Your’s truly just jumped in Mirror Lake for the first time in his life.  It was actually pretty warm.  The last two years it was snowing.  There was a newspaper photographer taking pictures there, so look for me in tomorrow’s Dispatch.  It may or may not happen.  In either case, LET’S BEAT MICHIGAN. (regardless of what terrelle pryor is doing after the last victory.)

Its game day.  Post your hate here.  I’ll be the first to say it, I hate the State Penn of Pennsylvania and I hope my roommates survive the trip to Happy Valley.

Ohio.  Its getting a tid bit nipply outside in Columbus these days, but that’s not going to keep the action and the competition from heating up in Ohio Stadium (and Happy Valley) for the rest of the season.  Here’s my look at the rest of the Big Ten schedule for the Buckeyes from where they stand right now.

Wisconsin, 10/10/09, Home: The Badgers are coming into this Saturday’s game a rather impressive 5-0, including a win over an always dangerous Fresno State team, even if it was only by a field goal.  A three point victory over Minnesota coupled with that OT victory against Fresno State is probably the only reason why the Badgers aren’t ranked in the (AP) Top 25.  And some people thought Brett Bielema’s job was in jeopardy, psh.  One thing we always know about the Badgers, they like to run the football, and they do it well.  They’re currently 14th in the nation in rushing and will be facing off against Ohio State’s 10th ranked running defense.  This is gonna be a good ol’ fashioned Big Ten grind-em-out kinda game.  Look for Pryor’s ability to scramble and make plays with his feet to be the difference maker in this game.

Purdue, 10/17/09, Away: Your’s truly was personally in attendance for the drubbing that was laid down on the Boilers in 2007.  365 days later, and it was the polar opposite as Ohio State struggled to move the ball on offense and was “saved” by Malcolm Jenkins’ blocked punt.  Gambler’s fallacy would tell you “well, we’re bound to break out for a big game then this year.”  Eh, probably, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch.  While Purdue is only 1-4 and an abysmal 1-3 at home, they did come close to beating both Oregon and Notre Dame.  Watch out as always for the Boiler offense, they currently average 30.2 ppg and over 400 total yds/game. Yikes.

Minnesota, 10/24/09, Home: I really don’t know what to think about this Gopher team.  They win a close one on the road against Syracuse, win their home opener against Air Force and then proceed to drop two out of their next three (@Cal, vs. Wisconsin).  They’re only averaging 96 yds/gm on the ground and 25.4 ppg, but I still have this nagging feeling that somewhere inside of them they have a breakout, once-a-season game.  Let’s just hope its not on October 24th.  We’ll definitely learn a lot more about the two aforementioned teams this weekend, as they meet in Minny.

New Mexico State, 10/31/09, Home: Ah how college kids love Halloween (probably more so than 5 year-olds, and that might be a little creepy).  On a day just fit for an upset I just don’t see it happening.  The Aggies are 2-3 and are looking up from the bottom of a very bad WAC standings sheet.  Plus, they only average 15.2 ppg. Add in the fact that most of the crowds these kids will play against this year will probably total what they’re going to see in the ‘Shoe and we may just have a third shutout on our hands.

Penn State, 11/07/09, Away: Now its starting to get good.  Happy Valley, 8 o’clock kick off, white out; yup, smells like Penn St./Ohio State.  After an early loss to Iowa Penn State will be looking to re-insert itself into the Big Ten Championship discussion and a win against the Buckeyes would go a long way in doing so, even if it would be hoping for a co-championship at best.  Forget the stats and the teams, this game is probably going to come down to pure heart.  Can Darryl Clark look like the one that won last year in the ‘Shoe?  Can Pryor forget his fumble that changed last year’s game?  Can Joe Paterno stay on the sidelines for the entire first half without having to run to the locker room?  All these questions and more will be answered on the first Saturday in November.

Iowa, 11/14/09, Home: Assuming Ohio State can come away from Pennsylvania with a win, this will be the game of the year in the Big 10 (assuming, of course, Iowa doesn’t lose twice between now and then).  Kirk Ferentz is a marvelous coach who has done wonders with the Iowa program over his tenure, making sure they are competitive in each and every  big game they play in.  Iowa boasts a very balanced offense along with a staunchy D that is only giving up 13.4 ppg. Couple in the fact that there could be some hangover after a potential win in Happy Valley and this game has all the makings of a classic.

M*chigan, 11/21/09, Away: A roommate of mine recently told me that Michigan no longer looks at The Game as the biggest game of the year, instead, they’d rather beat Michigan State.  I think that may have something to do with Tressel’s record against the Maize and Blue over the years.  Believe me, there would be nothing better for the University of Michigan, Rich Rodriguez, the fanbase, and the rivalry than a victory over the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor…just, not this year.  Call me in two years, we’ll talk then.  Again, throwout the stat books and the standings, this is The Game.

Overall: The path between October and November is certainly going to be a long one for the Buckeyes, after this weekend’s clash with Wisconsin I think the team could ease off the accelerator and still be undefeated in conference play going into the Penn State game.  But that three game stretch is going to be as brutal as any that any team will play this year; yes, that means even you, Florida.

It’s that time of year again when the who’s who of the National Football League get together in the middle of Indiana to put future employees through rigorous tests and determine their merit. In reality, it’s really a chance for coaches and scouts to get together and see how far these ex-college athletes are willing to go. We’ve included heights and weights, because, uh, it’s the combine and they make a big deal about it. Who were the top performers of the combine so far?

Scouts drooling over…

Donald Brown –RB, Connecticut – 5’10”, 210lbs – It’s hard to say anything bad about UConn’s RB. He ranked high in all the tests and he had an extremely productive season, toting the rock for over 2000 yards at 5.7 ypc. It was the first year they really called on him (nearly 200 more carries than in either of the previous two years) and it was against Big East competition, but he looks like a solid prospect. It’s true.

Brian Robiskie –WR, Ohio State – 6’3”, 209lbs – The best news for Robo is that he is as big as we thought, faster than we thought, and can catch everything thrown his way (except those early season Pryor passes; I went there). Unlike the magical shrinking Michael Crabtree, Robo measured in at his expected height and ran a respectable 4.5 forty. His dad is the Falcons’ WR coach and a strong combine is pushing him into the second and, dare I say, first rounds.

Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR, Maryland - 6’2”, 206lbs – The perfect workout warrior who never tore up the ACC, but was consistently good, averaging around 700 yards in each of 3 seasons. He came out and burned a 4.3 forty when everyone was complaining about a ‘slow track’. While not an elite WR, he’s fighting with Robo for draft position.

Pat White – QB, West Virginia – 6’0” 197lbs – Could he, really? No. Pat White won’t be drafted with teams dreaming “Franchise QB”, but he’s helping prove that he can actually throw a football. He has no one else to thank but Rich Rodriguez for making him a QB, but has no one else to blame but Rich Rodriguez for never letting him be a real QB. White came out and made NFL scouts rethink his position, for about 30 minutes.

Hey, at least they showed up…

Beanie Wells - RB, Ohio State– 6’1” 235lbs - Beanie didn’t crack the 4.4’s and was in the high 4.5’s by the official clock, but it could have been the result of numerous cracks at the long jump prior to the dash. Does it really matter? No. Unless Beanie was cracking Darren McFadden’s time or waddling behind Mike Hart’s time, it wasn’t going to make a big difference. His tendency to avoid hits after gains and his durability are priorities #1 and #2.

Knowshon Moreno – RB, Georgia – 5’11” 217lbs - Could he really be taken off the board before Wells? Moreno did no service to the SEC, clocking in the mid 4.6’s officially. Still, there’s a lot to like about Moreno including his ability to jump right back up after absorbing hits. A healthy Beanie Wells > Moreno, but teams might play the odds on this one.

Brian Hoyer - QB, Michigan State – Hoyer is proving that he’s not a great quarterback and he’s not a bad quarterback. He’s just there, and it’s helping him move up. Anyone remember Drew Stanton? In my eyes, Todd Boeckman is an equal or greater prospect, and could have wowed the scouts with size and ability in a combine setting. A real game? Both QB’s scare me.

Mark Sanchez – QB, USC - 6’2” 227lbs - The Golden Boy from Southern Cal didn’t displace Matt Stafford as the #1 QB in the draft, and Stafford didn’t even throw a football. Sanchez was erratic and struggled at times. But, Sanchez is still a USC quarterback and will more than likely go first round. He can thank the Matt Cassell-USC QB connection for goodwill.

Maybe they shouldn’t have made the trip…

Derrick Williams – WR, Penn State– 6’0” 194lbs - What happens when a supposedly fast receiver runs slow and can’t catch footballs? My take is that it doesn’t make him a fast receiver. Ask D Will. He’s always been a little overrated since being the #1 recruit in the nation, but he’s been an impact player for Penn State from time to time.

Andre Smith – OT, Alabama – 6’4” 332lbs - What happen when a possible #1 pick shows up to the combine out of shape and then leaves when things are going his way, all this after being suspended his final game? It means he won’t be a #1 pick and will make less money. In the scheme of things, does it matter? It’s the combine so everything is multiplied by !!eleventy11.

“Those who stay will be champions” or so the old Michigan saying goes. Never before has it been so important; it’s basically all Michigan fans have left to cling to. Facing multiple decommits and transfers, Wolverines NEED to believe that the whole thing isn’t a sinking ship (it is) and that Rich Rodriguez isn’t praying for a time machine that would take him back to West Virginia (he is). Rumors are also swirling among MGoBlues that Threet and his family wanted a sit down with Coach Rodriguez to discuss Threet’s role at QB. Rod’s answer? He didn’t have any time since he was out recruiting. Can’t meet with your starting QB because you’re trying to find his replacement? Par for the course.

Unfortunately for Blue, Rodriguez is still the coach that started Nick Sheridan over Threet in 2008. Then, he kept going back to Sheridan throughout the season. Eventually, opposing defenses found that Sheridan was more qualified to be running the scout team than a real D1 offense. Then finally, against Ohio State, he had to go with Sheridan. Steven Threet was the only thing that remotely resembled a playmaker for the Wolverines. In fact, he was the only thing that remotely resembled a quarterback in Ann Arbor. Now, Rich Rodriguez has to choose between 2 freshman and Nick Sheridan. This, my friends, should be interesting.

Only an optimistic Michigan fan could see the Threet deflection as a positive. That crazy SOB would say it only means that Tate Forcier is the Messiah, son of God, reincarnated as a 6’0” 180lb QB from California. He can turn a football into dove and fly it to the receiver. He can successfully lead a drive down the field without a turnover (something of a miracle in Ann Arbor these days). He’s already made a connection with his WRs, they “catch everything I throw at them”, which is good during 7-on-7’s, but something Michigan receivers could not do in 2008.

But at least Michigan has depth at QB, right? David Cone? The aforementioned Nick Sheridan (who is still a walk-on)? Yikes. At least there will be Denard Robinson in the Fall, the incoming freshman who was promised to be Rich Rodriguez’s next Pat White. That; or he can play slot receiver, because you can never have enough of them… And just for depth, there’s always “He’ll never be a QB at Michigan” Justin Feagin.

After a 3-9 season in 2008, 2009 was supposed to be a big year for Michigan. The Wolverines were supposed to rebound with “the pieces in place” and they “wouldn’t have square pegs for round holes”. Now, Michigan is left hoping that Tate Forcier won’t become the Big Ten’s next
punching bag.

Those who stay will be…

The only ones left.

Replaced by freshman.

Will need to play defense, because we have no one.

Didn’t decommit for Tulsa.

Compared to West Virginia and Pat White.

Finally, Pete Carroll showed his true colors. I don’t want to say that the armor is cracking, but USC might want to put and order in for some more from the military, or the NCAA.

First, there was the National Championship game against Texas where Matt Leinart basically said “the best team didn’t win”. Then, there was the UCLA choke job in 2006. Did I mention Stanford in 2007? Even after all that, Carroll has professed that there should be a playoff so USC would win. I could dive into Reggie Bush taking money or Dwayne Jarrett living with Matt Leinart free of charge, I won’t. How about losing another coordinator?

Then after the 4th straight thumping of the Big Ten, Pete Carroll concluded that no team could be USC, except for the fact that Oregon State already did. 2009 would be the perfect year for USC to win another national championship, right?

Pete Carroll must have thought so, especially with Mark Sanchez at the helm. Sanchez, however, decided he wanted to try his luck in the NFL, a decision no doubt aided by the decisions of Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford to return to college.

And that’s where the cracks finally started to show.

What Pete wants, Pete normally gets. Whether it be a stable of running backs, top notch QBs, ten foot waves, or 5 star recruits flocking to Southern Cal, Pete gets it. If most teams’ star player decided to declare for the NFL, the coaches would bit their lip and say congratulations. Pete?

“We don’t see this decision the same,” Carroll said. “Mark’s going against the grain on this decision and he knows that. He knows coming out early is a tremendous challenge for a quarterback and the statistics don’t back up that it will be easy the way he’s going about it.”

Really, Coach? Do tell.

“I am disappointed in that the information that we have wasn’t compelling enough to make it clear to him,” Carroll said. “Our view of it is, and as you guys will see as you dig into this a little bit more, you’ll see that these early entry quarterbacks are less than 50-50 successful.”

Don’t discount the fact that Sanchez was a RS Junior this past season and will receive his degree in the Spring. Don’t discount the fact that Sanchez had a strong year, started by blowing out Ohio State and ended by blowing out Penn State

Now that Carroll has subjected Sanchez to such public criticism, just imagine what he could say when the NFL starts asking his opinions. It’s an odd move for a coach with all the (player and coordinator) talent on the planet, especially when you’ve got two highly ranked QBs that have been in the system for more than a couple years. Assume that Pete’s leash will be wrestled in a little by USC’s athletic director, and maybe even the NCAA should discuss the topic. The rule is 3 years. How they can set a minimum age is beyond me, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic.

Pete Carroll already makes his millions, he’s got to let his players get theirs.

What did these players do to earn such bad karma? Are the football gods still getting payback for 2002? Can Beanie play a whole game? The Buckeyes obviously tempted fate with Boom Herron scoring, untouched, with 2 minutes remaining, giving the gods enough time to allow something to go wrong. It wouldn’t have felt right if Ohio State had won, but it would have felt good.

It was an ending that only the media could write. It’s not because they wanted a storybook ending with Ohio State riding gently into the Arizona desert, but rather another game ripped from the hands of The Ohio State University.

Ironically Speaking
Texas won on a last second play, which is exactly what kept them out of the national championship. For Ohio State, they played the first 59 minutes and took the last 1 minute off, as opposed to playing the first minute in 2006 and 2007 and taking the rest of the game off.

Offense vs. Offense
Ohio State proved it can play defense, but Texas routinely exploited its biggest weakness: gaps in coverage. Sure, McCoy threw for 414 yards, but he needed 59 attempts to get there. Conversely, Buckeye receivers are unable to find creases in coverage or their QBs are unable to get them the ball. I don’t know if it is playcalling or execution, but do these numbers mean anything to you: 7 of 21, 4 of 14, and 5 of 14? That’s what OSU QB’s have been able to accomplish against their competition in the 2002 Championship, the 2006 Championship, and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. I’m not a math major, but 33% completion percentages are not ways to win ball games.

You said 414 yards, huh?
Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington are not Malcolm Jenkins. In the time it took to realize that, it also became apparent why OSU don’t run a lot of single coverage on the outside. Talk about change of fortunes for Anderson Russell, who stopped a sure touchdown drive with an interception and in almost exactly 30 minutes of game time, became the 2008 version of Ryan Hamby. I’m sorry, but it’s true. I hope everyone treats Russell better than they did Hamby, but in the scheme of things, both will be known for what they didn’t do against Texas. Maybe he just got distracted by Colt McCoy’s girlfriend.

WIJT – What Is Jim Thinking
Jim Tressel is still utterly confusing. Beanie did a whole lot of damage in the first half on 8 carries for 96 yards, but he could have done more. After Texas took the lead, Ohio State engineered the 2 shortest drives in the history of college football. Run, run, pass, punt. Pass, run, pass, punt. I’ve already mentioned the meager stats for OSU QBs on the big stage.

Phantom of the Fiesta
Phantom calls and spots were the name of the game. The quality of the officiating was shown when offsetting penalties were called on a 2 point conversion after Ohio State’s final touchdown. Not only did Thad Gibson get called for the same exact “helmet to helmet” call that Curtis Terry received in 2006, most of the officiating blunders prolonged Texas drives. Another irony is that a debated call in 2002 helped give OSU the title, while a debated spot in 2006 took away the Fiesta Bowl. Texas’ 4th down spot at the end of the game was moved up by officials after 4 Mississippi’s. The resulting spot gave Texas the 1st down by a mere 3 inches. It was challenged by Jim Tressel (his first all year), but there was inconclusive evidence. Had the ball been left at the original spot, Texas would have been short of the 1st down, Mack Brown would have challenged, and there would have been inconclusive evidence to overturn the call.

Alas, what should easily be 3-0 against one of the better programs in the country is 1-2, even those 2 loses were as exciting as we’ve seen. Seniors, thanks for a great last game. What exactly did Ohio State do to the football gods?

So, If That Whole QB Thing Doesn’t Work Out…
There is always receiver..

Your Big 12 Average Scoring – 14 points for average defense = Bowl scoring
Your Big 12 Average Scoring – 21 points for good defense = Bowl scoring

“You’ve got to stop the running game first or at least try to control it some, because we have not seen anybody that runs the ball like they do. We’ve got great stats against the run (No. 2 nationally), but we’re in a passing league.” Mack Brown, circa last week.

Truer words have never been spoken. Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter, the Big 12’s leading rusher, was on display last night in the Holiday Bowl against the Oregon Ducks. In case you missed it, here’s the stat line: 13 rushes for 36 yards (2.8 ypc with a long of 13). That’s right. This is a guy that rumbled for 1500 yards at 6.7 ypc. And Oklahoma State was in it for most of the game, and without Dez Bryant.

13 rushes for 36 yards.

This is the same Kendall Hunter that rumbled for 161 yards on 18 carries and a TD against Texas. Yes, that #2 in the nation Texas Longhorns run defense. Yes, in the game that held the Longhorns to their lowest output of the season of 28 points and a point differential of 4 (28-24). Meanwhile, Oklahoma State acted like they had rarely seen a QB or HB that could (or would) run. Maybe you can discount it as a bad bowl game for OK State, but it’s not like this Oregon team is considered a stalwart against the run.

Through the Alamo Bowl (Missouri vs Northwestern) and the Holiday Bowl (Oklahoma State vs Oregon), we’ve learned the answer to the “bad defenses or good offenses” question. The Big 12 offenses AND defenses have struggled so far. Northwestern brought Big Ten physicality (yes, Northwestern) and manhandled Missouri for most of the game. Sure, these might have only been the #4 and #5 best teams in the Big 12, but what if the trend continues? They may have been the #4 and #5 teams, but they are all top ten in scoring offense. Missouri came in ranked #6 at 42.2 points per game and Oklahoma State came in ranked #8 with 41.6 points per game. Texas, you may ask, is right there at 43.9 points per game.

What does this mean for the Buckeyes? Probably not much, because Texas and Ohio State are their own teams. Colt McCoy is still scary. “The best defense Texas has seen all year” made Mark Sanchez look like Matt Leinart (USC, not the pros), not to mention previous performance that shall not be named. If I was Texas and I was watching its Big 12 brethren getting pushed around, I would be a little worried going into this game. Expect that point spread to keep dropping if this trend continues through Monday.

Maybe Ohio State fans could go on and on about how ruined our season this year and in 2005 (more so in 2005), or how every day a Penn State player was arrested and no one batted an eye like they would have if it was OSU, or how your schedule makes Wisconsin’s look tough.

I won’t. I won’t do it. Why? Because the Big Ten needs you. Even Stewart Mandel agrees.

Looking at the Big Ten bowl schedule, a sane man can do nothing but shutter. After the Wisconsin beatdown, the big dogs at ESPN are all but ready to pull the “Big Ten SUX!” lever installed in Bristol soon after the 2006 National Championship. In fairness, who could blame them? Northwestern lost, albeit in overtime and due to a missed extra point against a Big 12 super offense. USC hasn’t been a kind West Coast host to the Big Ten teams fortunate enough to play them at home or in their backyard.

2006 Rose Bowl – Michigan @ USC – It was a really good game, until America realized Lloyd Carr didn’t believe in “halftime adjustments” and USC laid on the second half points.

2007 Rose Bowl – Illinois @ USC – A one dimensional team couldn’t keep up with the balanced USC attack. If Juice wasn’t Juice, it could have been different.

2008 – Ohio State @ USC – A Beanie-less, Todd Boeckman-led Ohio State team once again caved under pressure. Ohio State tried to run the clock out…after the first field goal

Penn State, it’s up to you. Bring the Spread HD, bring your 110 year old coach, bring Derrick Williams and his 3 years of under-performing. Bring it all. Words of caution: USC is bigger and faster than you. When USC tries, they win. While you are stuck in Happy Valley, they are busy taking recruits on limo rides to clubs in LA.

Keys to the Game:

PENN STATE

Darryl Clark’s Head – If he was out-manned playing Iowa and Ohio State, get ready to get Juiced. Illinois’ front man thought he’d have an easy day, and he did for all of 3 minutes. Todd Boeckman? He was a very LSU-esque 2 INTs and a requisite fumble. Chad Henne would rather play Florida every day of the week than USC again.

Ability to Not Play Big Ten Football – If you don’t want an “old fashioned Pac-10 butt whoopin”, leave the easy stuff to Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Run, Run, Pass isn’t going to beat USC no matter how hard the Big Ten tries. I’ve been impressed with PSU’s playcalling, even against OSU when it could only muster a touchdown. They’ve got playmakers that actually make plays.

USC

Playing at Home – Nothing like home games for all the teams facing the Big Ten teams. Los Angeles is a big city, and it’s not fun trying to get to one side from the other, but that’s all USC has to deal with. Penn State? Cross country trek to play a USC at home. Home crowd, home announcers, and more than likely, USC favoring officials.

7.8 ppg – The overpowering defense has made up for what has been a mediocre offensive attack. ESPN commentators already have 7.8 ppg tattooed on their butts (here’s looking at you, Jesse Palmer), proclaiming USC to be the best defense EVER!@#$%?. A Beanieless Ohio State mustered one whole field goal. Then again, a Beaniefull OSU only delivered 2 field goals against Penn State. While it may be overblown, the USC defense features freaks of nature on the line, in the linebacking core, and in Sean Taylor*.

*I meant Taylor Mays. Is there a difference?