Moving Forward

Before Buckeye Nation turned it’s eyes to shootyhoops on Saturday, the 2012 football team took to the field for it’s first full-pad practice of the spring. Here’s some of the things we’ve learned after three days under Coach Meyer:

• Saturday was a chance for the media to meet with the linebackers, and you can find some great footage from Sabino and Shazier after the jump. Coach Meyer has been pretty vocal about Grant needing to fulfill a major role in the defense moving forward, and with Klein dinged up, it’s definitely been his time to shine. Today, in pads, it sounds as if the lights are coming on- some big hits, involved all over the field, and even a pick at one point. For Ohio State to use it’s speed on the outside (Shazier/Sabino), they’ve got to have a runstopper at Mike; Grant looks to be ready to fill that role.
• Still a lot of questions about the receivers; is there a “playmaker” in this group? While that question is being sorted out, though, it’s great to hear that TY Williams has gotten past his problem with the drops and is catching everything that comes his way. With his size, he could definitely be a great weapon in the passing game. Read More

Tags: Andrew Norwell, Braxton Miller, Brionte Dunn, Carlos Hyde, Corey Linsley, Doran Grant, Etienne Sabino, Jack Mewhort, Jacoby Boren, Jeff Heuerman, Jonathan Hankins, Jordan Hall, Kenny Guiton, Maurice Hall, Reid Fragel, Rod Smith, Ryan Shazier, SBP, Se'Von Pittman, Spring Football 2012, T.Y. Williams, Taylor Decker, Tom Herman, Urban Meyer, Zach Boren
Categories: College Football, Ohio State Football

Today, we could have gone with Mo Hall, Nate Clements, or even the great John Borton.

Nailed it

But you don’t play Tresselball without a solid kicking game. Especially if you’re playing Purdue in 2008.

Ahem.

So, as we’re 20 days from the start of the season, we honor Aaron Pettrey, the pride of Raceland Kentucky.

Here’s to lots and lots of scoring opportunities in 2009- especially of the “extra point” variety.

As proof that you can find anything on the Interwebs, here’s an interview with a college kicker:

“Coach Tressel cheats out here…” Awesome.

Tags: Jim Tressel, Kentucky, Maurice Hall
Categories: Uncategorized

Brandon Schnittker begins the longest run of his career

Brandon Schnittker wasn’t widely known outside of the diehard Buckeye circles. He was a great blocker and when you’re lined up in the same backfield as a freshman RB who has 1,300 yards on the season, you just KNOW you’re not getting the ball very much. So his stats are not going to dominate the world.

But one glorious day, he had an amazing catch that began the most important drive Ohio State may have ever known.

November 23rd, 2002. Ohio State is 12-0 and with only 8:40 to play in the season, the Buckeyes are trailing Michigan 9-7. Tensions are high because the Buckeyes have had a season filled with late victories pulled out of thin air….will this be the one time that we can’t will ourselves to the win column? Also, this was still in the days when we would ALWAYS seem to lose our National Championship hopes to that state up north.

Ohio State took over on their own 37-yard-line. With Mike Nugent as our kicker, we were looking to get inside the 25 of Michigan to win this game and get to the Fiesta Bowl.

On the first snap from center, QB Craig Krenzel stepped back and fired a pass to our top WR Michael Jenkins. But the pass never reached Jenkins’ sticky fingers. Schnittker, who had been running a pattern to try and draw coverage away from Jenkins and Chris Vance, found himself in the path of the ball. He snagged it and used his strong legs to power himself further up the field, into Michigan territory at their 43-yard-line.

The roar of the crowd as Schnittker rumbled upfield was intense, and the drive would not be in vain. Krenzel’s legs, a brilliant pass to He Who Shall Not Be Named, and a 3-yard scamper by Maurice Hall broke the goal line and Ohio State took a late lead 14-9. That lead held up and Ohio State went on to win the National Championship.

Thanks to Tom, here’s the video of the drive….

That’s my biggest memory of Schnittker. He intercepted a pass intended for his own teammate. And I love the guy for it.

43 days until kickoff!

Tags: Brandon Schnittker, Chris Vance, Countdown to kickoff, Craig Krenzel, Fiesta Bowl, Maurice Clarett, Maurice Hall, Michael Jenkins, Michigan, Mike Nugent, National Championship, Ohio Stadium, Ohio State
Categories: Uncategorized