Week 2 Game Thread

[SportsWorld]

"Right before your eyes, you're watching a freshman grow up here, tonight"

Oh please Barkley was rather unimpressive tonight.

[JustBlaze]

"Right before your eyes, you're watching a freshman grow up here, tonight"

Oh please Barkley was rather unimpressive tonight.

I agree.

I was surprised when he clinched onto the ball after the kneel down to end the game. Then he ran over and gave it to a ball boy to hang on to it form him.

He should have gave it to McKnight.

[KingInExile]

"Right before your eyes, you're watching a freshman grow up here, tonight"

Oh please Barkley was rather unimpressive tonight.

+1

USC's O-line is the only thing that saved him tonight. That and Ohio State's apparent need to choke at the end of a big game.

[studcrackers]

why did tressel not try the 50 yard field goal instead of punting it that led to usc's gw drive. me and my roomate were wondering about that, but nobody called him out on the broadcast or on any of the post game shows. i thought maybe the guy sucked but later the announcers were talking up like the osu kicker had a big leg

[KingInExile]

Just as I thought, OSU/UNLV was just way too close...but OSU still pulled out a 2 pt win with a 33 yd FG with 10 seconds remaining. Way too many mental errors for the Beavs, but got to hand it to the Rebs for putting up one hell of a fight (just like I thought they would).

[Liqourish]

It was a GREAT win for Michigan and a outstanding game for Tate Forcier and Rich Rodriquez.

For weeks now we've heard about Rich Rodriquez not being a good head coach. How he's harmed the Michigan Football Program and how him using subpar frosh quarterbacks were only going to add to the misery expected in Ann Arbor. RichRod showed the nation how this team can win if they buy into the system.

Wolverine fans had to listen to constant bragging about Pryor, Clausen and Barkley while hearing tons of criticism of Forcier being inexperienced, less talented, and not ready for real teams like ND.

Saturday, Forcier outplayed the higher regarded QBs. He showed poise. He made good decisions. He showed a well rounded pass, run and punt game. It's was only his second NCAA game, this kid has a very bright future.

Michigan made alot of errors. But they did something Notre Dame couldn't do, make adjustments and overcome those errors. ND didn't beat themselves, despite what you'll hear from them and the media. Michigan outplayed them. Plain and simple.

[craig01]

The ND/Mich game was a fun one.

Weis maybe should have been a bit more pragmatic in using up clock time late.

I can't stand either coach so I am half happy today.

Forcier was great given his freshman status.

Clausen has a gun for an arm.

[Icness]

Sunday AM thoughts:

--once again Jim Tressel costs the Buckeyes a big game. That play calling at the end of the 1st half that led to the USC FG was the turning point in the game. Sweater Vest picked a bad time to abandon his conservative principles. I am surprised at the lauding of USC's OL; most of the game they were dominated by Heyward and Worthington & friends. The final drive the OL was fantastic but before that they were a big part of USC's offensive problems.

--bad game for Taylor Mays from a scouting perspective. He starts too deep and takes poor angles too often, plus he stands still too much before he starts his action. Dude is a freak athlete with amazing closing burst though, and he's a good tackler, not just a hitter.

--UM/ND was a great game between the two teams I hate the most. I think Michigan's speed is going to carry them quite a ways. Their secondary is awful and someone besides Claussen is going to light them up, but their defensive front is quick and active, though not very stout. Props to RichRod for ending the asinine QB rotation of the first week.

--Central Michigan pulls off a stunning upset at MSU. Best special teams series of clutch plays ever; nails the FG, perfect onside kick that Anderson catches on the fly, nails the long clutch kick again to get the lead, then a fantastic call to onside kick while MSU is set up for the gadget return. Lefevour finished strong but he still floats the ball way too much for my liking. Greg Jones of MSU had a monster, David Harris-like game.

--glad to see Florida read my earlier comment and turned it up to 11 the rest of the way.

--OK St....WTF?!?
--Mizzou...WTF even though they won. Barely. Ditto Florida State.

[KingInExile]

Sunday AM thoughts:

--once again Jim Tressel costs the Buckeyes a big game. That play calling at the end of the 1st half that led to the USC FG was the turning point in the game. Sweater Vest picked a bad time to abandon his conservative principles. I am surprised at the lauding of USC's OL; most of the game they were dominated by Heyward and Worthington & friends. The final drive the OL was fantastic but before that they were a big part of USC's offensive problems.

Just to be clear, my comments about USC's O-line was not intended to suggest that I was all that impressed with their performance. I agree that they got dominated many times. All I was trying to say is that any traction USC got on the offensive end was due more to the O-line's performance and less to do with Barkley's performance at QB. Bottom line, though, is that I think the game came down to the Buckeyes giving it away rather than USC really doing anything special to win.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Biggest mistake Tressel made was to kick a FG a yard away from the end zone. Moronic decision. You don't think your defense can do much with a freshmen QB pinned at the one? Idiot.

[Latrell]

I think the 2 freshman QBs, Tate Forcier and Matt Barkeley played very well all things considered. They both showed tremendous poise especially late in the game. Some of y'all expect way too much, these kids are 18 years old and in the national spotlight.

[studcrackers]

that's what happens when barkley gets entirely to much credit on the final drive when it was joe mcknight who made everything happen

[Icness]

Sunday AM thoughts:

--once again Jim Tressel costs the Buckeyes a big game. That play calling at the end of the 1st half that led to the USC FG was the turning point in the game. Sweater Vest picked a bad time to abandon his conservative principles. I am surprised at the lauding of USC's OL; most of the game they were dominated by Heyward and Worthington & friends. The final drive the OL was fantastic but before that they were a big part of USC's offensive problems.

Just to be clear, my comments about USC's O-line was not intended to suggest that I was all that impressed with their performance. I agree that they got dominated many times. All I was trying to say is that any traction USC got on the offensive end was due more to the O-line's performance and less to do with Barkley's performance at QB. Bottom line, though, is that I think the game came down to the Buckeyes giving it away rather than USC really doing anything special to win.

It wasn't just you, trust me. I wouldn't dog you like that my friend. Musburger, Mark May, the jackyls on Fox Sports Radio with their ridiculous west coast bias--I heard it all from them too.

[KingInExile]

It wasn't just you, trust me. I wouldn't dog you like that my friend. Musburger, Mark May, the jackyls on Fox Sports Radio with their ridiculous west coast bias--I heard it all from them too.

Didn't think you were really referring to me...I just felt the need to clarify my point to avoid the appearance of giving USC any love whatsoever. That is just so wrong...wrong like getting drunk and putting the make on you sister's short, fat, ugly friend only to wake up the next morning and realize you just slept with a pygmy goat.

[Icness]

It wasn't just you, trust me. I wouldn't dog you like that my friend. Musburger, Mark May, the jackyls on Fox Sports Radio with their ridiculous west coast bias--I heard it all from them too.

Didn't think you were really referring to me...I just felt the need to clarify my point to avoid the appearance of giving USC any love whatsoever. That is just so wrong...wrong like getting drunk and putting the make on you sister's short, fat, ugly friend only to wake up the next morning and realize you just slept with a pygmy goat.

Veering OT, but one of the biggest downsides to getting involved in scouting and getting to know so many teams and coaches is that I can no longer blindly hate Michigan and Notre Dame the way you just did on USC. I used to wish for a scoreless tie and a cholera outbreak whenever those two used to pay, but now...I actually like and owe a great deal to some people at Notre Dame, and Michigan under RichRod has been much more scouting and info-friendly to me. Damn them for snuffing my rage! At least I can still hate Little Nicky Saban because Alabama is way out of my regional realm, plus I'm not sure he is capable of reading my work or operating a PC.

[LAKESHOW]

USCs awesomeness is just neverending. they are truly awesomer than the awesomeness of that infomercial of the awesome auger guy. the way he sells that awesome piece of metal that swirls into the ground was truly awesome. but not as awesome as that awesome ending at buckeye stadium.

AWESOME!!

[LAKESHOW]

"Right before your eyes, you're watching a freshman grow up here, tonight"

Oh please Barkley was rather unimpressive tonight.

LAKESHOW: THIS IS OFFICER LAKESHOW, I HAVE A GUN POINTED AT YOU, NOW PUT YOUR HANDS UP!!

sportsworld: hands up slowly, then gulps in fear

LAKESHOW: NOW PUT DOWN THAT LETHAL WEAPON YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS AND SLOWLY PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!

sportsworld: uh, uh, uh, but sir, i do not have any lethal weapons in my hands.

LAKESHOW: YES YOU DO, THAT HATERADE BOTTLE, DROP IT IMMEDIATELY!

sportsworld: oh, oh yeah, here it is sir, i shall place the bottle on the ground.

LAKESHOW: NOW GO, LEAVE THIS PLACE, AND SPREAD THE LOVE NOT THE HATE!!

[KingInExile]

Oh brother...Lakeshow has taken a heavy dose of Kool-aid this season. This ain't going to be pretty.