No. 1 Buckeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/1/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 1, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – OHIO STADIUM KICKOFF
Returning home after two straight on the road, the unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will receive a warm reception from the Ohio Stadium fans when they host the Michigan State Spartans Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Coach John Cooper’s Buckeyes are coming off a most-impressive 38-7 victory over Indiana that improved their record to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Coach Nick Saban and his Spartans are 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten after Saturday’s 29-5 home victory over Northwestern. ABC television will broadcast the game to a regional audience with Brent Musburger, Dan Fouts and Jack Arute describing the action.
RADIO COVERAGE
The OSU/MSU game will be broadcast around the state on the 73-station Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Sports Network with Sports Radio 1460 (AM) The Fan the flagship station. Calling the action is first-year play-by-play announcer Paul Keels. He is assisted in the broadcast booth by second-year analyst Jim Lachey. Jim Karsatos will provide sideline commentary.
Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach John Cooper, Iowa State ’62 OSU Record 94-32-4 (.738), 11th year Career Record 176-72-6 (.706), 22nd year Big Ten Record 60-21-4 (.728) Home Record 55-11-1 (.828) Road Record 39-21-3 (.635) OSU Record Against MSU 5-1 Offensive Coordinator Mike Jacobs Defensive Coordinator Fred Pagac
1998 Schedule & Results Sept. 5 at No. 11 West Virginia W, 34-17 Sept. 12 Toledo W, 49- 0 Sept. 19 No. 21 Missouri W, 35-14 Oct. 3 No. 7 Penn State W, 28- 9 Oct. 10 at Illinois W, 41- 0 Oct. 17 Minnesota W, 45-15 Oct. 24 at Northwestern W, 36-10 Oct. 31 at Indiana W, 38- 7 Nov. 7 Michigan State 3:30 p.m. EST (ABC) Nov. 14 at Iowa TBA (TBA) Nov. 21 Michigan Noon (ABC)
OHIO STATE’S No. 1 RANKING
John Cooper’s Buckeyes have tied Ohio State’s 1975 team for the school’s second-longest tenure as the nation’s No. 1 team: nine straight weeks. The 1969 team holds the record with 10-consecutive weeks during the season at No. 1. This week, Ohio State received 63 first-place votes and totalled 1,743 points in the Associated Press poll, out-gaining second-ranked Tennessee by 101 total points. In the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll, Ohio State received 54 of 61 first-place votes cast and totalled 1,542 points. Kansas State jumped to No. 2 with 1,434 points and five first-place votes.
A MULTI-STAR OFFENSIVE ATTACK
The 1998 Buckeyes have remained atop the polls all season behind a Joe Germaine-David Boston-Dee Miller-Michael Wiley-led offense that has already established two offensive school records: most games in a season with 500 or more yards of total offense (seven) and consecutive games with 500 or more yards (currently four). Germaine – he has already established three Ohio State records – and Boston – two new records with another on the way – have ignited OSU’s offensive attack that ranks 5th nationally in total offense (512.1 yards per game), 11th in passing (302.6), 19th in rushing (209.5) and 10th in scoring (38.3). Miller, fourth at OSU with 119 career receptions including 46 this year, and Wiley (866 rushing yards and eight touchdowns), are big-play makers. Backup tailback Joe Montgomery (469 yards and five TDs), tight end John Lumpkin (13 receptions, 193 yards & three TDs) and fullback Matt Keller (10 receptions; 97 rushing yards) pose plenty of problems as well. The offensive line, led by junior guard Rob Murphy, continues to improve and is a big reason behind the near-perfect balance of 18 passing TDs and 17 rushing.
THEY’RE CALLED THE “SILVER BULLETS”
All-Americans Andy Katzenmoyer and Antoine Winfield, rising stars Ahmed Plummer and Na’il Diggs, and senior leaders Damon Moore and Jerry Rudzinski are the strength of the nation’s No. 3 ranked defense. An up-and-coming front four of future stars along the defensive line – one true freshman and three sophomores start – is providing a foundation for success as well. To date: the “Silver Bullets” have allowed just seven touchdowns in eight games – only two rushing – and opponents have managed to score just 15 second half points all season. In NCAA rankings, OSU is No. 3 in total defense allowing 237.4 yards per game. The unit is No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (80.3 rating points), No. 5 against the rush (83.5 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring defense (9.0 points per game). The unit has also forced 18 turnovers (13 interceptions) and it is limiting opponents to a third down percentage of .210 (27-of-128).
THE BUCKEYES vs. THE SPARTANS
Aside from Penn State, which joined the Big Ten in 1992, Michigan State is the team Ohio State has played the fewest times in the Big Ten – 30. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 20-10, and has won five in a row and 13 of the last 15 games played since 1975. The only MSU wins during that span have come back-to-back, in 1987-88. The Spartans won in ’87 at Ohio Stadium, 13-7, and then the following year – John Cooper’s first at Ohio State – MSU won, 20-10, at Spartan Stadium. Cooper’s Buckeyes have handled the Spartans in the five meetings in the 1990s but with last year the exception, the games have been close. OSU won 27-17 in both 1991 and 1992, 28-21 in 1993 in MSU’s last visit to Ohio Stadium, 23-7 in 1994, and 37-13 last year in the rain. Cooper’s Buckeyes are 5-1 vs. MSU and, all-time, OSU is 10-6 vs. MSU in Ohio Stadium.
A BERRY GOOD WIN LAST YEAR
Gary Berry scored two touchdowns in a 2:07 span of the first quarter to spark 9th-ranked Ohio State to a 37-13 win over Michigan State last year. Dan Stultz added three field goals in a driving rain storm and the Buckeyes had almost perfect offensive balance with 203 passing yards and 202 rushing yards. Berry scored off a 45-yard interception return (breaking a 3-all tie) and off a one-yard blocked punt return. David Boston had 113 receiving yards including an 11-yard TD reception.
OSU IMPROVES TO 8-0
David Boston scored three touchdowns, including one on a 70-yard punt return, Joe Germaine threw for a season-high 351 yards and the OSU defense held Indiana to a season low 77 rushing yards as the Buckeyes dominated the Hoosiers in Bloomington, 38-7. The win was Ohio State’s 20th in 23 games over IU in Bloomington and the eighth in a row in the all-time series.
JOE & ANDY EARN BIG TEN HONORS
Joe Germaine and Andy Katzenmoyer were named co-offensive and co-defensive players of the week, respectively, in the Big Ten Conference for their efforts in the win over Indiana. Germaine threw for a season-high 351 yards and three touchdowns, with career highs in attempts (45) and completions (31). Katzenmoyer recorded six tackles (five solos) with three tackles for minus 14 yards. Included was a sack.
JOE GERMAINE’S CREDENTIALS
Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine has literally thrown himself into contention for college football’s most cherished award: the Heisman Trophy. The senior signal caller, in directing Ohio State to the No. 1 ranking and eight consecutive convincing wins, has climbed to ninth nationally in passing efficiency with a 154.4 rating. Germaine has thrown for 2,214 yards while completing 62.7 pct. of his passes with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He is averaging 276.8 passing yards per game.
SPECTACULAR NUMBERS; RECORDS
Joe Germaine is keeping his trio of 300-yard game records alive with four-consecutive, five this season and six for his career. His 2,214 passing yards and 17 TDs this season each rank fourth all-time at Ohio State. His 48 career TD passes is third and he needs three to pass Art Schlichter and 10 to break Bobby Hoying’s school record. He is fifth in career passing yards with 5,254.
KATZENMOYER’S STATEMENTS
Butkus and Lombardi Award candidate Andy Katzenmoyer ranks third on the team in tackles with 49 and second with nine tackles for losses totalling 29 yards. His three TFLs vs. IU increased his career total to 45, good for fourth all-time at Ohio State.
BOSTON’S A BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALIST
David Boston didn’t know it but last Friday he was one of 10 players chosen as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Saturday he scored three touchdowns against Indiana – the first three-touchdown game of his impressive 32-touchdown career – and caught nine passes for 110 yards. His seasonal stats: 55 receptions, 901 yards and nine touchdowns. He is fifth nationally (first in the Big Ten) in receiving yards per game (112.6) and 13th (second in the Big Ten) in receptions per game (6.9).
HE’S BREAKING RECORDS, TOO
David Boston has an impressive streak going of at least eight receptions, 100-receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in three-consecutive games. He had 10 receptions for 191 yards and two TDs vs. Minnesota; 8-for-171 and two TDs vs. Northwestern and 9-for-110 and two TDs vs. Indiana. Boston has set Ohio State career records with 10 games of at least 100 receiving yards and with 30 touchdown receptions. He has moved into second place in career receptions at OSU with 161 and he needs eight to pass Cris Carter for the school record. His 2,231 receiving yards ranks third.
DEE’S A TOP FIVE OSU RECEIVER
Dee Miller posted career-best numbers with 11 receptions for 159 yards against Indiana. He also hauled in three third-down passes that were good for first downs. Miller now has 119 career receptions and needs just three more to pass John Frank and take over fourth place.
WINFIELD LEADS NATION’S BEST
Ohio State’s defensive secondary, with All-American Antoine Winfield and Ahmed Plummer manning the corners, hard-hitting Damon Moore and play-maker Gary Berry at strong and free safety, respectively, and Central McClellion at nickel back, is widely considered the best in the country. The leader of the pack is Winfield with 11 pass break-ups and a team-high 51 tackles and who is a top candidate for the Thorpe Award. For the season, OSU has allowed just five TD passes, has intercepted 13 balls and is allowing opponents a completion rate of 46.8 pct.
IMPROVING AGAINST THE RUN
Behind a team average of 8.0 tackles for minus yardage per game, the Ohio State defense keeps improving against the rush. Last week, it limited Indiana, the Big Ten’s second-leading rushing team, to a mere 77 net yards. It marked the fifth-straight game a team has rushed for less than 80 yards against OSU and the sixth time in eight games this season. Big hitters up front include end Brent Johnson (27 tackles with 5 TFLs) and tackle Joe Brown (13 stops with 3 TFLs). Antoine Winfield, Andy Katzenmoyer and Na’il Diggs have 42, 41 and 40 solo tackles, respectively, while Diggs (10 for -43 yards) and Katzenmoyer (9 for -29) lead in TFLs.
OFFENSIVE LINE NUMBERS ARE DOWN
Ohio State’s offensive line has given up just three sacks the last two games (84 att.) and 18 for the season. Thru eight games last year, Ohio State quarterbacks had been sacked 27 times.
A RECORD SEVEN 500-YARD GAMES
Ohio State has topped 500 yards of total offense seven times already this season, including a current string of four-consecutive games. Both accomplishments are Ohio State all-time school records. The Buckeyes have accumulated 518, a season-high 586, 524 and 551 yards in the last four games.
DEFENSE & SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES
Ohio State’s defense has scored three touchdowns and its special teams have two touchdowns. Central McClellion returned a fourth-quarter interception 60 yards for a score against Minnesota. Na’il Diggs recovered an Illinois fumble and scored from 47-yards out. The key play in OSU’s 28-9 win over Penn State was Jerry Rudzinski recovering a fumble in the end zone after he had surprised quarterback Kevin Thompson. Special teams scores have come against Penn State (Percy King blocked a punt that Joe Cooper recovered inthe end zone) and Indiana (David Boston’s 70-yard punt return).
83 PCT. RED ZONE SUCCESS
Ohio State is converting on 83 percent of its trips inside the red zone. The Buckeyes have made 35 trips and have come away with 22 TDs and seven field goals. Opponents have managed eight trips in the red zone – but none in the last two games – with six scores (75.0 pct.).
BUCKEYE LEAVES
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in four of the five major defensive categories and in three of the five offensive categor-ies….Joe Montgomery, two major knee surgeries in all, went over 1,000 career rushing yards against Indiana. He now has 1,034….Sophomore defensive linemen Brent Johnson, Clinton Wayne and Joe Brown combined for nine tackles and two sacks vs. IU….Michael Wiley may not have topped 100 yards, but he looked strong rushing the ball in his 16 attempts vs. IU. He netted 80 yards and a TD. He also caught four passes and now ranks third on the team with 17 recep-tions….Wiley and Montgomery combine for 166.9 yards per game and 6.4 yards per pop….Nine different players caught passes against IU….Nate Clements recorded his first career interception in the Indiana game. That makes 13 interceptions by 11 different Buckeyes. Talking team defense: 17 different players have recorded a TFL and 19 have at least 10 tackles….Starting linebackers Andy Katzenmoyer and Jerry Rudzinski combined for six TFLs for -23 yards vs. IU….Rudzinski (finance) and juniors Kurt Murphy (marketing) and Ahmed Plummer (human resources) have been nominated for GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. Rudzinski and Plummer were each 1998 Regional All-Americans…. It’s been nine quarters since an opponents’ offense scored in the second half against the OSU defense ….OSU All-American and Denver Bronco all-pro Randy Gradishar has been named the 1998 Butkus Award Silver Anniversary Award winner…. Antoine Winfield has topped 200 career solo tackles (205). The previous four Buckeyes to record 200 were all linebackers….Winfield (11) and Ahmed Plummer have combined for 20 PBUs. They rank 1-2 in the Big Ten.
COOPER’S BUCKEYES: 82 Ws IN 1990s
John Cooper’s Buckeyes have been on a roll in the 1990s, especially over the last five years. Ohio State’s 82 wins in the 1990s is sixth-best among Division IA schools and its 59 wins the last five years is fourth-best, trailing only Nebraska (67 wins), Florida and Florida St. (62 apiece).
SENIORS REACH 40 VICTORIES
Ohio State’s current senior class has a four-year record of 40-6 with sights set on smashing the 1996 seniors’ record of 41 wins.
PLAYMAKERS
Ohio State had five rushing or passing plays covering 20 or more yards against Indiana to boost its season big-play total to 50. David Boston led the way with catches of 20 and 30 yards. He also has the team lead with 20 plays of 20-or-more yards. Michael Wiley’s 76-yard run from scrimmage, vs. Toledo, is the longest. Eight different players have taken part.
20-YARD RECEPTIONS (34) 20 David Boston – 53TD, 39TD, 38, 38, 38TD, 31TD, 30TD, 30, 30, 29, 29, 27, 24, 24, 23, 23, 22, 21, 20, 20. 8 Dee Miller – 42, 40, 37TD, 34, 33, 33, 32, 29 2 Reggie Germany – 47TD, 37TD. 2 John Lumpkin – 35TD, 28 1 Michael Wiley – 20TD 1 Ken-Yon Rambo – 39
20-YARD RUSHES (16) 9 Michael Wiley – 76TD, 59, 40, 37, 36, 29, 26, 28TD, 21TD 6 Joe Montgomery – 30, 24, 22, 21, 20, 20 1 Joe Germaine – 22
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THE SCOOP ON COOP
Twelve Buckeyes have been first round NFL draft picks under John Cooper.
THE COACH
John Cooper, now in his 11th season as head coach of the Ohio State University Buckeyes and in his 22nd season overall, is building as fine a collegiate coaching resume as any active coach in the business. Period. And the resume is getting better every year. Cooper, the second-winningest coach in OSU history – behind Woody Hayes’ 205 victories – and with the third-longest coaching tenure behind Hayes (28 seasons) and John W. Wilce (16), has guided four- consecutive Ohio State teams into New Year’s Day bowl games and each of his last three Ohio State teams to at least 10 victories. The former is part of nine-consecutive bowl appearances for the Buckeyes under Cooper. The latter is an accomplishment only three other current head coaches can match (Bobby Bowden at Florida State, Steve Spurrier at Florida and Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee).
THE 1990’s
Cooper’s Buckeyes have won 59 games since 1993 and in the decade of the 1990s, Ohio State has amassed an 82-22-3 record, the sixth-best win total in the decade among all Division IA schools. These streaks of successes has positioned Cooper with an Ohio State record of 94-32-4 and an all-time mark of 176-72-6.
THE AWARDS
Regarding student-athletes, the honors, awards and accomplishments Ohio State student-athletes have garnered under Cooper is matched by no other active coach. Consider, under John Cooper 15 Buckeyes have won first-team All-America honors, 12 have been first-round NFL draft picks, six have won National Football Foundation Scholarships, five have been named first-team Academic All-Americans and eight have won major athletic and academic awards in the last three years alone.
THE MAN
Away from football, Cooper likes any outdoor activities such as golf, fishing and lawn work and hates being confined to a desk and being in the office. As for dining, he says he has never had a bad meal and still loves an old fashioned home-cooked meal of beans, potatoes and cornbread. He enjoys oldies and country music and truly enjoys relaxing with his family.
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MICHIGAN STATE
Led by all-Big Ten running back Sedrick Irvin, the Spartans are gunning for their fourth straight trip to a bowl game.
FIRST TIME IN THE ‘SHOE SINCE 1993
After a convincing win over Northwestern at home last week, Michigan State takes to the road and visits Ohio Stadium for the first time since 1993. The Spartans stand 4-4 overall and are after a win to try and keep alive a streak of post-season bowl appearances that has reached three straight.
LAST WEEKEND
The Spartans made the 400th game in Spartan Stadium a memorable one, rolling over Northwestern, 29-5. MSU fired on all cylinders as the defense forced four turnovers and the offense piled up 439 yards. Sedrick Irvin rushed for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns and Paul Edinger, the Big Ten special teams player of the week, tied a school record with five field goals. Edinger would have broken the record, but a face-mask penalty in the third quarter nullified a 35-yard field goal. MSU dominated the game from the opening kickoff and led 20-0 at halftime. Bill Burke and Ryan Van Dyke both saw action at quarterback for the Spartans. Burke threw for 147 yards, while Van Dyke completed three-of-seven passes for 75 yards. MSU allowed just 115 yards of total offense and only six rushing yards. It was the best effort against the run by a Michigan State defense since 1990. Cornerback Renaldo Hill also picked off two passes against the Wildcats. “We just played with a lot more emotion than we have been,” said defensive tackle Robert Newkirk, who had six tackles against Northwestern. “Last week’s loss was really a tough one to swallow and we responded with a great, fired-up week of practice.” The Spartans were coming off a 19-18 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 24.
IRVIN-LED OFFENSE
Irvin enters this weekend ranked third in the Big Ten in rushing at 107.3 yards per game (one yard behind OSU’s Michael Wiley). The Spartans utilize Irvin’s talents in several ways, including punt and kickoff returns. He also has 119 receiving yards this year, and ranks fifth in the conference in all-purpose yards (130.3 per game.) Burke, a native of Warren, Ohio, has handled the majority of the quarterback duties for MSU and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a 130.2 efficiency rating. Van Dyke, a true freshman and high school All-American, has played in five games this year and completed 27-of-51 passes. The Spartans were forced to replace two All-Americans (Flozell Adams and Scott Shaw) and three starters on the offensive line from last season. Two freshmen and three sophomores were penciled in to start on the offensive line on MSU’s preseason depth chart. The Spartans are averaging 114.8 rushing yards per game and only 2.8 yards per carry.
VETERAN DEFENSE
Nine starters return on defense for MSU, but gone is All-American linebacker Ike Reese. The Spartans rank sixth in the Big Ten in total defense, and have been more vulnerable to the run (148.8 yards per game) than the pass (third-ranked pass efficiency defense in the Big Ten). Michigan State had six sacks against Northwestern after entering the game with a conference low 11 sacks. Linebacker Josh Thornhill led the team in tackles for the third straight week against Northwestern with seven.
1998 MICHIGAN STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING Att. Yards Avg. TD Sedrick Irvin 181 858 4.7 6 Lloyd Clemons 55 284 5.2 1 Shawn Foster 18 119 6.6 1
PASSING Att. Co. Yds. TD Int. Bill Burke 200 115 1378 12 5
RECEIVING No. Yards Avg. TD Plaxico Burress 41 550 13.4 6 Gari Scott 31 399 12.9 6
TACKLES Solo Asst. Tot. Avg. Sorie Kanu 43 26 69 9.9 Aric Morris 44 25 69 8.6 Lemar Marshall 38 22 60 7.5
Facts & Figures Location East Lansing, Mich. Enrollment 42,603 President Peter McPherson Athletic Director Merritt J. Norvell Jr. Nickname Spartans Colors Green and White 1998 Record 4-4, 2-2 Big Ten Head Coach Nick Saban Alma Mater Kent State ’73 IU Record 23-20-1 (fourth year) Career Record 32-22-1 (fifth year) Record vs. Ohio State 0-1 Offensive Coordinator Gary Tranquill Defensive Coordinator Chris Cosh Letterman Returning/Lost 38/15 Offensive Starters Returning 5 Defensive Starters Returning 9 Specialists Returning 1 Offensive Formation Pro-Set Defensive Formation 4-3
1998 Schedule/Results Aug. 29, Colorado State L 23-16 Sept. 5, at Oregon L 48-14 Sept. 12, Notre Dame W 45-23 Sept. 26, at Michigan L 29-17 Oct. 3, CENTRAL MICHIGAN W 38- 7 Oct. 10, INDIANA W 38-31 Oct. 24, at Minnesota L 19-18 Oct. 31, NORTHWESTERN W 29- 5 Nov. 7, at Ohio State Nov. 14, PURDUE Nov. 21, ILLINOIS
