The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary » Scarlet and Gray Q&A

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Urban Meyer and More

Chris — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:16:52 +0000

There has been a lot of debate the last week as to how much the loss to Michigan hurts. Under ordinary circumstances, nobody on either side of the greatest rivalry in sports would want to lose the contest called “The Game.” As the seconds ticked off of the scUM’s first win in seven years over Ohio State, I had an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was a feeling I have not experienced after losing to the state up north. It was pride.

Some say there is no pride to be had in losing, but this was a gutsy performance by the Buckeyes. It was clear the defense needs help. It was evident that Braxton Miller needs to work on his accuracy with the deep ball. The one thing that was most apparent was the Buckeyes have heart too. For 60 minutes in Ann Arbor, Ohio State … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Twelve

Chris — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:41:45 +0000

Every season, anyone, who has any kind of writing commitment, will tell you at some point you hit a wall during a given season. It is up to every scribe to find what exactly it is that keeps him or her going, but for me, I usually draw my inspiration from on the field performances. I have gone from frustrated to empathetic when it comes to the 2011 season.

There is no question that 2011 has been a tough me for on many different levels. I am not an apologist, but I am a good friend to a man who lost his job that he loved. Compounding all of this was taking on a career that requires me to explain what happened and why things transpired the way that they did. To top everything off, I have had to endure one of the more trying seasons on the football field … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Eleven

Chris — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:45:45 +0000

What is it about Ross-Ade Stadium? The stadium, with the obscenely big press box, always turns into a house of horrors when the Buckeyes take the field in on Purdue’s campus.

Whatever you think plagued the scarlet and gray this past weekend, one theory that has been floated out there is the pressure of mistakes from the past. Perhaps exercising the demons of past losses proved to be a tougher challenge for this young Buckeye team. Not to mention the fact that this actually is a fairly talented Boilermaker squad.

As I stated in last week’s column, this was a game that scared the daylights out of me. Ohio State didn’t handle the spread offense the week before, and I figured a better version of that offense would have a better success this past weekend. If you think about it, the fact that the Buckeyes were even in this football … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Ten

Chris — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:00:11 +0000

Fans are a fickle bunch. No pun intended, but there really is no way to tell from week to week what exactly the mood of Buckeye Nation. We are a moody bunch to say the least. I, for one, am normally an optimist. Five seasons inside the bubble that is the Ohio State football program tends to give you a realistic view on life. In the words of a great coach “You can’t ever get too high, and you can’t ever get too low.” The message is one to try and live your life by, but there may be no better week to remember this quote. With that, let’s get to a little Scarlet and Gray Q&A.

Should we be worried after Ohio State’s 34-20 victory over Indiana?

The weekly therapy session that we go through as Buckeye fans is always interesting. I would be lying if I didn’t do … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Nine

Chris — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:15:41 +0000

Every player has that defining moment in their career. It is that moment where a player seizes the moment and changes the course of a game, a season, or even a career. Whether it was Joe Germaine’s last minute drive in the Rose Bowl, Eddie George against Notre Dame in the ‘Shoe, or Troy Smith against Michigan in 2004, Buckeye fans have plenty of defining moments to tie heroes of yesterday to that first time greatness was observed.

It doesn’t matter how many times I watch the play, I am still amazed by the touchdown pass that might have salvaged 2011 for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In an era when freshman are counted on more and more, it was two in Braxton Miller to Devin Smith, that created a moment fans and pundits will talk about for years to come. It may have been the uniforms, the night game, or … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A- Week Eight

Chris — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:58:28 +0000

There are winning games ugly, and then there is what Ohio State’s victory over Illinois was. Four total pass attempts, one completed pass, and plenty of runs made the Buckeyes’ win in Champaign about as unattractive as a win can get.

The bye week provided plenty of retrospect for the team, the fans, and pundits alike. There is plenty to ponder as we barrel towards the end of the regular season. As unlikely as it might seem, Ohio State still has an opportunity to win the Leaders Division if they were to win all of their remaining games.

That task is not without its pitfalls especially starting this week against the Wisconsin Badgers, who are coming off a 37-31 loss at the hands of Michigan State. If there was an opportunity to knock the boys from Madison off, I thought the best case scenario would be off of a tough … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Seven

Chris — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:15:04 +0000

If the great Charles Dickens were looking to write a sequel to “A Tale of Two Cities,” Luke Fickell and the Ohio State Buckeyes might want to add “A Tales of Two Halves” to the realm of possibilities.

The Buckeyes reversed their offensive fortunes of a week ago against Michigan State, and the scarlet and gray marched down the field four times in the first half to put 20 points up on the scoreboard.

Unfortunately after scoring a touchdown on their first possession of the second half, the Ohio State defense gave up 28 unanswered points en route to a 34-27 loss at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

With another tough road test on the horizon, it’s time once again for a little Scarlet and Gray Q&A.

What was a bigger turning point, Braxton Miller’s injury or Miller’s fumble?

I had a caller on the weekday radio show I … [Read More]

Scarlet and Gray Q&A – Week Six

Chris — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:51:48 +0000

If there was ever a need for a demonstration of Murphy’s Law, Ohio State’s offense against Michigan State might be an apt tool to use. Everything that could go wrong for the Buckeyes did last Saturday when the scarlet and gray had possession of the football.

Nothing went right, and any glimmer of hope that occurred, like the 33 yard pass completion to Chris Fields, was instantly snuffed out before the offense could make anything of it.

With all the on the field issues, the last thing the Buckeye faithful needed were more NCAA issues that crept up at the beginning of this week. With so much unknown, it is time to dive into a little Scarlet and Gray Q&A.

What’s wrong with the offense?

How long have you got? I could write a book this week about what is plaguing the Ohio State offense, but instead I have compiled … [Read More]