Ohio State vs. Texas - A Game Preview (1314 hits)
Category: SportsLabels: sports
Rating: 1.61 on 27 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Tom Sorrell - sorrelltr.at.hotmail.com (View user info) at 2005-09-09 10:58:57 EDT
Burnt Orange and White / Scarlet and Gray
Longhorns / Buckeyes
Texas / Ohio State
These two storied programs have played over 1,500 games and won ten national titles, yet with all this tradition and history they have never once played each other. On September 10, 2005 at 8:00 PM that will all change as they step onto the Ohio Stadium grass to do battle.
People all over the country have been eagerly anticipating this game since it was announced a few years ago and I'm sure they won't be disappointed with the result. Both teams are loaded with talent and speed. So much so that Ohio State comes in to the game ranked fourth in the nation while the Longhorns are the consensus number two...insert your own joke here.
Now, if you're an Ohio State fan who witnessed what Texas quarterback Vince Young did in the Rose Bowl last year, you're probably a bit nervous ... you should be. Vince Young is easily among the elite in college football today. He is one of the few college quarterbacks who has the ability to throw for 250-plus yards or run for over 100 against even the best defenses. Just ask the Michigan Wolverines. As big and strong as he is fast, Young is a load to bring down in the open field. If he can't run around you, he'll lower his shoulder and try to run through you. The Howitzer he calls a right arm is the perfect compliment to his running ability, because if the safeties come too close to the line he can easily throw over top of them to one of his lighting-quick receivers. I hate to use this cliché, but you really can't stop Vince Young, you can only contain him. (Ugh. I feel like a SportsCenter anchor.)
Anyway, the trick to stopping Young is simple - at least in theory. Keep him off the field as much as possible and use a fast linebacker (like AJ Hawk) to spy him when he's out there. In order for Ohio State to be successful, they must be able to sustain long drives on offense. This accomplishes the goal of keeping Young on the sidelines and it also keeps the defense rested so they can keep up with him when he's on the field. If the offense can't move the ball the defense will tire and Young will be able to run all over them. If that happens, the only thing anyone will be able to do is sit back and admire his talent (or throw things across the room, depending on which state you're from). Don't get me wrong, there's more to the Texas offense than Young (namely Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles - their speedy running backs), but Young is the key to this game. The Buckeyes MUST keep him off the field in order to win.
That said, the trick to keeping him off the field comes down to one position for the Buckeyes: quarterback. It's no secret that Troy Smith gives the Buckeyes the best chance at sending the 'Horns back to Austin with a loss, but how much will he play? Also, if he plays, how effective can he be after going nine months without game experience, then jumping back into the fire against a team like Texas? Sure, he's been practicing, but game-speed is completely different. Especially when you're playing a team with as much speed as the Longhorns.
To put this into perspective, imagine drinking one bottle of beer a week for nine months and then attempting to suck down an entire bottle of 90-proof alcohol in one sitting. You're going to have a rough time with it, right? Odds are good you're not going to be able to finish the bottle, and you might even end up getting sick at some point. That's what it could be like for Smith in this game. If practice is the beer, the Longhorns are a big bottle of Southern Comfort. Timing is a huge factor in how successful a quarterback can be and it takes a while to get back into sync with an offense. If it takes too long, Ohio State is in trouble, because I honestly don't feel they're winning this game with Zwick at the helm.
As far as talent, both teams are nearly equal. So this game is going to come down to three things: turnovers, special teams, and coaching. The turnovers are a crap shoot. You never know what's going to happen during a game. Special teams, however, are something else entirely. Texas has blocked 40 punts in the last eight years, so watch for them to get heavy pressure on a few kicks. That said, the Texas kickers are not exactly the best in the nation. The Longhorns missed three extra points in their first game against Louisiana Lafayette. That leaves the coaches.
Looking at their overall records, it's difficult to find a difference between the two. Jim Tressel is 41-11 (.788 win %) while Mack Brown is 71-19 (.789 win %). However, Brown's teams consistently struggle against top tier opponents. In fact, in his eight years coaching the Longhorns, Texas is 15-14 against the top 25, 4-3 in bowl games, and 0-2 in Big 12 title games, plus he hasn't beaten Oklahoma since the Democrats were in office. It seems that Mack Brown is to Texas what John Cooper was to Ohio State back in the '90s. Yes, he brings in the best players. Yes, his winning percentage is excellent. Yes, his teams are always successful. The only problem is, he loses big games. Of course, in college football, that's a pretty bit friggin' problem.
Furthermore, all you have to do is look at the two coaches and it's obvious which is superior. Need proof? Imagine there are two minutes left in the game and the score is tied. At that moment, ABC cuts to a shot of Jim Tressel calmly pacing the sidelines - the consummate professional. A moment later, they show Mack Brown staring at a referee like he's one bad call away from climbing a bell tower with a sniper rifle. Who would you rather have as your coach? I rest my case.
Added to all of this is the fact that Ohio State has not lost a non-conference home game since they lost to USC in 1990. They've also never lost a night game in Ohio Stadium. I don't think they're going to lose this one, either.
Prediction: Zwick throws an interception and Texas scores quickly to make it 7-0. The next series the offense fails to put points on the board and Tressel sends Smith into the game as the crowd erupts. Smith falters at first but eventually finds his groove and the Buckeyes go on to win, setting the stage for another national title run.
Ohio State 31 - Texas 20
User Reviews
Submitted by knucklesnelson (user info) at 2005-09-12 22:51:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Shame about the loss (snicker snicker). But alas my poor overated wolverines lost as well.
GO SPARTANS WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-09-12 14:27:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I think Shlongy's an SEC man...maybe even ACC.
And this isn't Shlongy. It's Shlongy's ghost.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-12 12:57:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ajanssen (user info) at 2005-09-12 10:07:11 (#)
Ranking: 0
Bad officiating wasnt pivotal in that game. There were sloppy mistakes made on both ends, more with Texas turning the ball over but the Texas defense was able to keep them at bay. The refs didn't change the outcome with bad calls. Zwick's bad playing and a weak offensive line did. It was a hell of a game but the better team won. Let's not blame this on refs. We both know that's bullshit.
Bullshit. The refs missed 2 calls in the first quater that should've went our way. I don't know about the "better team" comment. Of course our guys dropping the ball in the end zone didn't help.
Fuck Shlongy. He's probably a PAC 10 idiot.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-09-12 10:22:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Just another shitty game, by the shitty Big Ten, in prime time.
Submitted by ajanssen (user info) at 2005-09-12 10:07:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Bad officiating wasnt pivotal in that game. There were sloppy mistakes made on both ends, more with Texas turning the ball over but the Texas defense was able to keep them at bay. The refs didn't change the outcome with bad calls. Zwick's bad playing and a weak offensive line did. It was a hell of a game but the better team won. Let's not blame this on refs. We both know that's bullshit.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-12 09:58:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Mess with the bull, you get the horns.
Fucking "bull" is right. Head referee was a fucking Texas native.
Submitted by ajanssen (user info) at 2005-09-12 09:48:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
HA BITCHES!!!!
HOOK 'EM HORNS MOTHERFUCKER!!!! We are after a national championship and blood and will have both.
Mess with the bull, you get the horns.
Submitted by Envenom (user info) at 2005-09-11 12:12:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is what I I don't get...even a good kicker usually only makes FG's at an 80% clip. The guy was already 4/4...why push your luck, especially with an untested kicker on the biggest of stages? And talk about pressure on the youngster. It'd be hard to blame him, he did an excellent job. A foot to the left, and we win the game. If the tight end catches Zwick's pass in the endzone instead of bobbling it, we win the game. Ugh...
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-09-11 00:05:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Honestly....I don't even know what to do right now. I can't go to sleep. I don't want to watch tv. I really have nothing sane to add to any conversations because I'm am completely out of my mind right now. Anger, frustration, sadness.....this is awful. I just sat and stared at the floor for five minutes like Rain Man. The last time I was this frustrated by a football game was in 1998 against Michigan State.
Since Zwick's fumble, I've thrown a box of kleenex, a mini football, and my OSU jersey across the room. My wife is cowering in the corner and I'm about two seconds away from driving to Columbus with a knife in my teeth to find Zwick and Tressel.
Submitted by Envenom (user info) at 2005-09-10 23:59:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm shocked Tressel strayed from his own philosophy. He'd been playing (and winning) field position all night. Kicking a fifty yard field goal with a 6 pt lead is NOT Tressel ball. It's hard to fathom that he didn't have faith in the defense to stop them from going the length of the field with the way they'd been performing all night.
Congrats to Texas on a well fought victory. No controversies, you came into our house and beat us fair and square.
Submitted by Envenom (user info) at 2005-09-10 21:47:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WOOO GO BUCKS!
Submitted by Xcuses (user info) at 2005-09-09 22:10:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Go Texas...just to give you shit
Oh, GO Blue!
Submitted by DavyJones (user info) at 2005-09-09 17:15:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Second best game this week, definately one to pay attention to...
Oh, the best game this week you ask?
Iowa State Cyclones v. Iowa Cockfags
Submitted by nitty34 (user info) at 2005-09-09 15:20:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Just got back into town from Columbus. Those bastards are SERIOUS about their football!
Sorry dude, but I'm thinking more like
Texas: 28 OSU: 17
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-09-09 14:54:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
go bucks.
say hey to my buddy...lucky bastard got free tix.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-09 13:58:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Bayless chose the Buckeyes!?!
And now he's talking GOOD about Columbus!
*dies*
Submitted by shark25 (user info) at 2005-09-09 13:47:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Young is a load to bring down
**************************************************************************************************
hehehe you said "load" hehehe
Submitted by NerfHerder (user info) at 2005-09-09 13:34:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
*boner*
GO BUCKS
(Also, Go OU against Pitt tonight)
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-09 13:24:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
B@W
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:31:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
OSU > Iowa
But thanks, AJ. I'm excited to watch your boys play the Cyclones. I will be taking notes for my preview.
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:21:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm pullin' for your boys this weekend, Tom. I want them to have an unblemished record when Iowa beats them. There won't be any lucky break with not having to play the Hawks like they had in '02.
ON IOWA!
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:19:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Jesus, where is everyone today? I keep waiting for a tumbleweed to roll past.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:04:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
AJAN, where is that article you were going to write? I can put it up right now if you post it on the other sumbission (the one about "Click here Texas").
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:04:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
GO DAWGS
SPURRIER'S OTHER COCK IS A VAGINA
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:04:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Zwick first half.
Smith second.
Submitted by ajanssen (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:02:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
HOOK 'EM HORNS, MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!
I BLEED BURNT ORANGE.
Submitted by Mike00295 (user info) at 2005-09-09 11:01:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I knew this post was coming. I knew it.
Good luck to your team. And mine,
GO IRISH
http://www.ubersite.com/m/74835 - And a filthy linkslutwhoreskank