No. 2/2 Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Eastern Michigan (0-3, 0-2) at #2/2 Ohio State (3-0, 0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Ohio Stadium (102,329)
Columbus, Ohio
The Broadcasts
Television: ABC (ESPN mirror) will televise the game with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Mike Bellotti (analyst) and Brock Huard (analyst) in the booth.
Radio: WBNS (97.1 FM The Fan) is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State radio network. The Jim Tressel pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Paul Keels will call the play-by-play with former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. The game can also be heard live on Sirius satellite radio 127 and XM 102.
FIRST AND 10
• Ohio State leads the nation in turnover margin (+3.33), forcing 12 and committing just two through three games
• Saturday marked the first time since the 1988 season opener that the Buckeyes went an entire game without a penalty
• Terrelle Pryor set a school record with 16 consecutive completions in the win over Ohio, the second most in Big Ten history
• Ohio State is 55-5 at Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season
• Ohio State is one of only three FBS teams to record at least 10 wins in each of the past five seasons (Virginia Tech, Texas)
• Kicker Devin Barclay leads the nation in field goals with 2.67 made per game
• Ohio State has played in 8 BCS bowls, the most all-time ahead of USC and Oklahoma (7)
• Ohio State has won 56 straight regular-season non-conference home games against unranked teams
• Ohio State has had 58 consecutive crowds of more than 100,000 at Ohio Stadium
• Fall Quarter classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 22
DID YOU KNOW?
Ohio State has allowed only 94 touchdowns (39 rushing and 55 passing) since the start of 2005 (67 games; 57-10 record), an average of only 1.4 touchdowns allowed per game by the Buckeyes over that time.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan is 0-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference after falling, 52-14, to Central Michigan last Saturday. The Eagles opened the season with a 31-27 loss to Army at home, followed by a 28-21 loss at Miami (Ohio).
Sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett has started all three games under center. He has completed 34-of-59 passes for 350 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He has an efficiency rating of 119.66, good for seventh best in the MAC.
Defensively, senior linebacker Neal Howey leads the MAC in tackles with 34 (11.3 pg). Senior linebacker Tim Fort is fifth in the conference with 29 (9.7).
Head coach Ron English is in his second season with the Eagles.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first-ever meeting between Ohio State and Eastern Michigan.
GROUND SUPERIORITY
Over the last eight games dating to last season, the Buckeyes have outgained the opposition on the ground by +1,281 yards (1,907 to 626) — an average of +160.1 yards per game. Ohio State has averaged 238.4 yards per game during that span to the opponent’s 78.3 and has totaled 18 rushing touchdowns to the opposition’s one.
In non-conference home games under Tressel (since 2001), the Buckeyes have outgained opponents on the ground by an average of 96.8 yards per game and have scored 57 rushing touchdowns to the opponent’s 10.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
• Ohio State leads the nation in turnover margin (+3.33) with 12 forced turnovers in 2010.
• Through three games, Ohio State ranks first in the Big Ten in total defense (236.3), second in scoring (41.3 ppg), total offense (460.7), pass defense (156.3) and scoring defense (12.7) and third in passing offense (254.3), rushing defense (80.0) and KO returns (27.0).
• Ohio State is 33-4 in non-conference regular-season games since Jim Tressel became the Buckeyes coach in 2001.
• Ohio State has won 55 straight regular-season non-conference games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat Ohio State was Pitt, a 42-17 winner on Sept. 17, 1988.
• Ohio State has won 56 straight regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium was Florida State, a 34-17 winner on Oct. 2, 1982.
• Junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor is 22-3 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. That includes an 8-1 mark in 2008 and an 11-2 record in 2009. Pryor started at wide receiver in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
• Pryor is third in the Big Ten in passing at 238.3 yards per game and third in total offense at 293.3 yards per game.
• With 5,695 yards of total offense in his career, Pryor moved passed Archie Griffin (5,589) for eighth place on Ohio State’s all-time list.
• Pryor completed a school-record 16 consecutive passes in the win over Ohio, breaking the old single-game mark of 12 set by Jim Karsatos in 1985. The 16 consecutive also was the second most in Big Ten history, trailing Iowa’s Chuck Long (22).
• Pryor is the first Big Ten quarterback to return the season after winning Rose Bowl MVP since Ohio State’s Joe Germaine in 1997. The last Big Ten player to return the season after winning Rose Bowl MVP was Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne in 1999. Dayne went on to the win the Heisman Trophy in 1999.
• In the BCS Era (since the 1998 season), three previous quarterbacks returned after winning Rose Bowl MVP: Vince Young (Texas, 2005), Matt Leinart (2004, USC) and Ken Dorsey (2002, Miami). All three quarterbacks led their teams to the BCS title game the season after winning Rose Bowl MVP. Leinart and Young led their team to a BCS title while Dorsey lost to Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
• Pryor currently ranks third among Ohio State quarterbacks in career rushing yards with 1,575. He trails Rex Kern (1,714) and Cornelius Greene (2,066).
• Pryor rushed for a first down or ran for a touchdown 58 times last season, trailing only Big Ten rushing champion and offensive player of the year John Clay from Wisconsin (84).
• Pryor had two games in which he passed for at least 200 yards and rushed for at least 100 last season. Since 1996, the only other Big Ten players to have at least two performances with 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards are Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El, Northwestern’s Zak Kustok and Illinois’ Juice Williams. Pyror also added one this season against Miami (113 rush/233 pass).
• Ohio State is 14-1 in the games in which Pryor has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 8-0 against Big Ten opponents when Pryor has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 13-1 in the games in which Pryor has rushed for at least one touchdown. The Buckeyes’ only loss in these performances was the 26-18 loss on Oct. 17, 2009, at Purdue.
• Ohio State is 19-1 in the games in which Pryor has thrown at least one touchdown pass.
• Only four times in Ohio State history has a Buckeye quarterback rushed for 100 yards and passed for 200 yards or more in the same game, a feat achieved three times by Terrelle Pryor. The times it has happened at OSU:
Ohio State 200 yd passing/100 yd rush games
T. Smith vs. Michigan, 2004: 145 rush/241 pass
T. Pryor vs. Toledo, 2009: 110 rush/262 pass
T. Pryor vs. Minn., 2009: 104 rush/239 pass
T. Pryor vs. Miami (FL), 2010: 113 rush/233 pass
• Ohio State had eight performances with at least 200 rushing yards last season, the most in the Tressel era.
• Terrelle Pryor and Brandon Saine each rushed for more than 700 yards during the 2009 season. It is the first time a pair of Buckeyes reached that rushing total in the same season since 1989. Carlos Snow had 990 rushing yards and Scottie Graham added 977 that season.
• Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Saine and Dan Herron each recorded at least 600 rushing yards during the 2009 season, marking the first time in program history that the Buckeyes featured three players with at least 600 yards rushing.
• Ohio State is 87-6 in the games in which it has rushed for at least 125 yards since Jim Tressel became the Buckeyes coach in 2001. Ohio State is 10-15 in the games in which it has failed to rush for that total in this span.
• Brandon Saine recorded the third 100-yard game of his career against Marshall with 103 yards and two touchdowns (4, 45) on nine carries.
• Saine has scored a touchdown either rushing or receiving in eight consecutive games dating to last season.
• The Buckeyes are 10-0 in Saine’s career when he has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 12-0 when Saine scores a touchdown.
• The Buckeyes are 11-1 in Herron’s career when he has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 11-2 when Herron has a rushing touchdown.
• Junior wide receiver DeVier Posey has caught at least one pass in 17 consecutive games.
• Posey hauled in two touchdown passes in the season opener against Marshall, and totaled 105 yards receiving on four catches in the Miami win, the third 100-yard receiving game of his career.
• Senior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher averaged 37.6 yards per catch in the season opener against Marshall, including a 65-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
• Sanzenbacher is second in the Big Ten with 18.9 yards per catch.
• Ohio State is 27-4 in the games in which Sanzenbacher has recorded at least one catch.
• Senior kicker Devin Barclay is tied for the NCAA lead with 2.67 field goals made per game. He tied a school record with five in the win over Miami. He also is tied for ninth in the NCAA with 12.6 points per game.
• Last season Ohio State became the first FBS team to beat five teams that finished with at least 10 wins: Iowa (11-2), Penn State (11-2), Wisconsin (10-3), Oregon (10-3) and Navy (10-4).
• Ohio State is one of only three FBS teams to record at least 10 wins in each of the past five seasons. The other two are Virginia Tech and Texas.
• Ohio State finished fifth in the final AP poll of the 2009 season. The Buckeyes have finished in the Top 10 in that poll in each of the five seasons since 2005.
• Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 28-2 at Ohio Stadium versus non-conference teams, the only loss coming to No. 3 USC, 18-15, in 2009 and 25-22 to No. 2 Texas in 2005. The Buckeyes are 33-4 overall in regular season non-conference games since 2001.
• Ohio State has won at least a share of the Big Ten title in each of the last five seasons. That is tied with Michigan from 1988-92 for the second-longest run of consecutive titles. Ohio State holds the record with six straight championships from 1972-77.
• Ohio State has recorded 34 Big Ten championships all-time. The only football program with more is Michigan with 42.
• Ohio State has won three outright Big Ten titles in the last four years. That is more than the rest of the Big Ten in the last decade. The only other Big Ten teams to win the conference title outright since 2000 were Illinois in 2001 and Michigan in 2003. The Buckeyes shared the conference title with Penn State in 2008.
• The Buckeyes have recorded at least 10 wins in each of the last five seasons. The Buckeyes have a chance to become the first team in Big Ten history to record six straight 10-win seasons. The only other Big Ten team to have this long of a run of double-digit victories was Michigan from 1901-05.
• Ohio State has made 87 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 poll. The only longer active streak among FBS teams is Texas at 161. Florida is third with 84 and Alabama and Penn State are tied for fourth with 36.
• Ohio State has finished in the top 10 of the final AP poll in seven of the eight seasons since 2002. The only time the Buckeyes finished outside of the top 10 in this span was 2004, when Ohio State ended up ranked 20th.
• Ohio State is the only FBS team to have finished in the top 10 in the final AP poll in each of the last five seasons.
• Ohio State has finished in the top 10 in the final AP poll in each of the last five seasons. That has only happened once previously in OSU football history. The Buckeyes were in the top 10 of the final poll in each season from 1972-76.
• Ohio State has appeared in a BCS bowl in seven of the last eight seasons.
• The Buckeyes appeared in a BCS bowl for the eighth time overall last season. That is the most all-time, leading USC and Oklahoma (7).
• Ohio State has been to a BCS bowl in each of the last five seasons. It is the longest active streak among FBS teams. The only team with a longer run of BCS bowls was the seven straight made by USC from 2002-08.
• Ohio State is 5-3 all-time in BCS bowls. That is tied with Florida (5-1) for the second-most all-time BCS bowl wins. The only team with more BCS bowl wins is USC (6-1).
• Ohio State enjoyed one of the most successful decades in Big Ten history during the 2000s. The Buckeyes went 102-25 (.803) in the 10 seasons from 2000 through 2009. That was the most wins by any Big Ten team in any decade all-time. The 102 wins tied USC for the fourth-most wins by an FBS team in that span — Boise State (112-17), Texas (110-19) and Oklahoma (110-24).
• The 102-win total is at least 16 more than any other Big Ten team during that span. Wisconsin had the second-most wins with a record of 86-43 since the 2000 season.
• Ohio State has won six Big Ten titles since the 2000 season. That is the third-most in any decade by any Big Ten team. Ohio State won eight and Michigan had seven in the 1970s.
• Ohio State won six Big Ten titles since the 2000 season. That is at least twice as many as any Big Ten team. Michigan has the second-most over this span with three.
• Ohio State has appeared in a bowl game in each of the 10 seasons since 2000. Nine of those appearances have been January bowl games. The Buckeyes’ run is the longest active streak in the Big Ten. They are among 11 FBS teams to have appeared in a bowl game in each of the last 10 seasons, joining Boston College, Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech.
• Ohio State has appeared in a January bowl game in each of the last five seasons. The only other FBS team to play in that month in each season in this span is Florida.
• Ohio State ended the Big Ten’s six-game Rose Bowl skid when it defeated Oregon, 26-17. The previous Big Ten team to win the Rose Bowl was when Wisconsin defeated Stanford, 17-9, on Jan. 1, 2000.
• Ohio State has been to 15 bowl games in 16 seasons since 1994. Fourteen of those bowl appearances have taken place in January.
• Ohio State has appeared in eight BCS bowls. That is as many as Michigan (4), Penn State (2) and Wisconsin (2) combined.
• OSU is 90-16 (.849) since the start of the 2002 season, the fourth-best record among FBS teams in this span. The only teams with a better record are: Boise State (96-11, .897), USC (94-13, .878) and Texas (93-14, .869).
• Ohio State is 47-8 (.849) since the start of the 2006 season, the fourth-best record among FBS teams in this span.
• Ohio State is 36-4 in Big Ten games since the 2005 season, winning the conference title each year in that span. The only FBS team with a better conference record in this span is the 40-2 mark of Boise State.
• The Buckeyes are 55-5 at Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season.
• Ohio State is 29-3 in Big Ten home games since the start of the 2002 season.
• Ohio State is 18-1 in Big Ten road games since Oct. 22, 2005. The only conference road loss in that span was the 26-18 defeat to Purdue on Oct. 17, 2009.
• Ohio State is 88-6 when it has allowed fewer than 24 points in the nine seasons under Tressel.
• Ohio State has never recorded a losing Big Ten record in nine seasons under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes went 4-4 in 2004.
• Ohio State is 26-4 in November games since Jim Tressel became coach in 2001. The Buckeyes are 14-1 in November games since 2005, suffering a 28-21 loss to Illinois Nov. 10, 2007.
• Ohio State is 26-4 in November games since Jim Tressel became coach in 2001. That is the fourth-best November record among FBS teams in this span. The only teams with better November records in this span are: USC (29-1), Boise State (32-3) and Florida (31-3).
• Ohio State is 14-1 in November games since 2005, only suffering a 28-21 loss to Illinois on Nov. 10, 2007. Only Florida (19-1) and USC (16-1) have better records in this month in this span.
• Jim Tressel has taken Ohio State to seven BCS bowls. That is tied with USC’s Pete Carroll and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops for the most by any coach.
• Ohio State is 8-1 in Big Ten openers under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes have won their Big Ten opener in each of the last five seasons, winning the conference title each season since 2005.
THE SILVER BULLET DEFENSE
Noting the Silver Bullets
• Ohio State’s defense has given up just two touchdowns in 2010 and has recorded 12 turnovers in three games. They lead the nation in turnover margin at +3.33.
• The Buckeyes rank first in the Big Ten in total defense (236.3 ypg) and seventh nationally.
• It has been 26 games since the Buckeye defense has allowed a 100-yard individual rushing performance; that was by USC’s Joe McKnight, who gained 105 yards on 12 carries in the 2008 meeting in Los Angeles. That streak is second-longest in the nation, trailing only Alabama (34 games).
• Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowed only seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 68 games. That mark is the best record by an FBS school during that time period.
• Ohio State has held 54 opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2005 season, the second most among FBS teams. TCU is first (55) and Virginia Tech third (52).
• Ohio State’s defensive squads have held opponents to fewer than 21 points 52 times since 2006, the best among FBS teams. The Buckeyes are 49-3 in those games. OSU has allowed fewer than 10 points 27 times since the start of the 2006 season.
• OSU has allowed 13.3 points per game since the start of the 2005 season. That is the best scoring defense among FBS teams in this span.
• Ohio State has allowed 105 touchdowns overall since the start of the 2005 season. That is the fewest by any FBS team in this span.
• Ohio State has allowed 94 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of the 2005 season, the fewest by any FBS team in this span.
• Ohio State has surrendered 39 rushing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season, the fewest among FBS teams in this span. Alabama is second with 41.
• Ohio State has surrendered 55 passing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season, the second-fewest among FBS teams.
• Ohio State went 9-0 in the games in which it has surrendered 17 points or fewer last season. The Buckeyes were 2-2 in the games in which they gave up 18 points or more.
• Ohio State had 24 interceptions last season. That was tied with Alabama and Boise State for the second-most among FBS teams. Only Texas had more with 25.
• The Buckeyes intercepted 24 of the 417 passes thrown against them last season. The 5.8 interception percentage was second-best among FBS teams, trailing only Air Force (6.1 pct) and Clemson (also 5.8 pct).
• Ohio State finished the 2009 campaign ranked among the NCAA Top 10 in five categories: total defense (5th), scoring defense (5th), turnover margin (5th), pass efficiency defense (5th) and rushing defense (7th). Ohio State ranked 13th among the NCAA leaders in pass defense.
• The Ohio State defense averaged 5.61 three-and-outs per contest in 2009, third in the nation in that statistic behind TCU and Alabama. Ohio State had 73 total three-and-outs for the 2009 campaign.
Past defensive rankings under Tressel:
2001: 33rd in total defense (10th in TO margin)
2002: 23rd in total defense (2nd in scoring def, 3rd in rushing defense)
2003: 10th in total defense (2nd in rushing defense)
2004: 30th in total defense
2005: 5th in total defense (1st in rushing defense, 5th in scoring defense)
2006: 12th in total defense (5th in scoring defense, 10th in pass eff. def.)
2007: 1st in total defense (1st in scoring defense, 1st in pass defense, 3rd in rushing defense, 4th in pass efficiency defense)
2008: 14th in total defense (6th in scoring defense, 6th in TO margin)
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| 1. | Ohio State | 7 |
| 2. | Boston College | 8 |
| Alabama | 8 | |
| 4. | Boise State | 10 |
| 5. | Penn State | 11 |
Teams That DID NOT ALLOW a 100-Yard Rusher in 2009
Alabama
Ohio State
Penn State
Nevada
GMS Allowing Fewer than 21 Pts (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| Team | No. | Record | |
| 1. | Ohio State | 52 | 49-3 |
| 2. | TCU | 51 | 47-3 |
| 3. | Virginia Tech | 49 | 46-3 |
| Florida | 49 | 48-1 | |
| 5. | Penn State | 48 | 45-3 |
COACH TO CURE MD CELEBRATES THIRD SEASON WITH COACHES WEARING SIDELINE PATCH FOR SEPT. 25 GAMES
For the third year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in support of the Coach to Cure MD program, which will be held during games of Saturday, September 25, 2010. The rapidly growing annual effort has raised more than half a million dollars to battle Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
On September 25th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach to Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill).
“Our Buckeyes are supporting the Coach to Cure MD program again this year because of the unique parallels between this sport and Duchenne,” head coach Jim Tressel. “It is a disease that robs young men of precious muscle strength while college football is a game where young men are at the peak of their muscle strength. We are proud of the recent $600,000 research grant awarded to the Nationwide Children’s Research Institute on our campus.”
BUCKEYES WILL HOST BUFFS IN 2011
Ohio State and Colorado will meet on the football field Sept. 24, 2011, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Ohio State will pay the Buffaloes $1.4 million for the one-time matchup.
Ohio State’s 2011 non-conference schedule will be: Sept. 3 vs. Akron; Sept. 10 vs. Toledo; Sept. 17 at Miami (Fla.); Sept. 24 vs. Colorado. The two schools last met in football in 1986. Ohio State leads the all-time series by a 3-1 margin.
OHIO STATE TO WEAR SPECIAL NIKE UNIFORMS FOR MICHIGAN GAME
Ohio State is one of 10 of the top college football programs that will wear uniquely designed Nike uniforms for at least one game during the 2010 season the company announced today. Ohio State will wear the innovative design for the Michigan game November 27, saluting the Buckeyes’ 1942 national championship team.
Other premier schools participating include Alabama, Boise State, Florida, Miami (FL), Oregon State, Pitt, TCU, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
BIG TEN DIVISIONS/TITLE GAME ANNOUNCED
The Big Ten football division alignments beginning in 2011 will include a division featuring Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and a division featuring Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern. Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division matchup guaranteed on an annual basis.
The guaranteed cross-division matchups are Illinois-Northwestern, Indiana-Michigan State, Ohio State-Michigan, Penn State-Nebraska, Purdue-Iowa and Wisconsin-Minnesota.
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis has been chosen as the site for the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game to be played December 3, 2011.
NOT SINCE 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 84 consecutive seasons since last posting back-to-back losing records. The Buckeyes have not been under .500 for two or more consecutive seasons since 1922-24, which trails only Tennessee; the Vols have not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 97 consecutive seasons.
FOR STARTERS
The Buckeyes have 30 players on the 2010 roster with at least one game of starting experience. Those are: Cameron Heyward (36); Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa (30); Mike Brewster, Terrelle Pryor (26); Ross Homan (22); Jermale Hines (19); Dane Sanzenbacher (18); Justin Boren (16); Brian Rolle, DeVier Posey (15); Devon Torrence (14); Dexter Larimore, J.B. Shugarts, Brandon Saine (13); Zach Boren (11); Dan Herron (8); Mike Adams (7); Jake Stoneburner (5);Tyler Moeller (4); Andrew Miller, John Simon (3); Solomon Thomas, C.J. Barnett, Nathan Williams (2); Andrew Sweat, Aaron Gant, Orhian Johnson, Marcus Hall, Taurian Washington (1).
First-time starters in 2010: C.J. Barnett, Orhian Johnson, John Simon, Andrew Sweat and Solomon Thomas.
The Boren brothers – Justin (OG) and Zach (FB) – products of Pickerington, Ohio, are the first siblings to start in the same game for the Buckeyes since John (LB) and Mike (NG) Sullivan from Mentor, Ohio, started nine games together during the 1988 season.
HONOR ROLL
For 2009, 31 Buckeyes were named to the Big Ten’s all-academic team; the Buckeyes have led the conference over the past eight years. Those honored last season were: Devin Barclay, Zach Boren, Bryant Browning, Ben Buchanan, Chimdi Chekwa, Jim Cordle, Todd Denlinger, Zach Domicone, Nate Ebner, Donnie Evege, James Georgiades, Garrett Goebel, Adam Homan, Ross Homan, Orhian Johnson, Dexter Larimore, Jake McQuaide, Andrew Miller, Andrew Moses, Aaron Pettrey, Terrelle Pryor, Anderson Russell, Etienne Sabino, Dane Sanzenbacher, Ryan Schuck, Austin Spitler, Jake Stoneburner, Andrew Sweat, Marcus Williams, Nathan Williams, Lawrence Wilson.
Additionally, 44 Ohio State football players qualified for the annual OSU Scholar-Athlete Dinner in May, which requires a grade-point average of 3.00 or better for the past academic year.
Three current Buckeyes – Josh Kerr, Scott Sika and Aaron Gant — are already graduates of The Ohio State University. Sika and two other seniors, Ricky Crawford and Chris Malone, were put on scholarship for the Fall Quarter that begins Weds., Sept. 22.
YOUNG PUPS
Six true freshmen saw action for the Buckeyes in the Marshall game. Making their college debuts were kicker Drew Basil, receiver Corey “Philly” Brown, defensive back Christian Bryant, defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, running back Carlos Hyde and offensive lineman Andrew Norwell.
BUCKEYES NAME CAPTAINS
Six seniors, OL Bryant Browning, DL Cameron Heyward, LB Ross Homan, LB Brian Rolle, RB Brandon Sanie and WR Dane Sanzenbacher, were elected as captains for the 2010 season, marking just the second time in Ohio State’s 121-year history that six Buckeyes will serve as season-long captains for the Buckeyes. In 1982, Glen Cobb, Jerome Foster, Joe Lukens, Marcus Marek, Tim Spencer and Gary Williams served as captains. The Buckeyes elected five captains in 1974, 1989 and 1990.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2010 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 97 plays, gaining 588 yards for an average of 6.1 yards per play. On second down, OSU has tried 74 plays for 509 yards, a 6.9 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 42 plays, gaining 280 yards for a 6.7 average. Ohio State has tried only three fourth-down attempts, gaining 11 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come seven times on first down (five rushing and two passing TD), four times on second down (three passing and one rushing), once on third down (a pass) and once on a fourth-down rush.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
This season in the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 41-14. In the second quarter, the Buckeyes are ahead 54-10. Ohio State holds a 26-0 advantage in third-quarter scoring, yet OSU’s 2010 opponents have outscored the Buckeyes 14-3 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State has held the opposition scoreless in seven quarters this year (58%).
The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents by 28.7 points per game (41.3-12.7) this season.
THREE AND OUT
The Ohio State defense is averaging 5.3 three-and-outs per contest this season. The game-by-game totals in that statistic: vs. Ohio (8); Marshall (5); Miami (3). Ohio State was third in the nation in 2009 behind TCU and Alabama, averaging 5.61 three-and-outs per game.
REMEMBERING TATUM
The Buckeyes are wearing a “32” black decal on the back of their helmets this season in memory of All-American Jack Tatum, who died in July. From 1968-70, Tatum was one of the dominant defensive players and most intimidating forces in college football. A three-year starter, a two-time All-American and the national Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, he was known for his tenacity and fierce style of play. The Oakland Raiders selected him in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. In his nine-year career, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a member of the 1976 Super Bowl champion Raiders. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
CAUSING TURNOVERS
Ohio State leads the nation in turnover margin, with a +3.33-margin per game. The Buckeyes have forced 12 opponent turnovers through three games, committing just two. In Buckeye annals, only seven previous squads have forced 40 or more turnovers for a season:
| Year | INT | FUML | TOT |
| 1986 | 27 | 21 | 48 |
| 1950 | 19 | 25 | 44 |
| 1969 | 20 | 22 | 42 |
| 1980 | 25 | 17 | 42 |
| 1952 | 21 | 20 | 41 |
| 1968 | 25 | 16 | 41 |
| 1957 | 16 | 24 | 40 |
Under Tressel:
| Year | INT | FUML | TOT |
| 2001 | 20 | 11 | 31 |
| 2002 | 18 | 12 | 30 |
| 2003 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
| 2004 | 15 | 4 | 19 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 2006 | 21 | 6 | 27 |
| 2007 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 2008 | 15 | 14 | 29 |
| 2009 | 24 | 11 | 35 |
| 2010 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
Ten individual Buckeyes have already registered a forced or recovered turnover this season:
Dorian Bell: FF (Marshall)
Chimdi Chekwa: 2 INT (Miami); FF (Marshall)
Cameron Heyward: INT (Miami); FR (Ohio)
Ross Homan: INT (Ohio); FF (Ohio); FR (Marshall)
Orhian Johnson: FF (Ohio)
Tyler Moeller: INT (Ohio); FF (Marshall, Ohio)
Nate Oliver: FR (Marshall)
Brian Rolle: INT/TD (Marshall)
Devon Torrence: FR (Ohio)
Nathan Williams: FR (Ohio)
WEEKLY HONORS
Three Buckeyes have been honored thus far in 2010 as Big Ten players of the week:
Safety Tyler Moeller was recognized as defensive player of the week for his work against Marshall, recording a team-best seven tackles, a quarterback sack, two TFL, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in his return to action after missing the 2009 campaign.
Earning Walter Camp and Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week and Big Ten defensive player of the week honors, senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa had two interceptions and six tackles (4 solo), including one for a loss, as second-ranked Ohio State defeated 12th-ranked Miami 36-24. Chekwa also broke up two Hurricane passes.
Kicker Devin Barclay, with an Ohio State record-tying five field goals against the Hurricanes and 18 points scored, shared Big Ten special teams player of the week honors with Michigan State kicker Dan Conroy. Barclay was also one of three weekly all-stars selected by the Lou Groza Award.
UP NEXT
After four straight home games, Ohio State opens Big Ten play on the road, visiting Illinois for a noon Eastern game Saturday, October 2, that will be televised by the Big Ten Network. Eastern Michigan hosts Ohio that afternoon.
HALL OF FAME BIOS
Stacey Gordon
Volleyball 2001-04
A four-time All-American, Gordon was the 2004 AVCA Co-National Player of the year and 2004 ASICS/Volleyball Player of the Year. She holds Ohio State career records for kills, kills per game, digs, points and points per game. The 16-time Big Ten Player of the Week ranks third in NCAA history with 2,978 kills and 7.08 kills per game. Gordon, a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, was the 2001 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004. The OSU Female Athlete of the Year in 2002 and 2005, Gordon was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and was Academic All-Big Ten three times.
Ángel Aja
Volleyball 1997-2000
A two-time AVCA and Volleyball Magazine All-American, Aja holds the Ohio State career records for assists (6,797) and assists per game (18.52). A four-time All-MIVA selection and the player of the year as a senior, Aja was the MIVA tournament’s MVP in 2000 when he led the squad to the conference title. He was named to the NCAA all-tournament teams after leading the Buckeyes to a runner-up finish his senior season. Aja was part of two outright MIVA regular-season championship squads and the team shared the title his junior campaign. He received the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor, was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten choice.
Fred Norton
Football, Basketball, Baseball & Track 1914-17
The first four-sport varsity letterwinner at Ohio State (baseball, basketball, football and track), Norton was a member of the 1916 championship football team as a blocking back for Chic Harley and was the baseball team’s most valuable player in 1917. Norton led the 1917 baseball Buckeyes with a .442 batting average and once scored six touchdowns in one half against Indiana on the gridiron in 1916. After graduation, Norton enlisted in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot and died in combat less than a year after graduating from Ohio State. He was inducted into the Sphinx Honorary, the oldest and most prestigious honorary at Ohio State.
Fred “Curly” Morrison
Football 1946-49
Fred “Curly” Morrison, a four-year letterman, was Ohio State’s star offensive performer during the 1950 Rose Bowl game vs. California. Morrison helped lead the Buckeyes to their first Rose Bowl win, rushing for a game-high 127 yards on 24 carries en route to being named the game’s MVP, the first-ever Buckeye Rose Bowl MVP. Earlier that season, Morrison rushed for a career-high 134 yards against Southern California. Morrison led the team in scoring with nine touchdowns. After his college career, Morrison went on to play professionally for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.
David Camaione
Wrestling 1958-60
A Big Ten champion at 123 pounds in 1960 and subsequently the conference championship’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, David Camaione finished his three-year career with a 41-9 record and a .820 winning percentage, ninth-best all-time at Ohio State. A two-time team captain his junior and senior seasons, Camaione led the Buckeyes in wins in each of his three seasons, recording at least 10 victories each year. He also was considered a Top 2 wrestler for his weight class by Amateur Wrestling News during his senior campaign. He went on to become a professor of sport, leisure and exercise science and has written multiple books on the science of wrestling.
Jamie Natalie
Gymnastics 1998-2001
Two-time Ohio State Athlete of the Year Jamie Natalie won three NCAA titles, claiming the all-around and floor exercise in 2000 and repeating in the all-around in 2001 and earned seven career All-America accolades. The 2001 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year was a three-time All-Big Ten choice and a three-time Big Ten champion (2000 – floor exercise, 2001 – all-around and horizontal bar). He won the Nissen-Emery Award as a senior on the 2001 NCAA and Big Ten championship teams. Natalie won the U.S. national high bar title in 1999 and 2000. The 2001 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner was an OSU and GCA Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten choice.
Shandelier Boyd Pleasant
Track & Field 1994-97
Shandelier Boyd Pleasant, a seven-time Big Ten champion and four-time All-American, set school records in the 100-meter hurdles (12.98) and triple jump (13.21 meters) as a senior. She was a Big Ten champion in the triple jump, long jump, 55-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles and was named All-American three times in the triple jump and once in the 100-meter hurdles. The four-time All-Big Ten selection participated in the triple jump at the 1996 Olympic Trials and the 100-meter hurdles at the 1997 USATF Outdoor Nationals. Boyd Pleasant ranked fourth nationally in the 100-meter hurdles and set the ninth-best U.S. record time in the event in 1997.
Regina Oliver
Lacrosse 2002-05
Regina Oliver, a two-time All-American, concluded her career in 2004 with the career caused turnover record (201) and owns the Top 4 spots in the single-season totals from each of her four seasons. In addition to All-America honors from each major publication, she was a finalist for the 2004 Tewaaraton Trophy, as well as the 2003 American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2002. Oliver took part in the Buckeyes’ first NCAA tournament advancement after upsetting fourth-ranked Duke on the road in the 2003 tourney. Oliver has been a member of the US National Team, helping the squad to the 2009 World Cup Championship and earning All-World Team honors.
Mark Balen
Golf 1976-79
Mark Balen is one of just three Buckeyes to earn four All-America honors, while also collecting three first team All-Big Ten selections. He helped lead the Buckeyes to four-consecutive Big Ten championships and three Top 10 NCAA championship finishes, capped off with a national championship his senior season. In 1979, Balen was selected to the prestigious Walker Cup team. He ranks sixth on the OSU individual tournament wins list (5) and he was the Big Ten individual champion in 1977 and won the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate as a freshman in 1976. In that freshman campaign, Balen won the Les Bolstad Award for the Big Ten’s lowest stroke average. Balen pursued a professional career after his time at Ohio State.
