The Portland Buckeyes

Tressels,

Jan. 1st, 1955: Ohio State 20 Southern Cal 7…Woody’s first National Championship.

Jan. 1st, 1969: Ohio State 27 Southern Cal 16…the Super Sophs become legendary.

Jan. 1st, 1997: Ohio State 20 Arizona State 17…Joey Germaine to David Boston in the final minutes.

Four straight for Archie.

It’s the pinnacle…still is and always will be.  Ohio State first went in 1921…a couple weeks before Southeast Ohio native Kenesaw Mountain Landis became the first baseball commissioner…and it feels as if it’s been that long since their last appearance.  It creates history and rememberance.

So, here we are.  In a season where the motto at the outset was “embracing uncertainty,” words like “rememberance” are within reach.

Before the season began, one of my buddies said that he thought this season would be like 2004.  A young team would show flashes but have an embarrasing, early stumble.  Things would start to come together as the season progressed (see: Troy Smith and the Shot-Ginn in 2004) and end on a high note.  You kinda get the feeling he will be right.    

I was extremely impressed with the Ohio State offense against Penn State.  (Note: being extremely impressed with the OSU defense is a weekly given…again, one of the fastest, team-oriented defenses ever at Ohio State.)  For the offense, the obvious object of praise would be Terrelle (his best game as a Buckeye), but I was actually more impressed with the offensive line.

How many times have we griped about the Buckeye o-line?  Annually, it seems as if they are an easy and deserving target.  Well, no griping necessary — they were great against Penn State.  Over 200 yards rushing and no sacks — outstanding.  I can’t even think of the last time we’ve seen that strong of a performance from the line.  On the 62-yard touchdown pass to Devier, Bryant Browning allowed that play to happen by moving his feet (not a given for OSU o-linemen) to wall off a bull-rushing defender.  Terrelle and Devier did the rest and the game was over.

How many times have we griped about the OSU offensive coaching staff?  Well, same story as the offensive line.  Penn State was the best-called game since the #1 OSU vs. #2 Michigan Game of the Century.  Ohio State neutralized Penn State’s speed rush by running right at it on the edges.  The rush left a gap open at the line, the running back found it and everybody held their block.  The coaches also let Terrelle get comfortable early…two straight screens to the wideout in the first quarter — I loved it.

Since the Purdue debacle, you can just tell that Terrelle is much more comfortable.  He is visibly a completely different player on the field.  He doesn’t looked scared.  His head doesn’t frantically jerk around looking to avoid defenders.  It’s resulting in self-assured play.  Emotion and attitude play a huge role in College Football.  As Earle Bruce always barks — if you think you can, you can.  I like watching post-game interviews; players are exposed and can’t hide behind their helmet.  When talking to the press, Terrelle seems to have shifted from unaware “everybody kills me, kills you”-mode to self-confident “We owe it to our seniors”-mode.  I hope he doesn’t go back because you can start to see “it” now.

A trip to the Rose Bowl is completely on the offense this weekend.  If they don’t turn the ball over, the Bucks will win.

It’s fairly well publicized that Iowa will be without their three best offensive players this weekend — their QB, Ricky Stanzi, top RB and top OL.  Outside of fourth quarter heriocs, Iowa’s offense wasn’t that good when they had Stanzi.  The Hawkeyes will start a true freshman QB.  And for those that were big fans…you wondered what he’s been doing since his days on “Dawson’s Creek”…well, James Van Der Beek showed up as Iowa’s back-up quaterback.  He could have Pacey and Joey join him on the field and the three of them combined would still have no chance against Heyward, Gibson and Williams.

The Tresselball formula (superior defense / special teams and avoid turnovers) should be, appropriately, in full effect against Iowa.  Let the Silver Bullets and 105,000 screaming fans take you to a victory.  Iowa’s defense should be more sound than Penn State’s.  The Hawkeyes probably won’t leave easy running lanes and will capitalize on a mistake.  Let Terrelle get comfortable with the short-passing game and hope the offensive line can get you 3 yards running on nearly every first down.  Iowa will turn the ball over, so wait for field position and take advantage of it.

An opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl doesn’t come along very often.  It will always be the greatest single game in College Football.

Touchdowns:  Posey, Saine, Rolle

OSU 24 Iowa 7

Go Bucks!  Beat Iowa!  Thaddeus Gibson for Heisman!

Fat Pappy