SENIOR DAY
The first year I started following recruiting on the Internet was with the 2002 class. Damn was I spoiled. What a bittersweet moment to say good bye to the leaders from that stellar class.
It is also something of a shame to not pay similar homage to Holmes. It is a good argument that Senior Day recognition should be reserved for those who stay through their senior year, but the rare exception of a Red Shirt who is clearly leaving early is worthy of consideration.
And what a nice touch for JT to call time out late and replace the D one at time. You see that in Basketball but rarely have such an opportunity in Football. Thanks NU.
T-SHIRT WEATHER REPORT
Final report for 7 home games:
Wore a t-shirt for only part of one game.
Wore a t-shirt for most of a second game.
Wore a t-shirt for the entirety of five games.
And I have no idea where my umbrella is.
THE RUNNING GAME -
OSU
Pittman is becoming a beast. Some of the best runs I have seen in that Stadium since, well, since Maurice Clarett . How sweet to have a running game once again.
I started following Sutton’s stats when he started making a name for himself early in the season. For a while his numbers were quite dominant relative to Tony. However, following yesterday’s game it reads:
Sutton 117 YPG and 5.9 YPC
Pittman 111 YPG and 5.6 YPC
Of course Pittman has one big advantage. He has never been tackled by AJ Hawk when it counts.
THE RUNNING GAME – OH8CH AND SON
My son and I get to the stadium early and have a ritual of racing up the steps to C Deck. I can’t run the entire way anymore, but despite the extra weight (Mmmm Nachos) I can still take the steps 2 at a time without stopping to rest.
I have generally held my own on these. For starters I get the inside, which is a huge advantage. I have also been known to throw an elbow or two if it is close.
This year’s record against my son: 0-7.
PLAY OF THE GAME
I am a huge believer in the significance of TOP early in a football game. Keep your D on the field too long in the first quarter and you may find yourself on your heels the entire game.
It is tough to make a case that
OSU could somehow lost this game, but if that scenario was ever in the cards it would have been helped greatly if NU had recovered the fumble by Pittman (surprisingly credited to Smith on the official site) on our first play. Smith made a great play to get to that ball.
For all his warts and pimples I am more and more sold on the benefits of Troy Smith’s athleticism every game. (And if you don’t appreciate it watch Zwick trying to scramble on the replay.)
HAWK
What can you say? Storybook ending to his career in the Shoe. Walker’s quote about him being the best football player he has seen in 30 years begins to tell the story. Kid better hit the weights if he expects to be able to carry around all the trophies he is in store for.
And that TD he scored? That wasn’t the play of the game. That made the whole season.
Small tear runs down cheek.
DEFENSE
After the first drive this was among the most dominant performances I have seen from this D. 80 yards on the first drive and not another drive over 31 until their final effort against the 2nd and 3rd team D.
The adjustments after the first drive were immediate. Several times I saw a rushing defender put on the full brakes and back up to cover the screen.
And this was a good O. The only team that has come close to shutting them down was Michigan at 17 points, and they went over 400 yards total O against them.
By my count we had 22 tackles by players not listed in our starting D.
Hats off.
NACHOS
Sorry, I can’t go 0-7 again. Just have to drop a few pounds. Somebody else will have to file the Nachos Report.
NEVER A-GINN
I have never seen as much respect paid to a return game as has come from other teams this season. Be it kickoffs or punts teams are willing to give us great field position rather than risk the big one. Unprecedented.
HUSTON IS KILLING US
By my count the NU return of Huston’s third kickoff ended a string of 21 straight non-returnable kickoffs. That in itself is wonderful, but I thought the next two kicks that were returned revealed over-pursuit and overall poor coverage on the returns. Glad to see that exposed before next week.
And for the record, on the basis of statistical averages, Josh Huston is now the second best kick off man on the team. Average field position following kicks by Ryan Pretorius is the 15 yard line.
TREVOR ROBINSON
Speaking of kick coverage, kickoffs are one play that you can see much better at the game than on TV – especially when the kick is into the end zone. If you enjoy watching head-hunters keep an eye on #16. Robinson is a walk-on Soph who ALWAYS finds somebody to hit.
NORTHWESTERN SIGNS
There were several home made signs in the NU section just before the game started. These disappeared as quickly as they came out when the ushers enforced the rules (who was enforcing the rules when they came through the gate?)
One of these signs said simply “AJ WHO?”
It is nice to know that we Columbus low-brows can help educate our brainy-brethren from Chicago from time to time.
SUTTON
Here is a trivia question for you. Name five running backs that have played for Northwestern?
After reading some of his pre-game comments I was hoping to see him stuffed. Truth is he had a nice game and for a true Frosh to be doing what he is doing is pretty impressive. He could be a handful in Evanston next year, but only if NU can replace Basanez.
Sad in a way. Even if Sutton does do great things at NU nobody will remember. The only other NU RB I can recall was Jeff Backes – or was he a DB?
All that said, the fumble was sweet. (Could a bigger back have held onto that ball?)
I dare to venture that Sutton is one of those who discovered the answer to the question “AJ WHO?”
NACHOS REVISITED
Who am I trying to kid.
The cheese was cold but the peppers were spicy.
I can always beat him rolling DOWN the steps.
AND FINALLY -
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN
I'M FROM OHIO!!!!!
