Posts from November 6, 2007

I hope I am wrong about this, but something scares me about Saturday’s meeting with improving Illinois.

Sure, the Illini are 7-3, headed to a bowl game, and possess plenty of fast weapons such as quarterback Juice Williams and running back Rashard Mendenhall, who has rushed for 1,314 yards, as well as an outstanding linebacker in J Leman.

But that’s not what I am talking about.

I am worried Illinois may take their name the Fighting Illini seriously.

The Big Ten traditionally has been one of the cleanest conferences, if not the cleanest, when it comes to personal fouls, chirping and taunting. They were the exception, not the norm throughout history.

At times over the years, Michigan State was known as the one school who dabbled in the above-mentioned tactics.

But when the Illini invade Ohio Stadium Saturday, I have a feeling the Buckeyes will hear the most jawing they’ve ever heard from an opponent.

Illinois, I believe, will be so hyped up to play the No. 1 team that they will have that mindset to engage the Buckeyes in a war of words in between plays. There will be a personal foul or two. They will be some shoving matches. Let’s just hope Ohio State takes care of business and doesn’t fall into the trap of participating in the nonsense.

What makes me believe this?

I noticed during the past three seasons, since Ron Zook arrived in Champaign, that the Illini have done such things against Ohio State and Michigan. Against the Wolverines a few weeks ago, Illinois was so busy trying to engage their opponent in a talking match, they forgot to play the game.

When Zook coached at Florida, in a state that is common for such tactics, his Gators were pretty good at getting in the last word, whether they were ahead on the scoreboard or not.

He was never one to over-discipline his players.

“It’s always a fine line,” he once said. “I want my players as aggressive as possible and we teach that. Still, we do not want them to cross the line where we are being penalized all the time.”

I like Ron Zook and knew him from my days covering the Gators. He was the perfect choice for Illinois. But at the same time, he is an Ohio-native and this is the biggest game of his coaching career, by far. He will have his team fired up beyond belief. And this sets the scene for what could be a dirty game.

Watch Illinois senior safety Kevin Mitchell throughout the game. He seems to pick up as many personal fouls as tackles. Here’s an excerpt of an Illinois-based blog called IlliniTalk from regular contributor “Alma Mater” following the Illini’s loss to Michigan:

Still, it’s no excuse for most of the mistakes…especially Mitchell. Can we just go ahead and give the opposing team a personal foul penalty on him to start the game and get it out of the way? Invariably he either gets too hyped up or loses his cool or both and shoves someone after the play is over or comes flying in out of no where for a late hit. Drives me nuts. The refs have him pegged. The occasional personal foul happens in the course of a game or a season, but to give up more than 100 yards in penalties with so many 15-yard automatic first downs? Ouch. That’s tough to recover from, especially for a young team.

Tuesday, Mitchell was quoted in the Columbus Dispatch, saying: “We’re coming along as a football team. We can be dangerous. In general, our attitude as a whole has changed. The big difference is team chemistry. Now, everybody is fighting for everybody else.”

As long as he does not take that literally.

How this game is called by the officials also will be very important. If they show they will not stand for late hits and chirping, the Illini may cease to pull such stunts as the game wears on — especially if the Buckeyes are applying a beat down on the scoreboard.

And if they do, that is when I worry about an injury caused by a cheap shot.

This game is dangerous alright … for several reasons.

Popularity: 20% [?]

There are currently forty-seven former Ohio State football players on rosters in the National Football League. Each week we will provide updates about how these former Buckeyes performed in the previous week’s action compliments of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Baltmore Ravens - 7, at Pittsburgh Steelers - 38
Smith, Troy (QB): Not Active

Buffalo Bills - 33, vs. Cincinnati Bengals - 21
Whitner, Donte (S): 4 tkl
Youboty, Ashton (CB): Not Active

Cincinnati Bengals - 21, at Buffalo Bills - 33
Schlegel, Anthony (LB): 3 tkl and 2 ast
Stepanovich, Alex (C): Did Not Play

Cleveland Browns - 33, vs. Seattle Seahawks - 30
Bentley, LeCharles (C): Physically Unable to Perform
Fraser, Simon (DE): Substitute DL

Indianapolis Colts - 20, vs. New England Patriots - 24
Gonzalez, Anthony (WR): 1 rec for 13 yds
Hall, Roy (WR): Injured Reserve
Pitcock, Quinn (DT): Not Active

Miami Dolphins - BYE
Ginn, Jr., Ted (WR):

New England Patriots - 24, at Indianapolis Colts - 20
Vrabel, Mike (LB): 5 tkl

New York Jets - 20, vs. Washington Redskins - 23
Clarke, Adrien (G): Starting G
Mangold, Nick (C): Starting C
Nugent, Mike (PK): 2/3 FG (29,30)

Oakland Raiders - 17, vs. Houston Texans - 24
Richardson, Jay (DE): 3 tkl and 1 Blocked FG

Pittsburgh Steelers - 38, vs. Baltimore Ravens - 7
Holmes, Santonio (WR): 4 rec for 110 yds and 2 TD

San Diego Chargers - 17, at Minnesota Vikings - 35
Olivea, Shane (OT): Starting T
Wilhelm, Matt (LB): 11 tkl and 3 ast

Tennessee Titans - 20, vs. Carolina Panthers - 7
Hartsock, Ben (TE): 1 rec for 11 yds
Nickey, Donnie (DB): Substitute S

Arizona Cardinals - 10, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 17
Bailey, Rodney (DE): 2 tkl

Atlanta Falcons - 20, vs. San Francisco 49ers - 16
Datish, Doug (C): Injured Reserve
Jenkins, Michael (WR): 2 rec for 31 yds

Carolina Panthers - 7, at Tennessee Titans - 20
Carter, Drew (WR): 3 rec for 56 yds and 1 TD
Diggs, Na’il (LB): 7 tkl 2 ast
Gamble, Chris (CB): 3 tkl and 1 ast
Salley, Nate (S): Injured Reserve
Goings, Nick (RB):Injured Reserve

Dallas Cowboys - 38, at Philadelphia Eagles - 17
Carpenter, Bobby (LB): 1 tkl on ST
Glenn, Terry (WR): Not Active

Detroit Lions - 44, vs. Denver Broncos - 7
Furrey, Mike (WR): 3 rec for 32 yards; 1 TD

Green Bay Packers - 33, at Kansas City Chiefs - 22
Hawk, A.J. (LB): 4 tkl and 1 INT, 2 PD and 1 tkl on ST
Pickett, Ryan (DT): 3 tkl and 1 PD
Walter, Tyson (OL): Injured Reserve

Minnesota Vikings - 35, vs. San Diego Chargers - 17
Doss, Mike (DB): Not Active
Scott, Darrion (DE): Injured Reserve
Winfield, Antoine (CB): Not Active

New Orleans Saints - 41, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - 24
Houser, Kevin (FB): Starting LS
Smith, Will (DE): 4 tkl and 1 ast

St. Louis Rams - BYE
Pace, Orlando (T): Injured Reserve
Pittman, Antonio (RB):

San Francisco 49ers - 16, at Atlanta Falcons - 20
Clements, Nate (CB/PR): 5 tkl

Seattle Seahawks - 30, at Cleveland Browns - 33
Sims, Rob (OL): Starting G

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 17, vs. Arizona Cardinals - 10
Allen, Will (S): Substitute S
Galloway, Joey (WR): 5 rec for 84 yds and 1 TD

Washington Redskins - 23, at New York Jets - 20
Springs, Shawn (CB): 6 tkl and 1 FF

In Season Transactions:
Anderson, Tim (DT): Cut by the Buffalo Bills (10/20/2007)
Boston, David (WR): Released/injury settlement by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (09/12/2007)

Popularity: 14% [?]

Former Buckeye Dick Schafrath returned to Ohio State University and received his degree at age 69. Schafrath left the University in 1957 just 45 hours shy of graduation after playing 4 years of football for Woody Hayes.

The 1957 team was recently honored at halftime of the Ohio State/ Michigan State game and Schafrath was present for that.

Last year, Schafrath was given the opportunity to run behind OSU’s team onto the field, and he said “I’d have loved to have died right there” New graduate or old, once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.

For complete article from CantonRep.com click here.

Popularity: 18% [?]