Eleven Warriors

Well the Buckeyes first big test of the season has come and gone.  With that said let’s gather our thoughts on Saturday’s matchup and where we stand now as Buckeye Nation going forward.

Buckeye Quick Hits

- Kudos to TP for living up to the pressure.  Not the absolute best game of his career, but he won, period.

- CJ Barnett…wow, just wow.  What a game.  What is all the talk about speed?  Hope the knee is better real soon.  One week out is OK, we need him for the season though.

- “Boooooooom” – I thought a great game for Dan.  He didn’t rack up the total yards but boy when he ran, he was a load to bring down.

- Posey, we are witnessing the beginnings of a receiver become elite.  Just watch.

- Special teams?!  Really?!  Get better fast!

- 2 special teams TDs and a kneel down made the score a lot closer then the game felt.  Great showing for the Bucks!

National Quick Hits

- Shoelace (D-Rob) looks like the real deal for that school up north.  Looks like Rich Rod may have found his job saving Pat White.

- Tennessee…I have never seen more big hits with less wrap up tackling in a game…ever.

- Minnesota…Really?

- V-Tech drops to James Madison, what if anything does that mean for Boise State?

- No knocks on PSU.  @ ‘Bama with a Freshman QB, tough spot for them.

- Mark May’s arrogance towards Lou Holtz is embarrassingly transparent.

- FSU v. OK, whew thank God you got Bowden out of there FSU.  Cleary he was the issue.

Onto week 3, Go Bucks!

OK Buckeye Nation - It is finally here.  And on this most fine Saturday in September I wanted to remind all Buckeye fans of a few key points as you attend, watch or hang around the game this afternoon.

1. As we have learned this week, The "U" invented swagger.  Not quite on the same level as say the micro chip or the wheel, but worth a mention none the less.

2.  As we have learned, according to Miami OSU only won the Fiesta bowl back then thanks to the late PI call.  Let's look at another key play leading into the final minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_TG2iVS08M

3. Is face gaurding while making contact prior to the balls arrival PI, I don't wear the zebra stripes, but yes...yes it is.

4. It gets hot on South Beach so some fans may be dehydrated, offer them water as a sign of good sportsmanship.

5.  OSU fans are not alone in their feelings of the Miami football program.

6.  If you see a Miami fan sitting alone, remind him it is OK, that he should feel at right at home, judging by The "U's" attendance.

* And lastly Buckeye fans, be safe, have fun and GO BUCKS!

Throughout the offseason and even more this week we are reading & hearing all about the so called rivalry and intensity between OSU and Miami.  Did I miss something or is this just pure media hype?  I know, rhetorical question...

Truth be told, the national championship game of 2002 was one of the greatest college games in history.  Beyond that, there was a lot of symbolism in the game.  You remember is was the hard nosed, straight edged Midwestern teams verse the flashy show time team.  Not only that but the Tressel era was just beginning to return OSU to yearly prominence and Miami was falling off at the end of a long run of football dominance.

All of that said, there is no way this game is a rivalry.  A good measuring stick, perhaps, a solid game, most likely, but certainly nota rivalry.

Oh yes and I just was just informed today the Miami invented swagger!...who knew?!

I’m sure like me, everywhere you read about the ’02 championship game you see references to “the Call”.  You will hear the so called experts call this the greatest college football game ever and yet in the same breath bring the whole game down to the pass interference call in the 2^ndOT.

Let’s look at this breakdown FAIL by the major media, Miami fans and Buckeye haters in general.

As we have already stated in previous posts this game was epic on many levels.  How can the PI call be the end all for the game?  What about the Clarrett “Strip-back” after the fumble?  The long OSU FG’s, Willis McGahee’s injury, Kellen Winslow’s unbelievable game, Krenzel’s confidence?  I could go on and on, but the point is this.  The game did not come down the PI call, the game was about so much more.  That call will have no affect on Saturday’s game (read the ESPN article on Rolle and Homan). 

Besides all of that, the most important point may be this play here (see link below).  There is an unbelievably obvious hold, followed by an in bounds catch by Chris Gamble.  If either one of those calls are made, game over.  So just think a bit before blaming the PI for the game.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_TG2iVS08M

"Tackle made on the 35 by State Trooper Simmons..."

What a great Saturday for Big Ten college football...

ND will play michigan of course, but starting at 3:40, you can flip on ESPN and ride approximately 7 hours of The Buckeyes vs. "The U" followed by #1 'Bama vs. PSU and their true fresh QB. 

There are several other good games on tap for Saturday, but the OSU/'caines game is certainly one of the headliners.  There has been a lot of talk recently about this game being the "3rd OT period" and a replay for Miami.  Truth is I don't think that plays in at all for this years kids at all.  Sure you're going to have coaches trying to convinced their guys (on both sides) that their team was wronged, disrespected, or dissed, but that happens every week.

Here's hoping we see a game on Saturday with the same quality play that we saw in that famous National Championship game.

Check out this Saturday's OSU/Miami game "tale of the tape"...from a 'Caines perspective.

Great start for our Buckeyes and solid start for the Big Ten as a whole:

Sorry for the delay folks - out of town from Friday through the weekend.  The good news is we were secure in a convincing victory by Thursday bed time.  So Buckeye fans could watch the weekend with impunity.  Without further delay (and a little late), let's get to our newest weekly section - "College Weekend Quick Hits".

"Quick Hits"

- Great convincing win for the Buckeyes, who showed a variety of exciting formations on offense, even in a pre-Miami week.

- The OT pass intereference call was not the sole play in the National Champ game vs Miami.  Remeber, Clarett stripping back the ball?  Krenzel's poise?  Mcgahee's knee?

- Did you check out the first run out of Nike's new uni's.  I think the Buckeyes got pretty lucky with theirs, especially after seeing Virginia Tech's "Tron throwbacks" and Boise State's big A$$ horse head helmets.  That was a lot of scales on TCU!

- michigan looks as if they found a QB.  Interesting to see the former qb on the sidelines.  As hard as it is, OSU fans should root for Michigan to return to at least respectability.  I know, very hard.

- Huge college footbal weekend coming up.  Buckes vs c'ains, 'Bama and PSU, mich vs ND, along with a ton of other great matchups! 

Looking at the divisions again and they are really growing on me.  Basketball wise they give a huge break to Sparty", but for football they are surprisingly fair.  You take OSU/PSU/Wisc up against mich/Wisc/Neb and it's pretty solid.  I don't think there is one clear cut strong side.  It will be very interesting to see what they determine the names to be.  Location is kind of out (West/East/etc.).  I don't hink they will go with "Woody & Bo" divisions as it may be a slight to the other 10 schools.  Any ideas out there for division names?

Besides if you hate them, have no fear I'm feeling 4 more teams down the road.  So the shake will continue.

For now relax and enjoy the fact that the Bucks are on the field tonight!

Finally Game Day is upon us.  Feels good to drive to work and see the kids at the bus stop sporting the Buckeye jerseys.  Cincy Kid junior sported the red #2 to his school today.

OK let's get down to business.  First the divisions; I honestly am OK with them.  The game stays intact at the final weekend of the season.  I think they are relatively fair as far as competitive balance goes.  You're never going to have a perfectly fair season with locked cross-rivalry games, but it was never perfectly fair before.  As far as playing in back to back week goes, that possibility is there, but that requires OSU/Mich to win their divisions each and every year.  I'll take that risk.

Uni's - OK have you checked out the uni's the Bucks will wear for the Mich game this season?  Interesting looks; A few thoughts on that...

Check out the 1942 Jerseys

- First take a moment to appreciate the fact that OSU is included in this.  We are part of some very good company in participating in this Nike deal.  (Alabama, Miami, Pitt, Boise, etc.).

- Very cool to honor the 1942 team military connection.

- Uni's are very cool, helmet...not so much.  The pants and solid state jersey are acceptable (like the red block "O" on the pants).  That said the helmet should match the pants, not red to match the shirt.  I know uni's don't matter, but change that helmet to the grey.

Game day #1 - Let's go Bucks!

I honestly thought I would just provide some insight from the South West corner of the state.  Down here in Cincinnati we do not get the local coverage or festivities of most of the rest of the state.  I have lived all over Ohio and by far Cincinnati, while a great city, is not necessarily Buckeye country. 

Perhaps it is the whole tri-state area thing (KY and IN are lesst then 10 & 30 minutes respectively from downtown Cincy).  UK, Louiseville, IU, UC, XU, Miami (OH) and even UDayton, Wright State are representated in this area.  All of that said we have plenty of Buckeyes fans here in the greater Cincinnati area.  Go anywhere on Saturday afternoon and you see the pride. 

High school football in Cincy (as it is almost everywhere in Ohio) is huge!  We luckily have the Skyline showcase, which is one of the biggest and best high school previews/games in the country.  o the point here is this.  hile the Cincinnati Enquire treats Ohio State like they are a million miles away, there are plenty of us strong Buckeyes supporters down here in South West Ohio

So as this 2010-2011 begins...Go Bucks!