunnel of Pride” idea from Michigan, as it looks very similar to Michigan players touching the Go Blue banner. Oh, and this so-called tradition is 12 years old.
11. The idiotic practice of putting stickers on a helmet.
12. The most recognizable song the Ohio State band plays is “Hang On Sloopy,” a mediocre pop song.
13. The Buckeye jerseys are … wait a second, there is NO tradition there, because they change their jerseys so often - two changes in the last two years.
14. The Ohio State band’s uniforms are copied from the Salvation Army.
Woody Hayes - 08/30/08 @ 12:26 pm - #
Whoo, boy… How sad is that?? Someone needs to find OSU blogs to rail on someone else’s team just prior to their team’s game. Then dreaming up all sorts of ways to hate on us. How original. Just one more jealous windbag. I’d laugh at the ridiculous nature of it, if it wasn’t so pathetic…
DT - 08/30/08 @ 6:40 pm - #
Get a life, for real. Who is your team? Out with it? That’s what I thought. Pathetic.
COB - 08/31/08 @ 12:40 pm - #
Why Ohio State is AWESOME
1. OSU is a national powerhouse program in football.
2. Ohio State is also a powerhouse program in multiple other sports.
3. Ohio State has produced the 2nd most All-Americans out of any team in the nation, making it look more like it’s candy they are handing out.
4. OSU is one win away from 800 wins, a feat only accomplished by four other programs in history (Notre Dame, M!ch*g@n, Texas, & Nebraska).
5. The Buckeyes are the only team in BCS history to receive a perfect 1.0 BCS rating.
6. Ohio State has reached the most BCS title games (3), winning one.
7. OSU has 6 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame: Earl Bruce, John Cooper, Howard H. Jones, Francis Schmidt, John W. Wilce, and one Woodrow Wayne Hayes.
8. Ohio State does not live off the wins of other conference teams to justify their existence. They win their own games.
9. Archie Griffin. Enough said. Look it up if you don’t know…
10. The Buckeyes are tied with Princeton & Penn State for 7th on the list players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The SEC team with the most Hof players? 8th place Tennessee (20).
11. The uniforms for OSU are unique in their design and style, and their helmets are widely considered one of the 10 best helmets in the nation.
12. Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is the case, other teams love Ohio State. Other programs and their players do so frequently, with helmet stickers as a signature instance. Woody and team trainer Ernie Biggs developed the idea, which has since become a national phenomenon.
13. Although, being one of the most innovative programs on Earth lends itself to copycats… A prime example of this was in 1922, when the football team was so popular that Ohio Field could no longer house OSU games. So the university built a mammoth, modern stadium that would hold over 60,000. This led to the proliferation of today’s large scale football stadiums.
14. An overall winning percentage of 71.4% only trails four other programs: M!ch*g@n (74.5%), Notre Dame (73.9%), USC (72.1%), and Texas (71.5%).
15. An original mascot that stands out against all the lame & everyday mascots across the country, Brutus is a Buckeye. Not only a Buckeye, but one who does one armed push-ups and hangs out with beautiful cheerleaders.
16. Scarlet and gray: an awesome color combination that works with almost any outfit.
17. OSU tied with USC and Notre Dame for the most Heisman winners all time at 7.
18. Columbus has been a prolific pipeline of talent to the NFL and coaching ranks throughout its history. Great players such as Chris Carter, Jack Tatu, Jim Parker, Orlando Pace, Sid Gillman, Bill Willis, Jim Lachey, Eddie George, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Mike Vrabel, Paul Warfield… The list goes on and on. Many successful head coaches have also tenured as assistants at OSU during their careers: Lou Holtz, Bo Schembechler, Urban Meyer, and Pete Carroll are just a few of them.
19. OSU claims the top spot in football revenue and profit in the nation. The same is true for the athletic department as a whole, which in turn gives to the academic side of the institution.
20. Woody was a humanitarian, philanthropist, and great football coach. He was on the forefronts of both racial integration and utility of younger players. He visited people in hospitals that were ailing or dying. He contributed his own time and money to a vast array of causes. By all accounts from players, staff, and books that have been written; Woody’s famed temper was mostly an act. He would cut the seams on hats to make them easy to rip apart. He was a smaller and older man, making thumping their chest mean little when they were wearing pads. Woody encouraged the entire development of a PERSON, not just a PLAYER. Did I mention he was a GREAT coach?? Three time coach of the year, 5 undefeated seasons & national titles, and 13 conference titles.
21. The Best Damn Band In The Land. Dot.
22. The fans are one of the best in the nation. You can’t go anywhere without seeing one of them. You could be in Ohio, where OSU stuff can be seen EVERYWHERE. Or you could be in Myrtle Beach, where tons of Ohioians vacation. From Portsmouth, NH to Montreal, Canada; Buckeyes wear their allegiance boldly and proudly. Every team has bandwagon fans, to be sure. But Ohio State stands alone as having the largest student population, a massive and rabid alumni base, and the best fans in the land.
I got us started. Feel free to add to the list… ;)
DT - 08/31/08 @ 1:39 pm - #
I’ll be back after the USC game just to rub it in. The Crapeyes will screw their fans once again.
After this year will you guys finally learn they’re overrated and outclassed??
Come on people, wake up!!!
Woody Hayes - 09/01/08 @ 4:06 pm - #
To the moron that was comparing the Ohio State Band uniforms to the Salvation Army uniforms., get over yourself and don’t knock traditions. They are what makes the game of college football so great. Whether it’s Michigan’s or Notre Dame’s fight songs, Texas A&M’s 12 Man, or TBDBITL, traditions are what college football so, so great. And by the way, the Ohio State band uniforms are very similar to the Army ROTC uniforms worn at Ohio State in the mid to late 1930’s. I should know because my 92 year old Father was in the Army ROTC @ OSU and graduated in 1938. ROTC allowed my Dad to get through school and it also made him an officer in the US Army for WWII where he rose to Colonel.
Mike - 09/03/08 @ 3:00 pm - #
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