We won't get into whether or not Penn State's cupcake-laden schedule caught up with them again. What we will dive into and explore in all of its glory is the huge punch to the mouth the Buckeyes applied to the Nittany Lions in front of 110,000+ in Beaver Stadium.
Will be enjoying the rest of his weekendWith the exception of just one Graham Zug-fueled early drive and a questionable fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak out of Daryll Clark, the Buckeye defense served up a tall glass of three-and-outs to Penn State while on the other side of the ball, the offense was effective enough when it counted to turn a tight game into a bit of a laugher down the stretch before coasting to a 24-7 victory that puts them in the driver's seat for a Rose Bowl bid.
Coming into the game leading the nation with an average of 5.7 three-and-outs per game, the defense, led by Cam Heyward's two sacks and 11 tackles, forced the Lions into seven more three-and-outs and held Clark to a season-low 125 yards passing on 28 attempts. He was pressured and hurried right from the start, but the Buckeye offense had its own trouble out of the gates. Pryor was able to punch in a seven yard touchdown run, slipping by Bowman on Ohio State's second possession of the game after Ray Small took Penn State's opening punt back inside their ten. They would tack on three more when Devin Barclay connected on a 37 yard field goal with six minutes remaining in the first half, but would have to settle for a 10-7 halftime lead.
The Buckeye defense once again came out dominant to start the second half, forcing a quick Penn State punt after getting a sack and nearly an interception due to pressure on the next play. The offense answered by running Saine on four straight downs before DeVier Posey failed to come down with a pretty good Pryor throw into coverage. Many of us were clamoring for play-action at the time, but instead the Buckeyes punted again, gaining a dozen or so valuable yards in field position. Heyward, Gibson and crew stepped up to force another quick three-and-out. The Buckeyes would pick up a first down on their next series on a strike from Pryor to Posey, but were again forced to punt. This time, Thoma pinned the Lions down at their own eight yard line and three plays later, Penn State was punting the ball away again. Tresselball in full effect as the field position continued to tilt.
Now on their third possession of the half, the Buckeye defense came out with an unbalanced line and Pryor went play-action to hit Posey on a beautifully-thrown 62 yard bomb for a touchdown to put Ohio State up 17-7 with a little over 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The agonizing runs of the previous two series seemed to set the play up and many of us were left wondering what was funnier: the collision between the two Penn State defenders that sealed the touchdown or the fact that 110,000 white-clad fans were silent.
After forcing yet another Penn State three-and-out on the follow-up series, keyed by a huge two yard stop of Evan Royster on 3rd and 1, the Buckeyes got the ball back in excellent position after a 45 yard Small punt return and Pryor and the offense proceeded to go to work. On a cool, calculating series, Pryor led the Buckeyes on a 10 play 47 yard touchdown drive to account for the final score. On the drive, Pryor converted a huge 3rd and 11 early on with a 12 yard scamper and then completed passes to fullback Zach Boren and then Brandon Saine to convert two other third downs, the second of which resulted in a brilliant play-action touchdown pass to Saine in the flats that he punched in for six.
With nine and a half minutes remaining in the game and down 24-7, a Clark pass was intercepted by linebacker Ross Homan to pretty much extinguish any hopes for a Lion comeback on the afternoon. The two offenses traded punts the rest of the way as the 10,000 strong OSU cheering section took over rocking the stadium to Seven Nation Army.
Not to be overlooked in the win was the effort of punter Jon Thoma. He's played huge pretty much all season, on an afternoon when punts dominated the action early, he banged out a 55-yarder along the way to pinning the Lions inside their own twenty three times. In that same vein, the much maligned Small had two big returns that led directly to 14 Ohio State points.
Thanks to a heady, solid effort in Happy Valley, the Buckeyes are now one win away from a depleted Iowa squad next weekend before they can begin making plans for Jim Tressel's first Rose Bowl trip. Seems kind of crazy to think he's never been to a Rose Bowl, but getting into all of those MNC games will do that.
Bullets...
- It was frustrating at times, but I thought the staff did an excellent job of easing Pryor into a place to be more and more effective as the game progressed. He could have easily come in and tried to do too much early, considering the homecoming/recruiting aspects of the game. Credit to Pryor as well for making smart plays all day and accounting for all three Ohio State touchdowns.
- Though neither Saine nor Boom had monster games, the makeshift line (especially so after Shugarts went down) did a great job overall. The Buckeyes rushed for 228 yards on a defense that had given up an average of 84.1 per game coming in.
- Seriously, Graham Zug?
- Special note to Penn State fans and blogs: We know you want to have a rivalry with us and with Michigan being down, now is a perfect time to get something going. Unfortunately, you're going to have do a little better. Despite (unofficial) whiteouts, Paternoville, pep rallies and 110k+, Tressel is now 6-3 against Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions are averaging a mere 13 points per game in the series. Arm punts to all of you.
Obligatory, because it's a hell of a song no matter what stadium it's played in:
Comments
What's better:
1. (Pretty much) Shutting out Penn State? (Come on, we all know that TD was BS).
2. Having their fans BOO them at home?
3. Hearing their fans cry that OSU sucks (and so forth) in BCS bowls they couldn't make it to?
Funny how damn near everyone in the B10(+1) talks crap about how we blow it every year, but they aren't good enough to stop us?
I've said it before and I'll say it again: i love joepa and PSU is one of my favorite cfb teams. but PSU fans are worse than even us and maybe the worst in the big ten. I'm so pumped we won this game, not really because I care about some manufactured rivalry some piss-throwing bandwagon fans have tried to create, but because I love to see those same fans wallow in their own misery.
Hate Week starts on the 15th. This was just us taking care of business on week 10.
3) the "you guys made us look bad in a game we couldn't make it to" defense is hilarious.
good luck in the outback bowl, douches.
"m,anufactured rivalry". exactly my sentiments. they're not even little brother. they're little cousin.
I LOVE IT:
"Special note to Penn State fans and blogs: We know you want to have a rivalry with us and with Michigan being down, now is a perfect time to get something going. You’re going to have do a little better. Despite (unofficial) whiteouts, Paternoville, pep rallies and 110k+, Tressel is now 6-3 against Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions are averaging a mere 13 points per game in the series. Arm punts to all of you."
Also, can you make the Too Country pic a full size deal? I want that to be on facebook fo sho
"Arm punts to all of you.". Love it.
Damn I feel good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
like i said on here, and even more on facebook: penn state, you do not qualify for rivalry status. you must be "this tall" to ride this ride.
we need a "too country" tshirt. my visa and/or mastercard is waiting.....
I wasn't online earlier today so I didn't see this, BUT DANNY HOPE IS MY FAVORITE NON TRESS COACH EVER
http://www.freep.com/article/2...
his stache is TIGHT
You guys all need to head over to Black Shoe Diaries. This is classic.
http://www.blackshoediaries.co...
my account will no be approved for comments for 4 more days :(
don'r worry, i'll still be hilarious then.
So the current word is that Stanzi is out for 1-2 weeks? Good news I would assume?
Just reading the comments there is gratifying to my soul. And here's an appropriate summation of all their comments, done up in true "too country" style. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
In 2005 and 2008 the big ten title was decided because of the game between these two teams. If Penn State had better teams in 06 and 07 we really would have been seeing the birth of a rivalry.
Plus you can't blame them, when the big ten tries to shove a rivalry with Michigan State down your throat . . . well it's natural to try to look elsewhere.
Even a severe sprain can heal sufficiently to get him back on the field in 7 days. He'll be in a lot of pain, but with meds and a good wrap he might be able to play. But he won't be 100%.
But the thing is, once he gets sacked once by Heyward, that ankle is going to be shot all to hell. I have a hard time believing Iowa will not get blown out in that game. Michigan presents the biggest threat to us now, and that is just pure LOLZ
you have good points, except you CAN blame them. PSU fans are constantly trying to get in OSU fanbs ears, letting us know "we suck", saying we pay this guy or that guy, etc.
this game is just what it should have been all along, an OSU win.
PSU = lil cousin
Keys to the game? No turnovers, and Pryor's good decision making.
ricky bobby loves to throw picks. the backup is a better option for iowon't
My Favorite quote
"Well Here’s to OSU losing in another BCS bowl.
And to the further destruction of the Big Ten’s reputation."
'cause they took USC to the wire in the Rose Bowl, right?
EPIC FAIL
they're delusional.
here's to PSU getting beat by south carolina in the outback bowl
and then there is this
"One team has 7 national titles, and the other team has 2. One team has 7 Heisman Trophies, and the other team has 1. One team has 78 consensus first-team all Americans, and the other team has 39. One team has 6 Lombardi awards, and the other team has 1. One team has 4 Outland trophies, and the other team has 1. One team is part of the greatest rivalry in sports, and the other team used to play Pitt. Can you guess which team is which? You might assume that the latter team, given its underwhelming comparative accomplishments, has been playing college football for less amount of time than the former, but you’d be wrong; they began in 1887, whereas the former began in 1890.
We don’t respect you. We don’t fear you. We sometimes lose to you, but mostly when we shoot ourselves in the foot. We try to hate you, but hate requires mutual respect, and again, lacking respect for you, the best we can muster is ennui.
We respect USC. We respect Oklahoma. We respect Texas. We even respect Michigan.
But we don’t respect Penn State. And we probably never will.
24-7, Arm-Punters win."
i don't mean to sound like a jerk - when players get hurt, it is never a good thing. But I do wonder if it will affect their offense.
couldn't have summed it up better myself, chief
he has been underwhelming at best. ricky bobby loves to throw picks. sucks he's hurt, wish him no personal harm, but Thaddeus and Cam are comin for whoever is back there.
hahhahaha, that was me, BSD already banned me though, I fired off two comments before I was tragically shot down.
They can't expect class if they show none in return, before hand.
You are banned from Black Shoe Diaries.
You can browse the blog, but you can't participate.
that's a badge of pride right there.
Great all around effort tonight - offense, defense, special teams, coaches. But the young, sometimes embattled OL deserves extra love tonight.
Btw, Clark's little swing pass to Zug was the BEST I've EVER seen a ball thrown on that type of play at the collegiate level (the rest of the game, not so good, Daryl). Of course, that play put Spitler in the position of having to chase a guy laterally, and we've seen that movie before. That ONE PLAY is the only reason that PSU got any (phantom) points at all.
Clark to Zug = 1 play, 31 yds.
All other PSU offense = 58 plays, 170 yds (2.9 per play ave).
IMG_0062.JPG
try again. seriously
Just realized, after all the debate about what the 1954 uniforms looked like, there is an 11W link on the right of Hop-a-long.
huh?
between Good Shizzy and Resources, there stands Hop-a-Long Cassady.
1954 Uniforms.
We couldn't find a picture all week.
I've said it befoire and I'll say it again.
Michigan is our rival, no matter how badly they play.
Penn State is just another game, and because they have a winning record three out of every 7 years does not make them worthy.
Pretty sure Tress is glad he stayed with The Ghost, after this one.
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/...
At BSD they call Ohio State fans classless? These d'bags take the cake for classless. I went to the game in 2007 and had about 6 beer cans thrown at me and also had a douche try tripping me. I dare PSU fans to wear an Ohio State shirt outside the stadium before the game for 15 minutes outside the stadium or in a tailgate lot on OSU gameday just to see how big of douches their fans are. I'd wear an Mich or PSU shirt around the 'Shoe before one of those games, I think all I would encounter is some f-bombs.
Penn State: relevant once every 4 years.
agreed. i think this is hilarious. pot meet kettle. fuck em.
The more we see of New Pryor, the more the Purdue game could go down as the turning point in his career, and that of the Brew Crew's. I don't think we lose again in conference, and we should face a Pac-10 champ that is clearly vulnerable (whether that be Oregon, or less likely Arizona or USC).
I hope Pryor has learned the lesson--that if he as QB takes care of the football, this team, with this defense, is damn near impossible to beat. Think about it: we don't give USC that interception for the (fake) TD, we beat USC 15-11. We don't give Purdue all those freebies, we win big.
It could finally be sinking in for Pryor, that all he needs to do is protect the football and make smart choices when the play breaks down. And we'll have a Purdue loss to thank for it.
The question is mute at this point, but what does Tressel have against throwing the challenge flag early in games? Illinois didn't score 2 years ago in the 1st qtr., USC didn't score this year in the 1st., and today PSU didn't score. I know the booth reviewed the play play today (and still got it wrong), but why not challenge questionable TD's early in games? It's like he is too trusting that the refs get it right.
I thought the same thing about the lack of a challenge flag. And it couldn't have been about the use of the timeout, because Sabino clearly turned to the referee, before the snap, and called the time-out, but was ignored by the refs; I don't think Sabino would have done that unless the coaches gave him some kind of instruction as to "if we don't look set-up correctly, call the timeout," and so they should have been okay with the loss of the timeout.
I was getting a little frustrated with the play calling until Pryor hit the bomb to Posey and put the game away. Would have liked to see Hall more at tailback too but that's Tressel.
Completely unrelated, but here was an interesting CBS video that dropped last week regarding Urban Meyer's love for Ohio, and Ohio State in particular. Hmmm....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Go Bucks! Great win...anyone else smell roses?
... as I Google, "Arm Punts"...
DUDE!!!! Never been so happy in my life! It took one post to be banned from BlackShoeDiariaah....holiday bowl FTW!!!!
NO DOUBT-
Lets get a new shirt:
BSD- Banned since 2009
Yessir...and they smell great
I love that...does anyone smell roses??? In case you haven't noticed we have a 9-1 Iowa team coming in next week. Does anyone smell roses?? Nice one.
VANDENBERGBALLS isn't as catchy as STANZIBALLS, but Captain Kurt and company will gobble them up all the same.
I'm here to eat a serving of crow. I thought we were the better team heading into this game but this game clearly proved that in 2009, OSU is the better team and I'm man enough to admit it. Hopefully next year we can even the series back up in Columbus.
Respect.......
Classy, but you undoubtedly make it less fun to gloat.
moot, or mute?
ha. you know what, that IS big of you.
we'll see you next year. good luck sir.
Cheers. Way to man up.
Too country embiggened:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
sbb, good call on a shirt. We'll try to get something rolling soon.
can it have "futuristic throwback stripes" and spirograph shoulders?
Matt,
100% AWESOMENESS
Spirograph shoulders are the new black.
FAIL CAPTION...!!!
From left Jake Ballard (86), Doug Worthington (84), Jaamal Berry (4), Spencer Smith (48) , Taylor Rice (32), Jim Tressell, Russell Anderson (21), and Bryant Browning (70).(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
My fow paw. Thaynks four poynting that owt.
Iowa's top goal is off the table, but a Big Ten title remains within reach, and linebacker Pat Angerer tried to keep things in perspective.
"It hurts, but we've got two games left," Angerer said. "Worse things could happen. We're not at war. We live in a good country, we're going to school for free, we're living the American dream. We lost a football game. It's pretty small when you think of the big picture."
"We're not at war."
Where the fuck does he live at?
Haha...it's so reassuring that he's putting that free education to good use. Maybe he should enroll in a current events class?
He may be a good coach, but Florida can keep him. The guy is a total douche and, I know this will sound stupid, but the only thing that matters to him is the win. Integrity, discipline, and even player's safety are all issues that don't concern him.
Cam Heyward: So Much Talent Even Matt Millen Noticed It.
that statement was pure poetry Buckeye cheif
It's funny to me that if Pryor has an iffy game or bad game, that's all anyone wants to talk about. However, when he plays pretty good and makes no mistakes there are like 5 out of 70 comments that mention Pryor. He's just about to explode, I think today was a HUGE step forward. There were a few bad passes but he looked very under control today, and he made some tough passes, that once again receivers dropped. They need some stickem or something for these guys WTF is going on?
I think this team beats Iowa for sure next week. Iowa has just taken too many losses. Stanzi does throw a lot of INT's, but Iowa didn't exactly do anything offensively once he left the game. After today's game I would be SHOCKED if this team loses to Iowa. Michigan still worries me just being the rivalry and all, and it may be a game where they have to win to get into a bowl game. Wouldn't it be nice to play them in a game they must win to get in a bowl and wreck their chances again? Michigan could have a new bowl streak, 2 years and counting with no bowl, let's do it!
One other question, since Navy beat Notre Dame does that mean our close call now has relevance? You know, if they beat Notre Dame they have to be good right?
Ricky Dobbs would be on Heisman short lists next year if he played in a major conference/ on a major team. I wonder if he will transfer or stay.
I know it's a rivalry game, but it doesn't quite feel the same right now.
Did anyone else hear Mark May fully compliment Terrelle Pryor today, with no snide-punkass remarks? I almost fell out of my chair...
...all of the sudden it seems like a great think that i moved to pasadena
*thing
Dude wants to be President. But first, your XO. ;)
You are allowed one typo per post. Mark May is still a doitch.
I say:
4. Hearing "Seven Nation Army" being chanted by our fans in an empty stadium after we whooped the ass of the team we were playing.
You chrome snatchin' couchie eatin' pranksta....
There's one Dbag corporate prick I work with, who just happens to be from the State of Penn, and he brought up PSU to talk shit a few weeks ago... I can't wait to not say a word, leaving him in the suspense of what he expects me to say.
"What game? Oh yeah, we did work on your alma matter. Oh, you didn't go there? Yeah go fuck yourself".
Um, how does that NOT piss off the FU fanbase? (meant that spelling)
That was odd to watch, I wonder how "close" he really is to Tressel. That seemed like a bunch of genuine mixed in with a bunch of BS. I thought he was going to cry, then he realized he better make a pro-FU comment in there. Slippery fuck.
Again, I wish he got the googly eye condition and not Stuart Scott. May sucks and he flip-flopped once his producer told him too.
LOL they gave you the boot? Blackballed?!?!?
iowa has no chance against this defense with a 2nd string qb
+1
The Too Country Poster Pic is quite possibly the best pic you guys have ever created... no shit
lmfao
Near perfect game. Go Bucks!
What I loved about today : Pryor as game manager.
I've always felt that game manager quarterbacks don't get enough love, but with this defense, that's all we need. I've felt we've been pushing too hard to run the whole offense through him all season.
I loved how much more creative we were with the run game - reverses, swing passes, all of it. Put him in manageable third down situations where if his first read breaks down he can run for the first and no more. Stop trying to make him into a star when our offense doesn't need a star - it just needs someone who doesn't throw picks and can move the chains occasionally.
Good on you, sir.
Nothing like dancing to White Stripes at 9AM.
Great game all around. To the o-line hats off!
To the d-line, well even I'm scared of those guys!
Who looked more sad last night?
A: Darryl Clark
B: Country PSU guy with blue/gray flannel on in front row of student section
C: Daryl Clark's mom, who is a milf, BTW.
just being a hole. sorry.
Had to read it twice. I'll be retired by the time that happens.
I still think it hurt him a bit winning the NC against us.
All I know is before the game I heard him say loudly almost yelling at Lou Holtz, THEY LOST TO PURDUE! Yet, if USC loses 2 games in their conference, one to a team the certainly should've won, it was because Washington is much improved, yeah 3 wins in one year that's much improved. Anyway, whatever, the guy is an idiot, I don't know how he keeps his job.
I can appreiciate that about it not feeling the same. The really suck this year They aren't much better this year than last year, that's for sure. Goes to show making the jump the 2nd year at West Virginia, in the Big East is a lot easier than making the jump in the Big 10. This conference is a lot better than people make it out to be.
I can't see Iowa beating Ohio State next week. I think Iowa has just taken too many hits to their team this year. The lost their best RB before the season started, they had another get hurt, now their QB, I think they lost an offensive lineman too. It's starting to catch up with them. I think Pryor takes another big step next week too. I wonder who will make the Rosebowl in the Pac 10. I guess Oregon is still in the Driver's seat there.
Hey,
F*ck Penn State.
That is all.
Was at the game in OSU section, you couldnt believe how awesome it was to hear at the end of the game the seven nation army. One of the best experiences of my life. What a complete destruction
Does he play receiver?
HAHAHA WOW It's like they didn't even try. Someone should tell them that numbers can be used once on offense and once on defense.
I just walked up to the end of a soccer game in Karlsruhe, Germany. The home team won, and they played Seven Nation Army. After seeing that video from last night I wanted to jump around.
Then they played the techno version and I really wanted to jump around, or something like that.
I think he meant "we" as in the team being in the war, not the country. See "we're going to school for free" as in the students athletes on the team...
So nice to wake up on a beautiful Sunday morning with about half the monkey off your back. A good day to be a buckeye fan.
Leaving Happy Valley right now....kind of don't want to leave, love seeing the look on these fans faces. Think they realize yet that they are still far away from us?
haha i just sat through the whole vid; Always brightens up the day.
Yeah, we get it, Ryan...way to waste the joke.
In the immortal words of Mr. Wolf, "Well let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet." I too would be very surprised if we lost to Iowa, but stranger things have happened...like Purdue. I'm hoping that success doesn't get to the heads of Pryor and this young team. I think Tressel will be able to keep them focused, especially since the Iowa game is basically a B10 championship game. But still, we have to worry about a letdown. Just look at Oregon. Giving up 51 to Stanford is just plain awful. I'm hoping our guys can stay focused and finish the season strong.
Go Bucks.
that's a good game to point to and say "don't let that shit happen."
i think this game is a great point to build off of for this team. signature win? quite possibly.
"good things can happen Peter, I mean, take a look at me"
Tresselball
http://www.buckeyecommentary.c...
I fell the Pryor light bulb slowly coming on. Sorta like a flourescent bulb that needs a few minutes to really get bright. But eventually, it shines as bright as the sun.
I want USC.
A thought: that bomb to Posey was a near mirror image of the bomb that Pryor threw to T-Wash during the Spring Game. I heart foreshadowing.
a lot of things would have to happen for your wish to come true. we have a better shot of playing arizona than usc this time around. but hey, stranger things have happened.
I don't care who the Pac 10 rose bowl rep is, I just want a solid opponent, and a momentum-building win to bring into the 2010 season where we have U-Miami, PSU, and Michigan all at home. Shades of 2005-2006 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, catapulting the 2006 season--although I hope the end result is different this time.
Yeah, guess the non-initiated may think hugs and kisses, but to the rest of us, XO = Executive Officer.
http://blog.pennlive.com/patri...
i got it. but i come from a military family
as was i, it was phenominal
I thought this would be a good defensive struggle and I also thought that field position, special teams and Ray Small would have the opportunity to be a major factor in this game. http://brutusbucknutz.blogspot...
Pryor played his most complete game of the season against the best defense the Buckeyes have faced this year. And no Purdue's is not better than Penn States. Great win for the Buckeyes and their right back where everybody thought they would be, vying for a 5th straight share/outright Big Ten Title.
Just goes to show you. ESecPN doesn't even know who the All-American safety is?
50% of the weekly highlights are Kurt.
can we have a picture of TP arm punting on the front, and the on the back, make it say in bold,
ARM PUNTS: IT'S HERE TO STAY.