No. 10/8 Ohio State vs. No. 15/13 Iowa Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Buckeyes can clinch their fifth-straight Big Ten title; fans encouraged to wear scarlet
#10/8 Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) vs. #15/13 Iowa (9-1, 5-1)
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Ohio Stadium (102,329), Columbus, Ohio
THE BROADCASTS
Television: Saturday’s game will be televised live on ABC with Sean McDonough (P-by-P) and Matt Millen (analyst) in the booth and Holly Rowe on the sidelines.
Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the fl agship 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 on Sirius satellite radio Channel 122 and the Sports USA Radio Network.
ESPN360.com: On November 14 when Ohio State faces off against Iowa the game will be available live online via ESPN360.com — ESPN’s signature broadband sports TV network. The game is available completely free to any student on campus (in fact, to any student on any U.S. college campus — nearly 18 million people). This season, ESPN360.com will feature more than 300 college football games.
FIRST AND 10
• This is the 62nd meeting in the series; OSU leads 44-14-3
• Ohio State can clinch a share of its fifth straight Big Ten championship with a win
• Ohio State’s defense has allowed just eight touchdowns over its past 35 quarters of play
• The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in total defense, rushing defense and turnover margin
• Ohio State leads the Big Ten in scoring at 29.0 ppg and is second in rushing at 184.8 ypg in Big Ten games
• Ohio State’s all-time Big Ten record now stands at 455-190-28 (69.6 percent) – the best percentage of any Big Ten school
• Ohio State ranks among the NCAA Top 10 in four defensive categories
• Four Buckeyes are on the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic all-district team
• The Buckeyes have won 84 games since 2002, the fourth best among FBS schools
• Ohio State has won four Big Ten titles in a row, won at least 10 games in each of the last four years, played in the national championship game twice and two other BCS bowls
IOWA AT A GLANCE
The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1) fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday losing 17-10 at home to Northwestern. In the process, Iowa also lost its starting quarterback, junior Ricky Stanzi, to an ankle injury. Redshirt freshman James Vandenberg will most likely get the nod this week. Despite the loss, Iowa remains in the hunt for the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Defensively, sophomore Tyler Sash leads the conference in interceptions with six, including one for a touchdown. Senior Pat Angerer is second in the league with 106 total tackles. As a team, the Hawkeyes rank first in the Big Ten in pass efficiency defense (94.3) and third in total defense, giving up just 291.7 yards per game.
Junior Daniel Murray has been the most consistent kicker in the Big Ten this season, making good on 15-of-21 attempts (71.4 percent) for an average of 1.5 makes per game.
Kirk Ferentz is in his 11th season in Iowa City with a 79-54 record and a 91-75 mark overall in 14 seasons as a head coach. He has guided the Hawkeyes to seven bowl games, including one BCS appearance — the 2003 Orange Bowl.
SERIES RECORD
This will be the 62nd meeting between Iowa and Ohio State in a series that began in 1922. The Buckeyes have a 44-14-3 lead thus far and have are 27-8-1 in all games played in Columbus. Ohio State has won 10 of the last 11 games dating back to 1992. Iowa’s 33-7 win in 2004 in Iowa City snapped an eight-game OSU winning streak. The Buckeyes won the last meeting, 38-17, in Iowa City during the 2006 campaign.
Iowa posted a 3-0-1 record in the first four games of the series and recorded three shutouts in that span. Ohio State won 19 of 20 games between 1963 and 1980.
HEYWARD, SMALL EARN WEEKLY BIG TEN, NATIONAL HONORS
Junior defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and senior wide receiver and return man Ray Small were named the Big Ten’s defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively, in recognition of their outstanding play in the win over No. 10 Penn State on Saturday. Heyward also was named the Walter Camp National defensive player of the week.
Heyward produced a team-high and career-best 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a career-high two sacks, to help hold Penn State to a single touchdown in a 24-7 road victory. The junior defensive end pushed the Nittany Lions’ offense back 17 yards with his three tackles for loss, including 13 yards on two sacks. His 11 defensive stops surpassed his previous career best of seven tackles. The Georgia native spearheaded a Buckeyes defense that limited one of the conference’s top offenses to seven points, 76 rushing yards and 201 total offensive yards. PSU entered the game leading the Big Ten in conference games only with 423.4 total offensive yards per contest, while rating second in the conference with 26.8 points and 190.6 rushing yards per outing. Heyward earns his first career weekly accolade and is the third Ohio State defender to be honored in the last five weeks along with defensive end Thaddeus Gibson (Oct. 25) and linebacker Ross Homan (Oct. 11).
Small helped Ohio State win the battle for field position with seven punt returns for 130 yards, including a pair of returns over 40 yards to set up Buckeyes touchdowns in the victory at Penn State. The senior wide receiver averaged 18.6 yards per punt return and also added a seven-yard reception and a 13-yard reverse. After the Ohio State defense forced a three-and-out on PSU’s first offensive possession, Small returned the ensuing punt 41 yards to the Nittany Lion’s nine-yard line. Two plays later, the visitors took a 7-0 lead. With a 17-7 advantage, Small set up another scoring drive with a 45-yard return to the hosts’ 47-yard line on the final play of the third quarter. The Ohio State offense drove the remaining 47 yards to take a 24-7 lead on the way to the victory. Small ranks second in Big Ten games only with 10.2 yards per punt return.
IN THE BIG TEN
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1913, Ohio State is 455-190-28 all-time in Big Ten games, and 258-112-18 in conference home games. The Buckeyes’ all-time conference win percentage of 69.6% is the best of any Big Ten school.
HOME FINALES
In home finales, Ohio State has a 72-44-3 all-time record.
THE SENIOR CLASS
Before the game, 19 members of the senior class, along with their parents, will be honored for their contributions to Ohio State football.
This class enters its final game at Ohio Stadium with a 41-8 record, three Big Ten titles, three wins over Michigan, two trips to the BCS title game and three BCS bowl appearances to its credit since 2006. The most wins by an Ohio State senior class? 43, in 1995-98, 2002-05 and 2005-08.
The 2009 seniors: Andre Amos (Middletown, Ohio); Jake Ballard (Springboro, Ohio); Kurt Coleman (Dayton, Ohio); Jim Cordle (Lancaster, Ohio); Todd Denlinger (Troy, Ohio); Joe Gantz (Wooster, Ohio); Tom Ingham (Centerville, Ohio); Andrew Moses (Dublin, Ohio); Aaron Pettrey (Raceland, Ky.); Dan Potokar (Grove City, Ohio); Rob Rose (Cleveland, Ohio); Anderson Russell (Atlanta, Ga.); Ryan Schuck (Selinsgrove, Pa.); Ray Small (Cleveland, Ohio); Austin Spitler (Bellbrook, Ohio); Jon Thoma (Alliance, Ohio); Marcus Williams (Ironton, Ohio); Lawrence Wilson (Akron, Ohio); and Doug Worthington (Athol Springs, N.Y.).
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ohio State is 129-104-12 all-time when facing a ranked opponent, and 40-41-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 35-13 overall and 12-6 on the road against ranked teams.
FORCING TURNOVERS
The Buckeyes have forced 25 opponent turnovers through the first nine games, an average of 2.5 per contest. Ohio State has forced 16 interceptions and recovered nine opponent fumbles; the Buckeyes also scored a defensive two-point PAT on a Brian Rolle pass interception and runback versus Navy.
Ross Homan had an interception against New Mexico State, while Brian Rolle recovered an Aggie fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Thaddeus Gibson also recovered a New Mexico State fumble. Homan added another interception at Penn State.
The Buckeyes picked off two Minnesota passes, with interceptions by Austin Spitler and Kurt Coleman (for a 40-yard return). The Buckeyes also recovered two Gopher fumbles.
Coleman (89 yards) and Jermale Hines (32 yards) each returned interceptions for touchdowns against Wisconsin. That was the first time since Sept. 23, 2006 vs. Penn State, when Malcolm Jenkins (61) and Antonio Smith (55) each returned picks for TDs, that Ohio State had two interception returns for a score in a single game. Coleman’s return was the fifth longest in Ohio State history.
Three defenders – Rolle, Lawrence Wilson and Hines – had interceptions against Illinois. The last time the Buckeyes had three interceptions in a game was Sept. 6, 2008, against Ohio.
Chekwa: INT (Pur)
Coleman: INT (Navy, Wisc/TD, Minn); FF (Navy, Tol, Illi); FR (Pur)
Todd Denlinger: INT (Ind)
Domicone: FR (Minn)
Gibson: FF (Navy, Illi); FR (Minn, NMS)
Heyward: FR (Navy)
Hines: INT (Illi, Wisc/TD)
Homan: INT (USC, NMS, PSU); FF (Wis); FR (Tol)
Rolle: PAT INT (Navy); INT (Illi); FR (NMS/TD)
Russell: INT (Ind), FR (Ind, Minn)
Simon: FF (Minn)
Spitler: INT (Minn)
Sweat: INT (Tol); FF (Ind)
Torrence: INT (Pur); FF (Ind)
Williams: FF (NMS)
Wilson: INT (Illi)
Worthington: FR (Navy)
THE SILVER BULLET DEFENSE
Ohio State’s defensive squads have held opponents to fewer than 21 points 48 times since 2006, the best among FBS teams. The Buckeyes are 45-3 in those games. Ohio State’s defense has allowed fewer than 10 points 25 times since the start of the 2006 season.
Ohio State ranks among the NCAA Top 10 in seven categories in 2009: scoring defense (4th), rushing defense (3rd), total defense (6th) and pass efficiency defense (6th). Ohio State ranks among the NCAA Top 25 in three other defensive statistics: pass defense (11th), turnover margin (13th) and sacks (23rd).
The back-to-back shutouts of Toledo and Illinois were the first time since 1996 that the Buckeye defense recorded consecutive shutouts. In 1996, Ohio State whitewashed Minnesota (45-0 at home) and Illinois (48-0 at Illinois) in November of that season.
The last time Ohio State had three shutouts in a season was 1996, against Pitt (72-0), Minnesota (45-0) and Illinois (48-0). The 1973 and 1977 Ohio State squads each recorded four shutouts, a season record since WWII.
The Buckeye defense had a nine-quarter scoreless streak stopped at Indiana; the Buckeyes have allowed only eight touchdowns over the past 35 quarters.
The 38-0 shutout of Toledo (which had averaged 42.5 points in its first two games) was the first by the Buckeyes since a 43-0 shutout of Youngstown State in the 2008 season opener and the fourth shutout of the Tressel era. The Buckeyes held the Rockets to just 210 total yards, only 13 of those on the ground.
Against the USC Trojans, Ohio State’s defense did not allow a first down until the 13:15 mark of the second quarter and held the Trojans to only 5 yards of total offense on their first three possessions. The previous week, USC totaled 620 yards of total offense against San Jose State.
THE RUN STOPPERS
Ranked third nationally in rushing defense, the Buckeyes are giving up just 85.4 yards per game on the ground this season, allowing just 2.7 yards per rush. OSU’s opponents have scored only six rushing touchdowns in 10 games.
During a three-game span, Ohio State allowed just 13, 82 and 18 yards rushing vs. Toledo, Illinois and Indiana, an average of only 37.6 yards/game.
It has been 20 games since the Buckeye defense 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. That streak is second-longest in the nation, trailing only Alabama (29 games).
Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowed only seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 62 games. That mark is the best record by an FBS school during that time period.
Wisconsin running back John Clay was averaging 134.7 yards on the ground over his last four games heading into the Badgers game with Ohio State, but was limited to 59 rushing yards against the Buckeyes. At Penn State, Even Royster was averaging 110 yards rushing over the last five games coming in, but was limited to just 36 yards on 13 carries.
Big Ten Rankings (Big Ten games only)
| Rank | Category |
| 1st | Scoring Defense (11.2) |
| 1st | Total Defense (269.0) |
| T-1st | Sacks (20) |
| 2nd | Pass Efficiency Defense (95.1) |
| 2nd | Rushing Defense (82.8) |
| 2nd | Opp. 3rd Down Conversion % (30.1) |
| 4th | Pass Defense (164.7) |
NCAA Rankings
| Rank | Category |
| 3rd | Rushing Defense (85.40) |
| 4th | Scoring Defense (11.20) |
| 6th | Total Defense (254.10) |
| 6th | Pass Efficiency Defense (94.64) |
| 11th | Pass Defense (168.70) |
| 13th | Turnover Margin (+0.90) |
| 23rd | Sacks (2.70) |
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| 1. | Ohio State | 7 |
| 2. | Boston College | 8 |
| Alabama | 8 | |
| 4. | Boise State | 9 |
| 5. | Kansas | 10 |
| Virginia Tech | 10 | |
| Florida | 10 | |
| Penn State | 10 |
Have Not Allowed a 100-Yard Rusher in 2009
Alabama
Arkansas State
Nevada
Ohio State
Penn State
Texas
Number of Games Allowing Fewer than 21 Points (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| TEAM | No. | Record |
| 1. Ohio State | 48 | 45-3 |
| 2. TCU | 46 | 43-3 |
| 3. Virginia Tech | 45 | 42-3 |
| 4. Florida | 44 | 43-1 |
| 5. Penn State | 43 | 40-3 |
THREE AND OUT
The Ohio State defense is averaging 6.0 three-and-outs per contest this season, leading the nation in that statistic. Ohio State forced New Mexico State to go three-and-out 12 times in that 45-0 shutout. The Buckeyes forced both Toledo and Indiana to go three-and-out seven times, and Penn State eight times. OSU recorded five three-and-outs against both Southern Cal and Illinois, and four against Navy, Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ohio State has 60 total three-and-outs for the 2009 campaign.
| Avg. per gm | Totals #/gms | |
| Ohio State | 6.0 | 60/10 |
| Florida | 5.75 | 46/8 |
| Texas | 5.4 | 49/9 |
| Ole Miss | 5.6 | 45/8 |
| TCU | 5.4 | 49/9 |
| Alabama | 5.1 | 41/8 |
| Tennessee | 5.0 | 40/8 |
COLEMAN LOTT TROPHY QUARTER-FINALIST, WUERFFEL NOMINEE
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced the 20 quarter-finalists for the annual Lott Trophy, among them Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman.
A three-year starter, the senior shows 56 tackles in nine games this season. He has forced three fumbles in 2009, recovering one, and has three interceptions, including an 89-yard return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (the fifth-longest such play in OSU history). His totals against Minnesota put him above the 200-tackle mark for his career; he now shows 207 career stops.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT* Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
There are eight defensive backs on the quarter-finalist list; six linebackers and six defensive linemen. The Big 12 has six players on the list, the SEC five, the Pac-10 four, the Big Ten three and one each from the Mountain West and WAC.
The semi-finalists will be announced Nov. 3 and the four finalists Nov. 24. Those four finalists will be flown to Newport Beach, Ca. for the annual black-tie banquet that will be televised by FOX Sports West.
In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners’ universities.
Coleman, with a tremendous record of community service, is also among the nominees for the Wuerffel Trophy. Named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service, with academic and athletic achievement.
The 2009 Wuerffel Trophy finalists will be announced on November 11, 2009 and distributed to the award’s National Selection Committee for voting. Formal announcement of the winner will occur on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. Presentation of the 2009 Wuerffel Trophy will be at the All Sports Association’s 41st Annual Awards Dinner on February 19, 2010, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
TOTAL OFFENSE
Midway through his sophomore season, Terrelle Pryor has eclipsed 4,000 total offense yards for his career. He is now in 12th place on Ohio State’s all-time list with 4,207 yards, passing Rex Kern (4,158); next on the list are Cornelius Greene (4,414) and Craig Krenzel (5,097).
Pryor totaled 343 yards of total offense in the win over Minnesota, rushing for 104 yards (his third career 100-yard rushing game) with a 15-yard TD run and passing for 239 yards with scoring strikes of 62 and 57 yards to DeVier Posey against the Gophers. That was the ninth-best single game in OSU history.
Pryor’s 372 yards of total offense against Toledo marked a career high for the sophomore signalcaller, and the best total offense game of his career. His previous high was 232 against Penn State last season. The Toledo win was the first time an Ohio State player had 300+ yards of total offense since Troy Smith had 328 against Michigan in 2006. Pryor’s performance was the fifth best total offense game in OSU history.
Against the Rockets, Pryor recorded career highs with 17 completions, 27 attempts and 262 yards. He also rushed 12 times for 110 yards, including a career-long 43-yarder in the third quarter.
412 – Art Schlichter (Florida State, 1981)
408 – Troy Smith (Notre Dame, 2005)
388 – Joe Germaine (Penn State, 1997)
386 – Troy Smith (Michigan, 2004)
372 – Terrelle Pryor (Toledo, 2009)
Pryor’s 200-Yard Total Offense Games
| Tot (Run/Pass) | Opp |
| 372 (110/262) | vs. Toledo, 2009 |
| 343 (104/239) | Minnesota, 2009 |
| 255 (34/221) | @ Purdue, 2009 |
| 232 (6/226) | Penn State, 2008 |
| 230 (33/197) | @ Northwestern, 2008 |
| 222 (63/159) | @ Indiana, 2009 |
| 218 (83/135) | New Mexico State, 2009 |
| 213 (36/177) | USC, 2009 |
| 205 (66/139) | Troy, 2008 |
| 204 (30/174) | Navy, 2009 |
100/200
Only three 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 twice by sophomore Terrelle Pryor already this season. The three times it has happened at OSU:
| 145 rush/241 pass | Troy Smith vs. Michigan (2004) |
| 110 rush/262 pass | Terrelle Pryor vs. Toledo (2009) |
| 104 rush/239 pass | Terrelle Pryor vs. Minnesota (2009) |
POSEY AND SANZENBACHER
Ohio State’s top targets in 2009 have been sophomore DeVier Posey and junior Dane Sanzenbacher, with 1,154 yards and 13 touchdowns between them through 10 games. And the two even connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass from DeVier to Dane off a reverse against New Mexico State.
Posey, who shows 45 receptions for 672 yards this year, has scored seven times this season; his long gains were 62-yard TDs against Minnesota and Penn State. Posey’s scoring plays have averaged 37.8 yards per TD catch.
Sanzenbacher, with 24 receptions for 482 yards, is averaging 20.1 yards per reception this season. His long gain was a 76-yard touchdown from Terrelle Pryor in the win over Toledo.
PRYOR ON THE RUN
Sophomore Terrelle Pryor has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career, just the fifth Buckeye quarterback ever to rush for more than 1,000 career yards. He has totaled 1,235 yards on the ground in 23 games, and is averaging 4.86 yards per career carry. Pryor has scored 13 rushing touchdowns at Ohio State.
| Cornelius Greene | 2,066 from 1972-75 |
| Rex Kern | 1,714 from 1968-70 |
| Art Schlichter | 1,303 from 1978-81 |
| Terrelle Pryor | 1,235 from 2008-present |
| Troy Smith | 1,168 from 2003-06 |
An Ohio State quarterback has rushed for 100 or more yards in a game 26 times in school history. Pryor’s 104-yard effort against Minnesota was the third 100-yard rushing performance of his career. Only Cornelius Greene, Rex Kern and John Mummey had four career 100-yard rushing games among all-time Ohio State quarterbacks.
Top 10 Rushing Yards for Ohio State Quarterback in a Game
| Yards | Player | Opp/Year |
| 146 | Cornelius Greene | Wisconsin, 1974 |
| 145 | Troy Smith | Michigan, 2004 |
| 139 | Rex Kern | Washington, 1969 |
| 129 | Rex Kern | Stanford (Rose), 1971 |
| 129 | Tom Matte | Illinois, 1960 |
| 127 | Troy Smith | Iowa, 2005 |
| 127 | Cornelius Green | Illinois, 1974 |
| 124 | Ron Maciejowski | Wisconsin, 1968 |
| 121 | Rex Kern | Northwestern, 1968 |
| 120 | Cornelius Greene | UCLA, 1975 |
SCORE BY QUARTERS
This season in the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 65-17. In the second quarter, the Buckeyes are ahead 92-33, and Ohio State holds an 83-24 advantage in third-quarter scoring. Ohio State has outscored its 2009 opponents 63-38 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State has held the opposition scoreless in 24 quarters this year (60%).
The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents by 19.1 points per game (30.3-11.2) this season.
OHIO STATE CAPTAINS
Seniors Kurt Coleman, Austin Spitler and Doug Worthington were elected as 2009 captains of the Ohio State football team. An offensive game captain will be selected each week.
Jim Cordle served as captain against Navy and Purdue; Jake Ballard was the fourth captain for the USC and Wisconsin contests. Bryant Browning was offensive captain for Toledo, and Dane Sanzenbacher was captain for Illinois and Penn State. Brandon Saine and Dexter Larimore served as game captains at Indiana. Aaron Pettrey was a captain for the Minnesota contest. Andrew Moses served as captain versus New Mexico State.
The last time Ohio State had only defensive players as permanent captains was in 2002, when Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey were captains of the national championship squad.
TRESSEL VS. FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Since coming to Ohio State in 2001, Jim Tressel has faced coaches in their first year at the opposing school 15 times. In those games, the Buckeyes hold a 14-1 record. This season, Toledo’s Tim Beckman, Purdue’s Danny Hope and New Mexico State’s DeWayne Walker are in their first campaign as head coach at those schools.
IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 25-2 at Ohio Stadium versus non-conference teams, the only loss coming to USC earlier this season and 25-22 to No. 2 Texas in 2005. The Buckeyes are 30-4 overall in regular season non-conference games since 2001.
DOWN THE STRETCH
During the Jim Tressel era, the Buckeyes are 79-6 (.929) when winning or tied at the half. Ohio State is 84-6 (.933) when winning or tied going into the fourth quarter of a game under Tressel.
| W/T at Half | W/T into 4th | |
| 2001 | 6-2 | 7-3 |
| 2002 | 9-0 | 11-0 |
| 2003 | 10-0 | 10-0 |
| 2004 | 8-0 | 8-0 |
| 2005 | 9-1 | 8-1 |
| 2006 | 11-0 | 12-0 |
| 2007 | 10-0 | 11-0 |
| 2008 | 8-2 | 9-1 |
| 2009 | 8-1 | 8-1 |
| Total | 79-6 | 84-6 |
BUCKS WIN 77 PERCENT OF OHIO STADIUM GAMES
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 390-107-20 (.774) in Ohio Stadium since that facility opened in 1922.
The crowd of 106,033 against Southern California was the largest ever to watch a game at Ohio Stadium, besting last year’s crowd of 105,711 against Penn State. The attendance of 105,092 against Navy was an opening day record for Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State has hosted 54 consecutive crowds of 100,000 or larger at Ohio Stadium; three of last year’s crowds ranked among the top 10 all-time. Ohio State’s all-time record in Columbus is 533-154-35 in 721 games.
FOR STARTERS
When the Ohio State-Penn State game kicks off, the Buckeyes will have a total of 37 players with at least one game of starting experience.
Those are: Anderson Russell (35); Kurt Coleman (33); Doug Worthington (32); Jim Cordle, Cameron Heyward (30); Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa (24); Jake Ballard, Mike Brewster, Thaddeus Gibson, Terrelle Pryor (20); Ross Homan (16); Jermale Hines (14); Todd Denlinger, Dane Sanzenbacher (12); Dane Sanzenbacher (11); Justin Boren (10); Lawrence Wilson, Brian Rolle, DeVier Posey (9); Dexter Larimore, Austin Spitler, Zach Boren, J.B. Shugarts, Devon Torrence (8); Dan Herron, Brandon Saine (7); Ray Small (6); Rob Rose (5); Mike Adams (4); Andrew Miller (3); Andre Amos, Tyler Moeller, Jake Stoneburner (2); Aaron Gant, Duron Carter, Nathan Williams (1).
Getting their first Ohio State start against Navy were six players: Andre Amos, Justin Boren, Zach Boren, Andrew Miller, DeVier Posey and Brian Rolle. Jake Stoneburner made his first start against USC. Devon Torrence, Duron Carter and J.B. Shugarts were first time starters vs. Toledo. Mike Adams was a first-time starter against Illinois, and Nathan Williams made his first start vs. New Mexico State.
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.
IN NOVEMBER
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 285-132-19 in November games. Ohio State is 179-78-11 in November home games and 106-54-8 on the road that month.
Eleven members of the Buckeye roster have birthdays during November: Bo DeLande, Scott Sika, Jermale Hines, Etienne Sabino, Andrew Miller, Brian Rolle, Grant Schwartz, Don Matheney, Rocco Pentello, Travis Howard and Aaron Gant.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2009 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 280 plays, gaining 1,774 yards for an average of 6.3 yards per play. On second down, OSU has tried 211 plays for 1,123 yards, a 5.3 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 135 plays, gaining 948 yards for a 7.0 average. Ohio State has tried only seven fourth-down attempts, gaining 14 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come 11 times on first down (six rushing and five passing TD), 13 times on second down (four passing and nine rushing), seven times on third down (six passes and one rush) and once on a fourth-down pass.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Ten true freshmen have seen action for the Buckeyes in 2009. Seven Ohio State true freshmen made their first collegiate appearance in the opener against Navy: DB C.J. Barnett, FB Zach Boren, WR Duron Carter, TE Reid Fragel, FB Adam Homan, LB Storm Klein and DT John Simon. Tailback Jordan Hall, another true freshman, saw his first action against Toledo, and LB Jonathan Newsome played for the first time against Illinois. OL Marcus Hall played for the first time at Indiana.
BOUNCING BACK
During the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State, in the games following the Buckeyes’ 21 losses, OSU has a 19-2 record. Thirteen of those games were at Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes under Tressel are 12-1 in the game following a loss. Only once during the Tressel era has Ohio State recorded back-to-back losses, a three-game stretch with losses at Northwestern, to Wisconsin and at Iowa in October, 2004.
ON SCHOLARSHIP
Three Ohio State seniors received scholarship aid for the 2009 autumn quarter that began Sept. 23: Marcus Williams, who is in physical therapy school; Andrew Moses, who is working toward a second bachelor’s degree after earning his first in political science; and Jon Thoma, who is completing his degree in communication. Three additional seniors – Ryan Schuck, Joe Gantz and Tom Ingham – will receive scholarship aid for the winter quarter.
THE GRADUATES
Six members of the 2009 Buckeye squad have already earned their bachelor’s degrees: Andrew Moses (political science), Aaron Pettrey (social and behavioral sciences), Anderson Russell (communication), Austin Spitler (communication), Marcus Williams (health sciences), Lawrence Wilson (communication). Nine more members of the team are expected to graduate following the autumn quarter.
ESPN/CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Four members of the Ohio State football squad have been selected to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA academic all-district team for District 4.
Named to the all-district academic second team were offensive guard Bryant Browning, defensive tackle Todd Denlinger, offensive guard Andrew Moses and running back Marcus Williams. Browning, a junior from Cleveland, Ohio, is a 3.33 marketing student; Moses, from Dublin, Ohio, graduated with a 3.86 gpa in political science. Denlinger, a senior from Troy, Ohio, holds a 3.33 average in construction systems management. Williams, from Ironton, Ohio, has a 3.64 gpa in the physical therapy graduate program.
District 4 includes all colleges in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.
PAIR OF BUCKEYES WIN BIG TEN TITLE ON THE TRACK
Junior defensive back Chimdi Chekwa and sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Lamaar Thomas were a part of Ohio State’s Big Ten champion 4x100m relay team at the 2009 Big Ten Track and Field Championships in May. Thomas ran the third leg and Chekwa the fourth to take first place in 40.63 seconds. The win helped the Buckeyes to a second-place team finish overall, their highest since 2001.
HONOR ROLL
In 2008, 27 Buckeyes were named to the Big Ten’s all-academic team; the Buckeyes have led the conference over the past seven years. Additionally, 46 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.
BUCKEYES GIVE BACK: MID-OHIO FOODBANK DRIVE NOV. 13-15
This action-packed weekend, the Buckeyes also will take on another challenge – feeding those in need. Throughout the weekend, Nov. 13-15, Ohio State will have boxes at each entrance of St. John Arena, Value City Arena and the OSU Ice Rink to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Please give and help the Buckeyes help those in need! Your support is appreciated.
Collection boxes will be placed at the entrances to the following home events this weekend:
– Friday: Women’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball at St. John Arena, Men’s Hockey at Value City Arena, Women’s Hockey at the OSU Ice Rink
– Saturday: Football Skull Session in St. John Arena, Men’s Hockey at Value City Arena, Women’s Hockey at the OSU Ice Rink
– Sunday: Women’s Basketball at Value City Arena, Women’s Volleyball at St. John Arena
CHRIS SPIELMAN TO ENTER COLLEGE FB HALL
Two-time Ohio State All-American linebacker Chris Spielman, the 28th Buckeye inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, was recognized at halftime of the Navy game. The four-year letterwinner (1984-87) and the winner of the 1987 Lombardi Award will be inducted at a ceremony in South Bend, Ind., in the summer of 2010.
Spielman, hailing from Massillon Washington High School, ranks third all-time in tackles (546) at Ohio State and first in solo stops (283). Perhaps the most notable performance by Spielman was his 29-tackle day against Michigan in 1986.
Tenaci
