WE'RE BAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all the Michigan-haters - you had fun last year when we went 3-9 -- now it's our turn -- Yippie Ki Ya Mutherfuckers!!!!!!

Never forget

Matt Barkley faces stern test at The Horseshoe

Southern Cal @ Ohio State
Saturday, September 12, 2009 - 8:00
Ohio Stadium - Columbus, Ohio
Southern Cal -7

The last time USC marched into Columbus was on September 22, 1990, the game was delayed by a severe thunderstorm...in the end, a pot-smoking punk named Todd Marinovich led the Trojans to a 35-26 win...that same day, Jim Tressel was still a young head coach at Youngstown State University as his Penguins had a landmark victory over an undefeated Akron Zips team...some 19 years later, Gentleman Jim welcomes USC back to Columbus for a rare visit and a chance at redemption after last season's dismantling at The Coliseum...

Even though USC is a 7 point favorite, all the "experts" are picking Ohio State in this game...USC has a rebuilt defense and is starting a true freshman at quarterback...the thinking is that this will be the game that Ohio State gets back on the map as a major power...

A lucky break is what saved Ohio State against Navy, however, the Buckeyes are dangerous when they manage to get these breaks - look at 2002...the key to this game is if Ohio State's defense can stop the USC running game...if they can shutdown the stable of running backs, Ohio State has a good chance at winning...

Southern Cal Notes
USC Game Notes for Ohio State game...

USC Game Notes

Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times writes how freshman QB Matt Barkley will have to deal with the hostile crowd in Columbus... "More than 105,000 fans are expected to fill Ohio Stadium to root on the Buckeyes and make things especially tough on a true freshman quarterback playing his first road game." ...

Gary Klein

Klein writes how Barkley is prepared for the noise at Ohio Stadium... "Matt Barkley's parents stopped by USC on Tuesday to say hello to their son and deliver a small gift on his 19th birthday." ...

Gary Klein

Ohio State Notes
Ohio State Game Notes for the USC game...

Ohio State Game Notes

Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer writes how Ohio State is impressed with Jermale Hines... "Hines, a junior from Glenville, was working with the first-team defense during the 30 minutes that reporters watched practice Tuesday, with former senior starter Anderson Russell working with the second team the entire time." ...

Doug Lesmerises

Bill Livingston of The Plain Dealer questions whether Terrelle Pryor can be a team leader... "Like many coaches, Tressel sometimes selectively micromanages. He overlooked a lot when Maurice Clarett was here for one stormy, sensational season. Pryor was not included in the list of players available for interviews Tuesday, but exclusion of freshmen and sophomores is the usual procedure at OSU. Upperclassmen are expected to know which topics to avoid, which "hot" buttons not to press." ...

Bill Livingston

Ken Gordon of the Columbus Dispatch writes how the OSU freshmen are confused about the negativity... "We won, didn't we? We've got an awesome game coming up this week with Southern California, right? So what's with all the negativity around town?" ...

Ken Gordon

Adam Rittenberg of the ESPN Big Ten blog writes how the Ohio State defensive line is determined to make a difference... "After USC's Mark Sanchez had his way in a 35-3 victory last September, Ohio State's defensive linemen convened and made a pact. The Trojans had won the battle at the line of scrimmage, leaving the Buckeyes beaten and bruised. Senior defensive end/linebacker Curtis Terry did the talking." ...

Adam Rittenberg

Michigan-Notre Dame: something has to give

Notre Dame @ Michigan
Saturday, September 12 - 3:30 p.m.
Michigan Stadium - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Notre Dame -3

The pressure will be on the losing head coach...both Charlie Weiss and Rich Rodriguez are on the hot seat...however, both had impressive crushing victories last Saturday....

With Sam Bradford out of the Heisman race, don't be surprised if Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen sneaks in there...Clausen threw 4 TD passes last week and seems to finally "get it" as the leader of the team...wide reciever Golden Tate is a weapon the Irish have not had in many years...that guy scares me...

Michigan may have found their QB in Tate Forcier...but one game does not make a career, especially when you are a true freshman...the Michigan defense looked so much better than last season...so maybe new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson has a way of teaching these kids how to play good defense...

Last season, Michigan self-destructed in the rainstorm in South Bend...turnovers and the inability to stop the big play killed the Wolverines...

Here is an interesting tidbit, the Blue and Gold, the publication that covers Notre Dame athletics, predicted, in their football preview, Michigan to win 23-21

Notre Dame Notes
Notre Dame game notes for the Michigan game...

Notre Dame Game Notes

Al Lesar of the South Bend Tribune writes how the Irish are already going to Plan B... "At Tuesday's meeting with the media, Irish head coach Charlie Weis said fullback James Aldridge will miss Saturday's game at Michigan with a shoulder injury. Weis said Aldridge's injury will cause him to miss just a game or two." ...

Al Lesar

Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune writes how Notre Dame remembers how Greg Robinson, then the coach at Syracuse, upset the Irish... "When Notre Dame last saw Greg Robinson, his woebegone Syracuse team had swallowed him whole, chanting "G-Rob" and celebrating its embattled coach after handing the Irish their most galling loss of 2008." ...

Brian Hamilton

Michigan Notes
Michigan Game Notes for the Notre Dame game...

Michigan Game Notes

Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press writes that QB Tate Forcier was impressive in his first game... "Forcier was able to make the necessary throws when called upon and still showed a unique ability to escape trouble and remain calm." ...

Mark Snyder

Snyder writes how Michigan CB Donovan Warren (photo) and Irish QB Jimmy Clausen have a rivalry going back to high school... "The two connected in those games, being high-profile players, and spent time together again when they played at the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio." ...

Mark Snyder

Ann Arbor.com reports there is no public bet this year between Tom Brady and Charlie Weis... "Yet Brady went to Michigan. Weis went to and now coaches Notre Dame. So every year around this time, rumors of a wager between pupil and teacher pop up." ...

Ann Arbor.com

Below is a 2:20 clip of Notre Dame's Bob Crable climbing on top of teammates backs to block the potential game winning kick by Michigan...Notre Dame won 12-10 in this 1979 game...the NCAA later changed the rules prohibiting players from jumping on teammates backs to block a field goal...

Terrelle Pryor - is he a true leader?

(Cleveland) Plain Dealer sports columnist Bill Livingston rips Terrelle Pryor and Jim Tressel after Pryor's decision to wear "Vick" on his eye black... "Like many coaches, Tressel sometimes selectively micromanages. He overlooked a lot when Maurice Clarett was here for one stormy, sensational season. Pryor was not included in the list of players available for interviews Tuesday, but exclusion of freshmen and sophomores is the usual procedure at OSU. Upperclassmen are expected to know which topics to avoid, which "hot" buttons not to press." ...

Bill Livingston

Akron Zips open new stadium - InfoCision Stadium

The Akron Zips open their brand new football stadium this Saturday when they take on Morgan State...InfoCision Stadium is located on campus compared to the old Rubber Bowl that was a few miles away...Beacon-Journal photographer Ed Suba took some snapshots of the new place...

InfoCision Stadium

NFL prediction time

It's that time of year where we all make our predictions then look foolish in four months...I went with a few wild picks...shoot, one year ago, who would have thought the 1-15 Dolphins would make the playoffs???...sometimes ya gotta take a chance with these predictions...

AFC East
1. Patriots - Tom Brady is back...
2. Dolphins - there will be a downturn after a surprising 08 season...
3. Jets - Sanchez is The Man in The City...they just need some time to mesh...watch out in 2010...
4. Bills - I wish they go back to their old throwback jerseys on a permanent basis...

AFC North
1. Steelers - who else but the Steel City?...
2. Ravens - they are stuck in the same division with Pittsburgh...
3. Bengals - some progress this year, but Marvin Lewis is gone after the season...
4. Browns - Mangini should have named Quinn the starter after the first pre-season game so Quinn could have taken the leadership role...

AFC South
1. Colts - Dungy and Harrison are gone...but Peyton is still there
2. Titans - they will not have as impressive of a record, but they will win games this season...
3. Texans - the defense finally gels...
4. Jaguars - they rebuilt the O-line, but now their defense will lead oil...

AFC West
1. Chargers - San Diego wins by default...
2. Raiders - how much longer can they be dysfunctional?...
3. Broncos - Denver will not be as bad as people think...
4. Chiefs - this team sucks!!!...will have the #1 pick in the draft...

NFC East
1. Giants - the G-men fell apart late last year...not this time...
2. Redskins - the talent is there...
3. Eagles - Vick does not guarantee a spot in the playoffs...
4. Cowboys - Dallas won't miss TO, but their defense will let them down...

NFC North
1. Packers - Rodgers will be the NFL MVP...and defense will improve...
2. Vikings - the defense will win games, not Brett Favre...
3. Bears - Cutler will show why he is a .500 QB...
4. Lions - Lions will win 5 games...

NFC South
1. Panthers - this team is hungry after the playoff embarrassment...
2. Saints - this offense is going to be unstoppable...
3. Falcons - sophomore slump for Ryan...
4. Buccaneers - this is a team in rebuild mode...

NFC West
1. Cardinals - finally the Cards are the team to beat in this division...
2. 49ers - Shaun Hill is the best scrappy QB in the league...
3. Seahawks - Mora will start to turn the ship around...
4. Rams - nothing here...

AFC Playoffs
Ravens over Chargers
Titans over Colts

Patriots over Ravens
Steelers over Titans

Patriots over Steelers

NFC Playoffs
Panthers over Redskins
Saints over Cardinals

Giants over Panthers
Packers over Saints

Packers over Giants

Super Bowl
Patriots over Packers

Jim Tressel unable to see Terrelle Pryor's tribute to Michael Vick

Some Ohio State fans were not too happy with star Terrelle Pryor wearing eye black that supported Michael Vick...

When asked after the game, Pryor rambled, "Not everybody is a perfect person in the world. Everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever."

The most interesting part, head coach Jim Tressel did not notice the eye black...this coming from a coach who covers every small detail and does not leave a stone unturned...suddenly Tressel was unable to see this...Tressel said, "I'm not tall enough to see his eyebrows. I don't know what he had."..it's funny how Gentleman Jim never sees the things that are negative toward his program or players...