Thursday, December 18, 2008
Up Next: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl
Next up will be a recap of the Ohio State - Notre Dame tilt, which featured Troy Smith and Jim Tressel facing off against Brady Quinn and Charlie Weis in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl!
Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl - Part I: The 2003 Fiesta Bowl (A Tribute to Kevin Ball)
Hi Kevin. Congrats.
#10 Ohio State will be playing #3 Texas in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5th and will be going to a bowl that they are very familiar with. Of the Buckeyes 39 bowl appearances (in which the Bucks have a 18-21 record, hmmm....), the Buckeyes have played in 5 Fiesta Bowls and played the 2006 national championship in Glendale, AZ, where the Fiesta Bowl is played. Of those 6 games, the Buckeyes are 4-2, with losses to Penn State (1980) and Florida (2006 BCS) and wins over Pittsburgh (1984), Miami (2002 BCS title game), Kansas State (2003) and Notre Dame (2005).
In this post, I will recap the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, which saw the #Buckeyes take on #8 Kansas State Wildcats.
What Happened in the Regular Season for Kansas State
Coming off of a very impressive 11-2 season in 2002, the Wildcats had high hopes for 2003. The Wildcats had a great year offensively, averaging 36.6 points per game and only giving up 16.6 ppg. The Wildcats advanced to the Big 12 championship game with a 6-2 conference record, losing in close games to #13 Texas and Oklahoma State. Remarkably, both of these games came at the beginning of their conference schedule. The Wildcats racked off 6 straight wins after these losses to advance to the Big 12 championship game where they would face top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma. Kansas State went into kansas City and blasted the top-ranked Sooners 35-7.
What Happened in the Regular Season for Ohio State:
Ohio State came off the high of their 2002 national championship with high expectations, but a diminshed talent pool, with the loss of Maurice Clarett to stupidity (remember, he tried to go to the NFL but ended up doing nothing after going into his first camp 40 pounds overweight!). Ohio State lost a heartbreaking 17-10 loss to Wisconsin in Madison and also lost a 35-21 game to Michigan (revenge for Lloyd Carr and John Navarre) and finishing 10-2 in the regular season and just out of the Rose Bowl mix or National Championship mix.
The Game Itself
Kansas State won the coin toss and defered until the second half. Ohio State and Kansas State both stalled on their first possessions, but Kansas State was forced to punt from their own 7 yard line and had it blocked and returned for a touchdown. Ohio State went up 7-0 and gained the momentum. Craig Krenzel added 2 touchdown passes to Santionio Holmes and Michael Jenkins to make it 21-0 and the game, just in the second quarter, seemed out of reach for Kansas State. The third touchdown was especially demoralizing since it was set up by a Ell Roberson interception on KSU's own ten yard line. Darren Sproles, Kansas State's star running back (who tore up the Sooners) ran for a 6 yard score to make it 21-7 at half, and making the game within reach for the Wildcats.
In the second half, Ell Roberson scampered 14 yards for a score to close the gap to 21-14, but Ohio State answered later in the third quarter with Craig Krenzel's second stirke to Michael Jenkins, making it 28-14. With only 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Craig Krenzel found Santionio Holmes again for a 31 yard TD pass, seemingly ending the game at 35-14. Kansas State showed their toughness and scored twice in the fourth quarter on an Ayo Saba 2 yard touchdown and another Ell Roberson score, but it was too little too late, and the Buckeyes recovered an onside kick to seal the deal, winning over a very good Kansas State team 35-28.
#10 Ohio State will be playing #3 Texas in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5th and will be going to a bowl that they are very familiar with. Of the Buckeyes 39 bowl appearances (in which the Bucks have a 18-21 record, hmmm....), the Buckeyes have played in 5 Fiesta Bowls and played the 2006 national championship in Glendale, AZ, where the Fiesta Bowl is played. Of those 6 games, the Buckeyes are 4-2, with losses to Penn State (1980) and Florida (2006 BCS) and wins over Pittsburgh (1984), Miami (2002 BCS title game), Kansas State (2003) and Notre Dame (2005).
In this post, I will recap the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, which saw the #Buckeyes take on #8 Kansas State Wildcats.
What Happened in the Regular Season for Kansas State
Coming off of a very impressive 11-2 season in 2002, the Wildcats had high hopes for 2003. The Wildcats had a great year offensively, averaging 36.6 points per game and only giving up 16.6 ppg. The Wildcats advanced to the Big 12 championship game with a 6-2 conference record, losing in close games to #13 Texas and Oklahoma State. Remarkably, both of these games came at the beginning of their conference schedule. The Wildcats racked off 6 straight wins after these losses to advance to the Big 12 championship game where they would face top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma. Kansas State went into kansas City and blasted the top-ranked Sooners 35-7.
What Happened in the Regular Season for Ohio State:
Ohio State came off the high of their 2002 national championship with high expectations, but a diminshed talent pool, with the loss of Maurice Clarett to stupidity (remember, he tried to go to the NFL but ended up doing nothing after going into his first camp 40 pounds overweight!). Ohio State lost a heartbreaking 17-10 loss to Wisconsin in Madison and also lost a 35-21 game to Michigan (revenge for Lloyd Carr and John Navarre) and finishing 10-2 in the regular season and just out of the Rose Bowl mix or National Championship mix.
The Game Itself
Kansas State won the coin toss and defered until the second half. Ohio State and Kansas State both stalled on their first possessions, but Kansas State was forced to punt from their own 7 yard line and had it blocked and returned for a touchdown. Ohio State went up 7-0 and gained the momentum. Craig Krenzel added 2 touchdown passes to Santionio Holmes and Michael Jenkins to make it 21-0 and the game, just in the second quarter, seemed out of reach for Kansas State. The third touchdown was especially demoralizing since it was set up by a Ell Roberson interception on KSU's own ten yard line. Darren Sproles, Kansas State's star running back (who tore up the Sooners) ran for a 6 yard score to make it 21-7 at half, and making the game within reach for the Wildcats.
In the second half, Ell Roberson scampered 14 yards for a score to close the gap to 21-14, but Ohio State answered later in the third quarter with Craig Krenzel's second stirke to Michael Jenkins, making it 28-14. With only 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Craig Krenzel found Santionio Holmes again for a 31 yard TD pass, seemingly ending the game at 35-14. Kansas State showed their toughness and scored twice in the fourth quarter on an Ayo Saba 2 yard touchdown and another Ell Roberson score, but it was too little too late, and the Buckeyes recovered an onside kick to seal the deal, winning over a very good Kansas State team 35-28.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
How the Florida game changed everything
Do you remember how good the Miami Hurricanes were in the late 90's and early 2000's? They were a juggernaut. Unstoppable. No one wanted to face them. They were the U.
Then Ohio State beat them 31-24 in double overtime in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl for the BCS National Championship. Where are they now? 7-5 and playing vs. California in the Emerald Bowl.
In the successive years after Miami lost to Ohio State, here are their records:
2003: 11-2 (Big East co-champs, Orange bowl victory over FSU)
2004: 9-3 (ACC, Peach Bowl win over Florida)
2005: 9-3 (Peach bowl loss, 3-40 to LSU)
2006: 7-6 (MPC Computers victory over Nevada 21-20)
2007: New coach Randy Shannon leads the team to a 5-7 record.
2008: 7-5, Emerald Bowl vs. California
One game can have a big effect on a program.
Since the Florida thumping the 2006 national championship game, Ohio State has not beaten an opponent ranked higher than #18. Yes ... 18th in the country (AP poll).
That win was this year's 20-17 win in Madison over what turned out to be a mediocre Wisconsin team. Has the shine gone from Ohio State? One game can make a big difference. The Florida thumping has shaken this program, and Ohio State needs a big win over Texas to get it back.
No pressure, boys.
Then Ohio State beat them 31-24 in double overtime in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl for the BCS National Championship. Where are they now? 7-5 and playing vs. California in the Emerald Bowl.
In the successive years after Miami lost to Ohio State, here are their records:
2003: 11-2 (Big East co-champs, Orange bowl victory over FSU)
2004: 9-3 (ACC, Peach Bowl win over Florida)
2005: 9-3 (Peach bowl loss, 3-40 to LSU)
2006: 7-6 (MPC Computers victory over Nevada 21-20)
2007: New coach Randy Shannon leads the team to a 5-7 record.
2008: 7-5, Emerald Bowl vs. California
One game can have a big effect on a program.
Since the Florida thumping the 2006 national championship game, Ohio State has not beaten an opponent ranked higher than #18. Yes ... 18th in the country (AP poll).
That win was this year's 20-17 win in Madison over what turned out to be a mediocre Wisconsin team. Has the shine gone from Ohio State? One game can make a big difference. The Florida thumping has shaken this program, and Ohio State needs a big win over Texas to get it back.
No pressure, boys.
Three Strikes and You're Out
10-2 isn't half bad, is it?
The Buckeye nation has come to expect so much that 10-2 seems like a let down. But let's get real. About 100 teams in the FBS would give their left kidney to be where the Buckeyes are right now. 10-2, co-champions of their conference, and a chance to play in a BCS game (Fiesta again?) against a team that arguably should be in the BCS Naitonal Championship Game.
Not half bad.
And given how awful the Buckeyes were at times this season, every Buckeye fan should be eternally grateful to the Fiesta Bowl for picking the Buckeyes. I will even admit that Boise State is more deserving of being in the game than OSU. You could make a case for a handful of other teams as well.
Ohio State now has yet another chance to prove itself on the big stage against a big time foe. This game may be the most important the program plays in a long time. If the Buckeyes lay another egg in this game like it did against Florida and LSU, everybody is going to say, "Three strikes and you're out." If the Buckeyes don't play a respectable game against Texas, they will have to go undefeated and win impressively all season long if they ever dream of playing in another BCS game, especially the BCS title game.
Let's hope they do.
Way to early and off the cuff prediction: Texas 27, Ohio State 20
The Buckeye nation has come to expect so much that 10-2 seems like a let down. But let's get real. About 100 teams in the FBS would give their left kidney to be where the Buckeyes are right now. 10-2, co-champions of their conference, and a chance to play in a BCS game (Fiesta again?) against a team that arguably should be in the BCS Naitonal Championship Game.
Not half bad.
And given how awful the Buckeyes were at times this season, every Buckeye fan should be eternally grateful to the Fiesta Bowl for picking the Buckeyes. I will even admit that Boise State is more deserving of being in the game than OSU. You could make a case for a handful of other teams as well.
Ohio State now has yet another chance to prove itself on the big stage against a big time foe. This game may be the most important the program plays in a long time. If the Buckeyes lay another egg in this game like it did against Florida and LSU, everybody is going to say, "Three strikes and you're out." If the Buckeyes don't play a respectable game against Texas, they will have to go undefeated and win impressively all season long if they ever dream of playing in another BCS game, especially the BCS title game.
Let's hope they do.
Way to early and off the cuff prediction: Texas 27, Ohio State 20
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