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Photo: Bucknuts.com
I would like to apologize for leaving you hanging following the Buckeye victory against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. What took so long, you ask? Well, unfortunately, I cannot truthfully claim to have been on a month-long party cruise celebrating the Buckeyes sixth consecutive win against 'that team from up north' that resulted in the first back-to-back losing seasons by the 'scUMmers' in nearly 50 years (the last time occurring in 1962-1963). The truth is that my brief thoughts on Ohio State's regular season finale aren't really worthy of a full-blown article for two reasons: 1) because any 'team' from that terrible state doesn't deserve that much attention, especially one that finished at the cellar of the Big Televen, and 2) because my thoughts on the victory in Ann Arbor can be summed up in just a few paragraphs:
Despite excellent running performances by all three members of the three-headed monster Buckeye backfield of Brandon Saine, Boom Herron, and Terrelle Pryor (Saine: 12 carries, 84 yards, 1 touchdown; Herron: 19 carries, 96 yards; Pryor: 19 carries, 74 yards), I have to respectfully refrain from awarding the (figurative) game ball to any of the three leading rushers for the Buckeyes. In addition, I have to also refrain from awarding the game ball to any player currently listed on the Ohio State roster. If you haven't already guessed (from the picture at the top of this article), the game ball from the victory against the Wolverines goes to their quarterback (who seemed more interested in playing for the Buckeyes on November 21 than his own team), Tater-Tot Forcier!
Forcier turned the ball over five times (4 interceptions, 1 fumble) en route to a relatively simple victory by the Buckeyes which was dominated on the ground. Ohio State finished with 318 total yards of offense, including 67 through the air and 251 on the ground. The game played out exactly as Coach Tressel envisioned it in his dreams the night before the teams took the field. 'Tressel-ball' consists of mistake-free football where the Buckeyes control the pace of the game by utilizing the punt, dominating the ground game, and forcing the opponent to make mistakes. Jon Thoma played his best game of the season as he pinned 3 of his 9 punts inside the 20-yard line. The Ohio State rush defense lived up to their hype that has been generated all season long as they allowed just 80 yards rushing on 31 carries (2.6 ypc). It is also important to note the fact that the Ohio State defense held punk sophomore running back Mike Shaw to a pedestrian 7 yards on 7 carries (his longest carry amounting to a whopping 5 yards).
I took great satisfaction in watching ex-Wolverines Mike Hart and Chad Henne conclude their careers at Michigan without a single victory against the Buckeyes. Something is different about the Wolverine backfield of Mike Shaw (what is it with #20 running backs from that school named Mike, anyways?) and Tater-Tot Forcier. Perhaps it is the fact that Hart/Henne actually had talented teams, making victory against them that much sweeter. Perhaps it is the fact that Llllllloyd Carr was a respectable coach and beating him meant more than beating his replacement, Rich Roddriguez (two d's for two defeats and counting). Perhaps it is the fact that when Mike Hart talked smack, he did his best to back it up on the field (Hart never finished 'The Game' with just 7 yards on the ground). Perhaps it is the fact that I have zero respect for the Forcier/Shaw backfield combo because of their arrogance and lack of productivity on the field. Or, most likely, perhaps it is because beating Michigan is becoming so commonplace these days (not only for the Buckeyes, but for everyone in the Big Ten) that a victory over the Wolverines just doesn't mean as much as it did 5 years ago. Whatever the reason, there still is no better feeling in the world than the happiness I get from watching the players and fans of 'that team up north' go home disappointed knowing Jim Tressel has their number (8-1 career record) and their team is on an accelerated decline from the elite programs of college football.
I am a firm believer that until Michigan realizes the spread offense will not work in the Big Ten without ample modifications, the Wolverines are in for mediocre seasons (at best) while they are under the helm of coaching 'genius' Rich Roddriguez. That concludes my thoughts on 'The Game' 2009.
"We don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, we're from Ohio!"
Go Buckeyes!
ThunderBuck
(I'll have my pre-game thoughts for you on the Rose Bowl match-up against Oregon tomorrow.)
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