** OFFICIAL OHIO STATE BUCKEYES FOOTBALL THREAD

[|Bengal Migration|]

Damn, I thought D'Andrea had to be gone by now. Was seemingly a monster when healthy.

O'Neal, Jenkins an Lauinitis got some decent PT against Notre Dung in teh bowl game, and seemingly held there own. (watched that game on DVD earlier today)

Hooky, I have no worries about the offense. Smith finally seemed to come into his own (unfortunately not in time to beat TX & PSU last year) but I think that between him, Ginn, Pittman, etc, we ought to be able to outscore just aobut anyone. And let's face it, Tressel has never come close to putting a subpar defense on the field.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote name='JC' post='295733' date='Jul 18 2006, 01:22 PM']This guy ran track with Teddy...so he has to be pretty damn quick. Maybe a few plays at reciever wouldn't suprise me.[/quote]


LOL, O'Neal ended up there under very suspicious circumstances. He started high school at Mansfield Sr. High and there was quite a bit written in the Mansfield News Journal about his transfer up there. Don't remember the details but he certainly went to a high profile school to help get to OSU. I've talked to one of his younger brothers who still lives and works in Mansfield and the youngest brother is going in to either 8th or 9th grade and apparently is an athletic stud also (in Mansfield).

[Jason]

[quote name='WhoDeyUK' post='295774' date='Jul 18 2006, 02:10 PM']Damn, I thought D'Andrea had to be gone by now. Was seemingly a monster when healthy.

O'Neal, Jenkins an Lauinitis got some decent PT against Notre Dung in teh bowl game, and seemingly held there own. (watched that game on DVD earlier today)

Hooky, I have no worries about the offense. Smith finally seemed to come into his own (unfortunately not in time to beat TX & PSU last year) but I think that between him, Ginn, Pittman, etc, we ought to be able to outscore just aobut anyone. And let's face it, Tressel has never come close to putting a subpar defense on the field.[/quote]

D'Andrea got a redshirt. He was a monster in high school, the top ranked LB in that class (ahead of Carpenter and Hawk), but was never able to stay healthy. He started over Schlegel in 2004 until he got hurt (again).

[|Bengal Migration|]

[quote name='Jason' post='295797' date='Jul 18 2006, 07:44 PM']D'Andrea got a redshirt. He was a monster in high school, the top ranked LB in that class (ahead of Carpenter and Hawk), but was never able to stay healthy. He started over Schlegel in 2004 until he got hurt (again).[/quote]
Yeah, I just thought for sure he'd be gone by now. Glad he's not though, as long as he stays healthy enuf to see some time on the field.

[JC]

[quote name='WhoDeyUK' post='295774' date='Jul 18 2006, 02:10 PM']Hooky, I have no worries about the offense. Smith finally seemed to come into his own ([b]unfortunately not in time to beat TX[/b] & PSU last year) but I think that between him, Ginn, Pittman, etc, we ought to be able to outscore just aobut anyone. And let's face it, Tressel has never come close to putting a subpar defense on the field.[/quote]
I don't think Texas was Troy's fault. The rotation of the quarterbacks was a very stupid manuver since Troy was obviously the better qb...and zwick still fumbled that ball at the end.

[|Bengal Migration|]

[quote name='JC' post='295800' date='Jul 18 2006, 07:46 PM']I don't think Texas was Troy's fault. The rotation of the quarterbacks was a very stupid manuver since Troy was obviously the better qb...and zwick still fumbled that ball at the end.[/quote]
I don't blame Troy solely for those losses, either. But if he'd been ready to take the reigns from day one, we'd have won it all, imo. I seem to remember him missing the first game of the season for something stupid, giving him no time to click with the rest of the O before the big TX game. Maybe if he'd have played that first game he'd have been better prepared for TX. Just a thought...

But on to this year! New article on the OSU website: [url="http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072006aaa.html"]http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m.../072006aaa.html[/url]

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2006 Ohio State Football Season Outlook

July 20, 2006

In his five years at Ohio State, Jim Tressel has led the Buckeyes to 50 wins, two Big Ten titles and a national championship. During the past four years, Tressel's teams have won four bowl games, including three BCS contests, and finished in the top five three times. Last year, the Buckeyes closed out a 10-2 season with seven consecutive wins, including back-to-back victories over arch-rival Michigan and Fiesta Bowl-foe Notre Dame.

With that kind of track record, expectations will again be high in 2006. No matter that the Buckeyes must replace nine starters from one of the best defenses in college football, not to mention finding replacements for their leading receiver, top two linemen and field-goal kicker.

A look at the depth chart shows eight starters back on offense, including the undeniably talented foursome of quarterback Troy Smith, flanker Ted Ginn Jr., split end Anthony Gonzalez and tailback Antonio Pittman. Much of the excitement about the coming season revolves around that quartet. They were the major cogs last year in an offense that averaged 32.7 points and 422.3 yards per game.

In the last half of the season with Smith firing on all cylinders and Ginn, Gonzalez and Pittman all hitting their stride behind an athletic and under-appreciated offensive line, the Buckeyes were as good as any team in the country offensively.

If there is reason for concern in 2006, it would be on defense where the likes of linebackers A. J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, defensive end Mike Kudla and all four members of the secondary must be replaced.





With the All-American Hawk preying on opposing offenses, the Buckeyes led the nation against the run and were fifth in both total defense and scoring defense. Hawk and his teammates were something special and leave a cavernous void to fill.

But the Buckeyes do have 20 lettermen returning on the defensive side of the ball, and judging by spring practice there is no lack of talent, speed or enthusiasm. Tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, the lone two returning starters, will be stabilizing factors, especially early in the campaign.

The punting game, always a staple for the 52-year-old Tressel, seems set with the return of third-year sophomore A. J. Trapasso. A replacement for place-kicker Josh Huston needs to be found, but the Buckeye coach has a way of pulling a rabbit out of his hat each fall.

With a seven-game winning streak intact heading into the season, most experts have the Buckeyes ranked in their top five, more than a few have Ohio State at No. 1. One thing for sure, OSU will get tested early with a road game at Texas in week two and back-to-back Big Ten games against Penn State and at Iowa two weeks later.

Ohio State's list of All-America candidates includes Smith at quarterback and Ginn at flanker. Both are also considered early front runners for the Heisman Trophy. Pittman will be an All-America candidate as will Kirk Barton at tackle and Doug Datish at center. The rough-and-tumble Pitcock is yet another possibility.

There is excitement, too, about the incoming freshman class, especially running back Chris Wells, generally considered the No. 1 catch in the nation last year, and linebacker Ross Homan. Both enrolled early and took part in spring practice. Cornerback Kurt Coleman also came in early and turned heads with his performance.

OFFENSE
Quarterback
Troy Smith is coming off a sensational year in which he rolled up 2,893 yards in total offense and accounted for 27 touchdowns (16 passing and 11 rushing). The 6-1 senior, who also led the Big Ten in passing efficiency, is 13-2 as a starter heading into his final year. Mentally tough, he is blessed with a strong arm and is an extremely dangerous runner. No one is better at keeping a play alive, especially when the chips are down.

Senior Justin Zwick, a veteran of 17 games including nine starts, also returns as do sophomore Todd Boeckman and redshirt freshman Robbie Schoenhoft. Boeckman is in his third year in the program and knows the offense inside-out. Schoenhoft is raw, but talented. The Buckeyes are four deep here.

Tailback
Antonio Pittman had a superb sophomore season, finishing the 2005 campaign with 1.331 yards and seven touchdowns on 243 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. The 5-11, 195-pounder picks up tough yards inside and delivers a blow in the process. He has the ability to make defenders miss, rarely goes down on the first hit and has the speed to take it to the house.

Sophomore Maurice Wells, Ohio State's third leading rusher last year with 199 yards, enhanced his status with a strong spring showing. So did frosh Chris Wells, who is no relation, and at 6-1 and 225 gives the Buckeyes a bruising runner in the Keith Byars-Eddie George mold.

You can never have too many good tailbacks in the Big Ten. Ohio State has three good ones.

Fullback
Senior Stan White Jr. returns for his second year as the starter at what is really a combination of fullback and H-back. He is a smart football player who understands his role as blocker in OSU's offensive scheme. Although rarely called upon, the former tight end is a sure-handed receiver.

Dionte Johnson gives the Buckeyes a solid one-two punch at fullback. The 6-0, 234-pound junior is in the best shape of his career (down 15 pounds from a year ago) and figures to help both as a blocker and a short-yardage runner. He is one of those bulldozer-type runners that moves the pile and gets the crowd on its feet.

Wide Receivers
This is certainly another area of strength.

In Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, the Buckeyes boast two of the fastest and most sure-handed receivers in college football. They give OSU a lethal one-two punch.

The electrifying Ginn is coming off his best year as a receiver, finishing the 2005 season with 51 catches for 803 yards and four touchdowns - the shortest of which covered 42 yards. He had 17 receptions in his last two games and was virtually unstoppable. In the win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, he scored on a 56-yard reception and a 68-yard reverse. No one touched him on either play. Trying to tackle him is a little bit like trying to capture lightning in a bottle.

Gonzalez totaled 28 receptions, tallied three touchdowns and averaged 13.3 yards per catch in 2005 as the third option. Look for those numbers to go up in 2006 as he assumes a more dominant role in the OSU offense. He is the perfect complement to Ginn and has the versatility to move inside to the slot when the Buckeyes employ three wide receivers.

Senior Roy Hall hopes to take over as the third receiver. He has been a key reserve the past three years and is coming off his best spring, especially in terms of consistency. He gives the Buckeyes a physical presence on the edge.

Brian Robiskie, who saw enough time last year as a true freshman to earn his first varsity letter, and redshirt freshman Brian Hartline were impressive in the spring.

Walter Dukes, Devin Jordan and Devon Lyons round out a solid group of receivers.

Offensive Line
Big, strong, athletic, explosive and experienced are all adjectives that can be used to describe this year's front five.

Kirk Barton, Doug Datish and T.J. Downing were regulars last year and will be three of the best in the Big Ten. Alex Boone, Steve Rehring, Tim Schafer, Jim Cordle, Ben Person, Kyle Mitchum, Tyler Whaley and Jon Skinner make this one of the deeper lines in recent memory.

Barton is a force at right tackle. He is coming off a great sophomore season and is a big-time player. Boone, who saw time last year as a true freshman is expected to move in at left tackle on a full-time basis. He is one of the Buckeyes' up-and-coming stars.

Datish, who started at left guard in 2004 and left tackle last year, will take over at center for Nick Mangold. Big shoes to fill, but the coaching staff believes he is equal to the challenge.

Downing, meanwhile, returns for his second season as a starter at right guard and is a tough, hard-nosed, football player who loves playing inside. The left guard spot is expected to be filled by Schafer, who has bounced back-and-forth between offense and defense during his career, but now appears set at the former. Schafter, like Downing and Datish a fifth-year senior, is coming off a very solid performance this past spring.

Rehring can play tackle or guard and will see extensive playing time. The staff is high, too, on Skinner, a third-year sophomore who lettered last year for the first time.

Tight End
Injuries here really hurt last year, first Rory Nicol going down in fall camp with a foot injury that caused him to miss the season, then Ryan Hamby missing the last half of the regular season with a knee sprain.

Nicol, who lettered two years ago as a true freshman, is back and gives the Buckeyes a physical presence in addition to a sure-handed receiver. So does talented junior Marcel Frost who took over for Hamby and proved to be a dangerous weapon in the OSU arsenal. Expect to see more of him in the fall if he continues to develop at the pace he showed last season. Both will play a lot.

Brandon Smith, a converted linebacker and fine blocker also returns, and incoming freshmen Jake Ballard and Andy Miller will get a long look.

DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson give the Buckeyes two crafty veterans inside. Both are big, tough, smart and physical. They combined for 52 tackles last year, including 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks. Pitcock, unquestionably the strongest player on the team, will be in his third year as a starter and is a dominating player. Patterson, who started at end last year but usually moved inside after the first series, is blessed with exceptional quickness.

The Buckeyes will miss graduated strongman Mike Kudla at the rush end, but in 6-6, 270-pound sophomore Lawrence Wilson they have a diamond-in-the-rough, who is already being compared to former OSU All-All-American Will Smith. In addition to his size, Wilson has outstanding speed and great instincts.

Jay Richardson will take over at the other end spot. The rangy (6-6, 276) senior has been a key reserve and sometimes starter throughout his career and has appeared in 26 games. Injuries have limited his playing time in the past. Hopefully, that is a thing of the past.

Depth will come from Vern Gholston and Alex Barrow at ends and Joel Penton and Todd Denlinger on the inside. All had solid springs, particularly Gholston and Denlinger.

Doug Worthington and Ryan Williams, both true freshmen last year, missed spring ball for medical reasons, but hope to be back in the fall. Sophomore Nader Abdallah also returns.

The front four will be the strength of this year's defense and Pitcock and Patterson will be the anchors.

Linebacker
The void left by the departures of All-American A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, possibly the best trio of linebackers in school history, is huge. But the cupboard, although green, is well stocked.

Marcus Freeman played as a freshman in 2004 and would have been a major contributor last year had not a knee injury in the first game caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Freeman, who is blessed with outstanding speed, is expected to take over for Hawk at theWill linebacker position.

John Kerr will move in at the Mike spot for Schlegel. Kerr started as a freshman at Indiana before transferring to Ohio State. He has played behind Hawk the past two years and is a savvy football player. Mike D'Andrea also returns in the middle. One of the top linebackers in the nation coming out of high school, he has missed much of the past two seasons with injuries. If he can stay healthy, he can be a difference maker.

Sophomore James Laurinaitis is expected to be the starter at Sam linebacker. He stepped in at Michigan last year when Carpenter broke his ankle and then started the bowl game against Notre Dame. He played well in both games and continued to shine in the spring.

Freshman Ross Homan, who enrolled winter quarter, is coming off an impressive spring and will add quality depth, probably on Freeman's side.

The coaches expect good things too from junior Curtis Terry, junior college transfer Larry Grant, junior Chad Hoobler and redshirt freshman Austin Spitler. Terry could play on the edge, ala Carpenter last year in certain situations, and Grant brings a certain swagger with him that will aid this young group.

Look for linebacker by committee this year.

Dependable Nate Salley and Tyler Everett have graduated and Austin Youboty and Donte Whitner have opted to pursue their dreams of playing in the NFL, so the coaching staff has four holes to fill.

Coming out of spring practice Malcom Jenkins and Antonio Smith appear to be the likely starters at cornerback. Jenkins started four games at the boundary last year as a true freshman filling in for the injured Everett. A physical player with excellent cover skills, he has added 15 pounds since last year. Smith is a former walk-on who was converted to scholarship last spring. Athletic and smart, he makes few mistakes and has good quickness.

Andre Amos and Donald Washington are the backup corners. Both were impressive last fall but were ultimately redshirted. True freshman Kurt Coleman, a spring quarter enrollee, will be in the picture, too, after a solid showing in the spring. In his short time on the OSU campus, Coleman has demonstrated the ability to make plays and is surprisingly knowledgeable for his age.

The safety spots will be held down by Jamario O'Neal and Nick Patterson with help from Anderson Russell and Brandon Mitchell.

The athletic O'Neal will play the strong safety spot. He lettered last year as a true freshman, but almost all of his playing time came with the special teams. Patterson is a 6-2, 210-pound sophomore, who was redshirted in 2004 and played with the special teams last year. Russell is another redshirt freshman, who has shown a tremendous upside. All three are athletic, have a nose for the ball and can close. Mitchell, a fifth-year senior, is the veteran of the group. He has 33 games and eight starts under his belt and will be a stabilizing force in an otherwise youthful secondary.

The will be the first time since 2000, and just the second time since 1984, that the Buckeyes have had to replace the entire secondary.

Kicking Game
Sophomore A.J. Trapasso returns at punter. He averaged 40.4 yards per kick last year and downed 19 of his 43 kicks inside the 20. OSU was second in the Big Ten in net punting, narrowly missing out on that title for the first time in four years. With his booming leg, Trapasso has the potential to be a Ray Guy Award candidate. John Thoma is a capable backup.

Ryan Pretorius and Aaron Pettrey are the leading candidates to replace Josh Huston in the place-kicking department. The South African-born Pretorius was the backup last year, but his only game experience is one kickoff. Pettrey was a true freshman last year and did not see any game action. This should be one of the more interesting battles during fall camp. Pettrey helped his cause in the spring with a 59-yard field goal in the kicking scrimmage.

In the long snapping area, Drew Norman does return. He turned in a solid showing last year in his first year as a regular.

Return Game
Whether it is on punts or kickoffs, Ted Ginn is one of the most exciting return specialists in the country. He had touchdowns both ways last year and is already the school and Big Ten career leader in punt returns for touchdowns with five.

Anthony Gonzalez will line up as the other punt returner and also will return kickoffs. Malcolm Jenkins is another possibility on punts and Maurice Wells is the third kick returner.

Drew Norman will handle the long-snapping duties. Dimitrios Makridis is a capable backup.
-----

Let's Go Bucks!

[Jason]

[b][size=6][color="#FF0000"]#1 in the Coaches' Poll!

Woo Hoo![/color][/size][/b]

[Guest oldschooler]

[quote name='Jason' post='308696' date='Aug 4 2006, 09:53 AM'][b][size=6][color="#FF0000"]#1 in the Coaches' Poll!

Woo Hoo![/color][/size][/b][/quote]




[quote][img]http://images.usatoday.com/sports/graphics/ohiostate_football/promo_art/ohiostatemedtopper.jpg[/img]
[size=5][b]Buckeyes are preseason favorites in USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches' poll[/b][/size]

By Mike Dodd, USA TODAY

For Ohio State University, the Maurice Clarett hangover is finally gone.
Four years and a series of public embarrassments after their last national football title, the Buckeyes are projected to return to the top of the college football world this fall.

Ohio State, behind the electrifying offensive talents of quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., is No. 1 in the USA TODAY Coaches' preseason poll released Friday, their first time in the top spot since the end of the 2002 season.

"We know the one in August isn't quite as important as all the other polls at the end," coach Jim Tressel says. "It's just another reminder of the respect people have for Ohio State."

If there is a symbol for the Buckeyes' bumpy road to glory, it is Smith, their 22-year-old senior quarterback from Cleveland.

A year ago he was preparing for the season knowing he would be sitting out the opening game for an NCAA infraction of accepting money with no guarantees of regaining his starting job.

"You have to be able to fall on your face to get up and complete an obstacle to appreciate it," says Smith, at the Big Ten media conference this week. "A year for any college athlete helps."

Today he is among the leading preseason candidates for the Heisman Trophy with boyhood friend Ginn, 21, a junior. Ginn, a wide receiver/kick return specialist, arguably could be the most electrifying player in the college game this fall. In two seasons he has six touchdowns on returns, six receiving and three rushing.

The two, who have known each other since they were about 7, played at Cleveland Glenville High School under Ginn's father, Ted Sr.

Smith last year went from a tantalizing prospect to a multifaceted quarterback who attacks defenses with his running and passing, drawing inevitable comparisons with Texas' Vince Young, who led the Longhorns to the national title.

"Consistency has become much better," Tressel says of his quarterback's development. "He showed us a lot back in '04 (when he went 4-1 as a starter), that he could make some plays. But would he do it consistently?

"I thought what '05 showed ... the back half of that season, there was a consistent quarterback."

Wake-up call

For many, the turning point came after a somewhat jittery performance in the 17-10 loss at Penn State on Oct. 8. Smith rushed a season-high 19 times for a total of 15 yards and threw for just 139 yards and an interception.

Ginn Sr., who phones Smith at least twice a week, provided a harsher than normal critique that time.

"It was just to wake him up," he says. "The fact that you've got to make decisions with your arm and mind and not with your shoes."

He tacked on a little lecture about studying more film and staying away from a Hollywood attitude.

"His sunglasses (all the time). Me and him have a thing about that. I want to see his eyes," Ginn Sr. says with a laugh.

Over the final seven games of the season, Smith threw for 225-plus yards six times and took off on foot no more than 13 times in a game. His film preparation — time in "the lab," as he says — is frequently cited by his teammates.

Smith's maturation off the field has been equally impressive. The two-game suspension from the 2004 Alamo Bowl and 2005 season opener for accepting $500 from a booster proved a turning point.

The sanction was levied two days before the Buckeyes left for that bowl game. He recalls watching the game from Ginn Sr.'s basement, which he describes as a shrine to the coach's former players.

"I have a key to Ginn Sr.'s home, that's where I stay a lot of times when I'm home," Smith says, adding the coach was out of town.

"I'm sitting in the basement, watching TV and looking at (reminders of) all the things we've done. I really got it into my head that there wouldn't be a situation like this again."

Seemingly never-ending problems

Since the Buckeyes completed their 14-0 season of 2002 with a Fiesta Bowl victory against Miami (Fla.) for their seventh national championship, the athletics department has been rocked by NCAA investigations of its football and basketball programs.

First Clarett sat out his sophomore season after being charged with falsifying a police report, then he claimed he received a number of improper benefits while playing at Ohio State. An NCAA investigation cleared the university.

Next, the NCAA and the university found violations in the men's and women's basketball programs.

An investigation resulted in the men's program in March receiving three years probation from the NCAA for seven violations, including a $6,000 payment to a recruit. Then late in 2004 came Smith's suspension.

In January 2005, athletics director Andy Geiger, declaring he was "just tired, just bone-weary," announced his retirement. New athletics director Gene Smith restructured the department.

Two months ago he hired Douglas Archie, whose background includes seven years with the NCAA in enforcement, as associate athletics director for compliance.

The past issues are resolved, but the indirect fallout continues.

A troubled Clarett faces an Aug. 14 trial date on robbery charges stemming from an incident Jan. 1 in Columbus.

This week, fired basketball coach Jim O'Brien was awarded $2.2 million plus interest from the university in a civil suit over his contract.

"The morass was a) never deep and b ) never systemic," says Geiger, now living in Washington state. "The fundamentals were sound, and I think Gene (Smith) found that when he got there. I don't think there's been anything startling since that would say there's ongoing trouble."

Smith agrees but acknowledges a perception in some quarters that the football program had been out of control.

"We can think of programs that were run amok, and those incidents (at OSU) pale in comparison to programs that have run amok," he says.

In his first year, he says, the football team had 56 players with a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and "we had no serious behavioral issues off the field." (One player was arrested for driving under the influence.)

"You're going to have incidents. To sit here and say we're not is probably naive," Smith adds.

"The question is ultimately how you deal with them and how many you have."

A lot to look forward to this season

Throughout all the headlines, the football team largely continued its success. It went 11-2 in 2003 (finishing No. 4 in the USA TODAY Coaches' poll), slipped to 8-4 in 2004 (finishing No. 19) and rebounded to 10-2 and a No. 4 ranking last year, including a 34-20 victory against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

"A play here or there and they could have been national champion last year," Minnesota coach Glen Mason says.

The 2005 team, which lost to Texas by three points and at Penn State by a touchdown, had nine players drafted by the NFL, five in the first round.

This year's team will rely on the explosive offense that also features junior running back Antonio Pittman (1,331 yards last year) and a young defense that needs to replace nine starters (all in NFL camps this summer).

"Where there is some experience is up front" with senior defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson," Tressel says.

"A lot of time, if you're solid up front, that certainly helps the growth of people in the linebacker corps and on the back end."

Among the promising linebackers is junior transfer Larry Grant, the 2005 junior college player of the year at City College of San Francisco.

Asked what he noticed most about the secondary in spring drills, Smith had one word: speed. "I think we're a little bit faster," he says.

If the Buckeyes' goal of a national championship is to last until the trees change color in Columbus, the young defense will need to develop quickly. The second game of the season, Sept. 9, is at preseason No. 2 Texas.

Many of the seniors, Smith included, were in the program as redshirts their freshman year when the Buckeyes last won the national title.

"Some guys in some situations did the wrong thing, but every year we have a good record as a team, (the Clarett fallout) kind of diminishes," Pitcock says.

Smith says he watched the leaders on that 2002 team and he's ready to step into that role for the 2006 edition.

"A lot of things I was taking for granted. Coming in as a young guy, we won the national championship and I'm walking around with my ring on," he says.

"As you can see, I don't wear my rings at all now because all that work is done on the field. I'll worry about being glorified later. We've got work to be done."[/quote]




[url="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-04-ohio-state-poll-cover_x.htm"]http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/foo...oll-cover_x.htm[/url]

[Jason]

I gotta say, I was less than thrilled with the USA Today article. Despite the fact that OSU was cleared of the football related allegations, and took appropriate disciplinary action with the hoops program, the article still felt compelled to spend most of it's words talking about the various "scandals" rather than football.

[Guest Bengals1181]

[quote name='WhoDeyUK' post='295799' date='Jul 18 2006, 02:46 PM']Yeah, I just thought for sure he'd be gone by now. Glad he's not though, as long as he stays healthy enuf to see some time on the field.[/quote]


If I'm not mistaken, he D'Andrea petitioned for and got an extra year of eligibility because of his injuries.

[sexybengal]

u guys can say all u want about the buckeyes but we all know u will win the championship




NOTRE DAME WE ARE ND

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7540/ndwkndhelmetdi1.jpg[/img][/url]
and the heisman winner will be

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2403/051022bradyquinnvmedwidecyc7.jpg[/img][/url]

[Jason]

[quote name='sexybengal' post='309611' date='Aug 5 2006, 09:45 AM']u guys can say all u want about the buckeyes but we all know u will win the championship
NOTRE DAME WE ARE ND

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7540/ndwkndhelmetdi1.jpg[/img][/url]
and the heisman winner will be

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2403/051022bradyquinnvmedwidecyc7.jpg[/img][/url][/quote]

[b]College Football News ND Preview: [/b]

18. Notre Dame Notre Dame Preview
Predicted Finish: 8-4 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 9-3
Yes, this is the lowest you’ll see the Irish ranked anywhere (remember that these rankings are based on how good the teams are from top to bottom) and yes, the potential is there for a BCS Championship appearance if Charlie and the boys get out of September unbeaten. [b]However, this is a tremendously flawed team with average corners, a limited pass rush from the front four, and no developed depth anywhere meaning the machine might quickly grind to a halt if injuries hit the skill positions. The secondary didn't get any faster in the off-season, although a few freshmen should provide some immediate help, the offensive line is average, and the overall athleticism and talent level, which was exposed in the Fiesta Bowl by Ohio State, is a year or two away from being up-to-snuff for a national title-caliber powerhouse.[/b] There's a whole boatload of talent on the way and this will be a USC-like program by 2008, but not all of the stars are in South Bend quite yet. [b]Remember, outside of the win over an average Michigan squad, last year's team didn't beat anyone with a pulse.[/b]
Relative Strengths: quarterback, receiver Relative Weaknesses: linebacker, secondary

[Guest WhoDeyForever]

[quote name='Jason' post='309619' date='Aug 5 2006, 10:02 AM'][b]College Football News ND Preview: [/b]

18. Notre Dame Notre Dame Preview
Predicted Finish: 8-4 2005 Predicted Finish: 5-6 2005 Record: 9-3
Yes, this is the lowest you'll see the Irish ranked anywhere (remember that these rankings are based on how good the teams are from top to bottom) and yes, the potential is there for a BCS Championship appearance if Charlie and the boys get out of September unbeaten. [b]However, this is a tremendously flawed team with average corners, a limited pass rush from the front four, and no developed depth anywhere meaning the machine might quickly grind to a halt if injuries hit the skill positions. The secondary didn't get any faster in the off-season, although a few freshmen should provide some immediate help, the offensive line is average, and the overall athleticism and talent level, which was exposed in the Fiesta Bowl by Ohio State, is a year or two away from being up-to-snuff for a national title-caliber powerhouse.[/b] There's a whole boatload of talent on the way and this will be a USC-like program by 2008, but not all of the stars are in South Bend quite yet. [b]Remember, outside of the win over an average Michigan squad, last year's team didn't beat anyone with a pulse.[/b]
Relative Strengths: quarterback, receiver Relative Weaknesses: linebacker, secondary[/quote]

Fuck notre dame

[Nate_Buckeye]

[quote name='Bengals1181' post='309580' date='Aug 5 2006, 08:34 AM']If I'm not mistaken, he D'Andrea petitioned for and got an extra year of eligibility because of his injuries.[/quote]
That's correct. He was granted an additional year of eligibility. Although I still don't know if he's 100% healthy.

I have mixed feelings about the Buckeyes being #1. I don't see any team that should be obviously ranked above us but don't really like the extra target. Tough games early on the road in games 2 and 4 with a new defense. We have the talent, just hope they can gel as a unit.

BTW, hello everyone. Nice site.

[Guest WhoDeyForever]

[quote name='Nate_Buckeye' post='310101' date='Aug 5 2006, 11:15 PM']That's correct. He was granted an additional year of eligibility. Although I still don't know if he's 100% healthy.

I have mixed feelings about the Buckeyes being #1. I don't see any team that should be obviously ranked above us but don't really like the extra target. Tough games early on the road in games 2 and 4 with a new defense. We have the talent, just hope they can gel as a unit.

BTW, hello everyone. Nice site. [/quote]

Welcome to the site. All Buckeye fans are welcome

[Nate_Buckeye]

Thanks.

[JBandJoeyV]

#1 baby!!!!!

I know its a little late, but whatever...

[Nati Ice]

[quote name='sexybengal' post='309611' date='Aug 5 2006, 09:45 AM']u guys can say all u want about the buckeyes but we all know u will win the championship
NOTRE DAME WE ARE ND

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7540/ndwkndhelmetdi1.jpg[/img][/url]
and the heisman winner will be

[url="http://imageshack.us"][img]http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2403/051022bradyquinnvmedwidecyc7.jpg[/img][/url][/quote]
so... howd last year work out for ya?

lol, riiiiiiight

[Jumpy]

Hey, do you think those times when AJ sacked him he ever said. "I fucked your sister last night." hahaha

[|Bunghole|]

[img]http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/7835/kitnawa7.jpg[/img]

[color="#3333FF"][size=4]"Hay guys, what's going on in this thread?"[/size][/color]

[Guest WhoDeyForever]

[quote name='Bunghole' post='310611' date='Aug 6 2006, 11:45 PM'][img]http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/7835/kitnawa7.jpg[/img]

[color="#3333ff"][size=4]"Hay guys, what's going on in this thread?"[/size][/color][/quote]

[img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/24.gif[/img]

[Palmer4HOF]

Now let me preface this by saying I just graduated from OSU and am a huge fan (also have ties to Notre Dame and UC, so I kinda root for them as well), but I wouldn't be surprised if OSU will take a L against Northern Illinois in week 1. Now I am not dumb enough to outright predict or bet anyone that this will happen, but this team is no joke and I have feeling we will have our eyes set on Hook 'em in week 2 and by overlooking N. Illinois, they steal a win at the shoe.

[Nati Ice]

i think id be more apt to agreeing with you on the subject if it wasnt a home game and if tressel wasnt our head coach

[dieselman44]

I think the opening line on the game was 19, so i would agree with palmer. I dont think the buckeyes will lose but i think it will definitly be a close one.

[Paul]

It almost time for Buckeyes football and I cant wait for week 2. Ted Ginn will have a huge game against Texas with Troy Smith.