Ohio State Football: The 7 Best Moments of 2011

There hasn't been an Ohio State football team to finish the regular season with just six wins in a decade (1999), when John Cooper's Buckeyes failed to reach a bowl game in his 12th season as head coach. 

1999 resembled '11 in more than one way as OSU ended up 3-5 in conference play, losing to Miami (FL), Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan, and stumbled to the finish line by losing three straight heading into the postseason.

I was eight years old at the time, most likely showcasing my coveted Pokemon cards in third-grade show-and-tell.

From the "Tat Five" suspensions to the rocky departures of Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor to some ugly, heart-wrenching losses (see Miami, Michigan State), there hasn't been much to cheer for as an Ohio State fan in 2011.

However, despite the dark, omniscient cloud that seemed to have lurked around the Ohio State University this year, causing chaos and turmoil dating back to last December, there have been a few bright spots to hold onto for the future.

And my crystal ball shows that the future is gleaming.

Braxton Miller Becomes the Starting Quarterback

Mark down September 24, 2011 as a historic day for Ohio State football. It possibly could be the day that a legend was born.

After three, ahem, less-than-adequate performances from then-starting quarterback Joe Bauserman, coach Luke Fickell decided it was time to give the reins to the former No. 2 recruit (at his position) in the nation from Dayton, Ohio.

Bauserman, a fifth-year senior, had completed 30-of-60 passes (50 percent) for 365 yards and four TDs in this time, including a 2-of-14 (14.3 percent), 13-yard performance versus the Hurricanes in Sun Life Stadium which ultimately doomed him to a spot on the bench.

Miller led Ohio State to a 37-17 win over Colorado in his first-ever collegiate start. He finished 5-of-13 (38.5 percent) with 83 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 83 yards on the ground off 17 attempts (4.9 yards per carry).

His presence provided a much-needed offensive spark that was obviously productive for the Buckeyes moving forward.

Dan Herron Returns from Suspension

Senior running back Dan "Boom" Herron was suspended five games for accepting improper benefits in December of 2010.

It would then be announced he'd miss one more when the NCAA found out that he, along with standout wide receiver DeVier Posey, had been paid an over-excessive amount of cash for a summer job that they allegedly had not performed.

That said, he couldn't have come back at a better time.

Of course the Buckeyes offense had missed him throughout the first six games, but backups Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde did a solid job filling the void. However, his return was pivotal, as Ohio State was destined to face back-to-back stingy defenses in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Questions loomed of whether he was ready to take on 20-plus carries and hold a steady workload after being out for so long. Boom hadn't played in a game since the Sugar Bowl, by golly.

But those questions were answered rather quickly.

Herron took 23 handoffs for 114 yards (4.9 YPC) and a score in the 17-7 win over the then-undefeated Fighting Illini. He would also play outstanding the following week, carrying the ball 33 times for 160 yards (4.8 YPC) in an upset victory of the Wisconsin Badgers.

The future NFL tailback would then be utilized until the final snap of the regular season, rushing a total of 122 times for 593 yards (4.9 YPC) and three touchdowns. That's 98.8 yards per game, which puts him in fifth place—ahead of Denard Robinson—in the Big Ten.

Ohio State Defeats Wisconsin, 33-29

Who woulda thunk it?

It was a battle for the ages. Ohio State dominated Wisconsin for much of the first three quarters, controlling the time of possession and containing Russell Wilson's high-powered offense.

However, the No. 15 Badgers, who had lost on a Hail Mary pass at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans just one week prior, would have nothing of it in the final period.

Wilson led two four-play touchdown drives—both lasting under 1:19—and took a 29-26 lead over the Buckeyes with just over a minute remaining in the game.

The video provided above explains the rest, because I just can't describe it with words.

It's a good thing Miller came through, for if he hadn't, I'd only have six things to write about and we'd be looking at a losing record with no bowl game.

Holy Buckeye!

Goal-Line Stand Against Penn State

After what seemed to be a costly fumble by Dan Herron, the Penn State Nittany Lions made clear their plans to possibly put the Buckeyes away by adding seven points to the scoreboard in a 1st-and-goal situation.

However, the silver bullets thought otherwise.

As you can see by the video, Ohio State's defense made four impeccable stops to hold PSU from scoring after starting at the 2-yard line. If you didn't know already, that's an incredible accomplishment.

Although this series' unblemished containment of the Nittany Lions offense supplied a great amount of momentum, it wasn't enough to pull out a win. The Buckeyes would end up losing, 20-14.

Still, as you can see, it was a noteworthy achievement and a captivating experience.

Miller Does It Again in West Lafayette

Braxton Miller once again showed why he's a one-of-a-kind quarterback.

Miller escaped from pressure time and time again to make plays—like usual—but none more timely or important than on a fourth-down situation with :55 remaining in the final quarter.

The pocket collapsed, but he but showed veteran-like composure to keep his eyes downfield to find Jordan Hall behind the defense.

Miller had done it again. A 13-yard touchdown strike had tied the game up, and pending the extra point, Ohio State would head into Penn State week with a 7-3 record, winners of four in a row.

But something had to give.

Drew Basil kicked the ball low enough for a Boilermaker defender to get a hand on it, conclusively giving the placekicker the first missed extra point of his career.

The Buckeyes would battle with Purdue in overtime, just to lose 26-23.

Nonetheless, Miller's ability to make plays in clutch situations at such a young age is a huge bonus and it only makes the near future look brighter.

Expect him to be on ESPN's Top 10 more than once next year.

DeVier Posey Returns from Suspension

Okay, so his timing wasn't as appropriate as Herron's, but DeVier Posey's return made a big impact nevertheless.

Braxton Miller averaged 75.3 yards through the air in seven starts before Posey's first appearance. In the final two games (with Posey), Miller put up 318 yards passing (159.0 YPG), including a 235-yard performance versus Michigan.

The senior wideout undoubtedly possesses a lot of talent and immediately rekindled the pass offense, even after missing the first 10 regular-season games.

Posey finished with seven catches, 124 yards (17.7 YPC) and a touchdown.

Urban Meyer Is Named Head Coach

Urban Meyer was officially named the new head coach at Ohio State on Monday, replacing interim coach Luke Fickell.

Meyer will become one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. The school says he will receive a six-year contract that pays $4 million annually, plus another $2.4 million total in "retention payments."

The University of Cincinnati graduate and former Ohio State assistant coach owns a career record of 104-23 (81.9 percent) after leading Bowling Green, Utah and, most recently, Florida.

He has two national championship wins—both with the Gators—and is 7-1 all-time in bowl games.

Meyer's 81.9 winning percentage is second behind Boise State's Chris Petersen (92.2 percent), and we all know that the Broncos don't play in the Pac-12 or SEC.

The 47-year-old Ohio native took the year off for personal reasons and worked as an ESPN analyst. He said that he had made a big mistake by not coaching in 2011, but stated he wouldn't have accepted any offer other than Ohio State.

Fickell, who took over when Jim Tressel was forced out for breaking NCAA rules, will coach the Buckeyes in their bowl game and be retained by Meyer as an assistant as a part of what is supposed to be the "best staff in college football," as he stated in his press conference.

Meyer takes over a program under fire and will await the pending NCAA sanctions. Even though there is a lot of uncertainty with Ohio State football, this move will be the biggest and most important in the upcoming months.

In a time where it's easy to point fingers, soak in negativity and fear for the worst, at least Ohio State now has a leader to create a clear path moving forward.


Follow me on Twitter @Tyler_Waddell for more updates around the sports world.