We all know that wasn’t scripted.
Although we thought it would never come, the first weekend of college football is finally under our belts. Here’s my run down of the good and bad of week 1:
Good: The Buckeye’s dominating victory over Akron.
Bad: The fact that it was little more than a scrimmage.
The entire thing felt like an extended practice session. It was obvious throughout the entire game that Coach Fickell was using this as a chance to further solidify his lineup. Hard to make a solid read on the quality of the Buckeyes against a team that went 1-11 last season and doesn’t have much hope of doing better this year.
Good: Jake Stoneburner
Three touchdowns by a true tight end! What a performance and a school record. Stoneburner has the potential to be a serious weapon on this team.
Good: Dual Quarterbacks?
We’ve all been a little concerned about Bauserman but against Akron at least, he looked solid. Good decision making in the pocket, passing looked solid, nice on the roll out. Not so sure about the mumbling, stumbling touchdown but it worked. Can’t believe he’d be able to do that against a college defense though. Once Miller got the nod (not the three and out on a dropped pass nod), you could see his confidence grow by the play. Also liked seeing two very different offensive styles without much difficulty on the transition.
Bauserman’s experience and leadership showed itself Saturday and he has shown development since last year. Again, tough to judge in a scrimmage but so far so good.
Bad: Miller didn’t really play with the big boys.
It’s completely understandable why Coach Fickell started pulling players by the end of the first half. The heat alone is reason enough. It would have been nice to see Miller get more than a quick down and out with the first team but at this point, it looks like Bauserman has won the spot. We’ll see Miller in time. Until then, good for Miller to have a mentor in Bauserman.
Good: Coach Fickell playing with confidence and not afraid to keep up the tempo.
Bad: Akron coach Rob Ianello throwing a post game temper tantrum
Apparently Ianello had a few words for Coach Fickell as he walked off the field. Instead of just telling him “good game,” Ianello said “I don’t think that’s real good sportsmanship.”
I’m sorry but does anybody sympathize with Ianello? Granted his offense couldn’t find the first down marker if it was thrown at them and Carlos Hyde racked up more yards than the entire Akron offense but what did you expect coach? Should Coach Fickell have told Hyde, who got a rare opportunity by default to carry the ball, to take a knee? This kid is trying to prove himself and Coach Fickell gave him the chance. From the way Fickell talks, every kid on this team needs to prove themselves. You think they’re not going to take the chance?
Akron made enough on this game to cover their athletic budget for the year. Ohio State always plays these instate games as a fund raiser for fellow Ohio Schools. Take the money and enjoy it. If you don’t want to play the role of scout team, don’t schedule the game (especially against a new coach with a bunch of suspended starters).
Good: Lou Holtz calling Mark May an Idiot.
Bad: Mark May
In Mark May’s world, Ohio State over Akron 21-0 means Ohio State sucks. Alabama over Kent State 21-0 means Alabama should get an automatic BCS berth.
Really Funny Good: Lou Holtz calling Notre Dame a national title contender — during Monday’s pregame show.
Good: Tressel getting a token coaching position with the Baltimore Colts.
Nice to see a friend giving Coach a chance to get away from the mess in Columbus.
(Without question on of the best errors I’ve made on this blog in years.)
Bad: Tressel taking a self-imposed penalty for his NCAA problems.
This is without doubt one of the most absurd things I’ve ever seen. At it’s worst, it is a huge knock on Tressel as he justifies the NFL penalty against Pryor. In taking the penalty, he undermines any claim the players union may have had regarding the Pryor suspension.
Is it possible that the NFL doesn’t see the hypocrisy in all this? Meanwhile Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush, Cam Newton and enough NFL players with criminal records to fill an average prison play blissfully on. Any other program and nobody would bat an eye (one-game suspensions in Miami…really!?). Ohio State and even the NFL feels the need to pile on.
And can you believe, there is even one sports writer who thinks this is a good move. What a tool.
Robo Duck and 2011 Uniform...Seperated at birth?
Good: Maryland’s new uniforms.
Granted, I can’t stand these non-traditional uniforms. As a Buckeye ex-pat living in Maryland, I liked seeing the state flag incorporated into the helmets…and the jerseys…and the shoes…and their gloves..and anything else they could cover. Under Amour is a home-town, College Park business started by a couple of grads right out of college so it was really only a matter of time. Let’s just hope it was a one-time thing and they’ll go back to old uniforms next week.
Bad: Oregon’s uniform du jour
Two words – Robo Duck
Good: Watching Auburn fans filing out in advance of the coming loss to Utah State.
Bad: Watching Auburn fans gathered on the ramps to watch Utah State blow it in the last two minutes of the game.
Good: Watching Boise State beat an SEC school
Bad: Seeing the potential of an undefeated Boise State season as they go on to dominate the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Good: Watching a high-flying Oregon offense get shut down by a hard hitting defense.
Not that I liked watching Oregon lose, I didn’t. It was good to see that hard hitting defense still holds a high place in college football.
Bad: Seeing LSU take the No. 2 spot.
Would have really liked to see Oregon put an early stymie in the coming SEC hype. Credit to both schools for scheduling this game though.
Good: College football on Monday nights
Bad: NFL returns to Monday next week
Play tBuckeye Blog’s College Pickem
Although there’s enough hot air around here to send the late Steve Fawcett on another long-distance joy ride, it’s time to put up or shut up. Join in The Buckeye Blog’s College Pick ‘Em. Doesn’t cost anything to join and there are some serious bragging rights to be earned.
I’ll see what I can do to dig up some sponsors for both weekly and over all prizes. Right now I’ve only got a point spread game going. If there is enough interest, I’ll set up a confidence game also. Let me know.
Click here to play: http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/college
Winners get to spout as much smack as we can all tolerate.
Group ID# (24276)
Password: buckeyes
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I think the thing that makes Stoneburner so valuable is that he’s NOT a true tight end. He’s a little light to be a prototypical tight end and a little bulky to be a wide receiver. That’s what makes him so valuable as a tight end.. as a blocker he does a decent job, but he is simply un-coverable as a tight end. Linebackers and safeties can’t hang with him. What are they gonna do?.. Cover him with a corner? Please do.
How ’bout those freshman receivers? If the big question mark was what are we going to do without Posey for 5 games.. Question answered.
After listening to Goodell’s interview, I now see what makes Pryor’s situation different than most. They aren’t as worried about players leaving college to avoid punishment as they are protecting the rues of the supplemental draft. Hard to argue that Pryor didn’t jump ship rather than being kicked out as the reason he was kicked out was because he opted not to cooperate with the NCAA investigation. So he probably shouldn’t have been eligible for the sup-draft. Had he jumped ship and declared for the regular draft, there would have been no NFL suspension. But.. using this as a baseline, I see no reason Tress should have been suspended. Granted he/the Colts took the suspension voluntarily, but if they hadn’t, Goodell said he would have “taken action”. There can be no other rationale other than to placate the NFLPA, but in any event, since the NFL answers to nobody, what’s done is done.
The receivers are the one of the “goods” I didn’t get in there. One of the biggest preseason question marks were the receivers. If Evan Spencer is any indication of the talent on this team, we’re in good shape.
I tried to embed the video of that catch in the reply above but it didn’t take. Here’s the link:
http://youtu.be/WuJBwqBih6w
Pryor was the big fish of Tattoo gate…I think it was VERY cool that the Raiders imposed the suspension as an extension to the commitment he made back in December to play in the bowl game…he committed to the school for the year with Tress! Things changed and I am fine with him doing the sup draft to avoid a long suspension or ineligibility….let’s face it he wouldn’t have played, NCAA was looking for a high profile active player to make a statement with sanctions and they lost that chance when Pryor left. OSU is likely off their radar for the moment…and it looks like they may survive to thrive sooner than expected.
Tressel showed class by the self imposed suspension (holding himself to the same, if not a higher standard) AND assured that Pryor will serve it out instead of get anywhere on appeal.
Tressel’s last good life lesson for Pryor…lord knows Coach tried to get through to him!
So the question of the day…Was Pryor the root cause of Tattoo-Gate…did he start the bad trend, pushing gray areas into black, that got so many in trouble OR was he just part of the parade? I enjoyed watching him play for my ten, but, in the end, I am happy to be rid of the liability!
mikie
I don’t agree. Dave is right when he says that Pryor tried to do the right thing by sticking around and taking the five-game suspension. He made a personal commitment to Coach Tressel. That commitment was broken when Coach left.
At that point, it was too late for the NFL draft. If he had bailed out back in Jan. and joined the regular NFL draft, he would be free and clear. Now, the NFL feels it’s their place to punish him!?
If further allegations were to arise against Cam Newton, would the NFL give him a suspension? How about former Miami players in the NFL who took benefits? Should they be suspended? What if they are no longer playing? Maybe they should face fines?
And now Tressel is taking a penalty that will prevent him from watching replays in the coaches’ booth? With the rules changes, this really is a token job as every play is being reviewed anyway. As much as I like Coach Tressel, and maybe he did do it out of a sense of responsibility, I’m not convinced this is a good thing. By taking the penalty himself and not allowing the NFL to impose it, he frees the NFL from the burden of making the choice either to penalize or not penalize after laying sanctions on Pryor. That is a decision I believe they should be required to make.
If they are going to become a disciplinary arm of the NCAA, then let them make their stand. If they are not, than let them answer to the hypocrisy of the Prior penalty. Tressel is letting them off the hook.
Tressel has paid his penalty. He lost one of the top coaching jobs in football–college or pro.
“Good: Tressel getting a token coaching position with the Baltimore Colts.”
…. You know it’s not 1984 right, Jim? Baltimore?
I love it!!! Didn’t even notice I did it. Best error I’ve made around here in a long time. I’m leaving that one up there. Just too good.
It probably has something to do with my lingering anger over the Baltimore Browns.
I seriously thought you intentionally did that, but wanted to make sure anyway.
Good win as far as a win goes. The competition wasn’t very good poor at best, only one win last year maybee the same this year.I have to see how they do against better teams before i’m sold on Bauserman and the defense. Ohio State is suppose to beat Akron 42-0. A good win against The U might convince me.
Mark May is the biggest asshole of a comentator on TV. That’s why I try not listen to him . Holtz always brags on ND, but get real,they lose to South Florida.I happen to follow South Florida they are just across the bay from me. Good chance of winning the Big East this year.
I feel bad for Tony and his Ducks looked like real ducks against LSU, no hands and to many penalties. Hope the rest of the season goes better for them.
As far as Tressel goes, who hires a coach who’s only job is to decide to challenge a play. The water boy gets more respect than him. Last time I looked the Colts play in the NFL not the NCAA, what’s with waiting seven game before he can pickem.
Just my thoughts GO BUCKEYES.
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The loss to LSU was humiliating enough ……. do you have to rub salt in the wounds too?