Last year’s game with Penn State was pretty pathetic. When the only time your team sees the end zone is as your coach runs through it on his way to the bathroom, you know things aren’t going well.
Penn State had an excuse. They weren’t playing at home. This year however, the Ohio State/Penn State game returns to Beaver Stadium and once again, Penn State fans are in their all white shirt wearin, this is an historic game bein, we’ve rarely beaten a number 1 team sayin, history will repeat itself thinkin glory.
The tent city so proudly referred to as Paternoville is back and once again, Coach Paterno, with his wife in tow, brought pizza to the students camped outside the stadium–just like he did in 2005.
The weather has even turned to a fall drizzle, just like the weather the week of the ‘05 Ohio State upset.
And why shouldn’t Penn State get excited about this game. It is about the only thing they’ve had going for them in their last two pathetic seasons. If by some miracle, they could repeat the magic of that ‘05 win, they might be able to convince the world once again that yes, they do have a football team. Something most of the college football world had forgotten long ago.
This, however, is not 2005 and the odds of history repeating themselves are not good. Unlike 2005, the Buckeyes will be prepared for the “white out.” The ‘05 game was the first time I can recall a Penn State “white out.” It was something new and yes, it was impressive. You only get that kind of impact once. This year, we know it’s coming. The shock factor will be gone.
In ‘05, Ohio State was building an offensive powerhouse. The wet, slippery conditions made it difficult for the Buckeyes to bring their planned game to the field. This year, it is all about Defense. The Buckeyes have one of the most potent defenses in college football and it is Penn State that needs to worry. Penn State’s offense has been sidelined with rape charges and other off field problems and Penn State’s receiving corps, expected to be one of the best in the country, have each been held to less than 100 yards per game.
Penn State’s only hope is on defense. Last week, the Buckeye offense showed their first signs of weakness giving up two touchdowns. The only hope Penn State has is if they can force turnovers and you know Tressel has been working to correct that problem all week.
Ohio State has played in intense games before. It is doubtful that anything can compare to the atmosphere at last year’s Ohio State/Michigan game (although a home game). The Buckeyes faced similar crowds in Texas last year and walked away unscathed.
Penn State fans are excited. Let them be. The past few years have been difficult for this once storied program. However, if the Buckeyes can hit them hard and early, taking the crowd out of the game, Penn State’s moment will be over.
Update:
After seeing the response to this post, reading the Penn State blogs and turning on ESPN Game Day this morning to hear Penn State fans yelling “over rated,” it’s time to take off the gloves. I’ve been giving them way too much respect. Ohio State needs to not just win this game, they need to blow them off the scoreboard…and we have the team to do it.
Herbstreet said this morning that it is the team that can take the energy of a stadium like Penn State and turn it against them that is the true national championship team. He said an “us against the world mentality” can win these games. Tressel has the motivation this year as 41-14 rings in our ears.
Today is the day of our redemption. Remember what Woody said when asked why he went for two with a 34 point lead against Michigan, “Because I couldn’t go for three.”
Penn State fans have been talking about “bowing down before our lords Ohio State.”
Let’s not give them a choice. GO FOR THREE!!
The Atlanta Falcons fans have never been able to separately visualize the American football and afc from their favorite team, hence the Super Bowl craze.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Penn State wins against their SEC match ups in bowls – as underdogs.
Serious arrogance here, considering OSU’s record in Beaver Stadium, and bounce catching your way to victory there in 2003. I do give Krenzel’s back up (McMullen?) credit though, he showed a lot of character after Krenzel was knocked out of that game.
Plus, if you actually looked at the Running Back situation, Austin Scott’s suspension has cut a cancer from the team.
Maybe you should get down off of your high horse. When’s the last time OSU has really won a meaningful game? Was it last year’s win against Mighty Michigan (they turned out to be real good, huh)? Last year’s win against PSU? Last year’s National Champion…oh wait.
What we DO know is that is certainly hasn’t been any one of THIS year’s wins. You’re playing a real opponent now, and if you think we’re just going to “bow before our Buckeye Overlords,” your team will be leaving disappointed.
The 2007 OSU team is not the best of all time ever in the history of CFB…perhaps try a little humility next time instead of needlessly slandering a quality opponent. Whatever you have to do to get up for the game, I guess?
The Buckeyes are a young team but their playing great. OSU has much more to loose obviusly with their #1 ranking but I agree with this article, its going to be about OSU’s defense. If you look at recent years its been our defense that has made it happen and now its on the young guys like Laurinaitis. I’m a bit concerned about Boeckman with his youth but he is the Big Ten’s top-rated passer. Ohio State stays undefeated but it will be a good one.
Oh, I see I got their attention.
I’m not saying this isn’t going to be a great game. I think it may be the toughest game of our season for just the reasons I outlined above.
Penn State wants this game bad.
And it is for that reason that I think this will be a harder win for us then when we play Michigan. As Penn State discovered with Michigan’s “Yellow out,” UM fans are lame.
This game is going to be about defense. I think the Buckeye defense is good…really good. I think they are better than the 02 defense (you do remember that team don’t you Eric? I think they also did pretty well in a Bowl Game). I think the Penn State offense is going to really struggle against our D.
Likewise, this game will be about Penn State defense. Their one big hope is to pressure Boeckman and hope he responds like he did against MSU.
Now, as for the smack talk. I hate to say it but the last two years have been pretty pathetic for Penn State. I think it is pretty amazing the energy and confidence they have for this game. If they win, it will because they want it more.
And don’t believe for a minute that I don’t want to see Penn State return to glory. With fans like that, I would love to see them as another Big Ten team competing on a regular basis for the national title.
No high horse intended here. I’m just calling it as I see it.
As an Ohio State fan, I want nothing but the best opponents. I want to play a Penn State that is ranked in the top five. I want Michigan to be up there with them. I want Wisconsin to be the team we all thought they would be. Hell, while were at it, let’s see Iowa back in there. (I could go on.) I want our out of conference games to be of the level of the Texas series we had the last two years.
And yes, I say that because I’m confident in our program. I am confident in what Jim Tressel can do with this team and his ability to recruit quality athletes.
I want the Big Ten to be respected and whomever comes out of the Big Ten on top, I don’t want anybody questioning their presence in the national championship.
I hope Penn State gives them a great game.
finally, when I go back and read the original post, you’re right. I was pretty rough. I stand by it though. I forget sometimes that Penn State fans are still a little new to the Big Ten and don’t know the true nature of Big Ten rivalry talk. Come back and visit around Michigan time. This ain’t nothing.
Start cooking the pasta, Craig. I’ll have mine with a side of freshly crushed Morelli.
Anappolis-How do you figure you were a little rough on them in your original post?
And the last time I checked, slander means you you might be making false or malicious statements. I don’t think saying that if PSU beats OSU it would bring some attention back to the program that has fallen from the mountain top as one of the top teams in the country over the last several years. Because it’s no surprise that right now they’re not one of the Elite. And that statement is neither false or malicious.
Eric-I dont’ believe that AB ever said in his post that “The 2007 OSU team is not the best of all time ever in the history of CFB”. Nor do I think any OSU fan that can breathe would say that of this years team.
As for being on our high horse? Winning 18 straight Big Ten games and 26 consecutive regular-season outings since the PSU defeat at Happy Valley in 2005 certainly allows us to scream from any mountain top.
As for winning meaningful games? I’d say the last 26 straight regular season games and 18 straight Big 10 games has significant meaning. Do you know why? Because the record for the longest winning streak in the Big 10 is 19. And I don’t expect we’ll fall from the mountain top tomorrow against Joe Pa (or which ever assistant coach is really running that team).
I like that comment from the Pittsburgh Tribune:
“They’d better ready for it Saturday night because it’s going to be crazy here. It’s going to be ridiculous,” freshman Allyson Andrews said. “Everybody was ready for Notre Dame when they came up this year, and it was ridiculous. Ohio State’s 100 times worse than that. Everybody up here hates Ohio State.”
Allyson, as a freshman, you have some things to learn. You hater…
OSU 27 PSU 13
Penn State is still getting used to the whole rivalry thing.
Those of us who were suckled on the hatred of the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry…well, let’s just say it’s not pretty.
Amen, brother. You make some very valid points.
After reading a lot of Penn State blogs, it’s seems that they think that players from Penn State’s past like Kerry Collins, KiJana Carter, Joe Jurevicius, LaVar Arrington, and Jack Ham are suiting up on Saturday, as oppose to the ones that are actually on the roster.
The Nittany Lion offense is average at best, since this is a unit that scored a whopping nine points against Michigan.
And defensively, Penn State is so overrated. They have a couple of good linebackers, and decent defensive end and that’s about it.
Does anyone really think teams like Illinois and Indiana would score 27 and 31 points on the Buckeyes? Heck no!
Annapolis,
The Joe Pa Line was, perhaps, the absolute best line you have ever penned, maybe.
Kind Regards,
Brent Musberger
AnnapolBuck:
I was being polite before the 50-gallon drum of whoopass fell of my truck. I will let the Buckeyes do the talking for us. Doesn’t take much for the monkeys to throw turds at the glass, does it?
Paternoville? Damn, that’s more Hokey than Virginia Tech. Didn’t Douglas MacArthur bulldoze that place during the Hoover Administration — about the time the Nittnay lions had something to brag about.
Yes, we’re arrogant. Why? Because we can be. Kick-off is in an hour is in an hour. But, you probably won’t know that because you fell off the bleachers backwards like Jaques Cousteau in white body paint. Grrrowl, I mean RRRRRRoar!
So I was wrong about the final score, PSU. You just got dominated in your house after winning 18 of 19 in Happy Valley.
So outside of that gift of a TD on the kickoff return?
We shall continue to scream from the top of your, err, hills…
Bow Down, Eric. We’ve been as humble as we can be with our “slanderous” Smack.
And I’ll call my shot. Is the Pasta done yet, Craig?