The Item: A 2004 Oklahoma State Alamo Bowl Football Media Guide
The year was 2004, and Ohio State was a team on the rise. On the surface, their 7-4 record was anything but impressive, but after three straight losses just three games into the season, a QB change reinvigorated the team.
Tressel had seen enough of signal-caller Justin Zwick after a 33-7 drubbing at the hands of Iowa. Filling the void was the mobile sophomore Troy Smith, whose elusive moves and ability to make a play led the Buckeyes to wins in four of their last five games, including a 37-21 upset over No. 7 Michigan.
Momentum was in the Buckeyes’ favor, but just nine days before the game it was announced Smith was suspended for the contest due to violating team and NCAA rules after accepting $500 from a booster.
The suspension wasn’t of the program-crushing variety. But still, it was disappointing as the team was just starting to find its footing.
No doubt, the news was music to the ears of Oklahoma State fans who began printing out these little numbers to promote the contest.
Little did they know, Ohio State wouldn’t need a first-string QB to embarrass them completely.
The Clips: Teddy Ginn becomes Teddy Ballgame
It took only three plays for the Buckeye defense to make its presence known as LB Bobby Carpenter picked off QB Donovan Woods and returned it 9 yards to the Oklahoma State 28-yard line.
Then, in only three snaps, the Buckeye offense cashed in on a 23-yard pass from Justin Zwick to freshman Anthony Gonzalez.
No chance.On Oklahoma State’s ensuing drive, the Buckeyes held the Cowboys to a three-and-out, received a punt and then hit a 37-yard FG to go up 10-0.
On the Cowboys’ next possession, a strong pass rush on 2nd and 13 forced Woods out of the pocket, where he lost the handle on the pigskin and fumbled it right into the arms of DT Joel Penton.
The Buckeyes were once again able to capitalize on the turnover, hitting a 35-yard FG to go up 13-0.
The score would be the last of the quarter.
Starting the second, the Buckeyes picked up right where they left off, forcing a Cowboy punt then driving the ball 78 yards ending in a Lydell Ross 1-yard TD to go up 20-0.
The TD was nice, but this was better: a Teddy Ginn okie doke freakshow for 42 yards. The highlight would be one of many the young speedster would add to his reel at Ohio State. Any time you leave a potential tackler with the perfect angle aimlessly grasping at hand towels, you've probably done something right.
The Buckeyes once again held the Cowboys to a three-and-out. Then kicker Mike Nugent hit one of his standard 40+ yarders to put the Buckeyes up 23-0.
That would be the score at the end of the half and the rout was on.
With roughly 12 minutes left to go in the third, the Buckeyes were stringing together a drive capitalized by this Ginn end around:
And the birth of the Shot Ginn.
30-0 Buckeyes, and the boys in scarlet and gray were able to carry the shutout into the fourth.
To start the final quarter the Buckeyes put together a five-minute drive, capped off by a Nugent 37-yarder to make it 33-0. Finally with roughly four minutes left to play in the contest, the Cowboys decided it would be a good time to get on the board, driving 80 yards for the score.
Unfortunately for Oklahoma State, the game had been all but over for an hour.
The game ended 33-7, the nation was introduced to the electrifying Ginn, and Ohio State proved they were the only team on the field worthy of the OSU moniker.
Thanks for stumbling in. Let’s do this again sometime.
