2007 Schedule

[cincibuck]

Remember when we used to bitch about SEC teams playing a bunch of cream puffs at home? Remember how we bitched about Notre Dame playing for the Commander In Chief's Cup? Or Oregon dipping down two levels to fill out their home schedule.

We could be Big 10 and MAC champs this year.

The Twelfth game seems to have brought out the worst in a lot of us. I see where Appala Chia Pet State is playing in the Big House about the same time OSU lines up against Youngstown Skate (sic)... I hope this is not a sign of what that 12th game is going to succumb to.

I wonder if it isn't time to start thinking about moving the Michigan game back a week, or even two weeks, further. It may come off as sour grapes to Gator fans, but I firmly believe the extra time off affected the Buckeyes. It can't have helped Michigan either.

It's also time to start really pushing for having the BCS game come to a Northern stadium. The BCS was set up to give us a more accurate picture of the best programs in college football. It can't do that if all the games are played in Big 12, PAC 12 and SEC sites. It's about football, not tourist dollars.

[sandgk]

Sadly the BCS is really all about feeding the dollars into the existing (and historic) top tier bowl structure.

The only time I see a Northern site game post-conference play is in the event of a playoff.

[fourteenandoh]

no offense cinci, but money is what the BCS is all about. I think it would be really cool though to see a NC game at soldier field or some other NFL stadium in the midwest.

[SparkyOSU]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

Remember when we used to bitch about SEC teams playing a bunch of cream puffs at home? Remember how we bitched about Notre Dame playing for the Commander In Chief's Cup? Or Oregon dipping down two levels to fill out their home schedule.

We could be Big 10 and MAC champs this year.

The Twelfth game seems to have brought out the worst in a lot of us. I see where Appala Chia Pet State is playing in the Big House about the same time OSU lines up against Youngstown Skate (sic)... I hope this is not a sign of what that 12th game is going to succumb to.

I wonder if it isn't time to start thinking about moving the Michigan game back a week, or even two weeks, further. It may come off as sour grapes to Gator fans, but I firmly believe the extra time off affected the Buckeyes. It can't have helped Michigan either.

It's also time to start really pushing for having the BCS game come to a Northern stadium. The BCS was set up to give us a more accurate picture of the best programs in college football. It can't do that if all the games are played in Big 12, PAC 12 and SEC sites. It's about football, not tourist dollars.

Hold on now, before we get our panties in a bunch, remember where Tressel just came from? I think it is more of a hometown game, let the little guys play the big guys. Like a person letting you in backstage because you knew him back in college. I think Tressel just wanted to get his old school on TV.

You do know we also have USC and THE U scheduled in the coming years....

[msj2487]

Originally Posted by SparkyOSU

You do know we also have USC and THE U scheduled in the coming years....

And Oklahoma, and Va Tech, and Cal... I agree with Sparky, no need to worry about this 12th game for quite a while. This season seems to be an outlier case for tOSU as we're finishing up that 2003 series with Washington and we needed to fill in the rest with the likes of a Youngstown State. So why not let Tressel get his former team in the national spotlight?

[MililaniBuckeye]

If the Appalachian State team that shows up in AA is near as good as the ones that won the last two I-AA national titles, then Michigan had better not look past them. In fact, AppSt's last two losses were at LSU (24-0) and at NC State (23-10)...they are as good as about 60% of I-A teams.

As for YSU, they're as good as many of the MAC teams (19-12 all-time against Akron, 6-4 against Kent State, 7-5-2 against Central Michigan, 6-7 against Eastern Michigan, 3-4 against Ohio).

[Wells4Heisman]

Yeah I think App. States gonna get steamrolled.... but its gonna be fun watching the Bucks take on some different teams this year.

[cincibuck]

My point is not that Tress is just being kind to his "alma matre", or that he shouldn't if he has the opportunity, or that App State can't represent itself, but let's not be two faced here. We ragged on SEC/Big 12/PAC 12/ schools for just such games. Now they're popping up on OSU 's schedule. When YSU is off our schedule and USC is on we can go back and bitch about the fact that most of the SEC doesn't travel.

There are lots of aspects to the problem.

1) YSU and MAC schools need the money/exposure these kinds of games give them. Big conference schools with an eye to bowl revenues need 6 wins. It's a win - win situation in that sense.

2) Most scheduling takes place ten years out. When they received permission to schedule 12 games big conference schools were limited in their choices and so there were a lot of marriages made out of heaven.

3) OSU is still putting a lot of safe bets on the sked to make sure they get to six and a bowl.

4) The NC and top 5 rankings are still being decided in places NOT conducive to Big 10 football.

[HineyBuck]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

If the Appalachian State team that shows up in AA is near as good as the ones that won the last two I-AA national titles, then Michigan had better not look past them. In fact, AppSt's last two losses were at LSU (24-0) and at NC State (23-10)...they are as good as about 60% of I-A teams.

Here's a bit of a scouting report (I teach at App State). This team will not be showing up for the paycheck. They will play to win.

On offense, we lose only two OL from the championship team. All skill players are back. RB Kevin Richardson is a lot like Mike Hart, a real workhorse. QB was only a true freshman last year. Receivers are small, but quick, and run good routes. We run one of the most creative offenses (not gimmicky--creative) you will ever want to see. Given tsun's holes on defense, especially DBs, I expect App State to be able to move the ball and score.

On defense, well, that could be another story. We've got some holes to fill; we'll give away about a ton in size. I don't think we can stop tsun's offense, but if we can slow them down, and maybe catch a break or two, who knows. Strongest group on defense are the DBs (all are back from last year). They're not big, not sure they can run with Manningham, but they're great athletes, ball hawks, and they like to hit.

Bottom line--I expect a high scoring game (neither D can shut down the other's O). Tsun should win, of course, but if we catch a break or two . . .