Are the Buckeyes ready for another rumble?

[Scott Green]

I ate plenty of crow last year...lol

I have a good feeling about this year.....but I will have my fork and knife out just in case!

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

Buckeyes say they're hated in prep for LSU
Associated Press, Updated 1 day ago STORY TOOLS:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio State is No. 1 in the polls and headed for the national championship game against No. 2 LSU in the Tigers' den at the Superdome. Still, the Buckeyes say they get no respect.

"In all likelihood we will be the underdog because pretty much everyone on earth hates us," offensive tackle Kirk Barton said Sunday night shortly before the Buckeyes and Tigers were confirmed as the opponents in the Bowl Championship Series title game.
"That's cool. We're going to be playing in Louisiana against LSU and SEC Nation. So, it's just one of those things we'll probably end up being the underdog, but that's fine with us. We've played in hostile games before. It'll be a lot of fun."

The Buckeyes have used last season's title game - a 41-14 thrashing to Florida - as incentive ever since the final seconds melted off the clock in Glendale, Ariz.

Now they're motivated to right that wrong by proving that they belong in this title game and erasing the memory of that ugly defeat.

"We understand that people are going to question (us) about last year and people are going to remember that," linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "People are really going to question how legit we are as a team going into this game. That's something that's just a real issue, a real fact. We can't change that. We just have to prepare the best that we can and go down there and play the best we can."

The Buckeyes (11-1) and LSU (11-2) will meet at the Superdome on Jan. 7.

Both teams made remarkable, almost historic rebounds, Ohio State after losing its next-to-last game against unranked Illinois on Nov. 10, and LSU after losing to Arkansas on Nov. 22.

Both dropped to No. 7 in the BCS rankings after those defeats. Yet both, somehow, find themselves in the ultimate game.

LSU helped itself with a 21-14 win over Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday night. The Buckeyes finished the regular season Nov. 17 with a 14-3 victory over archrival Michigan.

Still, both needed help from the teams ahead of them, right up through yesterday's wild games. Top-ranked Missouri lost to Oklahoma 38-17 in the Big 12 Championship, at almost the same time that No. 2 West Virginia dropped a 13-9 decision at home to heavy underdog Pittsburgh.

Those two losses were enough to open up the top two BCS slots and pit the Buckeyes against the Tigers. They were just the latest in a long, long string of setbacks for almost every team that dared to climb into the Top 10.

"Nothing surprises me in football," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Would I have predicted exactly what happened yesterday? Probably not. But you might not have predicted what happened the whole season."

Two weeks after their last game, most of the Buckeyes showed up at the team's practice facility to watch the pivotal games on two giant TV screens on Saturday night.

The outcome was almost too much to ask for.

"It was crazy. To see those teams go down like that unexpectedly, it was a great feeling," quarterback Todd Boeckman said. "(It required) a little bit of everything, I guess. A little bit of praying, a little bit of hoping. We just felt we had an opportunity. It's surprising both of them lost, but it's a good deal for us."

The Buckeyes bristled at the suggestion that they had to rely on the kindness of strangers to back into the title game.

Asked what he would say to someone who said his team was lucky, Tressel said, "What do I say to that person? I'd rather be lucky than good. I don't know. I think our guys have done a lot."

What they did was win a second consecutive outright Big Ten title and third in a row overall, along with earning a berth in their third national title game in six years. They won the 2002 title with an upset victory in two overtimes against Miami.

The latest trip affords the Buckeyes a chance at redeeming themselves after last year's lopsided loss.

"There's definitely a stigma around Ohio State because of last year," cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "But that's something we can't control. All we can do is try to win this game."

[MObeagler79]

Some Big Ten backers seem to think they got 3 teams into major bowls, it can't happen BCS only allows 2 teams per conference. If you try and build up how tough your conference is better leave out UM that only shows that you don't know what your talking about, they're just glad they don't have to play App State in Orlando. Big Ten just better hope there big dog, the only real team in the conference THIS YEAR the Ohio State fairs better than ever against the SEC ( 0-8 vs. SEC in bowl games ).

[MasonsBeagles]

LSU is gonna beat them like they owe them money.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

The SEC leads the Big Ten with a 63-45-2 all-time record.

Hopefully, we can put a dent in that this year.

Go Bucks!

[gus]

I would rather go to a championship game and lose than not go at all!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is not true. Based on record and strength of schedule LSU was rated number two by the computer they use. It's the same computer that ranked Ohio State number 1 last year and Florida number 2 so obviously is not infallible. Then there is a poll of coaches which also indicated that Ohio State was 1 and LSU 2.

I'm a big LSU fan but I'm not running my mouth. I love watching the games. I hope the game is entertaining and let best team win.

There is no way Virginia Tech sholud go over LSU. They had identical records and LSU embarrassed them on national TV by about forty points.
Hawaii doesn't have any right to complain. Louisiana Tech lead them until late in the fourth quarter early in the season. Then Washington almost beat them the last game of the season and they are the worst team in the PAC 10.
Southern Cal and Oklahoma may have a gripe except there is a system that all agreed upon and it is what it is.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

I wish West Virginia had won. I would have loved to have watched them play the Buckeyes. I have a lot of respect for West Virginia's program. Class act for a coach and they have great athletes. White is an awesome QB. If he hadn't got his hand messed up I think they would have won that game.
The QB from Missouri kind of looked like a cry baby but I was impressed with their program and coach.
LSU coach is a screwball in my opinion. I hope he stays out of Michigan.

[B.Trull]

If the game was played next week, I would give OSU an even shot at a neutral site. A healthy Matt Flynn and more time for Glenn Dorsey to heal, no way.

Good for OSU they are not playing another team that runs the spread offense.


Big ten athletics have been a joke for more than a decade.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

If the game was played next week, I would give OSU an even shot at a neutral site. A healthy Matt Flynn and more time for Glenn Dorsey to heal, no way.

Good for OSU they are not playing another team that runs the spread offense.


Big ten athletics have been a joke for more than a decade.

I'd agree with the ones that came from Indiana. Have they ever had a football team that could win a conference let alone a National Championship. Better stick to round ball.
The Buckeyes won a National Championship 6 years ago. When is the last time LSU won one?
Look at the pro teams. I can name many Buckeyes, Michigan and Wisconsin players that have made it big. Illinois is heading in the right direction and Penn State is solid. Michigan State is capable of winning the big game as well. Weakest teams: Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern (in that order). Iowa and Purdue are kind of streaky like Illinois.
I agree with your statement about the spread offense. OSU always has historically struggled with that style team. LSU should slot up nicely. I just hope win or lose we make a game of it. Last year was pretty tuff to swallow.

Go Bucks!

[B.Trull]

since 1991 the big ten has won , what 2 national football titles and one basketball title , correct ? Look at the Pac 10, SEC, ACC for comparison


Sorry, better athletes dont stick around here anymore, and they havent for awhile. Good ahead and be delusional its how big ten fans live anyway.

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

since 1991 the big ten has won , what 2 national football titles and one basketball title , correct ? Look at the Pac 10, SEC, ACC for comparison


Sorry, better athletes dont stick around here anymore, and they havent for awhile. Good ahead and be delusional its how big ten fans live anyway.

Wow, .... Not only does the Big Ten have many athletes that go pro in round ball and football, many of the coaches in the pros and college are from the midwest and particularly OHIO.
I do understand your frustration with your state's football program.
btw, not a bad record and there are more conferences than you mentioned. I don't know the break down of every conferences NC ratio in roundball and football in the last decade so I will not comment.

[B.Trull]

since 1991 the big ten has won , what 2 national football titles and one basketball title , correct ? Look at the Pac 10, SEC, ACC for comparison


Sorry, better athletes dont stick around here anymore, and they havent for awhile. Good ahead and be delusional its how big ten fans live anyway.

Wow, .... Not only does the Big Ten have many athletes that go pro in round ball and football, many of the coaches in the pros and college are from the midwest and particularly OHIO.
I do understand your frustration with your state's football program.

Not my college . I went to ISU and at one time time we had a dominant wrestling and gymnastics program before we got titled 9'ed to death .

Go pro, so what. We are talking about college football and national championships. Big ten has been living in the past , lucky they have alot of influential sportswriters that are plain ole homers .

[Pike Ridge Beagles]

since 1991 the big ten has won , what 2 national football titles and one basketball title , correct ? Look at the Pac 10, SEC, ACC for comparison


Sorry, better athletes dont stick around here anymore, and they havent for awhile. Good ahead and be delusional its how big ten fans live anyway.

Wow, .... Not only does the Big Ten have many athletes that go pro in round ball and football, many of the coaches in the pros and college are from the midwest and particularly OHIO.
I do understand your frustration with your state's football program.

Not my college . I went to ISU and at one time time we had a dominant wrestling and gymnastics program before we got titled 9'ed to death .

Go pro, so what. We are talking about college football and national championships. Big ten has been living in the past , lucky they have alot of influential sportswriters that are plain ole homers .

My commnet concerning going pro is related to your comment about all the talent not signing with the Big Ten and the Big Ten being a joke for the last decade. Nothing could be further from the truth. You don't go pro if you have no talent and recruit jokers. Trussel's recruiting is outstanding and historically so has Michigans. Ole Joe Pa don't do too bad either and I could name a few others. If Indiana had kept Bobby Knight they's still be recruiting the best in basketball. Michigan, Michigan State, OSU, Penn State and others have had some outstanding basketball programs in the last decade as well.
Don't get me wrong, I give credit where credit is due and I recognize the strength of other institutions and conferences. Every dog has it's day.

GO BUCKEYES!!! Win or lose we still love our BUCKEYES!!!!

[gus]

Pine Ridge, going into the final weekend, I was hoping that WVU and Missouri would win therefore putting some new team in the National Championship game. It didn't happen so LSU and the Buckeyes get another shot.

IMO, last year was not proof of a talent gap between the SEC and Big Ten. Ohio State had good talent but didn't play well. Remember what USC did to Oklahoma a couple years ago. No one was saying there was a big talent gap and there wasn't. IMO, Bush, Lienart, and White have been only average in the NFL and the USC receivers have been non factors. Peterson, on the other hand, has had the success that talent scouts were predicting for Reggie Bush.

I expect Ohio State will represent the Big Ten very well.

[Larry G]

Bad thing about college football is you take away one guy and it is not the same team any more. Look at Dixon for Oregon, White at WVa., Ryan at BC, and on and on. They build an offense around one man and he goes down it's over. The wave of the future will be the 2 or even 3 QB offense Fla. used to confound OSU last year.