MGYM: No. 6 Ohio State Ends Road Swing at No. 2 Oklahoma Saturday

Buckeyes take on defending NCAA champion Sooners at 8 p.m. EST
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Florida, Oklahoma odds on favorites for 2009

The Wiz spotted BodogLife’s updated odds for the college football season. Long story short… it looks like the Gators and Sooners are the early picks, followed by USC, Texas, and Ohio State.

Here’s the complete rundown:

Alabama 22/1
Arizona 100/1
Arizona State 150/1
Arkansas 150/1
Auburn 150/1
Boise State 100/1
Boston College 100/1
California 60/1
Cincinnati 90/1
Clemson 60/1
Colorado 100/1
Florida 7/4
Florida State 30/1
Georgia 50/1
Georgia Tech 50/1
Illinois 80/1
Iowa 75/1
Kansas 75/1
Kansas State 175/1
Kentucky 125/1
Louisville 150/1
LSU 20/1
Maryland 200/1
Miami 35/1
Michigan 120/1
Michigan State 100/1
Missouri 90/1
Nebraska 55/1
North Carolina 45/1
North Carolina State 100/1
Notre Dame 30/1
Ohio State 17/2
Oklahoma 5/1
Oklahoma State 50/1
Oregon 20/1
Oregon State 100/1
Penn State 35/1
Pittsburgh 60/1
Rutgers 125/1
South Carolina 100/1
South Florida 80/1
Tennessee 100/1
Texas 8/1
Texas A&M 150/1
Texas Tech 60/1
UCLA 150/1
Utah 125/1
USC 5/1
Virginia 100/1
Virginia Tech 20/1
Wake Forest 80/1
Washington 200/1
West Virginia 75/1
Wisconsin 100/1
Field (Any Other Team) 20/1

And remember… entertainment purposes only… of course.

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What are the most prestigious college football programs?

ESPN has taken the lead in trying to rank the most prestigious college football programs since the inception of the AP poll in a psuedo-scientific fashion. It’s really more of a “which current FBS programs have lived in the spotlight” list, because it doesn’t take into account teams that aren’t currently in FBS and doesn’t attempt to match them one versus the other, per se.

First, the method to their madness:

ESPN’s Prestige Rankings are a numerical method of ranking the best FBS college football programs since the 1936 season. Point values were assigned for certain successes (win a national title, earn 25 points) and failures (get your program banned from the postseason, lose two points). The research department ran all the numbers through the computer to come up with the No. 1 program (and Nos. 2 to 119) of the past 73 seasons.

The full breakdown of how points were accumulated (and deducted) is online as well, with the “biggies” being National Championships, major bowl berths, major bowl wins, Heisman winners, and points for various finishes in the AP top twenty five poll.

The results are… pretty interesting. In fact, it’s really hard for me to quibble over all but a few positions – and even that might be subjective.

ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRESTIGE RANKINGS

1. Oklahoma
2. USC
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Nebraska
6. Alabama
7. Texas
8. Michigan
9. Florida State
10. Miami
11. Penn State
12. Tennessee
13. LSU
14, Georgia
15. Florida
16. UCLA
17. Washington
18. Georgia Tech
19. Arkansas
20. Texas A&M
21. Auburn
22t. Clemson
22t. Colorado
24. Ole Miss
25. BYU

Click here for positions 26 – 119

Again, this is more of a prestige spotlight list than a comparison of team A versus team B. That’s obvious when you look at the criteria, and then also compare the rankings above with head-to-head records, for example. Case(s) in point… Oklahoma has a losing record all-time against Texas, but is ranked ahead in prestige. Florida State has a losing record all-time against both Miami and Florida, but gets the presige nod. The Noles have a winning record over both top five Notre Dame and Ohio State, but I digress.

Even still, it’s hard for me to look back at the history of college football and not put the Sooners at or near the top of the list. Certainly Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame, and Nebraska all deserve to be near the top as well. You can debate where everyone falls (ie should “x” be #6,#7, or #8) but it’s hard to see someone in the top 25 that doesn’t belong.

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Big Ten recruiting nuggets

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As national signing day approaches, I'll try to post Big Ten-related information from Tom Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN's Scouts Inc. 

Here's the latest from Luginbill on both 2009 and 2010 recruits. 

Corner Mike Wallace headed to Penn State

Name: Mike Wallace, CB
Wheaton, Md.
Good Counsel H.S.
Scouts Grade: 73
Position Rank: 84

After making an official visit to Penn State over the weekend, defensive back Mike Wallace committed to the Nittany Lions Wednesday night, NittanyNetwork.com's Bill Kurelic reports.

Wallace had scholarship offers from Penn State, New Mexico, Stanford, Army, Maine, New Hampshire and Towson University. However, after landing a scholarship offer from Penn State over the weekend it did not take Wallace long to accept.

"The recruiting process is pretty hard," Wallace said. "But I just felt comfortable at Penn State. God just told me it's the right decision."

Wallace' cousin Terry Killens played linebacker for Penn State in the 1990's.

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Offensive tackle Nolan MacMillan names finalists

Name: Nolan MacMilan, OT
Princeton, N.J.
The Hun School Of Princeton (N.J.)
Scouts Grade: 77

Nolan MacMillan will decide between Boston College, Georgia Tech, Iowa and Virginia, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He said, "I wouldn't say I have a frontrunner, but things are starting to work themselves out in my mind."

The 6-foot-6 prospect is slated to make his final official visit this weekend to Boston College.

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Sooners right behind Fighting Illini for Hawthorne

Name: Terry Hawthorne, WR
East St. Louis, Ill.
East Saint Louis Sr. H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 88
Position Rank: 10

Under Armour All-American wide receiver Terry Hawthorne spoke with ESPN affiliate Web site OUInsider.com about the latest regarding his recruitment.

He said, "(Oklahoma is) second right now behind Illinois." Hawthorne added that he's still committed to the Fighting Illini but when asked if he's an Illinois lock, the East St. Louis product responded, "I am not sure. I want to wait and see when I visit there and see how it is."

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Northwestern gains Nevada linebacker

Name: Damien Proby, OLB
Las Vegas, Nev.
Cheyenne H.S.
Scouts Grade: 73
Position Rank: 127

Damien Proby of Cheyenne (Las Vegas, Nev.) is headed to the Wildcats.

The 210-pound linebacker was also offered by Oregon State, San Diego State, UNLV, Washington State, Wyoming and Utah State.

---

Junior Blake Lueders already holding nine offers

Name: Blake Lueders, DE
Zionsville, Ind.
Zionsville Community H.S.

Class of 2010 ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive lineman Blake Lueders has been offered by nine programs, according to his father Dan Lueders.

Boston College, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, North Carolina, Purdue, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest are already after the Zionsville, Ind., prospect.

Lueders registered 128 total tackles and three sacks as a junior, earning Class 4A All-State recognition.

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Ohio State comes in No. 3 in Prestige Rankings

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ohio State is the third most prestigious college football program since 1936, according to ESPN's Prestige Rankings. 

The top five teams were revealed this morning, and Ohio State came in at No. 3, behind only Oklahoma and USC. The Buckeyes were a solid No. 3, racking up 76 points more than No. 4 Notre Dame, but they finished a good distance behind both the Sooners (1,968) and Trojans (1,897). 

Ohio State owns five national championships since 1936. The team produced tons of  first-round draft picks and seven Heisman Trophy winners, including the only two-time winner, Archie Griffin. The Buckeyes consistently reach major bowl games and have dominated the Big Ten since head coach Jim Tressel arrived in 2001. 

The knock against the Buckeyes, one that likely kept them from the top spot, is the performance in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ohio State didn't win a Big Ten title between 1987-1992 and went 2-13-2 against ranked opponents between Nov. 19, 1988, and Jan. 1, 1993. Though both Oklahoma and USC also had drop-offs, they were more dominant than Ohio State at their respective peaks. 

To recap the Big Ten in the Prestige Rankings:

• No. 3 Ohio State
• No. 8 Michigan
• No. 11 Penn State
• No. 26 Michigan State
• No. 30 Iowa
• No. 33 Minnesota
• No. 34 Wisconsin
• No. 49 Illinois
• No. 50 Purdue
• No. 80 Northwestern
• No. 102 Indiana

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Sooners deserve same treatment as Buckeyes

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Fairly or unfairly, Ohio State has become the national whipping boy for its recent struggles in big games, especially the BCS championship.

Well, the Buckeyes have some company in the basement of blame.

Oklahoma deserves the same treatment Ohio State has received in recent months. The Sooners' 24-14 loss to Florida in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game on Thursday marked their fifth consecutive loss in a BCS game and their third straight in the championship. Last I checked, Ohio State has a more recent BCS bowl win (2006 Fiesta) than Oklahoma (2003 Rose).

The biggest reason why Oklahoma likely won't receive the same backlash as the Buckeyes is the nature of its losses. Three of Oklahoma's BCS losses came by 10 points or fewer, two in the title game (2009 and 2004), while Ohio State dropped the last two championship games by a combined score of 79-38. More people were entertained by Thursday night's championship than they were in each of the past two years. It's easier to lash out at Ohio State than Oklahoma. 

But sorry Sooners, a loss is a loss. Oklahoma has lost its ability to win big-time bowl games, and head coach Bob Stoops should be treated exactly like his Ohio State colleague, Jim Tressel. My guess is if the Big Ten had a championship game like the Big 12, Ohio State would win its share, just like Oklahoma.

Make no mistake, there are dozens of programs and coaches around the country that would give anything to be like Oklahoma, Ohio State, Stoops and Tressel. Those two programs have repeatedly found a way to reach the national spotlight. 

But both teams haven't achieved their final goals, and both should be viewed equally. 

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Bet your house on Florida, and other things to discuss;

Lots to discuss, wasting no time here…..

Let’s start off with the big event in sports.  Tomorrow night’s BCS National Championship Game, Florida vs. Oklahoma.

There’s only one way to put this.  Bet everything you have on Florida right now.  It’s going to be a massive blowout.  I have about thirty reasons why this will happen, but here’s just the best reasons;

1) The Big 12 has been exposed as EXTREMELY overrated this year

Say what you will about the Big Ten and the ACC and the Big East all sucking, but the Big 12 should be VERY embarrassed with their overexposure and underwhelming bowl performances.

At one point, there were multiple teams from the Big 12 ranked in the Top 10.  It was getting ridiculous, and the AP voters and TV announcers ate it up like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.  “Every week is like a bowl game in the Big 12″ they would say.  Bullshit, I say.  They were all pretty average.  Here’s how their bowl games turned out;

Texas 24, Ohio State 21 – In a game that EVERYBODY said would be a 20-point blowout, it took a miracle drive, bad tackling, and some questionable officiating to put Texas in the end zone to win the game.  Somehow along the way, hitting a Longhorn QB in the shoulder pads became a 15-yard penalty.  In the end, the team that cried their eyes out claiming they were robbed out of the title game proved that they did not deserve any titles at all.  Texas went in thinking they would run up the score and pick up some first-place votes found themselves without a TD (and only 3 total points) for the entire first half.

Overrated?  Texas was ranked #1 in the nation at one point this year, Ohio State was given a 9% chance to win the game.  Yes, Texas was overrated.

Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34 – Ole Miss is an average SEC team, always finishing in the middle of the pack.  Texas Tech was another team looking to destroy their bowl opponent, this time to prove that they should have gotten in a BCS game.  Mission failed.  Badly.  After getting off to a fast start, the Red Raiders proved that they deserved absolutely nothing when they allowed Ole Miss to go on a 38-7 run and blow out their Big 12 foe.

Overrated?  Texas Tech was ranked #2 in the nation earlier this year.  Ole Miss lost to Vanderbilt and South Carolina…both at home.  Yes, Tech was overrated.

Missouri 30, Northwestern 23 (OT) – Despite the wishes of the Big 12’s most popular brother-sister team (otherwise known as Chase Daniel’s parents), Missouri looked like crap against the Big Ten’s 8th-best pass defense.  Northwestern should have won this game, but some late miscues handed the game to Mizzou.

Overrated?  Missouri was once ranked #3 in the NCAA.  Northwestern lost a game by 35 points this year.  Yes, Missouri was overrated.

Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31 - Okie State started off fast, but couldn’t maintain themselves against a rushing attack from the Ducks.  Two Oregon players would break the 100-yard mark on their way to 307 yards team rushing.  Oregon also racked up a total of 565 yards aginst Okie State.

Overrated?  Oklahoma State was once ranked #7 in the nation.  Yes, Okie State was overrated.

Nebraska 26, Clemson 21 – In the Gator Bowl, Nebraska was trying to recapture some of their historic greatness, and their prospects were large, playing against a team that only won 7 games in the pathetic ACC….a team so bad, they fired their coach mid-season.  And they barely escaped with the win, when a Tigers TD was overturned by instant review.

Overrated?  Well, Nebraska was never rated.  But they barely beat a bad, bad team.

Kansas 42, Minnesota 21 – The lone bright spot for the conference so far, Kansas doubled up on Minnesota, who were bowling to the shock of everyone not in a Gopher uniform at the start of the season.  As the season wore on, Minnesota’s weak schedule was exposed by the Big Ten, and the regular season ended mercifully with a 55-0 Minny loss.

Overrated?  Kansas was actually ranked as high as #13 this year.  Minny lost a game 55-0.  Yes, Kansas was overrated.

The point of all this is simple – the Big 12 was NOT the meat-grinder that the media told us it was over and over and over again.  Oklahoma’s not ready for this game.

#2) Florida IS ready for this game

A bad performance by Tim Tebow once this year nearly cost Florida a shot, but they came back in a dominating way.  Since their loss in Week 4, they have been unstoppable.  Take a look at this;

• Week 5 – 31-point win against Arkansas
• Week 6 – 30-point win over then-#4 LSU
• Week 7 – 58-point win over bowl-bound Kentucky
• Week 8 – 39-point win over then-#6 Georgia
• Week 9 – 28-point win over bowl-bound Vanderbilt
• Week 10 – 50-point win over bowl-bound and then-#25 South Carolina
• Week 11 – 51-point win over The Citadel
• Week 12 – 30-point win over bowl-bound Florida State
• Week 13 – 11-point win over then-#1 and BCS-Bowl bound Alabama

Yeah, they’re ready.

3) The Heisman Curse

Sam Bradford won the Heisman this year.  Heisman winners usually suck in bowl games, especially National Championships (we know, we know).  Only twice in the past 30 years has the Heisman winner gone on to win a National Championship.  No, Tebow didn’t win it the year Florida took the title (Troy Smith won it).

4) Oklahoma pretty much sucks at BCS bowl games

For all the whining and crying you hear about Ohio State’s recent bowl losses, you just don’t hear those kind of attacks leveled at the Sooners.  And believe me, they’re much worse.  In their last 4 BCS bowls, they are 0-4 and have been blown out more than once.

• 2008 – Lost to West Virginia 48-28
• 2007 – Lost to Boise State 43-42
• 2005 – Lost to USC 55-19
• 2004 – Lost to LSU 21-14

If they make it 0-5, we’d better NEVER hear about our own shortcomings again.  Especially since they’ll have lost two national championships in that time frame.

Convinced?  Call Vegas ASAP.

——————————–

Last night, the Cavaliers overtook the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference when Boston lost.  The Cavs now have the best record in the NBA.

Tonight, the Cavaliers beat the living daylights out of Charlotte, 111-81.  Boston’s loss last night?  It was to that same Charlotte team.

The Celtics come to The Q Friday night.  It should be insaaaaaane!

——————–

Speaking of the Cavaliers game, there were many highlights to go over.  But the best was watching former Michigan Fab-Fiver Juwan Howard get tossed from the game while sitting on the bench.

By the way, did you know that the Fab Five never won a single title in college?  No national titles, no Big Ten titles, nothing.  Just thought I’d mention that.

———————

In the “what the hell” category, Boobie Gibson also got a technical foul tonight.  For having an untucked shirt.  No, I’m not kidding.

———————-

The Cleveland Browns hired their new coach tonight.  Eric Mangini, former Jets coach, and former ball boy for the Browns, will call the plays next year.

Makes sense to me.  Hell, there were CURRENT ball boys that could have done better with the Browns this season.

———————–

Last week, it was announced that Michigan’s only offensive threat, Sam McGuffie, has left Ann Arbor and will enroll at Rice next year.  McGuffie was rumored to have been struggling with depression and on medication.  Being closer to home will be better for the kid.

Also better for him will be not having to deal with decapitation at the hands of Ohio State special teams players.

——————–

Finally, in the most laughable news you’ll ever hear, Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriquez recently said he has “always taken the approach that you should look at each job as your last.”

Yeah, he actually said that.  With a straight face, no less.

Story By The Buckeye Battle Cry

Drive-Thru: First Fiesta Bowl win

In anticipation of yet another trip to the desert for the Buckeyes… this one hopefully better than the most recent trip… I’ve uploaded the first Fiesta Bowl win for the Buckeyes.  It was only the Buckeyes’ second trip to the Fiesta Bowl, with the first a loss to Penn State in 1980 in the only neutral-site matchup in the OSU-PSU series.  The 1984 Fiesta Bowl, however, proved to be much more celebrated in Ohio State lore.  In spite of starting off sluggish, and in accord with any Midwestern smashmouth matchup you would expect, the 4th quarter saw an explosion of points as the Buckeyes pulled away with seconds to spare to win 28-23.  Thad Jemison, who hauled in the gamewinning score, tied a Fiesta Bowl record (since surpassed) with 8 catches.

Ohio State — who entered the game with, yes, an 8-3 record — drew the Pitt Panthers.  Coached by Foge Fazio, the Panthers started 2-2 before rattling off 6 straight wins and finishing with a draw against Paterno’s Nittany Lions.  Accordingly, the Fiesta Bowl was a let down for Ohio State and a reward for Pitt.  Ohio State was approximately 13 points and maybe 10 minutes away from being undefeated in the 1983 season.  The Buckeyes let a 14-13 lead get away against Iowa late in the 4th quarter for Iowa’s first victory over the Buckeyes in 21 years.  Later, a 13-10 lead against Illinois evaporated in 37 seconds as Illinois won 17-13, when Ohio State only needed 1:43 and a first down to ice away a win.  The season ended with a 24-21 loss against Michigan.  The season started with an upset win, on the road, in the sweltering heat of Owen Field over the no. 2 ranked Oklahoma Sooners¹.  It ended without a Rose Bowl, without a Big Ten trophy and with Ohio State in the desert.

In spite of the disappointment, Ohio State was fairly imposing on the Pitt Panthers for the first 3 quarters.  Of course, the 30 4th Quarter points belies the nature of the 3 quarters before it.  Ohio State took the opening kickoff and rammed it right down the field.  A Thad Jemison reception put the Buckeyes from midfield to within the Pitt 5.  Mike Tomczak, professional mainstay, took the option keeper on the next play for a quick 7-0 first quarter lead.  Pitt, for all it could muster, was only able to doink a field goal on its first possession in the first quarter.  Pitt placekicker Snuffy Everett (yes… that’s his name) would have brighter moments this game.  Pitt’s next possession ended on 4th down, with Pitt electing to go for the first down in 4th down territory.  A ferocious pass rush from down linemen Dave Crecelius, Spencer Nelms and Dave Morrill made sure that didn’t work.

In spite of the hot start, Ohio State momentarily shot itself in the foot after the turnover on downs.  Tomczak botched the center exchange from Joe Dooley, turning the ball over.  John Congemi, the successor to Dan Marino at the quarterback position, soon found Joe McCall to pin the Buckeye defense deep in their own 10.  Pitt eventually found paydirt to knot the game at 7 in the second quarter.  Ohio State’s next possession ended with a Rich Spangler missed field goal.  However, the Buckeyes responded on its next possession after the missed field goal.  Keith Byars, who by that time established himself as otherworldly in the Big Ten, plowed through for six after Tomczak’s aerial assault through Cedric Anderson, Thad Jemison and John Frank had set up the goalline run.  The 14-7 margin carried into intermission.

The third quarter was one of the screwier in any Ohio State game I’ve watched, and was perhaps a prelude to the chaos that followed in the 4th quarter.  Pitt received the opening kickoff, only to fumble it and turn it over to Ohio State in Pitt territory.  Ohio State’s offense, was unable to move the ball and elected to go for a first down on 4th down, only to turn it over.  After both teams exchanged ugly displays of offense, Mike Tomczak almost courted disaster near the end of the 3rd period.  A Tomczak interception toss was returned by Pitt into Ohio State territory.  Kelvin Bell, starting strong safety from Richmond, VA, saved the day with an interception in the end zone.  Ohio State, unable (again) to do anything with the break, punted and set up Pitt for the Panthers’ next drive.  This drive carried the game into the 4th quarter, where all hell broke loose.

On the second play of the 4th quarter at Ohio State’s 13yd line, Pitt’s tailback Joe McCall caught a break.  A pitch right to McCall was fumbled after McCall had picked up the first down, though the fumble bounced into the end zone and was recovered by Clint Wilson for a game-tying touchdown.  With momentum now on its side, the Panthers kicked off to the Buckeyes to an all-too-eager Keith Byars.  As Byars recalled later:

“They were kicking off, and I was like, ‘I hope they kick it to me, so I can make something big happen,” says Byars.

Byars made something huge happen, returning Snuffy Everett’s kickoff 99 yards for the touchdown.

“You don’t forget things like that run,” says Byars. “I’ll be telling my grandkids about that play 40 years from now. You live for those kind of moments.”

…

“I’ve always had speed, it was just deceptive,” insists Byars. “Guys didn’t realize it until they started chasing me. Pittsburgh found out the hard way.”

The Buckeyes pulled ahead on the heels of the Byars’ touchdown, putting the Buckeyes ahead 21-14.

Pitt’s offense, behind John Congemi’s 31/44 341 yard MVP performance, was clearly in the groove, however.  On Pitt’s next drive, Congemi marched Pitt down the field, finding Dwight Collins in the endzone for 6.  However, that was all Pitt would get out of that touchdown.  Down 21-20, Pitt elected to go for 2 but was unsuccessful.

Pitt would get another crack, though, as Ohio State’s offense sputtered on the next drive.  Snuffy Everett (yes, that’s his name… stop laughing), proud native of Meridian, MS (yes, that’s where he’s from… I said stop laughing already) redeemed his earlier miss in the first quarter.  His clutch field goal, after Congemi led the Panthers from their own 12 yard line, put the Buckeyes down 23-20 to the resurgent Pitt Panthers for the first time with 2:39 left to play.  Worse yet, John Wooldridge inadvertantly touched his knee down at the Buckeyes’ own 11 yard line on the ensuing kickoff.

It was 89 yards to the endzone, with two timeouts, 2:39 remaining and the Buckeye offense had been woeful all second half.

Hit it.

What followed is one of the most celebrated drives in Ohio State football history.  The Buckeye offense finally found their groove.  3 plays into the drive, on 3rd down and 10, Keith Byars extended the down and distance with a 14 yard reception… only his second catch of the game.  Two rush plays later, the Buckeyes had another first down.  However, 3 straight incompletions, with two of those incompletions almost being intercepted, the Buckeyes found themselves at 4th down with 1:21 left.  Earle Bruce called a timeout to devise a play, which everyone knew was for all-Big Ten tight end John Frank.

Undaunted, John Frank delivered on 4th down to set up the Buckeyes with a new set of downs.  However, John Wooldridge was tackled in bounds on a 2nd down play, setting up a 3rd and 4 with the clock running.  Bruce put in the call for Split Louie Zoom Pass Left.  If you watched the 1983 Oklahoma clip from Keith that I linked to earlier, you might remember seeing that play.  As OSU’s 25 Greatest Drives explains:

Coach Bruce decided to go with Split Louie Zoom Pass Left. Thad Jemison would be split left, with John Frank lined up next to the guard on the same side and both tackles together on the right side. Keith Byars would streak for the goal line between Jemison and Frank, while flanker Cedric Anderson would work from the right side. Byars had caught two passes for 70 yards in the Oklahoma game using the play, but Tomczak had decided to look for Anderson to try and get the first down. As he rolled right, Mike saw everyone covered- except Jemison. With Byars and Frank flooding the area, Jemison had gotten a step on cornerback Melvin Dean and Tomczak let fly. Jemison, who had waited three years behind Gary Williams for his chance to play as a senior, gathered in the pass for a 39-yard touchdown with only 39 seconds left, giving OSU a 28-23 lead.

The Buckeyes pulled ahead 28-23, eventually stuffing Pitt’s pass attack in the final seconds to hold on to the victory.

Without any further ado, you can watch the game below.

Miscellaneous Observations

• If you’re interested, here’s the starting lineups:
  • Offense: QB: Mike Tomczak, FB: Vaughn Broadnax, HB: Keith Byars, SE: Thad Jemison, FL: Cedric Anderson, TE: John Frank, LT: Bill Roberts, LG: Kirk Lowdermilk, C: Joe Dooley, RG: Scott Zalenski, RT: Mark Krerowicz
  • Defense: DE: Dave Crecelius, NT: Spencer Nelms, DE: Dave Morrill, OLB: Orlando Lowry, ILB: Clark Backus, ILB: Rowland Tatum, OLB: Byron Lee, CB: Garcia Lane, CB: Shaun Gayle, SS: Kelvin Bell, FS: Doug Hill
• Thumbing through those starting lineups, it’s amazing to see how many of those guys are not from Ohio.  My knowledge here is incomplete, but there’s a few names that stick out.  Bill Roberts (LT) is from Miami, FL.  So is Doug Hill.  Kelvin Bell and Shaun Gayle are both from Virginia.  Rowland Tatum is from Inglewood, CA.  Spencer Nelms is from Decatur, GA.  John Frank and Mike Tomczak are from Pennsylvania and Illinois respectively, though the regional difference aren’t as big of a deal.
• Foge Fazio was Pitt’s head coach for this… and some of his reactions during this game were absolutely classic.
• Someone still has to explain to me why Pitt decided to shy away from its distinct mustard yellow and royal blue looks in lieu of something that makes them look indistinguishable from Notre Dame or Navy.
• If anyone has the 1983 Oklahoma game on DVD from this same season, please let me know.  Please for the love of God let me know.

1. Suck it, 1977.  Just, suck it.

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10 Top 10s For College Football: The Week Before the Bowls

Top 10 Teams

1) Utah-Still haven’t lost, does the Tide hand them one?

2) Boise- No BCS but personally I think their opponent, TCU, would beat Ohio State as well.

3) Texas-Third in the BCS, second in the Heisman voting, first in the Fiesta?

4) Oklahoma-Congrats Sam Bradford.

5) Penn State-Getting no respect.

6) USC-Based purely on their loss.

7) Texas Tech-Snubbed in the BCS and the Heisman race, will have something to prove on the second.

Florida-The only one loss team to lose at home.

9) Alabama-It may get ugly against the Utes.

10) Cincinnati-Underrated as they played the bulk of the season with their fourth string QB.

Top 10 Players of 2008

1) Tim Tebow-Got the most first place votes for the Heisman and gets mine as well.

2) Terrance Cody-The difference maker in Tuscaloosa.

3) Colt McCoy-There were times I thought he would never have another incomplete pass.

4) Rey Malalgua-Unbelievable talent.

5) Sam Bradford-The Heisman winner.

6) Janoris Jenkins-If you saw the Gators play this year you heard his name more than Tebow.

7) Shonn Greene- Single handily resurrected a program and saved a coaches job.

Ian Johnson-A lifetime achievement award.

9) Aaron Curry-One of the best in the country.

10) Knowshawn Moreno-Is there anything he doesn’t do well?

Top 10 Big Games of 2008

1) USC 35, Ohio State 3-Most people thought the title game was going to happen in September this year.

2) Alabama 41, Georgia 30-It was over by the end of the first quarter.

3) Texas 45, Oklahoma 35-Not sure what this really meant.

4) Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 23-Missouri was ranked No. 3 at the time.

5) TCU 32, BYU 7- It wasn’t as close as the score.

6) Penn State 13, Ohio State 6-How the Big Ten was won.

7) Texas Tech 39, Texas 33-Also one of the most exciting games of the year.

Oklahoma 65, Texas Tech 21- The style points put the Sooners in the title game.

9) Oregon 65, Oregon State 38-103 points later the Trojans were in the Rose Bowl.

10) Florida 31, Alabama 20-Last but not least.

10 Upsets That Shaped The 2008 Season

1) Alabama 34, Clemson 10-Clemson was a five point favorite, what a joke.

2) Oregon State 27, USC 21-The Trojans were 23 point favorites.

3) Alabama 41, Georgia 30- The Tide were getting seven in this one.

4) Mississippi 31, Florida 30-Ole Miss was 2-4 against teams with a winning record this year, this was one of the two; they were 25 point dogs in The Swamp as well.

5) Texas 45, Oklahoma 35-Sooners were favored by seven.

6) Texas Tech 39, Texas 33-Knocked the Horns from the title game.

7) Iowa 24, Penn State 23-One point separates the Lions from the title game; they were favored by eight.

Georgia Tech 45, Georgia 42-Made even the most die hard SEC fan think twice about the strength of the conference.

9) Buffalo 42, Ball State 21-We didn’t have to worry about Ball State and the BCS as the 15 point favorites went down hard.

10) East Carolina 27, Virginia Tech 22- How soon we forget.

Top 10 Things I Hope We Don’t See In 2009

1) Stoppage after every play-Every fumble, reception, Interception, etc is a tive minute stoppage, and people wonder why the game takes too long?

2) OJ Simpson-This guy’s act is so stale, let’s just leave him in his jail cell for a while.

3) The BCS- Wishful thinking.

4) Brent Musburger-Talk about stale acts.

5) Bad Rule Changes-The clock rules were a joke, see No. 1.

6) 6-6 teams going to bowl games-This is a huge part of the problem and why there is no playoff.

7) 1-AA teams on the schedule-These games shouldn’t count as one of the 12 games; we’re going to see a lot more of these as less teams from major conferences qualify for bowls.

Bad Officiating-Maybe it’s time to hold these guys accountable for changing outcomes through horrible calls.

9) Inconsistency-Watch five games at once, a penalty in one game is a no call in others, especially regarding celebrations and sideline infractions.

10) Media Spin-Take away these guys vote and poll while we’re at it too, they are clueless and obviously only support whomever their employer has an interest in.

Top 10 Things That Defined The 2008 Season

1) The Spread Offense-Will be the answer to a trivia question someday.

2) The Horse Collar- Making it illegal made it a mainstream word.

3) The Big 12- Had the game of the year almost every week.

4) Tim Tebow’s Speech-Was good to his word after the loss to Ole Miss.

5) BCS Controversy-Part of every season it seems.

6) Tommy Bowden-The fraud finally held accountable, no wonder they started winning once he was gone.

7) Weeknight Games-Not just one here and there, multiple games almost every night.

Impact Freshman-They are playing right away everywhere, leaving even faster.

9) Weather Postponed Games-Seems to be happening more and more.

10) ESPN-I don’t watch their pregame or postgame stuff but from what I’ve learned what they say seems to be more important than what happens on the field.

Top 10 Impact Freshmen of 2008

1) Julio Jones-All he was billed to be and then some.

2) Sean Spence-Hits like a Mack Truck.

3) AJ Green-Even made Matt Stafford look good from time to time.

4) Janoris Jenkins-May have been what was missing for the Gators.

5) Robert Griffin-Mr. Excitement.

6) Terrelle Pryor-Will he bring the Buckeyes a title?

7) Jacquizz Rodgers-Would anyone complain if I put him No. 1?

Kellen Moore-Didn’t look like a freshman.

9) DeAndre Brown-If he’s at a bigger school more people know who he is.

10) Marcus Forston-Going to be a force.

Top 10 Ways I Plan On Fighting College Football Withdrawal

1) Working on my book-I don’t think this will make me rich but that isn’t the point of it.

2) Expanding my site into a network of Sports Sites-Exciting stuff already in the works; NFL, MLB, CBB, NBA, NHL, etc., going to have it all.

3) Interviewing Writers-Going to need a lot of fresh content, can’t do it myself.

4) Working with my Tech Guy-I don’t know anything about this stuff but I’ve seen the mock ups for the new sites and get ready for some jaw dropping stuff.

5) Integrating more with my Blogging community-Things have happened so fast I’ve put off a lot of requests.

6) Take a vacation-I’ve been going full speed for months on end.

7) Get back in good shape-I’ve spent a lot of time sitting and eating the past few months, time to work it off.

Learn how to text message-Been on my list for years, not really that interested.

9) Clear off the TIVO-No idea how long that stuff will stay but I haven’t watched most of it.

10) Relax-Something I probably don’t do enough.

10 Things I Learned When I Converted My Newsletter To A Blog

1) Spammers are everywhere-I get a spam comment every six minutes on average; very thankful for spam blocking software.

2) College Football fans are everywhere-I read every email and comment, sometimes over 500 a week; thanks for all of them (at least  most of them).

3) Having a community is a great thing- I enjoy having hundreds of thousands of people to talk college football with.

4) There are some mean people out there-Some ignorant and spineless ones as well.

5) There are websites built on stolen content-And they don’t credit the author or the source either.

6) There are a lot of people who know a lot about college football-Pretty amazing how regional coverage really works.

7) Traffic is the most important thing-You can be a great writer or picker or whatever but if no one reads it what’s the point.

Most people prefer facts and analysis-While my 10 top 10’s is my most popular Bleacher Report series, it is far and away the least popular series as far as traffic at The College Football Place.

9) If you build it and provide quality, they will come-I went from a standing start to over 350,000 monthly visitors in five months, I thank everyone for being part of it all.

10) Short is sweet-I know my videos are too long, at least my paragraphs aren’t what they used to be; the Internet reader is a different breed.

10 Odd Things In College Football

1) Firing Tommy Tubberville-It’s been a week and I still don’t get it.

2) Hiring Gene Chizik-Not sure if he’s Head Coach material, his Iowa State team didn’t look to be going in the right direction.

3) Contract extensions for Head Coaches-It seems these guys get one right before a horrible season.

4) People who pick games without point spreads-There’s a reason there are so many college football games that have double digit point spreads, this isn’t the NFL where anyone can really beat anyone.

5) The vote of confidence-Is it really the kiss of death?

6) What is a reviewable play-The worst calls aren’t reviewable because no one could have dreamed up they would have happened.

7) No Coach accountability for players who get in trouble-Don’t they promise parents to take care of their kids?

A win against a 1-AA team counts as much as beating a ranked team-When did this happen? Teams were always penalized for these games.

9) Some conferences have championships and others don’t-Is this record padding?

10) There is less talk of a playoff than ever-Everyone seems to be afraid of upsetting someone.

Visit Mitch anytime at The College Football Place

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Urban Meyer: ND Still "My Dream Job"

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for FOXSports.com about possible replacements for Charlie Weis if he resigned or was terminated from Notre Dame. Urban Meyer was at the top of my list- he had the best odds.

Gators fans ripped me and called me “clueless”- Urban would not leave Gainesville for South Bend. Florida is his dream job, and why would he ever leave sunshine for snow? Blah blah blah.

Flash forward to this week. On Wednesday, Meyer told a Florida radio show that Notre Dame is “still my dream job; that hasn’t changed.”

Uh huh. I thought so. Some things are so obvious, they will never change. Here comes the proverbial I-told-you-so. Gators fans are in complete denial about their coach.

When everything is said and done in fifty years, Meyer will not be remembered for what he has accomplished at Gainesville.

Like it or not, this is fact- Florida has only recently become a football force after a long hibernation from gridiron greatness. Quick, tell me who was a Notre Dame coach in the 70’s? Or Ohio State in the 60’s? Easy, huh? Now tell me Florida’s coach.

You cannot deny the obvious- some football programs have such a storied past, that their coaches are remembered fifty years later- they are immortalized. Notre Dame has that power. Michigan has that power. Oklahoma, USC, Nebraska and Alabama have that power. Florida, does not. Yet.

Eight conference championships and two National Championships- the first being in 1996, the second in 2006 – do not a dynasty in college football make. It’s trendy. The Gators are new to all of this. Ten years do not compare to ninety years. It’s not even close folks.

Notre Dame has won a National Championship in every decade, except for in the 50’s and 90’s- 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1988.

Winning a national championship at Notre Dame guarantees that coach eternal greatness and a probable throne behind the Pearly Gates. Notre Dame, whether you admit it or not, whether you’re in denial or not, is the most powerful football program in the country.

Urban knows that. NBC knows that. The bowls know that. God knows that.

So will he leave?

“Meyer is working on a second national title with a quarterback who is running a second Heisman Trophy campaign,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. “Meyer said he was already ‘in the 11th hour’ with Florida when Notre Dame called.”

Wait a minute- “when Notre Dame called”?

Did Notre Dame put out some “feelers” to Urban Meyer after the Fighting Irish’s loss to USC? (note- this author believes they did) It reads that way. And it makes sense. That one week period after the USC loss was quiet. Too quiet.

When Fighting Irish AD Jack Swarbrick finally confirmed that Weis would be the coach, everyone assumed it was over. “He, I and the others involved in leading our football program are committed to doing everything necessary to ensure a successful 2009 season,” Swarbrick said. “We are examining every aspect of the program and will make changes wherever we think they are needed.”

OK…that’s a little muddled. But here’s the thing- what if Meyer, after the January 8th BCS Championship Game, decides he is done? If he wins the title, and Tebow bails, Meyer is going to have to start from scratch.

Notre Dame, however, is a different story. A roster filled with juniors and seniors, and a perfect quarterback to run his beloved spread- Dayne Crist. Buh-bye Jimmy Clausen, hello Dayne Crist. Would this not be the perfect time for Meyer to take over the reins?

Wouldn’t the timing be perfect? Weis is running around recruiting while Meyer is getting ready for the Oklahoma Sooners. If no one says anything, then everything is status quo and no player goes mental with the prospect of losing their coach.

After the bowl games, Weis is let go, and Meyer takes over. It’s perfect.

Meyer will have accomplished everything he could have ever wished for at Florida, and Notre Dame, his dream job, would be there plump full of recruits who are just dying to be coached up.

Do you think Jack Swarbrick would say ‘no” to Meyer if he called up and said, “I’m yours”?

Do you think he’ll say “no” to a coach who is 2-0 in BCS Bowls (and has possibly two NCs by next month)?

Could it be that Meyer is dropping hints about where is deep love is? Drooping hints that this is it- after this BCS Bowl, don’t hate me if I bail because ND is my dream job?

Set-up? Laying down the foundation? Avoiding “a Saban” by letting folks know that he will eventually want to coach at Notre Dame, so get used to the idea, Gator fans?

Count on it.

 

*special thanks to Orlando Sentinel’s 12/12/08 article by Jeremy Fowler.

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