Open Thread: 2009 Fiesta Bowl
2009 Fiesta Bowl: 10 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. 3 Texas Longhorns
Where: Tempe, Arizona | Time/TV/Radio: 8 p.m. today, WJW Ch. 8, WKNR AM/850 | Line: Texas (-8)
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WFNY Related Posts:
Buckeyes vs. Texas: Not What I was Hoping For | WSJ: Ohio Makes the Best Coaches | Beanie Wells: Showmanship or Setting us up? | Fiesta Bowl “Bullet” Preview
Other Related Blog Posts:
Cry Me A Cuyahoga River | Eleven Warriors | Men of Scarlet and Gray
The Other Guys:
Is it bad that we’re just hoping for something respectable? Part of me thinks we can pull this out with defense and running the ball well, but the rest of me thinks that part is delusional.
You guys know the drill. Go Bucks!
January 5th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Go Bucks… For the Love of God Please Go Bucks!!!
January 5th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Go Bucks!!!
January 5th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
All I want for my birfday is a decent Buckeyes showing.
My life has become sad. So I will drink.
Alex Boone NK!
January 5th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Todd Boeckman’s a Senior Captain NK
January 5th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Oh… And I’ll be following along on Twitter as well.
@WFNYScott
January 5th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
What is line Texas -8?
Go bucks!
January 5th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Sadly I’m predicting 38-20 loss with an OSU garbage TD just to make it closer. However I don’t see this as that miserable a season as some would make it sound. Go Bucks!
January 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
On nights like these, I am not a Michigan fan. I am a Big 10 fan. Though I can’t bring myself to actually say, “Go Bucks,” you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Anyone else pissed at the TV coverage? They’ve already missed most of two plays showing replays or meaningless crap, and have had problems at least once updating the down/yards counter.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
It’s starting to appear that the saying is true…
Big 12 defenses are so bad that they make the Big 12 offenses look extraordinary … except Texas’s D-Line is legit
Hopefully this stay true the rest of the game
January 5th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Oh my god, Matt Vasgersian could not sound less interested in this game. How is this man nationally employed?
January 5th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Well, so far, so good. Bucks looking respectable against Texas. 5 and some change left in the 2nd and we’re still up.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Pray for lightning now. Bucks up at the half
January 5th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Great half by the Bucks. A little disappointing to only be up by 3 but I’ll take it. Huge pick by the defense to end the half..
Just for discussion, why does Pryor keep running out of bounds instead of getting the first or extra yards? I know he’s preserving his body buy I’ve counted 3 times where it has definitely cost us either a first down or field goal position…
January 5th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
i’ll take 6-3… wish we could’ve capitalized on the field position and red zone trips… but compared to the last 3 big games…
January 5th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Big opening drive here in the half for the defense…if they can keep Texas off the board here, I’d say we’re looking good.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Colt McCoy’s mom was reffing on that last personal foul call. Brutal.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Yeah, that was just a stupid dumb roughing call. I about yelled at the TV when the announcer said “you can see right there he hit McCoy in the head with the helmet” – when he drove his helmet into McCoy’s FREAKING SHOULDER.
Ugh. The offense needs to come out here…although I’m afraid we’re about to witness the traditional “big game lack of 2nd half adjustment” we’ve come to know so well these past few years.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
yea so let’s see… the refs finally call pass interference (it was there, but no worse than what we’ve had done to robo and hartline without calls)… give a gift spot on fake punt… give a bogus helmet to helmet gift…
what’s the over under on holding calls on our offensive drive?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
F.Y.I: Not to sound like a complete $#@& but the game is actually being held in Glendale, AZ not Tempe.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Ugh…3 and out?
Get your drinks ready folks…this is going to get ugly quick.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Remember that 3 and out, people. If the Bucks don’t recover here in the second half, we can all point to that possession as the one where momentum was pushed over the edge to Texas.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
time to go to bed… we’ve seen this story before
January 5th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
And some were wondering why ticket sales were slow for Ohio State fans…
January 5th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Bucks D didn’t fold there. Now the offense needs an adjustment.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
took the refs long enough to call the most obvious intentional grounding i’ve seen in awhile.
so nate williams really did help his friend with the shoplifting thing? or are we going bobby bowden on punishments?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
OK, caught a break there, decent field position.
Show of hands here folks…who had OSU giving up only 10 points 40 minutes into the game? I’d say the defense is more or less doing their job.
Time for the offense to step up here.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Wow, this Ohio State team coming out flat after halftime in a big game?! I’m stunned–stunned I say! Exactly what is it the vest does at halftime–Kenny G and incense? The world-renowned pan flute stylings of Zamfir and a nice bottle of chardonnay? Pathetic
January 5th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
step up? it’s time for someone other than Beanie to get off the plane
January 5th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
That’s it…barring a pick-six, this game is over.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
oh my god… i think i’d rather have romeo crennel calling the plays than jim tressel
January 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
And el zilcho on drive number two… Tressel tried something different, but that was completely ineffective. Is it Tressel or is it a lack of execution?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
This is starting to bore me… the lack of any offense by the bucks is really getting old
January 5th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
This might be the only fanbase in america that can be so beaten down that a 4 point deficit in FOOTBALL seems hopeless.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Craig – I hate to say it, but I’m starting to fear it’s Tressel. When was the last game you saw this team play where they 1) made a halftime adjustment and 2) had it be effective.
This is more or less the same offense we saw in the first half – fewer touches for Beanie, but about the same. Texas is ready for it now…they need to adjust to Texas defense, and they’re just missing everything.
The D is falling apart now too.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I think it also doesn’t help we’ve been forced to watch the Browns not score a touchdown since Nov 17th
January 5th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Why must Ohio teams give glimmers of hope, only to crush their fans’ hopes and dreams? Why must the vest be a second-half joke? Why does this senior class lack any semblence of pride? These are the questions I will ponder as I go to bed and stop watching this sorry excuse for football.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
that was a disgrace… now it is time for bed… to the seniors of the 08-09 buckeye football team – congratulations on the 4 gold pants, but that’s about the positive memory i’ll have of the group.
well that and malcolm jenkins or lil animal tearing things up as a brown.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Another year where I will watch the second half in bed just awaiting the nightmares when I am finally able to fall asleep. How many times will it happen??!?!?!?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Why does Texas have a #12 on Offense and a #12 on defense?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
There has got to be something about not playing for like a year before these games that just kills our ability to be effective for an entire game.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Raise your hand if you have given up?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
*raises a hand with a drink in it*
…And then Boeckman throws that pass.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
“to the seniors of the 08-09 buckeye football team – congratulations on the 4 gold pants, but that’s about the positive memory i’ll have of the group.”
The 4 straight top 10 finishes? 4 straight BCS games? OSu fans have become very spoiled. We sound like a bunch of Yankee fans.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Who is this Boeckman kid? he looks ok.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
oh it’s field goal time…. romeo tressel
January 5th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
January 5th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
fear not mo wells is in the game for the 3rd down
January 5th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Craig…I was about to say – here’s a fair question…
Does this game look any different (in a positive fashion) if Boeckman takes the majority of the snaps?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Lars – Romeo Tressel cuts way too close man.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
OK… but that puts the Buckeyes down only one score, technically… that is smarter than any of those questionable Romeo field goals.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
@ at Craig – 1 score OR, better yet, 3 field goals
January 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Can we at least claim a moral victory that the defense has eliminated Texas’ claim to the national championship? They needed a demonstrative handling of Ohio State tonight, and they’re not getting it. Regardless how close the championship game is, that has to be definitive at this point, right?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
@Lars… I bet you are a hit at parties… let’s go Bucks defense… maybe a turnover?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
BTW, I was kidding Lars… I am still laughing.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
way to not cover ‘mccoy’s favorite target, his roommate’ shipley on 3rd and 1… oh well… still hard to blame the defense at all, they’ve played the entire 2nd half and have to be discouraged.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
oh much like the buckeyes, i took no offense.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
OK, this is three years in a row now, so I think we can call it a trend…what is it about the Big Ten in general, and Ohio State specifically, where it’s seemingly impossible to defend against a hurry up offense? Florida did it, LSU did it, now Texas is doing in. At the end of the first half you could see it – they can’t handle hurry up.
Is it the pound it out, slow the game down nature of the Big Ten that hurts defenses here? Or is it just something that OSU is missing?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
it’s sec and big 12 speed
January 5th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Mo wells? are you kidding me?
oh well… only 2 more FGs (it’s 3rd and 12)
January 5th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
heh… make up call
January 5th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Lars – does that mean it’s just a matter of building a defense for the conference rather than anything else? And what’s the solution here – recruit for a national competition? Try and build a team around national teams rather than the conference?
In other words, how do we fix this?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Finally…they’ve been setting up the Boeckman to Pryor thing ALL night.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
ok… that was actually pretty sweet…
is it too early for 2?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Holy cow.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Going for 2 was the right call…extra point or miss 2 point, still need a FG to win.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
First Ohio TD since Buffalo, right?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I think Cincy had one in there somewhere…I mean, they had to, right?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Isn’t Cincy in Kentucky?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Go Horns!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Not going to work here.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Cincitucky doesn’t count.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Nice Job D … LOCKED IT DOWN
January 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Gatorade must be a sponsor. Long closeups there.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
If I have to see another RamBox commercial I’m going to find every truck and blow them up
January 5th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
phewwwwww
January 5th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
My heart just exploded.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Ballard bailed the bucks out there. Boeckman threw that low.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I’m taking everything bad I’ve said about Todd last year … clean slate in 09
January 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
memo to Browns just say no to Beanie Wells
NOTE TO ROMEO TRESSEL – IT IS OK TO PLAY FOR 3 NOW
January 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Don’t worry, the Bucks own the Fiesta Bowl.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Um…I know this is a family site, so I hope it’s OK if I say…
HOLY CRAP!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
YES!!!!!!!
come on D
January 5th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
T Freaking D
January 5th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Left them a lot of time… defense please…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Offensive Pass interference…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Un-BE-lievable.
Time for the senior D to step up.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Wait..mutual pass interference? What? Is that even possible?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
when was the last time you heard of offsetting pass interference?
looked like it was all d
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
You have to be kidding me…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Double Pass Interference…. HUH?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
alright… who let ryan hamby back on the team?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I’ve never in my life seen offsetting pass interference.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Please put some pressure on Colt… please…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
tick tick tick
January 5th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
man i thought russell picked that
January 5th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Uhoh…
C’mon D
January 5th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Please please please…. 4th and 3…. please
January 5th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
That spot will be reviewed….
January 5th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
he’s short! PLEASE BE SHORT
January 5th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
oh that’s not the spot… they just moved it ahead a yard
January 5th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow…what a terrible terrible spot.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
yea i think he got the 1st unfortunately… but you’ve got to challenge it so good job tress
January 5th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
If he was juggling it is the Bucks only chance.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
OF COURSE
so lame
January 5th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Keep it clean folks…
January 5th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
thank god this wasn’t a championship game… as it is, i’m not caring that much.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
there’s the TB we know and love.. and the line we know and love
January 5th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Moral Victories: We didn’t get blown out and Texas can’t claim they deserve a national championship any more … and I got to find out the glory that is Colt McCoy’s girlfriend… even if I do think he’s as smart as a box full of rocks
January 5th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Isn’t it ironic that the winningest team in history lost their last three bowl games?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
no … Michigan still does suck that’s not really ironic at all
January 5th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
That WR fumbled the ball on that fourth down. Spot was terrible. Ball should of been spotted where the ball went out of bounds (not in his hands at the time). Completely blown call. Gift win for Texas
January 6th, 2009 at 12:11 am
What a great game played by OSU. That is why they are my favorite Big 10 team, and why I still have my OSU hat from my 1984 trip to Cleveland in my home in Texas.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:44 am
Well at least these seniors got 5 pairs of gold pants – 4 for the Michigan victories, and 1 pair of Brady Quinn’s Notre Dame pants for whuppin’ the Irish in their only bowl win.
I actually thought the Buckeyes acquitted themselves pretty well tonight, considering they were a large underdog. Would have been nice to score with less than 2 minutes, but you can’t blame the coaches for calling a running play there when the guy goes in untouched. Game was ultimately lost in the 3rd quarter when the offense couldn’t execute a positive play and left the defense on the field and out of gas. Unfortunately a valiant 4th quarter comeback wasn’t enough.
As for this Texas team, they can say whatever they want, but they did a pretty lousy job of showing they were the best team in the country. I think we can all agree that this Buckeye team is highly flawed on both sides of the ball, and yet it took everything Texas had PLUS a bunch of lucky breaks from the refs (e.g., that bogus roughing call against McCoy before the first TD, executing a fake punt, that spot on 4th down, etc.) for the ‘Horns to pull this one off.
I think this all bodes pretty badly for Oklahoma on Thursday in the only bowl game that truly matters. The Big 12 so far has been exposed in the postseason as a league that lacked any real defense. Even in the two victories – Missouri over Northwestern and tonight – the Big 12 teams needed OT and a last second TD to get wins over teams from the underachieving Big 10.
My prediction – Florida 31, Oklahoma 17
January 6th, 2009 at 12:47 am
I really can’t believe that the defense was the side to let the Bucks down.
Granted, the offense left a lot to be desired at times, but they scored 21, which I didn’t think would happen.
My biggest issue with the game is the following: How can you not adjust to a no-huddle offense? The second-to-last Texas drive was ALL no huddle. They marched down the field. You have to at least plan for that with the last drive coming up. No – the D line still wasn’t set, the linebackers were moving around through their orchestrated fake blitzes, and the safeties got caught too far up on the quick slant.
IN GAME ADJUSTMENTS. It’s been a glaring problem. Yes, the offense brought in Boeckman more and he rocked it. He really did – and I was really glad he did. Defensive adjustments need to be made, and that’s the big difference I see between the Big Ten and other conferences. The conservative nature of even the defenses detracts from the defense because it’s being played in a reactionary mode. First half OSU was blitzing and getting at McCoy. Second half they start throwing quicker passes and the hits on McCoy are late hits, and the back D isn’t where they should be. Same goes for Penn State – ran a cover 3 all game and got rocked.
I was really happy knowing the Bucks were in it, but at the same time, I’m shocked the D fell short. It’s a better showing than I expected, but at the same time it’s almost more dissapointing.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:05 am
The D was clearly gassed in that 3rd quarter. We don’t have the depth that the SEC does on that D-line to keep coming all game long. I think Tress could have called a TO to give them a break. I saw they weren’t set on the TD, so he must have as well.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Can’t really be too upset at the in-game adjustments – the Bucks were winning with 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, and the defense got the stops it needed too until that last drive of course. That Boeckman to Robiskie bomb on 3rd down to start the 4th saved the game, if that’s incomplete it might become a blowout. We can’t be too mad about the outcome of this game, maybe the refs blew that 4th down call, but Texas has so much offensive talent that OSU just can’t match. Keeping them to 24 points is a miracle in it of itself. Good to see some fight in the team too, they gave up against USC in the 2nd half but after getting down 2 scores in this game they punched Texas in the mouth and almost came out with a W
January 6th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Just some thoughts from my spot down here at the bottom of the Big 10:
1) I thought that was one of the best fourth quarters I’ve seen the Buckeyes play in a big game in awhile.
2) Sorry, guys, but that fourth down spot was correct. He caught the ball at the first down marker, and then reached it ever further forward before getting tackled. The second roughing-the-passer, however, is another story altogether. As for the double PI call on the 2-pointer, real-time it looked like Pryor pushed off big time; the replay looked like illegal contact on the DB followed by a push-off on Pryor. I guess I understand the double-call.
3) To that end, can someone explain the math of going for 2 up 21-17? For all it’s worth, lining up and punting the ball out of the stadium there has as much an effect on what Texas needs to do as a 2-pointer or a PAT. For the life of me, I didn’t get why they were bothering to go for 2. If anything, it increases the likelihood of an INT that gives Texas 2 points (much more likely than a blocked/returned PAT).
4) As a Browns fan, I renew my wanting nothing to do with Beanie Wells at the top of the first round. Sorry, but dude is Ki-Jana Carter waiting to happen.
5) I thought Alex Boone acquitted himself fairly well. After the holding call early on, I don’t remember hearing Orapko’s name called hardly at all the rest of the night. AB also made some nice pulls on blocks for Wells and Herron.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:00 am
DP-
3) The 2 point play is ultimately risk free (likelihood of a TO returned for 2 is pretty slim) with a chance for a big reward. That reward is being able to sell out on the PAT attempt to get the block to prevent the win and send it to OT.
5) Didn’t Rak beat Boone on the sack that prevented a drive for a FG? The Buckeyes had a chance to make Texas pay for their celebrating and a guy that only has one move (sprint to the outside) beat the Tackle (which i’m almost 100 percent sure was Boone) for a heart breaking sack. But indeed most of your point about Boone is correct, played a great game overall.
One thing that makes me laugh about the end of that game…
Remember the old saying “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning” Well i guess staying aggressive has its downfalls too. Oh well, Ohio State earned some redemption in the fact that no one expected the game to be that close, none the less be up with under 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter.