Bleacher Report - Articles by Molly Gray

College Football Power Rankings: Week Six

Molly Gray — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:37:14 -0400

1. Oklahoma

Oklahoma wallops Baylor with a score of 49-17 to remain at the top of college football. Sam Bradford was 23 for 31, passing for 372 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another. With their match up with No. 5 Texas just around the corner, Oklahoma made sure to send a loud and clear message that they aren’t going down without a fight.

2. LSU

LSU stands still after a bye week. Tim Tebow and Co. will be looking to regain some respect in the rankings when they host the Tigers this coming Saturday. LSU’s quarterbacks Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch have combined for seven TDs and four interceptions, while Tebow has recorded eight TDs and only one interception. This noon ET game should be an exciting one.

3. Missouri

Missouri pulled off their first win at Nebraska in 30 years, and they sure made a statement by downing the Cornhuskers 52-17. Derrick Washington ran for 139 yards and two TDs, then caught a seven-yard pass for a third touchdown. Mizzou gave up one penalty to Nebraska’s 14 and was also able to force two turnovers. The Tigers will defend their 5-0 record against No. 17 Oklahoma State this weekend.

4. Alabama

Alabama was able to fend off a second half comeback from Kentucky this weekend with a field goal at 2:12 left in the game that put them ahead 17-14. Alabama quickly scored 14 points in the first quarter but remained scoreless until the 24-yard field goal, giving up a Kentucky TD in the third and fourth quarters.

Alabama has outscored opponents 88-0 in the first quarter thus far this season. The telling stat of the game is the Crimson Tide amassing 282 rushing yards while holding the Wildcats to a paltry 35. Up next for the Tide: Ole Miss, a team looking for a repeat of their upset win against Florida two weeks ago.

5. Texas

Texas controlled the clock in their 38-14 victory over Colorado, having possession for almost 14 minutes more than the Buffaloes. Chris Ogbonnaya had 187 total yards for two touchdowns, one receiving and one rushing.

With his two passing TDs Colt McCoy jumped up to second on Texas’ Most TD Responsible list, and is now only five touchdowns away from surpassing Vince Young as No. 1. The Longhorns have a tough two weeks ahead of them, first hosting No. 1 Oklahoma and then traveling to Missouri.

6. Penn State

Penn State chomped Purdue 20-6 this weekend. The game started off with a controversial first touchdown for Penn State after the Boilermakers successfully held the Nittany Lions inside of their five-yard line. Joe Paterno went for it on fourth down but was unable to punch the ball into the end zone.

However, the referees signaled that the booth had called for review on the third down play. After review, the call on the field stood and Penn State repeated their fourth down and got a touchdown. The call didn't appear to make a difference, though, as Purdue recorded their 15th consecutive loss to a ranked opponent under Joe Tiller.

7. Brigham Young

Brigham Young extended the nation’s longest win streak to 15 games this weekend as they defeated Utah State 34-14. WR Austin Collie caught eight passes for 132 and two touchdowns in the game against the Aggies. BYU led 34-0 going into the fourth quarter after two passing TDs, a fumble return for a touchdown, a rushing TD by Harvey Unga and two field goals from Mitch Payne. Up next for the Cougars: New Mexico.

8. Texas Tech

Graham Harrell became Texas Tech’s all-time leading passer during the second quarter of Texas Tech’s 58-28 victory over Kansas State. The quarterback has reached 12,709 yards in his third year as a starter. In this last game alone Harrell threw for 454 yards and six touchdowns. The 5-0 Red Raiders host Nebraska this weekend.

9. USC

The Trojans bounced back from their Oregon State upset to beat the Oregon Ducks 44-10 at home in Los Angeles. It was shaky at first, when USC didn’t lead until a touchdown late in the second quarter put them head 17-10. They shutout the Ducks from that point on with 598 total yards and 10 third down conversions. The Trojans will host Arizona State this weekend, a team is coming off of three straight losses.

10. Ohio State

Ohio State visited then-ranked No. 18 Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium this weekend. The Badger’s were coming off an upset loss to Michigan, which was only made worse as their Big Ten title hopes came to an end, losing to Ohio State 20-17. In typical fashion the Buckeyes jumped ahead with a huge 33-yard run from RB Beanie Wells to go up 7-0 a little over three minutes into the game.

But it took two field goals and a last minute rushing TD from Terrelle Pryor to seal the Buckeye’s 12th straight Big Ten road win. The loss ends Wisconsin’s 16-game home win streak. Ohio State hosts Purdue this weekend, while Wisconsin faces a tough matchup against Penn State.

11. Florida

Florida annihilated Arkansas 38-7 as they gear up to host LSU. The only low note of the game was that Tim Tebow gave up an interception after having thrown 203 passes without one. Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps ran for 103 yards each and combined for three TDs. The loss was Arkansas' third straight.

12. Georgia

Coming off a bye week, Georgia is looking to regain some respect after their previous week’s devastating loss to Alabama. Georgia will host Tennessee, a team that is 0-2 on the road, this weekend.

13. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt jumps up in the rankings after beating then No. 13 Auburn with a score of 14-13. Vandy sealed the deal when Myron Lewis picked off Chris Todd with only a few minutes remaining in the game, ending Auburn’s final drive. QB Mackenzi Adams threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns to end their 13-game losing streak to the Tigers. Next up for Vandy: Mississippi State.

14. Utah

Utah preserved their unbeaten season with a 31-28 win over Oregon State. The Utes had a touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:29 remaining in the fourth to tie the game at 28-28. Then with time expiring after the snap, Louie Sakoda nailed a 37-yard field goal to win the game for Utah. The 6-0 team faces Wyoming this Saturday.

15. Boise State

Boise State had a Wednesday showdown with Louisiana Tech and beat the Bulldogs 38-3. Kellen Moore threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns while D.J. Harper added two more over 35 rushing yards. The Broncos will visit Southern Miss this coming Saturday.

16. Kansas

Kansas came from a 20-point deficit at the half to beat Iowa State. The Jayhawks had an explosive second half, with 343 total yards compared to amassing only 93 in the first half. Todd Reesing threw for two TDs in the third quarter to jumpstart Kansas. They’ll need a better first-half performance when they face Colorado this weekend.

17. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys kicked off their 56-28 win over Texas A&M with a 6-yard interception return for a touchdown from Ugo Chinasa. The Aggies turned the ball over five times over the course of the game, giving Oklahoma State a second interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Cowboys visit Missouri this weekend.

18. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech got their fifth straight win after a season-opening loss to ECU, when they beat Western Kentucky 27-13. Dexter Taylor was 10/15 for 125 yards and one touchdown. Although the win vaults them up in the top 20, the Virginia Tech offense failed to gain 300 total yards for the fourth game this season. Next up: Boston College on Oct. 18.

19. Michigan State

Michigan State improved to 5-1 after beating Iowa 16-13, in their best start since 2003. The Spartans were able to pull off the win despite the fact that Javon Ringer, the nation’s No. 2 rusher entering the game, was held to 91 yards on 25 carries.

The difference maker was Brett Swenson who made three field goals at 29, 32 and 25 yards to bring the Spartans on top after an early game TD. Michigan State will visit Northwestern, of the other Big Ten undefeated teams this weekend looking to hold their no-loss conference standing.

20. South Florida

South Florida drops after being upset by Pittsburgh in a 26-21 loss. The Bulls gave up 374 yards to Pitt, allowing Bill Stull to throw for 228 yards and a TD. South Florida has a week to recuperate before hosting Syracuse on Oct. 18.

21. Wake Forest

Wake Forest had the week off after losing to Navy 24-17 on Sept. 27. They will face Clemson at home on Thursday night.

22. North Carolina

North Carolina jumps into the rankings after beating then No. 24 Connecticut 38-12. Bruce Carter blocked three punts, one of which resulted in a touchdown, as UNC showcased their special teams.

To add to that advantage, Shawn Draughn ran for 109 yards on 19 carries, his longest being a 39-yard touchdown run. North Carolina hopes to remain in the top 25 when they host Notre Dame this weekend.

23. Northwestern

The Northwestern Wildcats are 5-0 with a bye week, their last win coming against Iowa on Sept. 27. They round out the four undefeated Big Ten conference teams with a 1-0 conference record. They host No. 19 Michigan State this weekend to determine who will remain unbeaten in the Big Ten.

24. Ball State

The Cardinals reached 6-0 this weekend with a 31-0 shutout of Toledo. Ball State amassed 482 yards and 24 first downs in the win. MiQuale Lewis ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Ball State will travel to 4-2 Western Kentucky this weekend.

25. California

Under the guidance of Nate Longshore, who has returned to starting for the Golden Bears, Cal beat Arizona State 24-14. Longshore was 17 for 28 with three touchdowns and an interception. California travels to Arizona this weekend for a match up with the Wildcats.

Cincinnati Bengals-Dallas Cowboys: Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens

Molly Gray — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:20:48 -0400

With the upcoming match up between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s hard not to come up with something crazy being said about a game with two of the most vocal wide receivers in the NFL.

Between Terrell Owens’ whining, and Chad Ocho Cinco’s regular antics, quotes abound.

Here are a few things that Ocho Cinco said to Dallas Media on Wednesday regarding this weekend’s game.

After an 0-4 start, are the Bengals ready to do whatever it takes to get a win?

OCHO CINCO: "Man, we are going to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, out there in Dallas. I'm bringing the cold tub, the hot tub, I'm bringing the training room. What else can we do?"

And regarding his name change:

What do we call you? What's your name?

OCHO CINCO: "I'm going to be Ocho until the cows come home."

So our stories should say Chad Ocho Cinco?

OCHO CINCO: "Matter of fact, don't even say Chad."

What are you a Brazilian soccer player?

OCHO CINCO: "Yeah, Ocho Cinco. Just one name. I might as well. Hey, Dallas, dude, I ain't never been in Dallas before, but I love y'all. I don't know why."

And it doesn’t stop there, of course the wide receiver had some things to say about his Cowboy counterpart:

Why didn't you come to Dallas?

OCHO CINCO: "You know what? It didn't work out that way. I tried. I talked to 81 almost every day, man. I love 81. We talk all the time. That would've been a circus. Let me tell you, I don't mean to be funny...I'm not trying to be rude or piss anybody off, but if I was in Dallas, they would have to change all of our damn games to pay-per-view because you need to pay to see that (expletive). I'm serious. I'm so serious. They would have to put all the games on pay-per-view. Because you can't just watch a show like that for free; 81 and 85? Come on, now. Please."

Who is more entertaining?

OCHO CINCO: "Well, right now, TO has me beat by so much because of the success going on in Dallas. Right now, I have no room to open up. I have no room to talk, really. I mean, from a standpoint of we know how I like to challenge my opponents. I have no room for that right now. I can't."

Who is the better dancer, you or TO?
OCHO CINCO: "Who? Oh. I'm the best dancer, of course. T, he is too big to dance well. I'm smooth."

Who has the best end zone celebration?

OCHO CINCO: "That's a good one. That's a good one. Right now, I love the one he did where he acted like he was running track and went across the (goal) line like it was the finish line in the 100. He got me beat this year. He got me beat by far. But in the past he's had some good ones."

To take it even further, Ocho Cinco has promised that he would “kiss the star” when he scored in Texas Stadium this weekend, “out of respect for the great program they have there in Dallas”.

As for Terrell Owens, he’s not saying much to laugh about, but he sure isn’t being quiet. First, he was complaining about not getting enough passes, when that backfired he had this to say about Keyshawn Johnson, or Sheshawn as T.O. prefers:

"(As the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft) he is the ultimate underachiever on that (ESPN) panel. I am the reason he is in the booth," Owens said. "Everybody is aware when I was brought to Dallas, he was the one they let go to get me here."

If the two of these players perform half as much as they talk this weekend, it should be an interesting game.

Dodgers-Cubs: Chad Billingsley to Showcase Stuff in Series of Young Guns

Molly Gray — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:19:20 -0400

After an exhilarating performance from young first baseman James Loney during Game One of the NLDS, Game Two will see another young guy in pitcher Chad Billingsley in his first postseason start.

Loney’s grand slam on Wednesday helped propel the Dodgers over the Chicago Cubs, 7-2, and take Game One of the five-game series. Russell Martin, in his third season, and veteran Manny Ramirez each hit a solo home run.

The final run in Los Angeles’ victory came from a single by Casey Blake, scoring rookie Blake DeWitt, who was sitting on third after hitting a triple deep into the outfield.

In Game Two on Thursday, the 24-year-old Billingsley, who has already pitched in 96 major league games in his first two seasons, will try to make his growing experience pay off and turn in a start worthy of some attention.

Over his career, Billingsley is 35-19 with an ERA of 3.33. During the 2008 season, he went 16-10 with an ERA of 3.14 in over 200 innings. Despite his position as the No. 2 pitcher, Billingsley leads the staff in wins and has the lowest ERA among Dodger starters.

Billingsley pitched at Wrigley Field on May 26, giving up two runs and striking out seven over six innings but took the loss, 3-1.

He will have no easy matchup for his first postseason start: The Cubs named Carlos Zambrano as their starting pitcher in Game Two. Billingsley should take the mound with confidence, since he's pitching alongside the likes of postseason veterans Greg Maddux and Derek Lowe.

As reported on the official Dodgers website:

"From what guys I've talked to and what they've said, you approach it as any other start," Billingsley said. "You don't want to go out there and do too much. You really want to try to stay within your game."

If the Dodgers’ bats keep swinging the way they’ve been swinging, Billingsley has nothing to be worried about.

Game Three is set for Saturday, Oct. 4 in Los Angeles at 7:07 p.m. PT.

Joe Beimel and the Playoffs: Deadly Combination?

Molly Gray — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:55:13 -0400

If you ask any Los Angeles Dodgers fan how left-handed reliever Joe Beimel has performed for their team during the postseason, they will most likely roll their eyes and mutter something about how he hasn’t gotten a chance to play in any playoff games because “he’s an idiot.”

Unlike most times a disgruntled fan calls a player an idiot, they’d be right.

In 2006, the Dodgers were set for a first-round series with the New York Mets, with the first two games being played in New York. Two nights before the opening matchup, Beimel found himself at a bar.

He managed to slice open his pitching hand on a broken beer bottle and was rendered unable to play, even after getting stitches.

To make matters worse, Beimel lied about the incident at first, saying that he'd cut his hand in the hotel bathroom. When he did finally come out with the truth of the accident, coaches and teammates were angered and hurt.

The Dodgers went on to lose the series in a sweep due to many problems, but a partial bullpen was definitely a big one.

Beimel has reportedly been sober since the 2006 playoffs, and his dedication to the team in reparation has paid off; they have a second chance at the postseason with the Chicago Cubs this week.

The first game of the series is set to be played on Wednesday night, and you can be sure that Beimel won’t be anywhere near broken glass. He’s been quoted as saying that “[He’s] going to buy a straightjacket (sic) and chain [himself] to the bed and hang out....[He’s] not going to take any chances of something stupid happening.”

This postseason is the perfect time for Beimel to prove that he is out to redeem himself, as fellow left-handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo is out of commission with an elbow injury. Beimel is also up for free agency this year, and, with a strong performance against the Cubs, he could see his demand rise.

Beimel currently has an ERA of 2.02 and is 5-1 on the season, having appeared in a team-high 71 games. The 31-year-old also hasn’t allowed a home run in 104 consecutive appearances, dating back to the 2007 season.

He is 3-0 against Chicago and has a lifetime ERA of 1.54. Beimel has only allowed one earned run in over 16 innings in his career at Wrigley Field.

Is Beimel the secret to the Dodgers winning in the postseason? Probably not, although you might have thought so had you seen the grief he received two years ago.

Regardless, he is a strength of this Los Angeles team, and will definitely be an aiding force when it’s time to play ball on Wednesday.

College Football Power Rankings Week Five

Molly Gray — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:46:26 -0400

1. Oklahoma

In a week of upsets, Oklahoma destroyed TCU 35-10. They got it going early with a 24-yard TD pass from Sam Bradofrd to Juquin Iglesias on the Sooner’s first offensive series. Looks as if college football we’ll see our second No. 5 at No. 1 in two weeks when Oklahoma hosts Texas.

2. LSU

Coming off of a tough victory over Auburn, LSU had a decisive victory over Mississippi State for their ninth straight victory over the Bulldogs. Charles Scott had a successful performance, rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns. They have a chance to defend their new rank when they visit Florida this week.

3. Alabama

Pulling off the upset against Georgia, Alabama exhibited their powerful defense shutting out the Bulldog’s in the first half with a halftime score of 31-0. The final score was 41-30. It wasn’t just their defense that was dominant however, Alabama had five straight scoring drives before they finally punted the ball with 9:19 left in the third quarter. The Crimson Tide host Kentucky next week.

4. Missouri

Missouri didn’t have to do much to move up in the rankings having a bye week this past Saturday. Heisman-hopeful Chase Daniels will lead the Tigers against Nebraska this week. After that: No. 21 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Texas.

5. Texas

The Texas Longhorns unsurprisingly defeated Arkansas 52-10. QB Colt McCoy threw for three TDs and ran for two. He now has 75 touchdowns, putting him at third on the all-time list. They are most likely looking past their matchup with Colorado this week, to when they travel to No. 1 Oklahoma in two weeks.

6. Penn State

Penn State jumps up to No. 6 after beating Illinois in the fourth quarter 38-24. The game was over when Derrick Williams had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter. They will play Purdue, who will be coming off of an emotional loss to Notre Dame, this week and then they will travel to No. 18 Wisconsin.

7. Brigham Young

BYU will be coming off of a bye week when they travel to play Utah State this week. The Cougars should run all over the Aggies and continue their offensive domination. Their biggest challenges coming up will be TCU on Oct. 16, San Diego State on Nov. 8, and regular season finale at No. 15 Utah.

8. Texas Tech

Texas Tech is also coming off of a week of rest. They will be playing Kansas State this week and you can expect Shannon Woods to have more huge numbers like he did in the game against Massachusetts.

9. South Florida

South Florida bullied North Carolina State this weekend beating them 41-10. Jamar Taylor scored on a one-yard run on USF’s first drive of the game. QB Matt Grothe was 20-29 for 259 yards and a touchdown. These numbers should continue this week when they host Pittsburgh.

10. Auburn

Auburn pulled off a win against Tennessee 14-12, but remember this Tennessee team is the same that got blasted by UCLA who got blasted by BYU. Auburn’s offense was very unimpressive in this game. They need to step it up when they visit No. 19 Vanderbilt this coming weekend. The only reason Auburn is ranked higher than USC, Georgia, and Florida, is that their loss came to No. 2 LSU, while the others lost to unranked teams.

11. USC

The King That Was: USC Football. The unbeatable Trojans have come to a surprisingly early downfall, as they were upset in Corvallis by Oregon State. The deal was sealed when OSU recovered USC’s onside kick with 1:19 left in the game. Freshman RB Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns against the Trojan defense. They will host the other Pac-10 leader this week when Oregon comes to town.

12. Georgia

Georgia’s loss to then-No. 8 Alabama was not a pretty one, as Georgia’s offensive couldn’t get a point on the board until the third quarter. They should be able to bounce back when they host Tennessee this weekend. After that, they play Vanderbilt and No. 3 LSU.

13. Florida

Florida was just one among the ranks of upset teams this week as they suffered an emotional loss to Mississippi 31-30. Their blocked PAT proved to be the difference late in the fourth quarter. Tim Tebow threw for 319 yards while Harvin and Moody combined for only 98 rushing yards. This Florida team just couldn’t convert as they were one for 11 on third down conversions and had three turnovers. Up next: Arkansas, LSU.

14. Ohio State

Beanie Wells returned as Ohio State beat Minnesota 34-21 in their first Big Ten game. The game however, was not as close as the score lets on as Ohio State’s offense and defense were dominant until late in the fourth quarter when they gave up two quick TDs and a two-point conversion to Minnesota.

Pryor recorded more rushing yards than he did passing with 97, teaming up with Wells who had 106 in his debut from injury. They visit Wisconsin, who will be out for revenge this weekend, and look to overcome their first Big Ten title obstacle so that they can focus on a home game against Penn State in three weeks.

15. Boise State

Boise State had a bye week this weekend, giving them plenty of time to rest up for Louisiana Tech after their fighting win over Oregon. Look for Ian Johnson to being running up some numbers this weekend, he is averaging 4.9 yards per carry on the season.

16. Kansas

Kansas was another one to sit out this week, but the 3-1 Jayhawks move up two spots. QB Todd Reesing has thrown for 1,405 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season and the passing game should stay strong against Iowa State on Saturday.

17. Utah

The 5-0 Utes had another convincing win on Saturday when they beat Weber State 37-21. Louie Sakoda became the school’s leading all-time scorer as he went 3-3 in field goals. Next up: Oregon State who will still be on a high from beating USC, can they repeat a Top 25 upset? Probably not.

18. Wisconsin

With a score of 19-0 going into the second half it looked at is the Badgers had this one in the bag. However, some key interceptions on the part of the Michigan defense and Rich Rodriguez and Co. were able to turn it around and upset Wisconsin. The Wolverines dominated the second half, out-scoring Wisconsin 27-6. Wisconsin hosts Big Ten title defender, No. 14 Ohio State this weekend.

19. Virginia Tech

After their season-opening loss to East Carolina, the Hokies have gone an impressive 4-0 to jump back into the top 20 teams. Their latest win over Nebraska 35-30, saw a explosive effort from Tyrod Taylor who led the team in passing with 171 yards and rushing with 87 yards. Next up: Western Kentucky, Boston College.

20. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt is surprisingly leading the SEC East right now with their 2-0 conference record, after both Georgia and Florida lost. They will host 2-1 Auburn this week in a battle of east vs. west.

21. Fresno State

Fresno State defeated UCLA, who have gone down hill since their season-opening crushing of Tennessee. The final score was 36-31. Fresno State has won four of their last five games versus BCS teams, and has won 14 games versus BCS teams since 2000 tying themselves with Utah for the most by a non-BCS team in that time frame. Next up for the Bulldogs: Hawaii.

22. Oregon

Oregon crushed Washington State 63-14 this past weekend. Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount each ran for three touchdowns, while Jaison Williams caught two to jump start the Ducks back into the Top 25 after an embarrassing loss to Boise State the week prior. If Oregon really wants to prove that the loss was just a fluke, they need to kick USC while their down next week and emerge as the Pac-10 leaders.

23. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State beat Troy 55-24 finishing with 612 yards of offense, the eighth highest in school history. This Oklahoma State offense is strong, having scored more than 50 points in three straight games. Zac Robinson led the team at QB with 254 yards passing and three touchdowns. The Cowboys host Texas A&M next weekend.

24. Connecticut

Connecticut jumps into the rankings after some lower-ranked upsets. The team became 5-0 with a 26-21 victory over Louisville. They visit North Carolina and Rutgers in the next two weeks.

25. Wake Forest

Rounding out the Top 25 is Wake Forest, who was upset by Navy this weekend, losing 24-17. Next week they will face Clemson, who dropped out of the polls after a loss to Maryland.

College Football Power Rankings Week Four

Molly Gray — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:09:45 -0400

1. USC

USC plays on Thursday night against Oregon State in their first Pac-10 game. What else to say about this powerhouse?

2. Oklahoma

Oklahoma beat Washington 55-14 this weekend. Sam Bradford was 18 for 21 with 304 yards and five TDs. The Sooners host No. 24 TCU this weekend and you can expect their offensive dominance to continue.

3. Georgia

Georgia beat Arizona State, in Arizona, 27-10 this weekend. The game started off tight with a 0-0 first quarter. But the Bulldogs exploded in the second to go up 21-3 at the half. The Georgia defense was also dominant holding ASU to four rushing yards over 19 attempts.

4. Florida

The Gators slaughtered Tennessee on Saturday, beating them 30-6 and holding them scoreless through three quarters. Brandon James had an excellent game, returning the opening kickoff 52 yards and returned a punt for 78 yards and a touchdown. Florida matches up with Mississippi this weekend and should have a big win at home.

5. LSU

Jarrett Lee led the Tigers to an exciting win over Auburn. The top-ten match-up saw 470 passing yards and only 248 rushing yards. LSU was down in the first half 14-3, but fought back in the second half to overcome Auburn to a 26-21 win. Up next: Mississippi State, and No. 4 Florida.

6. Missouri

Heisman-hopeful Chase Daniels led the Tigers to a win over Buffalo 42-21. Though the offense racked up with Daniels’ 439-yard game, the team lost three fumbles in Buffalo territory, and mistakes made by special teams led to two Buffalo TDs. This Missouri defense should have been able to control Buffalo more than they did Saturday.

7. Alabama

Alabama rushed for 328 yards on Saturday versus Arkansas to win 49-14 and bringing their average rushing yards to 237 yards. Next week Alabama travels to Georgia to face the team that gives up only 42 rushing yards per game. This is going to be an interesting gridlock with two SEC powerhouses.

8. Texas

Colt McCoy passed for 329 yards and rushed for another 83 in their blowout against Rice 52-10. The starting QB completed 19 of 23 passes for four touchdowns, setting a Texas record for touchdowns thrown. McCoy has now thrown 62 touchdowns, eclipsing Major Applewhite’s record of 60.

9. Wisconsin

The Badgers are coming off a bye week and will face Michigan on Saturday. However, they are probably focusing on their next two games: Ohio State, then Penn State.

10. Brigham Young

BYU posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1985, and of course extended their nation-best winning streak to 14 games. BYU trumped Wyoming 44-0 in an offensive and defensive showdown. The Cougars are here, and they’re aren’t going down without a fight.

11. Penn State

The Nittany Lions have outscored their opponents 211-40, but their opponents haven’t been exactly spectacular. Penn State’s first real test will come against No. 22 Illinois this Saturday.

12. Ohio State

The nation got to see Terrelle Pryor in all his glory Saturday when the true freshman replaced fifth-year senior starting QB Todd Boeckman. Pryor threw four touchdown passes. Coach Tressel is now 20-0 against non-BCS opponents, but does that really matter? The Buckeye’s start Big Ten play this weekend when they host Minnesota.

13. Auburn

The Tigers, who had only given up 18 points in their first 3.5 games, gave up 23 points in their last two quarters against LSU to lose 26-21. Hopefully they will catch a break against un-ranked Tennessee next week before they face No. 21 Vanderbilt.

14. Texas Tech

Texas Tech continued putting up huge numbers when they beat Massachusetts 56-14, scoring on their first possession. Shannon Woods racked up 108 yards on 10 carries for three touchdowns. Look for similar numbers when they face Kansas State next week.

15. South Florida

South Florida’s offense slacked against Florida International, putting up only 17 points. It was a good thing the defense stood up, only giving up nine points to protect from a loss. Mike Ford managed two touchdowns on only 24 yards to save the Bulls. Up next: North Carolina State.

16. Utah

Utah pulled off a win over Air Force 30-23. The deciding score came with just under a minute left to play when Darrell Mack ran the ball nine yards for a touchdown. The Utes racked up 439 yards of total offense. Look for similar or better numbers when they face Weber State next Saturday.

17. Wake Forest

Wake Forest beat No. 24 Florida State this weekend 12-3. It was a battle of the kickers as every single point came from a field goal. Sam Swank hit the last of his four field goals with 2:07 left to go, sealing the win. The Wake Forest defense forced seven turnovers, something they should plan to do when they play Navy next week.

18. Kansas

Todd Reesing threw for 356 yards and two touchdowns against Sam Houston State to lead the Jayhawks to a 38-14 win. But the running game is still struggling, gaining only 161 yards. That type of rushing stat won’t do when they face Big 12 opponent Oklahoma in three weeks. Next up: Iowa State and Colorado.

19. Clemson

James Davis rushed for 95 yards and three TDs on 11 carries in Clemson’s demolition derby against South Carolina State 54-0. They certaintly focused on their rushing game, having 47 carries: over 20 more than their average 25.7. They host Maryland next weekend before their match-up against No. 16 Wake Forest.

20. Boise State

Boise State had an exciting win over Oregon, outscoring the Duck’s 37-32. Kellen Moore threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns in his first start on the road. He couldn’t have been happier as the Duck’s gave up four turnovers to Boise State’s two.

21. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has an impressive win against Mississippi, 23-17. They were able to outscore the Rebels even though Ole Miss had 385 total yards to Vandy’s 202. Don’t expect them to move up much on the rankings as their schedule includes No. 15 Auburn, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Florida in the next five weeks.

22. East Carolina

The Cinderella story took a heart-breaking turn this past weekend when East Carolina’s 3-0 start was spoiled with an overtime loss to North Carolina State. Sadly, their chances don’t look bright to move back up as they face unranked teams for the rest of the season.

23. Illinois

Coming off of a bye week, Illinois will travel to No. 12 Penn State. Every player will need to come to the game ready to play, especially Juice Williams, who was unimpressive in last year’s match-up.

24. TCU

TCU had a 48-7 victory over Southern Methodist on Saturday, but the excitement won’t last for long as they travel to No. 2 Oklahoma. If they can come out of that game swithout major injury or embarrassment, they’ll look much better against No. 11 BYU in four weeks. But for now, it looks as if TCU’s time in the Top 25 has come to an end.

25. Fresno State

Fresno State also went into overtime this past weekend, pulling off a 55-54 win over Toledo. It was over when Nico Herron swatted Aaron Opelt’s two-point conversion pass in the second overtime. Up next: UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

Controversy, Injury, Confusion Surround Ohio State Football

Molly Gray — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:18:26 -0400

There is something fishy going on at Ohio State. The status on Beanie Wells has changed more frequently than I’ve been able to keep track of, the QBs have more to worry about than throwing interceptions, and the team is no longer a Big Ten favorite.

QB Controversy

Since the Illinois game last year, most Buckeye fans have been skeptical of QB Todd Boeckman, and to add fury to the fire, freshman Terrelle Pryor has looked very strong in the first three games of the season.

Boeckman, a fifth-year senior, has been quoted saying that he is not worried about Pryor taking his starting spot, and that he feels he is mentoring the highest recruited high school quarterback.

But after the dismal loss to No. 1 USC, one has to wonder: Could it hurt replacing experience with the skill of Pryor and the type of QB that he has proven to be?

With lingering questions at running back, having a QB like Pryor that can throw and run would be a great asset. Furthermore, Pryor has shown the nation that he feels just as comfortable out on that field as he did in high school, even taking hits from the powerful USC defense and jumping back up with his head in the game.

Boeckman took a huge sack in the game against the Trojans and was obviously in a lot of pain (and bandages), which led to his lackluster performance in the later part of the game.

In his press conference, head coach Jim Tressel hinted that Buckeye fans could see a new starting QB in the coming weeks and has said that Pryor received 65 percent of the first team reps during practice on Tuesday—partially because of Boeckman’s experience and physical condition, but also because Pryor has earned those reps.

It is looking to be a game of wait-and-see when Big Ten play starts after a game against Troy this weekend, when Ohio State hosts Minnesota.

Wells’ Status

As of Wednesday morning, Beanie Wells is still questionable for the matchup against Troy this weekend despite being listed as a co-starter with Dan Herron on the depth chart.

Wells has still failed to take part in a full-contact practice since his injury on Aug. 30 against Youngstown State.

However, the thing that has most Buckeye fans scratching their heads is that no one has said what is wrong with Wells’ foot, aside from the fact that he has lingering soreness and tenderness.

"His cutting work and push-off and more football-oriented stuff will begin again today," Tressel said Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches' teleconference. "If he can handle that, we can upgrade him from questionable to probable. If he can't, we'll leave him right where he is. He didn't respond well last week from cutting."

Missing the game against USC probably killed Wells, but it definitely wasn’t what killed the Buckeyes, who would have lost even if the star running back had been in perfect condition.

One rumor going around Buckeye fans is a possible medical redshirt for the junior back, who was the highest recruit in his class a few years ago. A medical redshirt would give Wells an additional year of eligibility, and there are some reasonable arguments in favor of doing this.

First, Wells has made it known that he wants to win the Heisman Trophy, which is definitely not as big a possibility after missing the biggest game of the season and looking forward to a season tainted with lingering effects of the injury.

Wells also wants to go high in the draft, which also doesn’t seem likely after this injury because NFL scouts are looking for resilience and strength.

Here’s why giving Wells a medical redshirt doesn’t make sense.

Wells still has a year of eligibility after this season, and it’s far-fetched to expect to see him in Scarlet and Gray two years from now, even though a Pryor/Beanie combo for the next two years could propel this Buckeye team to be one of the greatest in Ohio State history.

As well, although the coaching staff has been relatively silent about the injury, it really doesn’t seem as if it is serious enough to warrant a medical redshirt, which according to the NCAA is given to players that have suffered a “serious injury causing the complete loss, or almost complete loss, of a full season.”

Although two years of a matured Pryor and a healthy Wells seems like a dream come true, this idea seems definitely too good to be true.

The Offensive Line

Our O-line has been a prolonged question in the minds of many recently, and Saturday’s game against USC did nothing to quell the fire. Senior left guard Steven Rehring has been labeled as out for this weekend’s game, leaving Tressel with several options to fill the spot.

First, sophomore Andy Miller could be brought in at left guard. Secondly, sophomore Bryant Browning—who has started all three games this year at right tackle—could make to shift to left guard, as he did in the second half of the USC game while true freshman J.B. Shugarts worked in at right tackle.

Both lineups are possible for the game against Troy, as is seeing true freshman Michael Brewster, who has been practicing at left guard this week.

Defense

There's only thing to be said here: Where was James Laurinaitis this weekend? Granted, I was in the stands and not getting commentary on every play on the field, but I felt as if it was the second half before I even saw the linebacker make a tackle. Where was the backfield powerhouse I grew to love last season?

Questions, questions, and more questions are surrounding this Buckeye team. The only thing left to do is wait and see what Tressel has in mind for the rest of the season, which will hopefully be more successful than what he tried to accomplish at the Coliseum this weekend.

College Football Power Rankings: Week Three

Molly Gray — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:32:47 -0400

1. USC

Anyone who saw the game Saturday knows how powerful the Trojans are. Pete and boys had a near perfect game against the No. 5 team in the nation, their only mishap being an interception on the one-yard line in the final seconds of the first half. Careful what you say around USC fans, they just might be holding the National Title come January.

2. Oklahoma

With a decisive 55-14 win at Washington, the Sooners are approaching a BYE week this Saturday, but look for the fury to resume when they play TCU on Sept. 27. Games at No. 7 Texas and against No. 11 Texas Tech look to be the only thing standing between the Sooners and a date with USC in the National Championship.

3. Georgia

Reshad Jones is the man to thank for saving the Bulldog’s record; Jones picked off a pass from Chris Smelley when the Gamecock’s had the ball on Georgia’s three-yard line with less than a minute to go in the game. Georgia travels to Arizona State this weekend, and should expect a much tougher challenge on prime time television.

4. Florida

The Gators return from a week off to face the 1-1 Tennessee Volunteers in a good old-fashioned SEC face-off. Tennessee has a lot to prove to the nation after week one struggles against UCLA, expect a great game from these two.

5. Missouri

The Tigers continued their offensive rampage against Nevada, scoring 69 points to Nevada’s 17. QB Chase Daniels threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns, numbers he should repeat when Buffalo comes to town this weekend.

6. LSU

LSU destroyed North Texas, after an unexpected week off, 41-3. However, things look to get a lot tougher for the Tigers when they visit No. 10 Auburn and their stifling defense. Don’t expect the team to continue their week three 7.7 average yards per carry.

7. Texas

The showdown with Arkansas was postponed giving the Longhorns an extra week to prepare for their upcoming game against Rice, however they are now scheduled to face Arkansas on Sept. 27, a week that they were expecting to have off in preparation for a visit to No. 2 Oklahoma and a face-off with No. 5 Missouri.

8. Wisconsin

Looks as if the Big Ten has a surprising representative as Wisconsin claims the No. 8 spot in the power rankings. They will visit the Big House next weekend, but the anticipated game is going to be week six when the Badgers see No. 13 Ohio State as the Buckeyes try to defend their Big Ten title and recover from their embarrassing blow out to USC.

9. Auburn

In one of the lowest scoring football games in recent memory, Auburn outscored Mississippi State 3-2, with a combined 431 yards of offense between both teams. There were only 20 first downs between the two, and three third-down conversions out of 30 attempts. At least it looks as if the defense will be ready for No. 6 LSU this Saturday.

10. Alabama

With a 41-7 victory over Western Kentucky, Alabama jumps up two spots in the power rankings. But they’ve got tough games ahead, as they travel first to Arkansas and then to No. 3 Georgia.

11. Oregon

For most of the game it looked as if Oregon was going to join the seven other Pac-10 teams that lost this weekend. However, the Ducks managed to outscore Purdue in two overtimes Saturday ending the game 32-26. They face Boise State and Washington State, but their big game comes October 4 against No. 1 USC.

12. Penn State

In a 55-13 win over Syracuse, the Nittany Lions became the nation’s fourth highest scoring team. The Lion’s also out-gained the Orange 560 yards to 159. It doesn’t look as if Penn State will see a tough defense until their game with No. 22 Illinois on September 27.

13. Ohio State

After an embarrassing loss to No. 1 USC, the Buckeyes are facing another Trojan team. Troy comes to Columbus, offering Ohio State a recovery meal before they start Big Ten competition. Look to see a new starting QB in the next few weeks, after starter Boeckman underperformed this past weekend.

14. Brigham Young

BYU annihilated UCLA in Provo this weekend, 59-0. It was the third time the team has met since September of last year, UCLA beat the Cougars in Los Angeles in September and BYU beat the Bruins in the Vegas Bowl in December. This year’s team sure looks to be a BCS Buster but they shouldn’t see too tough of a game for a couple of weeks as they have Wyoming and Utah State coming up.

14t. Texas Tech

Texas Tech beat Southern Methodist 43-7, only giving up a TD in the last minutes of the fourth quarter. Graham Harrell completed 31 of 48 passes for 418 yards five touchdowns in the game and combined with backup QB Taylor Potts for almost 700 passing yards. Next up: Massachusetts, Kansas State.

16. East Carolina

ECU has successfully had their first 3-0 start since 1999, with a 28-24 victory over Tulane. Patrick Pinkney threw a 24-yard TD pass with 1:41 left in the fourth quarter to put the Pirates ahead for the win. Pinkney was 22 of 32 for 260 yards and tow touchdown throws.

16t. South Florida

South Florida came from behind 20-10 at the half to beat No. 13 Kansas 37-34. The win came when Freshman Maikon Bonani made good on a 43-yard field goal as time expired on the clock. Up next: Florida International, North Carolina State. 16t

18. Utah

The Utes are 3-0 after a decisive victory of 58-10 over Utah State. Matt Asaita had three touchdowns on 11 carries for 56 yards. Utah had 29 first downs to Utah State’s eight. The season finale against rival BYU is sizing up to be a great one.

19. Wake Forest

Wake Forest has had a week off to prepare for this week’s battle against No. 24 Florida State. Wake Forest beat Florida State 33-0 two years ago and again 24-21 last year, it looks as if the Seminoles are gearing up for pay back.

20. Kansas

Kansas suffered a devastating loss when Todd Reesing was intercepted with less than a minute left in the game against No. 19 South Florida. The game pleased viewers as the teams put up a combined yards gained of almost 900. KU hosts Sam Houston State next week and should be back in the winner’s circle.

21. West Virginia

West Virginia has had a week to figure out what went wrong against ECU, and they are taking that with them to 2-0 Colorado in hopes of not repeating the upset. With coach Bill Stewart finally signing a contract this week, the Mountaineers should have a clearer path before them.

22. Clemson

The Tigers inch their way back up the rankings with a 27-9 win over North Carolina State. What isn’t comforting for Clemson fans is that starting QB Cullen Harper made several big mistakes in the win including an interception returned for a touchdown on the first play of the game and a fumble in the second half. However, a win is a win as they prepare for South Carolina State.

23. Florida State

Florida State has outscored their last two opponents 115-7. They look to beat Wake Forest for the first time in two years this week when the Demon Deacons come to town.

24. Fresno State

The Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking loss to Wisconsin when Kevin Goessling missed a 35-yard field goal in the fourth that would have tied the game at 13-13. Fresno State goes frustrated to Toledo next week, but have a chance for a larger victory when they travel to Los Angeles to face UCLA.

24t. TCU

TCU jumps into the rankings with a 31-14 win over Stanford. Ryan Christian scored the go ahead TD in the third on a one-yard run. Steven Coleman intercepted Stanford in the end zone to seal the win. Next up: Southern Methodist, No. 2 Oklahoma.

Dodgers-Padres: Los Angeles Brings NL West Lead to 3.5 Games

Molly Gray — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:36:44 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers padded their division lead Wednesday night, beating the San Diego Padres 7-2 in San Diego.

Derek Lowe didn’t much enjoy his fantastic start however; a comebacker caused him to leave the game in the sixth inning.

Lowe had pitched 5.1 innings when a line drive from Kevin Kouzmanoff hit him in the back of the leg. Lowe was able to retrieve the ball and throw Kouzmanoff out at first, but he decided to hand the ball to Torre and leave the game, having given up one run and three hits. The Dodgers were up 5-1.

Rookie Scott Elbert came in to relieve Lowe. Elbert, with a 6.23 ERA, finished the inning with no hits and one strike out.

Brad Penny made his debut off the DL, starting the seventh inning. Penny gave up two hits, a run, and a walk and was pulled after three batters and before recording an out. Cory Wade pitched the rest of the seventh and the eighth innings, and was followed by Joe Beimel, who closed out the game with two groundouts and a flyout.

As far as batting is concerned, watching this game, you would never know that Los Angeles has struggled at the plate the majority of the year.

Manny Ramirez had two home runs in five at-bats, with four RBI. The Dodgers jumped ahead with three runs in the second, as James Loney homered, Blake DeWitt had an RBI-double, and Russell Martin hit an RBI-single.

The Padres fist run came in the first inning, when Brian Giles, who led off with a double, scored on Kouzmanoff’s groundout. Their second run came after Penny loaded the bases, but Wade held the three runners to only one score before ending the inning.

Losing pitcher was Shawn Estes, who gave up six hits and five runs in five innings pitched.

An Alternative Look at USC-Ohio State

Molly Gray — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:16:30 -0400

With all the excitement for the upcoming game versus USC, I thought that I would take somewhat of an unusual approach to analyzing a component of the game.

To do this, I’ve decided to look at how both teams fared with penalties during the 2007 season.

In the 2007 season, Ohio State football was the 22^nd lowest team in the nation in penalties per game, with 5.5, and an average 44.2 yards lost per game due to penalty. USC held the eight highest spot with 8.2 penalties/game and 74.4 yards/game.

Cincinnati ranked the highest, averaging 9.4 penalties per game with an average of 79.1 yards per game lost. That state up north was 13^th lowest, giving up 5.1 penalties a game for an average of 44.6 yards per game.

But let’s see how the Buckeyes measure up in the Big Ten regarding penalties.

Here are the Big Ten teams with penalties per game highest to lowest for In-Conference games:

Name	Pen./G	Yards/G
Wisconsin	6.3	50.4
Iowa	6.0	52.4
Purdue	6.0	50.9
Michigan State	5.4	51.0
Minnesota	5.4	43.4
Ohio State	4.9	38.5
Penn State	4.9	38.5
Illinois	4.4	45.6
Indiana	4.3	41.0
Northwestern	4.1	38.5
Michigan	4.0	37.4

As you can see, Ohio State is in the middle of the pack, tied with Penn State with an average 4.9 penalties per conference game.

Here are the Pac-10 teams with penalties per game highest to lowest for In-Conference games:

Name	Pen./G	Yards./G
USC	8.2	73.1
California	7.7	68.7
UCLA	7.2	63.6
Oregon State	6.9	61.7
Washington	6.2	49.2
Washington State	5.8	43.9
Arizona	5.7	48.2
Arizona State	5.4	48.3
Oregon	5.2	43.8
Stanford	5.0	45.6

USC leads their conference with 8.2 penalties per game.

In comparing the conferences, Big Ten teams average 5.06 penalties per game, while Pac-10 teams average 6.33 penalties per game in-conference.

Whether it is the varying style of play, the difference in officials, or difference in players, I’ll let you decide.

Now, let’s examine penalty splits for each team. These numbers are penalties/game—yards/game.

Split	Ohio State	USC
At Home	5.4—39.0	6.2—54.7
On Road	5.4—43.6	9.7—84.8
Vs. Conference	4.9—38.5	8.2—73.1
Vs. Non-Conference	6.6—53.2	8.0—77.3
In Wins	5.7—43.8	8.4—73.4
In Losses	4.5—46.0	7.0—80.0
Vs. Ranked (AP)	4.8—52.0	7.8—81.3
Vs. Unranked (AP)	5.9—40.7	8.3—71.3

Now, I want to highlight several of these statistics.

Since Ohio State are playing the Trojans on their home turf, I want to compare OSU's “on road” penalties (5.4 for 43.6 yards) to USC's “at home” penalties (6.2 for 54.7 yards). Check one in favor of the Buckeyes.

Secondly, let’s look at non-conference averages. OSU comes in with 6.6 penalties for 53.2 yards, while USC comes in with 8.0 penalties for 77.3 yards. Check two in favor of the Buckeyes.

And how about each teams' record versus ranked opponents? Going into the game USC is ranked No.1 and Ohio State comes at them with No. 5. Versus a ranked opponent the Buckeyes give up an average of 4.8 penalties for 52 yards, while the Trojans give up 7.8 penalties for 81.3 yards versus a ranked opponent. Check three in favor of the Buckeyes.

Just for fun, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a grass field so let’s look at those stats too. On grass, OSU gives up an average of 5.2 penalties for 37.7 yards, and USC gives up 7.3 penalties for 64.9 yards.

Let’s see if the data shifts favor if we rearrange it by date.

Month	Ohio State	USC
August/September	7.0—49.0	9.3—87.3
October	4.5—30.3	6.8—61.8
November	4.0—41.7	7.3—51.7
December/January	7.0—83.0	10.0—108.0

The Game is being played Sept. 13. In Aug./Sept. Ohio State averages 7.0 penalties for 49 yards, while USC marks 9.3 penalties for 87.3 yards. Check five in favor of the Buckeyes.

These numbers could be a little hard to compare because both teams are obviously up against very different opponents, so let’s see how OSU and USC fared against common opponents in 2007.

Opponent	Ohio State	USC
Washington	10—80, W	16—161, W
Illinois	2—9, L	11—130, W

The Buckeyes still gave up fewer penalties for few yards than did the Trojans. Check six in favor of the Buckeyes.

In one last statistic, I decided to check out what the opponents of these two teams had been giving up.

In 2007, Ohio State’s opponents gave up an average of 4.1 penalties for 37.2 yards, which is decisively less than what USC averaged in all games: 8.2 penalties for 74.4 yards.

In 2007, USC’s opponents gave up an average of 5.6 penalties for 45.2 yards, which is about equal with what OSU gave up in all games in 2007: 5.5 penalties for 44.2 yards.

What this means, is that if averages held, the Buckeyes would be getting receiving more yards due to Trojan penalties than we are used to, while USC will be seeing about the same yardage. Check seven in favor of the Buckeyes.

Now, you can chalk these statistics up to whatever you want, but I’m a firm believer in the old saying that “numbers don’t lie.” I think we are in for a few free yardage if the Trojans keep on their path of heavy penalties, which will surely aid us when we travel to the Coliseum on Sept. 13.

Now, just for kicks, let’s look at what Michigan has to say for themselves as far as penalties are concerned.

Split	Pen./G	Yards/G
At Home	5.1	43.8
On Road	4.3	41.3
Vs. Conference	4.0	37.4
Vs. Non-Conference	6.8	56.2
In Wins	4.8	41.8
In Losses	5.8	51.0
Vs. Ranked (AP)	5.6	49.6
Vs. Unranked (AP)	4.8	41.5

All statistics in the article were taken from cfbstats.com, and were in reference to the 2007 College Football Season. This article was originally written for www.buckeyecommentary.com.

What USC Fans Have to Say About The Ohio State Game

Molly Gray — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:31:15 -0400

Let me introduce you to Larry Tashjian and Roy Manukyan, two true-blooded USC football fans. Larry is a USC graduate that graduated in 1976 and has been a long-time Trojan ticket-holder and large supporter. Roy is a Los Angeles native and current USC student, experiencing the here-and-now of Trojan football.

I’ve asked the two of them a few questions regarding the up-coming game and here is what they had to say.

What do you think is going to be USC’s greatest strength against OSU?

LT: I don’t know a lot about OSU defense but our offense will be major strength. Mark Sanchez, our quarterback, is seasoned and ready to go. Joe McKnight, one of our running backs, was compared last year to Reggie Bush. Our receiver core is considerably stronger than last year. There will be some exciting plays on offense.

RM: Defense, defense, defense. If Ohio State even wants a chance of winning this game, they are going to have to get through the best linebacker corps in the nation, not to mention a freakishly athletic secondary. In their opening game, USC showcased their defensive talent by holding Virginia to a paltry 32 yards of rushing offense. I don't care who Ohio State puts in at running back, they are going to have a tough time getting through the rock solid USC linebackers.

What do you think is going to be USC’s greatest weakness against OSU?

LT: I really don’t think we have any weakness except the kids believing too much of the hype, especially after last weekend where OSU did not look that great against Ohio.

RM: Underestimation. After seeing Ohio State stumble against Ohio last week, USC has to be careful not to let their guards down. Also, many claim that USC has a weak offensive line. Although they performed adequately against Virginia, it's difficult to gauge whether they did a good job or if Virginia's defensive line just isn't very good.

What scares you most about OSU?

LT: This could be OSU’s biggest game of the year. They will come out pumped up while SC, after watching the Buckeyes last week, might not be ready to play up to their capabilities.

RM: Pass defense. Last year, Fred Davis was the only receiver who could make consistent catches for large gains. Hopefully Sanchez will be able to make something happen; it sure wasn't a problem against Virginia.

What do you think USC will be able to exploit?

LT: Hopefully we can exploit the OSU defense. We are a very fast team. As well, our linebackers are some of the best in the nation and will do some damage.

RM: Home field advantage. It's going to be tough for Ohio State to walk into the Coliseum and walk out with a win. Everybody in Los Angeles is ready for this game, and let me tell you, it's going to be loud.

What do you think Pryor will be able to accomplish against the USC defense?

LT: He will make some plays but will not have a big game.

RM: He will most likely be scrambling more than he wants to. If Pryor is going to succeed through the air, he needs to have the game of his life. The Trojan defense is not going to give up anything easily, especially the secondary and linebacker core. Also, it's tough to say whether a dual-quarterback system will work. Pryor definitely has the advantage on the ground.

Breakout stars?

LT: Our receivers.

RM: Joe McKnight. Look for this guy to be a major factor in the USC running offense. This guy is a playmaker. After him? The other 5 running backs that the Trojans can put in.

O.J. Simpson vs. Archie Griffin?

LT: Hollywood vs. a Mack Truck

RM: O.J. Simpson. Just because.

Woody Hayes vs. John McKay?

LT: I do remember the 1974 Rose Bowl, where Pat Haden hit JK McKay (coaches son) with less than one minute left in the game for a touchdown. USC was down by 1. Coach McKay decided to go for two to win the game, which they did 18-17. After the game somebody asked him why and he said, “a tie is like kissing your sister”.

RM: Pete Carroll.

Score prediction:

LT: USC 34- OSU 19

RM: USC 24- OSU 10

This article was originally published at www.buckeyecommentary.com, where Molly Gray is a regular contributor.

Flashback: A Comparison of Woody Hayes and John McKay

Molly Gray — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:29:19 -0400

Jim Tressel is arguably the most revered head coach after the Woody Hayes era at Ohio State. And despite his rocky first season of 6-6, the same can be said about Pete Carroll following John McKay at Southern California. Seeing these two Titans clash this week will undoubtedly resemble the storied rivalry between Hayes and McKay in the 60’s and 70’s.

Unsurprisingly, the rivalry was instigated and thrived off of our beloved, yet short-tempered Hayes. It all began before McKay was even coaching at the 1955 Rose Bowl. OSU was set to play USC when it started pouring rain.

The game continued on, however, Hayes was livid in typical fashion that the Coliseum did not have a tarp for the field and that they allowed the bands to perform at half time, turning the field into essentially a mud pit. The Buckeyes demolished the Trojans with a score of 20-7, but the chip had formed on Woody’s shoulder.

In the next two decades, the two teams met in the Rose Bowl four times with Woody Hayes and John McKay at the reigns. McKay disliked Hayes’ argumentative and unreasonable personality, and Woody—well, Woody just disliked McKay.

The Buckeyes beat So Cal in their next meeting for the national championship at the conclusion of the 1968 season with a score of 27-16.

Overconfident, Hayes snubbed McKay at the Rose Bowl committee luncheon, walking out, as McKay was about to start his speech to the media. McKay must have felt some satisfaction as his team annihilated the Buckeyes 42-17 the following day, earning them the national title.

The very next season, the two met again in Pasadena and Hayes prevailed 42-21 over the McKay and his Trojans. The Buckeyes were led by Rose Bowl Hall of Famer and two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin.

In 1975, they met for their third straight Rose Bowl, in what has been called one of the greatest games in college football history. McKay’s own son, J.K. McKay, was on the receiving end of the game-winning 38-yard TD pass late in the fourth quarter, to overcome the Buckeyes 18-17.

Coach	Yrs. Coached	Conf. Champs	Bowl Record	National Titles
Hayes	28 at OSU	13 Big Ten	5-6 at OSU	3 (54, and out-right 57, 68)
McKay	16 at USC	9 Pac-10	6-3	4 (62, 67, 72, 74)

ESPN College Football Power Rankings

Molly Gray — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:05:03 -0400

ESPN has released their Week Two college football power rankings.

1. USC

Sitting out a week? VERY powerful. In all seriousness however, this USC team is scary. Expect them to bring it hard to the Buckeyes in the game that everyone has been waiting for this Saturday.

2. Georgia

Georgia moves up a spot from last week, seemingly unfazed by the loss of DT Jeff Owens. They’ve got a difficult schedule, but the Bulldogs have proven they deserve the hype so far this season.

3. Oklahoma

The Sooners cinched their 20th straight home win on Saturday, moving up from No. 5 in last weeks’ rankings. But they travel to Washington this week, so we’ll see what they can do on the road. The Huskies will be looking for blood after a heartbreaking loss to BYU.

4. Florida

Tim Tebow and Co. became the first Gator team to beat Miami since the '80s after dropping the last six to the Hurricanes. They now have an earned week off to gear up for Tennessee.

5. Missouri

The Tigers have already outscored their opponents 104-45. Look for the numbers to keep piling up as they face Nevada and Buffalo.

6. Ohio State

Dropping from their Week One No. 2 ranking, the Buckeyes struggled against Ohio, but with the return of Chris “Beanie” Wells on Sept. 13, big things are expected. This should be one of the best games of the decade.

7. LSU

LSU remains the same from Week One after an unexpected week off due to Hurricane Gustav, but not to worry—they’ve got one more practice round before visiting the big bad SEC teams when they face North Texas on Saturday.

8. Texas

The Longhorns jump up two spots behind QB Colt McCoy. McCoy completed 20-of-29 with 286 yards and four touchdowns, while the Longhorns had one stretch of 28 straight points. They are looking for three straight with a win against Arkansas on Saturday.

9. Auburn

Auburn rolled over Southern Miss 27-13 last week, holding their spot at No. 9 on the list. Up next: Mississippi State, LSU, and Tennessee.

10. Wisconsin

Wisconsin jumps three spots with a 51-14 victory over Marshall. They’ll see No. 21 Fresno State this weekend, but the real test comes on Oct. 4, when Big Ten foes the Buckeyes come to town.

11. Oregon

The Ducks dropped 66 points on the Utah State Aggies this weekend, but they visit the Boilermakers on Saturday, and Purdue is known to put up a fight.

t12. Texas Tech

The highlight of their win over Nevada: an 82-yard TD pass in the fourth to Michael Crabtree. The defense surprised and should continue their success against 1-1 Southern Methodist.

t12. Alabama

Javier Arenas broke a school record with 212 return yards in their first home game, a victory over Tulane, 20-6. Next up for the Crimson Tide: Western Kentucky, Arkansas, and No. 2 Georgia.

14. East Carolina

ECU beat No. 8 West Virginia? Yes. The Pirates continue their upset warpath and jump into the rankings. QB Patrick Pinkney was 22-of-28, throwing for 236 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Their schedule should seem like a piece of cake from here on out, as the Pirates face Tulane and travel to North Carolina State.

15. Penn State

Evan Royster carried the ball 17 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns versus Oregon State to put Penn State up 45-14. The No. 19 Nittany Lions will see No. 24 Illinois on Sept. 27 for their first conference challenge.

16. Arizona State

Rudy Carpenter passed for 345 yards and three touchdowns in the Sun Devils’ victory over Stanford. He looks to be gearing up for their big game against No. 2 Georgia in two weeks.

17. Kansas

Kansas moves up a spot from Week One as they prepare to visit No. 19 South Florida, their last big hurdle before seeing Oklahoma in October.

18. Brigham Young

The Cougars prolonged their winning streak with an emotional nail-biting victory over the Washington Huskies, with a controversial last-minute call leading to a blocked extra-point attempt. BYU will gain even more credit if they can beat UCLA this weekend, the team that beat Tennessee in Week One.

19. California

The Golden Bears dominated Washington State 66-3. Jahvid Best averaged 14.3 YPC for three touchdowns in the victory. Up next: Maryland, Colorado State, and No. 15 Arizona State.

20. Wake Forest

Wake Forest closed its 400th win against Mississippi, 30-28. Sam Swank was three for three as the nation’s active career leader with 65 field goals.

21. Fresno State

The Bulldogs gear up to host No. 10 Wisconsin after beating Rutgers 24-7. The Rutgers victory tied Fresno State with Utah for most victories over BCS teams as a non-BCS competitor.

22. Utah

After their second victory, the Utes should be looking forward to this week’s game against cross-state foe Utah State Aggies, who are 0-2. The Utes posted 21 points in the third quarter versus UNLV and should look to repeat those kind of numbers against the Aggies.

23. West Virginia

Falling a grand total of 16 spots, things are not looking good for West Virginia. ECU held the Mountaineers without a TD, the first time in WVU history since 2001, when they played Miami. Was it ECU dominance, or a WVU fluke? This week’s game at Colorado will put them to the test.

24. Clemson

After a 34-10 loss to Alabama, Clemson defeated the Citadel 45-17. The rushing game improved, with James Davis recording 107 yards after Alabama held the Tigers to zero yards on 14 attempts two weeks ago.

25. Boise State

Boise State rounds out the list after defeating Idaho State 49-7. Next up: Bowling Green, No. 16 Oregon, and Louisiana Tech.

Ohio State All-Time Lineup

Molly Gray — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:35:19 -0400

While this list is not totally complete, it is what I have come up with for my All-Time Buckeye lineup. I tried to consider personal success as well as team success for the years that each player was active on the team. I also tried to weigh the legend that has been created by each player and the way in which they are remembered today.

Offense

Quarterback

Rex Kern (1968-70)—As a sophomore, Kern was the leader of the 1968 National Championship team, which is arguably one of the best teams in the history of Ohio State football. He finished his college career 27-2.

Running Back

Archie Griffin (1972-1975)—Griffin is the only player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy twice. Griffin is also the only player ever to start in four Rose Bowls. During his time at Ohio State, Griffin rushed at least 100 yards in 34 games, setting an NCAA record with 31 consecutive games of 100 yards or more.

Wide Receiver

Cris Carter (1984-1986)—Carter was Ohio State’s first All-American at wide receiver. As a freshman Carter set a Rose Bowl record with nine receptions for 172 yards. Even though he didn’t play his senior year due to signing with an agent, Carter held the Ohio State record for receptions with 168.

Returner

Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004-2007)—Ginn finished his career at Ohio State with 125 receptions for 1,943 yards and 15 touchdowns in 37 games. He also rushed for 213 yards, returned 38 kickoffs for 1,012 yards, and gained 900 yards on 64 punt returns, the second highest total in Ohio State history. His four punt returns for touchdowns during his freshman season broke a Big Ten Conference Record. Ginn was drafted ninth overall in the 2007 NFL draft.

Offensive Line

Orlando Pace (1994-1996)—Pace was only the second true freshman ever to start for the Buckeyes. He was also a two-time winner of the Lombardi Award for the best college lineman or linebacker in 1995 and 1996, and he was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy and finished fourth in the voting, the highest finish for a lineman (offense or defense) since Hugh Green finished second in 1980.

John Hicks (1970, 1972-1973)—Hicks had an outstanding senior season at Ohio State. He won the Lombardi and Outland Awards and finished second to John Cappelletti for the Heisman Trophy. In the same year RB Archie Griffin finished fifth and LB Randy Gradishar sixth. Hicks was a leader on one of the most dominant offensive teams in college football history, as the 1973 Buckeyes outscored teams 413 to 64 and blew out USC in the Rose Bowl.

Kicker

Mike Nugent (2001-2004)—Nugent was the first Buckeye kicker to receive the Most Valuable Player award. He holds the record for career points with 356. Nugent was a consensus All-American and won the Lou Groza Award in 2004 as the nation’s top kicker.

Defense

Defensive Line

Bill Willis (1942-1944)—Willis was a starter his sophomore year (’42), and the Buckeyes went on to win the Big Ten Conference and were voted the National Champions by the Associated Press. The next year Willis was named to the All-Conference first team. Just this past season, Willis’s No. 99 was retired in The Shoe during the Wisconsin game.

Jim Stillwagon (1968-1970)—Stillwagon is another member of the sophomore class that controlled the 1968 National Championship team. He was a consensus All-America selection as a junior and senior, won the Outland Trophy, and was the first-ever winner of the Lombardi Award.

Linebacker

Andy Katzenmoyer (1996-1998)— Katzenmoyer was the first Dick Butkus Award-winning middle linebacker to play for the Buckeyes.

Randy Gradishar (1971-1973)—Woody Hayes once said of Gradishar that he was the “best linebacker [he] had ever coached.” His 320 career tackles were the most in school history when he left Ohio State and now stand 11th-best in team history. Gradishar was a consensus first-team All-America selection in 1972 and a unanimous first-team All-America selection in 1973. Also in 1973, Gradishar finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Defensive Back

Jack Tatum (1968-1970)—Tatum was first team All-Big Ten in 1968, 1969, and 1970. In ‘69 and ‘70 he was a unanimous All-American. In ‘70 he was selected as the National Defensive Player of the Year and was among the top vote-getters for the Heisman Trophy.

Antoine Winfield (1995-1998)—Winfield was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best defensive back in 1998 and was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. The 1998 Buckeyes were Big Ten Champions and defeated Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl 24-14. They finished No. 2 in both the Coaches' and AP Polls.

You can see this article and more discussion at www.buckeyecommentary.com.

Manny Ramirez Leads Dodgers over Diamondbacks, 4-2

Molly Gray — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:47:31 -0400

For those of you who have read any of my previous articles, you know that I take a very professional approach in writing them. However, this time I thought I would simply write as a fan and not as an aspiring journalist. So, here goes nothing!

Sitting in the All You Can Eat Pavilion in right field for the first time was definitely an experience I will never forget. Upon arriving at the game I got a classic Dodger Dog, nachos, and a couple bottles of water. You might be thinking that I didn’t take full advantage, but I enjoyed it.

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a hit in the first, but failed to bring anyone home.

The Dodgers started off the first when Russell Martin got on base. He was brought home only one pitch later with a 428 ft. shot from The Manny Ramirez that went out to left field.

The energy from the stands was incredible. I joined the crowd in chanting “Manny! Manny! Manny!” until he came back out of the dugout to a standing ovation. Let’s just say the city of Los Angeles was overjoyed to see this titan hit his first home run in Dodger Blue.

Fellow newcomer Casey Blake also hit his first home run as a Dodger. Now, as a student at Ohio State University, I feel a connection with Blake. He came to the team just a few weeks ago from the Cleveland Indians.

The Dodgers were up 3-0 until Hiroki Kuroda gave up a shot just inside the right field foul pole in the third, making the score 3-1.

Watching the game, it was easy to tell how glad Ramirez was to be out of Boston. I never expected a hustle out of him, however, in the sixth, Ramirez rounded two bases making it to third on James Loney’s single.

Loney, however, got caught in a pickle and was tagged out. But all is well that ends well, because Ramirez scored to bring the Dodgers up 4-1 on Jeff Kent’s single.

Again, there was a standing ovation from the 54,544 fans in attendance—aside from the four obnoxious Arizona fans that sat directly in front of me.

The fans love having him here, and apparently Manny loves it too.

Hong-Chih Kuo gave up a run in the ninth, making the final score 4-2. A very exciting game to start off what will hopefully be a very exciting end to the season.

The Dodgers are two games back from Arizona with one game left in the four-game series.

Ohio State Buckeye Traditions

Molly Gray — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:46:09 -0400

As we all know, our boys work very hard out on that field every year, in practice, games, bowls, and training camps. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook some of the key players and units when there are superstars like Chris “Beanie” Wells on the field.

Because I often forget to give proper accolade to some of the integral players of the game, I thought I would take a look into the way that Coach Tressel and the rest of the coaching staff reward their players for a job well done.

First off, I wanted to start by figuring out what exactly goes in to each of those little stickers that cover the helmets of our Buckeyes at the end of the season.

Ohio State Trainer Ernie Biggs started the Buckeye Leaf sticker tradition in 1968. Team members earn Buckeye Leaves throughout the season based on their performance as a team and as individuals.

Ernie Biggs served as Head Athletic Trainer at OSU from 1945 to 1972. While at OSU, Biggs worked with both football and basketball players and still had time to patent athletic equipment such as an innovative knee brace that he designed for use in football.

Biggs also served as the head athletic trainer to the 1964 Olympic Swim Team. He is renowned in the world of athletic training for really bringing a sense of prestige and esteem to the profession.

According to a USA Today article, Woody Hayes and Ernie Biggs are credited with creating the idea of the college football helmet sticker, which has now been adopted by such schools as Georgia, Purdue, UL Lafayette, Clemson, and schools like Arizona, Pitt, and others have used the tradition in the past.

The concept was originally designed as an act of pride for the players, something to strive for, which I believe it remains still today, avoiding a sense of competition and rivalry between players.

Hayes and Biggs introduced the Buckeye Leaves in 1968 along with a total revamp of the Ohio State uniform that included adding names to the back of the jerseys and the famous “Buckeye stripe” to the sleeves, which was also novel to the look of football uniforms.

The 1968 team went on to have a very successful season, going 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten) and concluding with a National Championship victory in the Rose Bowl against No. 2 USC.

The Buckeyes played No. 4 Michigan in Ohio Stadium that year and dealt the Wolverines a resounding 50-14 loss.

Though the criteria for receiving the leaves has changed overtime, the joy and pride in filling up one’s helmet has not. Along with the public display of stickers on game helmets, Buckeye Leaves are also kept track on a chart in the Woody Hayes facility and on www.coachtressel.com.

The current criteria in the Tressel era include categories for the Entire Team, Kick-Off Team, Punt Team, Kick-Off Return Team, Rangers, Field Goal/Extra Point Team, Field Goal/Extra Point Block Team, Defensive Unit, and Offensive Unit.

Accomplishments that merit a sticker include: returning a punt for over 20 yards, successful fake punt for first down, holding opponents to 13 points or less if OSU wins, forcing three turnovers, and converting all short yardage situations among others.

A full list of criteria and awards can be found at http://www.coachtressel.com.

Along with the Buckeye Leaves, there is a second tradition meant to instill pride and honor in successful Buckeye teams.

Ohio State Head Coach Francis Schmidt founded the “Pants Club” in 1934. Schmidt coached the Buckeyes from ’34-’40 with an overall record of 39-16-1 and two Big 10 championships.

During the ’34 season, Schmidt had been asked how the Buckeyes would fare against Michigan and his reply was that “They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!”

This simple statement brought the Wolverines down to a simple level in the mindsets of OSU players and fans, a level at which the Buckeyes could terrorize and defeat their rivals.

Every year since 1934 that Ohio State defeats Michigan, each player and coach receives a miniature pair of gold football pants that can be worn as a lapel pin. The pants are engraved with the recipient’s initials, the year, and the score of the victorious rivalry game.

In 1934, Ohio State defeated Michigan when they played in Columbus with a message-sending score of 34-0. The next year when the Buckeyes traveled up north, they shut out the Wolverines again with a score of 38-0. In both ’36 and ’37 the Buckeyes prevailed in the rivalry game 21-0.

The combined four-year point margin was 114-0.

So here is to hoping we have helmets over-flowing with Buckeye Leaves and a pair of gold pants on the lapel of every Ohio State team member at the conclusion of the anticipated 2008 season.

This article was originally published at www.buckeyecommentary.com.

Ohio State Buckeyes Making Impact in the NFL

Molly Gray — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:52:05 -0400

As football season approaches, talk is not only focused on college football, but also the equally loved and hated NFL. As training camps kick off, I thought I would take a look at some former Buckeyes who are currently active in the NFL.

But first, a look at some Ohio State history in the NFL draft.

There are have been over 300 Buckeyes selected in the NFL draft, with just under 70 first-round picks, and three Buckeyes selected as the first pick of the draft: Tom Cousineau was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in 1979; Dan Wilkinson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1994; and Orlando Pace was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

Ohio State is a close second to USC for the school with the most first round draft picks. Vernon Gholston was the 67th first round Buckeye, and the 11th since Coach Jim Tressel began his reign. USC is now at 71, with the addition of four first round picks in the 2008 Draft.

In the 2004 NFL Draft, 14 Buckeyes were drafted, which became a record number for any school in a single draft. Among those drafted in 2004 were Will Smith and Michael Jenkins.

The most recently drafted include 2007 first round picks Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, fifth round Heisman-winner Troy Smith, and of course 2008 sixth overall pick Vernon Gholston.

There have been 54 former Buckeyes to play in the Super Bowl and six former Buckeyes named to the Hall of Fame.

According to Ohiostatebuckeyes.com, there are currently 47 active Buckeyes on NFL rosters.

I would now like to highlight some of the players currently active in the NFL that have made impacts on their teams and in the league, that have come out of Ohio State. They are in no particular order.

LeCharles Bentley

Bentley was drafted in the second round of the 2002 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He started 14 games of his rookie season and was named Sports Illustrated’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie Team in 2002.

In his second season, Bentley started 13 games and was voted to the Pro Bowl. In 2004, Bentley returned to center, the position he played at Ohio State, and was voted an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 2005, he earned his second Pro Bowl spot, at center, but left the Saints at the end of the season.

Bentley has played for the Cleveland Browns since leaving the Saints, but on June 11, 2008 he asked for and was granted a release from the team and has reportedly been sought after by several teams, having yet to sign with anyone.

Shawn Springs

Shawn Springs was the third overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and played with them until he was signed as a free agent to the Washington Redskins in 2004, where he has remained.

Springs was selected to the Pro Bowl during his second season in the NFL, ’98, after recording 76 tackles, seven interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns as a cornerback.

Though his time in Seattle was injury-ridden, Springs had an exceptional year in 2004 with the Redskins. Springs became the first cornerback in the NFL to lead his team in interceptions (five) and sacks (six). Springs currently plays for Washington.

Terry Glenn

Glenn was drafted seventh overall in the 1996 draft by the New England Patriots. His six touchdowns during his first season helped the Pats reach the Super Bowl that year. Glenn recorded 90 receptions over his rookie year, which at the time was the most ever recorded in a single season by an NFL rookie.

Glenn now plays for the Dallas Cowboys and has had recurring knee problems, causing him to miss the first fifteen games of the 2007 season. However, Glenn seems to be recovering and is on the brink of renewing his contract with the Cowboys.

Dan Wilkinson

Wilkinson was selected as the first overall pick of the 1994 Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, becoming the franchise’s first ever No. 1 draft pick. During his rookie season with the Bengals, he led the team with 19 quarterback hurries, and had a season-high seven tackles against the Indianapolis Colts.

Wilkinson had a breakout season in 1996, when he started the season with eight tackles, a sack and five quarterback hurries against he St. Louis Rams. That year he led the team in sacks with 6.5, and led the defensive line with 44 solo tackles.

Wilkinson also was successful at the Washington Redskins, leading the team in sacks and quarterback pressures several different seasons. He has also played with the Detroit Lions and currently the Miami Dolphins.

Joey Galloway

Galloway was drafted eight overall in the 1995 draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He made an immediate impact for the Seahawks, setting franchise season records for a rookie with 67 receptions, 1,039 receiving yards and three 100-yard games. In 1997 and 1998, he finished with 12 touchdowns and 10 touchdowns respectively.

After a few injury-ridden years with the Dallas Cowboys, Galloway had the best season of his career in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He caught a career high 83 passes for 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. Galloway currently plays for Tampa Bay.

Will Smith

Smith was selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and has played with them ever since.

In 2006, Smith’s first season as a full-time starter, he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Thus far in his four-year career, Smith has played in 62 games, recorded 33.5 sacks, 156 solo tackes, and 13 forced fumbles. During his rookie season he recorded a team-high six forced fumbles.

In 2008, Smith resigned his contract with the Saints for a six-year, $70 million deal, making him the third highest paid defensive end in the NFL.

Ted Ginn Jr.

Ginn was one of eight Buckeyes drafted in the 2007 draft. He went ninth overall to the Miami Dolphins. Against his hometown Browns in Week 6, Ginn had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty, it would have been the first touchdown of his career. He proceeded to notch his first career TD two weeks later against the New York Giants.

In a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Ginn returned a punt 87 yards for his first TD return. The play tied for the longest punt return in franchise history. He was named Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week that week, and later was third alternate to the 2007 Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

Orlando Pace

Pace was the first overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Rams. He was the first offensive lineman to be drafted first overall in 29 years. Pace's quickness of reflexes and speed are unmatched among NFL offensive linemen.

Pace has been voted to seven consecutive Pro Bowls dating back to the 1999 season, his third season in the league. He has also made appearances in Super Bowls XXXIV and XXXVI.

Pace ended the 2006 season early due to injury and was out for the entire 2007 season after re-injuring his triceps in the season opener against the Panthers.

My question to you now is, where do you see the most recent Buckeye draftees—Gholston to the New York Jets, Larry Grant to the San Francisco 49ers, and Kirk Barton to the Chicago Bears—going in their NFL future?

This article was first published at www.buckeyecommentary.com

Dodgers-Rockies: Russell Martin, James Loney Lead Los Angeles Over Colorado

Molly Gray — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:56:04 -0400

The Los Angeles Dodgers prevailed over the Colorado Rockies 16-10 in a run-filled evening at Coors Field in Denver. Between the two teams, there were 38 hits, and surprisingly, 20 of those were from the Rockies’ bats.

But in a rare offensive showing, the Dodgers were able to convert on their 18 hits to overcome Colorado.

Los Angeles started off early with eight runs in the first inning, giving starting pitcher Eric Stults a large cushion. Despite the Dodgers' 11-run lead in the third, Stults could not make it through four innings to qualify for a win.

He went 3.2 innings, giving up three runs. Stults went into the game having only made five starts since June 19, and he sports an ERA of 2.67.

Colorado’s starting pitcher Kip Wells lasted only one-third of an inning, giving up seven hits and eight runs. The Dodgers had five consecutive hits in the first, including two doubles.

Wells was relieved by Ryan Speier, who pitched for 3.2 innings, giving up four more runs to the Dodgers’ bats. Los Angeles sealed their win, however, against Matt Herges with a four-run fifth inning.

The plate leaders on Monday night were Russell Martin, Jeff Kent, and James Loney, who had three hits each. Loney had the lone triple, and there were no home runs from the Dodgers in the entire game.

This success at the plate comes shortly after hitting coach Don Mattingly officially joined the team. Mattingly came to Los Angeles on July 18, after originally getting the job at the beginning of the season upon the arrival of new head coach Joe Torre. Divorce issues kept Mattingly in New York until last Friday.

Despite their dazzling performance Monday night, the Dodgers remain tied for first in the division after the Chicago Cubs failed to convert at the plate to support starting pitcher Rich Harden’s 10 strikeouts, and lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0.

The Dodgers approach game two in the Colorado series on Tuesday night.

Two Home Runs by Nomar Garciaparra Brings Dodgers Tied for First

Molly Gray — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:52:05 -0400

Garciaparra clinched his return on Friday night with two home runs to help the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 in Arizona. It was Garciaparra’s first multi-homer game in six years.

The Dodgers took an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. However, starting pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda was unable to silence the D-Backs’ bats and gave up four in the first.

He then gave up another two runs in the second, after a score-less at bat by Los Angeles, bringing the score of the game to 6-3.

Garciaparra’s first homer in the game came during the third inning to help the Dodgers come back to within one run of Arizona.

However, the initial relief was cut short, when Jason Johnson made with debut with the Dodgers, replacing Kuroda after only two innings. Johnson gave up a run in the third, allowing the D-Backs to stay ahead, at 7-5. The run was his only allowed run for the three innings he pitched Friday night, and the last for Arizona of the game.

The Dodger bullpen was able to hold Arizona to seven runs for the rest of the game with efforts from Joe Beimel, Brian Falkenborg, Hong-Chih Kuo, Chan Ho Park, Cory Wade, and finally Jonathan Broxton in his closing debut.

Broxton took over the closing spot after Takashi Saito was put in the DL.

The Dodgers tied up the game in the seventh inning, after a sixth-inning home run from Garciaparra, and a third home run of the game from Matt Kemp.

The game proceeded to go into extra innings, when James Loney homered off of Doug Slaten in the eleventh the bring the Dodgers up 8-7.

The game ended after Broxton held the Diamondbacks score-less in the bottom of the eleventh.

Their first win after the All Star Break comes in a decisive series between the top two teams in the NL West. Los Angeles and Arizona are now tied for first in the division and the Dodgers have a chance to finally take the lead in game two of the series, tonight, Jul. 19.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Missed Chance to Go Ahead in NL West

Molly Gray — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:08:35 -0400

Despite having a win percentage of .483, after four straight wins, the Dodgers were only a half game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. After Arizona fell to San Diego 4-2, the Dodgers had the perfect chance to take the lead in the division.

San Francisco was able to break those hopes, by beating the Dodgers 5-2 on Saturday July 5.

After the first four batters from Los Angeles the team was dead at the plate.

Matt Kemp, batting leadoff, was robbed of a triple, by a fan who reached over the fence to grab the ball, causing the play to be ruled a ground-rule double.

Andre Ethier batted second, and brought Kemp home with a double. Jeff Kent then singled, advancing and eager Ethier to third.

Ethier scored when, recently returned, Andruw Jones hit a forceout grounder.

Chan Ho Park lasted a strong six innings as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers. He retired 11 straight batters, before giving up a run in the sixth from a Aaron Rowand double to right field.

Middle relief pitcher Joe Beimel was brought out to start the seventh for the Dodgers but was quickly replaced by Brian Falkenborg.

The relief pitching got a little sticky, when Falkenborg allowed Beimel’s earned run to score, an earned run of his own, and loaded two runners for a Benji Molina two-run double against Cory Wade.

In essence, Beimel got one earned run, Falkenborg record three, and Wade came out with none.

Barry Zito pitched seven innings for the Giants, giving up the two runs in the first. Zito was followed by Tyler Walker, and Brian Wilson, who were able to hold the Dodgers hitless in the eight and ninth innings.

This disappointing loss came after a run-filled Dodger victory 10-7 over the Giants on the fourth.

Pending another San Diego victory in Arizona, the Dodgers will have another chance to lead the division on Sunday when they play game three of the San Francisco series.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Win Third Straight Against the Astros, Take Series 3-1

Molly Gray — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:28:12 -0400

The Dodgers’ win streak wasn’t the only one to be prolonged as Chad Billingsley puts away his fourth straight win finishing eight innings up 5-2, which would end up being the final score.

Billingsley, who is 8-7 on the season, brought his ERA to 3.12 with six hits, five strikeouts, and one walk.

Takashi Saito held the game in the ninth for the Dodgers. Saito currently has an ERA of 2.27 over 35.2 innings in 2008.

Los Angeles’ young players started the game off early when a single by Blake DeWitt brought in two, and a double from James Loney brought in one, bringing the first inning to 3-0.

Loney contributed again in the sixth with a home run, following Andre Ethier’s leadoff homer in the third.

The Astros only runs came in the fifth off of an error by Luis Maza that came with two outs against J.R. Towles.

Towles’ double brought in the two unearned runs for Houston.

Maza moved to second after Jeff Kent left the game in the fifth with back stiffness.

The losing pitcher was Brandon Backe, bringing his record to 5-9 on the season with a grueling ERA of 5.22.

Backe gave up all five of Los Angeles’ runs, leaving the game after 6 2/3 innings. The Astros also pitched Geoff Geary, Doug Brocail, and Tim Byrdak, who were all successful in holding the Dodgers to five runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kuroda Has Successful Return in 4-1 Win Over Astros

Molly Gray — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:52:59 -0400

Hiroki Kuroda has spent the last three weeks on the disabled list with tendonitis in his shoulder, after barely making it through two innings against San Diego on Jun. 12.

His return to the active roster with a start tonight, Jul. 2, was successful, as he pitched seven scoreless innings against the Astros in Houston.

The Dodgers’ bats helped out, scoring all four of their runs by the fifth. The single run, a homer by Houston’s Carlos Lee, for the Astros was given up by Dodger reliever Cory Wade.

Matt Kemp began the game with a triple in the leadoff spot, followed by an RBI double by Jeff Kent.

Kent, who had two doubles on the night, brought his season total up to 14 2B and 38 RBI.

Andre Ethier, who has struggled at the plate in recent games, had three hits, including a home run that was shot 438 feet over the outfield wall. In his last 10 games, Ethier had only had four hits and one home run, dating back to the start of the Cleveland home series.

Kuroda’s success comes as a relief after fellow youngster, Clayton Kershaw has underperformed and been sent on options back to the Minor Leagues.

Kershaw was 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA after eight starts with the Dodgers thus far in the 2008 season.

Kuroda, who was signed last winter to a three-year $35.3 million contract, is 4-6 with a 3.73 ERA after 15 starts so far this season.

In other news, unlike Kuroda, Rafael Furcal has not made progress in his recovery and will undergo surgery on his back on Thursday, Jul. 3.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Furcal to Undergo Surgery

Molly Gray — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:01:05 -0400

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal announced Wednesday that he will undergo surgery Thursday for a bulging disc in his lower back.

The injury began late in the 2007 season, causing him to miss the Dodgers' last 12 games. It returned a second time early this season, causing Furcal to miss all but 32 games so far in 2008.

The surgery will be performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, who will attempt to remove all of the ruptured disc pressing on a nerve in Furcal's lower back. Watkins performed a similar surgery on former Dodger Eric Gagne.

Furcal looked promising at first in his Triple-A rehab, with a hit in his first game for Las Vegas. However, the stint proved short-lived when severe pain in his lower back forced Furcal to cut the rehab short and reevaluate surgery as an option.

As recently as June 26, Furcal reported feeling fine and hoping to return to the majors soon.

Furcal is among a large string of Dodgers on the disabled list, including Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, Brad Penny, Scott Proctor, and, most recently, Juan Pierre.

Like many MLB teams, the Dodgers' starting lineup can't seem to stay healthy.

Prior to his injury, Furcal had a batting average of .366, which was good enough to lead the team. He also had five home runs, 12 doubles, and 16 RBI.

Dodgers-Angels: Dodgers Go Hitless in 1-0 Victory

Molly Gray — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:16:57 -0400

Angels' starting pitcher Jered Weaver, who came into the game 7-7, joined forces with Jose Arredondo and threw eight innings of no-hit ball against Chad Billingsley—6-7 prior to the game—and the Dodgers.

The Dodgers' pitching staff: Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito, allowed five hits in nine innings Saturday night.

Both teams gave up two errors.

However, the Dodgers were able to capitalize on a crucial error made by Weaver in the fifth inning. On a slow roller between the mound and first base, Weaver was unable to get a hold on the ball before Matt Kemp reached first.

Kemp then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. He eventually made it home on a sacrifice fly from rookie Blake DeWitt.

This was only the fifth game in baseball history to have an outcome where the losing team succeeded in not giving up a single hit.

The first was in 1964 with losers the Colt .45’s—now known as the Astros—, followed by the Orioles in ’67, the Yankees in ’90, and the Red Sox in ’92.

The atmosphere at Dodgers’ Stadium was fantastic. Everyone knew what a strange game was taking place, as was evident when the seventh and eight innings rolled around and, against typical Dodger Stadium fashion, no one was leaving.

As one of 55,784 fans in attendance in Los Angeles, I can attest to the excitement felt by all Dodgers fans Saturday night.

The pot was only sweetened by the fact that this momentous game came at the expense of our cross-town rivals in red.

Saito did give us a scare in the ninth. He had two outs and two strikes on Howie Kendrick. He then gave up a double to left field, and walked the next batter, Mike Napoli.

However, he was able to complete his twelfth save of the year when he struck out the next batter, pinch-hitter Reggie Willits.

The game leaves the freeway series at 2-0 Dodgers, with a third game on Sunday afternoon. The Dodgers have held the Angels to 18 run-less innings.

Reds-Braves: Big Day for Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Bruce

Molly Gray — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:38:37 -0400

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 599^th career homer Saturday, placing him one away from the rarely reached mark of 600.

The homer came in the Reds’ 8-7 win against the Atlanta Braves. The win came from a 10^th inning homer by 21-year-old Jay Bruce, who made his major-league debut on May 27.

This marked Bruce’s first major-league homer after having two three-hit games and a four-hit game so far this week.

In his five games since debuting, Bruce has batted in three runs with a batting average of .556. Saturday’s home run helped increase his slugging percentage to .722.

The lefty connected on a 2-1 count and sent the ball deep into the right field stands.

The rookie was greeted by his teammates at home plate and welcomed the sound of 38,585 fans chanting his name.

The extra-inning win put the Reds up 2-0 on the series with Atlanta, and 3-2 on the season against the Braves.

Others to score in the game: Phillips homered in the 1^st, Encarnacion batted in Bruce in the 2^nd, Teixiera homered in the 3rd, Johnson had an RBI in the 4^th, Francoeur homered in the 7^th and Ross batted in Freel in the 9^th to keep the Reds alive.

Francisco Cordero pitched the 10^th, procuring his second win of the season.

Atlanta pitcher threw the losing pitch to Bruce in the 9^th, bringing his ERA to 2.51 on the season.

The Braves continued their troubles on the road, falling to 7-20. The Braves are having plenty of trouble closing out so far in 2008. They are 0-5 in extra innings and 2-16 in one-run games overall.

Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester Throws Season's First No-Hitter

Molly Gray — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:13:39 -0400

The Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0 Monday night as 24-year-old left hander Jon Lester threw his first no-hitter.

Lester walked two and struck out nine.

Lester was backed by great defensive plays from center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, first baseman Kevin Youkilis, and shortstop Julio Lugo.

The final out came when Lester struck out Alberto Callaspo on a 1-2 count.

The game was played at Fenway Park in Boston to an enthusiastic crowd, who stood through the entire ninth inning in support of their pitcher.

Lester became only the second pitcher in history to pitch a no-hitter against the Royals.

Lester was diagnosed in 2006 with blood cancer and has now crowned his triumphant return to major league baseball.