Buckeye Blogger NetworkThis worked pretty well that day
In today’s episode of the tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff series, we come to #74 a more recent game. The feature game is the November 3rd, 2012 smoking of Illinois, 52-22.
After a tight 1st quarter (7-6, OSU) the Buckeyes effectively put this game away in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Illini 24-0. Drew Basil kicked off the big quarter with a 31-yard field goal, then worked on extra points as Carlos Hyde (2 TD) and Rod Smith (1 TD) did the heavy lifting in that quarter.
For your viewing pleasure.
Robert Smith
In today’s episode of tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff series, we are at #75; another Minnesota Golden Gopher appearance on the countdown list.
On October 27th, 1990 OSU rolled the Gophers, 52-23. It may seem that I’m picking on the Gophers, but I’m not. It’s just that they are “Minnesota Nice”, so they are well represented on our list.
Buckeye quarterback Greg Frey energized the offense with 257 yards passing and 3 TD’s.
Today is #76 in our continuing Countdown to Kickoff series placing us squarely at Minnesota’s 2nd appearance on the list. On October 29th, 2005, OSU outgunned the Gophers, 45-31.
The Buckeyes and Gophers played to 14-14 halftime at but Ohio State pulled away with 28 2nd half points. Antonio Pittman (186 yds, 2 TD’s) and Troy Smith (216 yds, 3 TD’s) powered the offense, while Ted Ginn Jr. returned a KO 100 yds for another TD.
Antonio Pittman on the loose
We are at #77 in today’s episode of the tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff series, that means Rice was on the short end of OSU’s 1996 season opener, 70-7.
The Buckeyes had to replace Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, QB Bobby Hoying, TE Rickey Dudley and WR Terry Glenn. They did so, in a manner, with Pepe Pearson (119yds, 3TD’s/Michael Wiley (3TD‘s), John Lumpkin (1TD) and David Boston (1TD). Oh, and backup QG Joe Germaine threw 3TD passes.
Ohio State out-gained Rice 632-218 in total yards, so we’d be remiss to not mention the defense’s impact on that game as well.
Stanley Jackson
In today’s episode of the tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff series, we are at #78, which features the Buckeyes in their never-say-die comeback win over Minnesota on October 28, 1989, 41-37.
Coach Cooper’s Buckeyes were down 31-0 with 4:29 remaining in 1st half before getting on the board to trail 31-8 at the half. OSU rode the late 1st half momentum in the 2nd half, scoring the winning touchdown with less than a minute to play. They tied the record for largest deficit overcome for this win. And managed to commit 6 turnovers during the game.
Greg Frey loads up
In today’s episode of the tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff series, we are at #79, which can only mean the point total of the November 4th, 1989 beat-down that Ohio State put on Northwestern, 52-27.
Coach Cooper had the running game going in Evanston, with three Buckeyes hitting 100 yards. They were Dante Lee (157 yds, 3 TD’s), Scottie Graham (102, 1) and Carlos Snow (100, 1).
Our friend Vico talked about this matchup over at OHD (even had video of it before it got taken down), and points out a couple of other tidbits-
Northwestern has always been an interesting matchup for Ohio State; from the “doormat” status they held early on, through the Gary Barnett successes and the 2004 upset of Coach Tressel’s team, to the great things that Pat Fitzgerald is doing now. I’m among many who believe that the game in Evanston may be one of OSU’s toughest this coming season… although I’d prefer to relive the 1989 events.
The 1904 Miami Redhawks Football Team. Did they sense their fate?
Welcome to the inaugural – kickoff if you will – piece on tBBC’s Countdown to Kickoff the Buckeyes 2013 football season. We’ll have daily pieces of interest/trivia to get us through the summer until OSU takes the field against the University of Buffalo Bulls on August 31st.
Since this year’s team is expected to show a marked increase in offensive output, at least by our staff, we’ll mark-down the days using some metric based on the final score (OSU points scored, margin of victory, or total points scored).
Since we have 80 days until kickoff, we’ll start with.. 80.
Today’s game involves the October 1st, 1904 whitewashing that the Ohio State Buckeyes put on the Miami (OH) Redhawks, 80-0. To say this was a display of dominance would be an understatement. This game was the high water mark for Coach E.R. Sweetland’s team. Captained by John D. Thrower (great football name or what?), Ohio State rolled through the D-III’ish (Otterbein, Miami (OH), Muskingum, Denison) early portion of their schedule at 4-0, outscoring these four opponents 184-0. However, the Buckeyes followed that great start with a 31-6 pasting at the hands of TTUN, and would ultimately end the season at a disappointing 6-5.
Bill Willis, as bad as it gets..
I’m truly happy to profile a pioneer, in every sense of the word, Mr. Bill Willis. Willis, a Columbus native was a pioneer in the way the middle-guard position was played, but more importantly, in breaking the traditional segregation barriers that existed in sports, among other aspects of society.
Pre-Ohio State
Willis was three-time all-state honorable mention at Columbus East High School in the late 1930′s. This was the same high school that produced Chic Harley. (We talk about the Glenville ‘pipeline’, but don’t forget Columbus East..). Bill’s older brother (Claude) was an outstanding fullback for the high school, so to avoid comparisons, Bill preferred to play as a lineman. As it turned out, a wise choice, indeed.
