Big Ten pre-season favorite........

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

...gee, I wonder who????

PARK RIDGE, IL – The Big Ten Conference announced today that Ohio State has been chosen as the pre-season football favorite in a vote by media members attending the Conference’s media day. The Big Ten announces only the top three teams in its pre-season poll.

The Buckeyes claimed the Big Ten’s first national championship since 1997 with a perfect 14-0 record in the 2002 campaign, including a thrilling double-overtime victory over defending national champion Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State’s first national crown since 1970 was preceded by its 29th Big Ten title, as OSU shared the Conference championship with Iowa after posting an unblemished League mark for the first time since 1979. Jim Tressel, the 2002 National Coach of the Year, returns 18 starters this season, including all 11 regulars on the offensive side of the ball.

Michigan 2nd
Wisconsin 3rd

[leftist_rebel1569]

1. Well...they got it all wrong!

Gophers are going to kick ass this year!

Of course, I say that EVERY year...

Edit: Did I mention I hate OSU? CUZ I DO!

[Ohio Dem]

15. Lots of people hate OSU.

We're used to it.

[Lefty48197]

2. 11 Oct 2003 - Buckeyes travel to Mad town

A very un friendly place for Buckeyes. Who's got an extra ticket?

[Ohio Dem]

4. VERY unfriendly.

Nothing like getting pelted with shit. The boys better keep their helmets on, even when they're not playing.

I'm worried about that game.

[Lefty48197]

6. The Bucks have an extra week off to let their fear of Wisconsin build

I think they'll choke. Word is that Michigan players get pelted with 'stuff' in Columbus. Think the Badger fans are going undercover?

[Ohio Dem]

8. There are idiots everywhere.

I'm sure players get pelted everywhere, but SI actually did an article once on Wisconsin fans pelting OSU players.

Will they choke? If OSU loses, it won't be much of a choke. Wisconsin's a good team playing the defending Champions at home. What more motivation do you need?

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

9. OSU/Wisconsin history

2002 - OSU 19, Wisc 14
2001 - Wisc 20, OSU 17
2000 - OSU 23, Wisc 7
1999 - Wisconsin 42, OSU 17 (Bucks were up 17-0, ouch)
1998 - DNP
1997 - DNP
1996 - OSU 17, Wisc 14
1995 - OSU 27, Wisc 16
1994 - OSU 24, Wisc 3
1993 - Tie, 14-14

Last 10 years,
Ohio State 5 wins
Wisconsin 2 wins
One tie

I thought it was closer than that.

[Ohio Dem]

11. I thought it was closer, too.

Man, I still remember that blocked Wisky FG to maintain the tie. OSU was undefeated at the time, and I thought they were meat. That blocked FG was pretty sweet, but a win would have been better, of course.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

5. Wisconsin/OSU

Hasn't been a home field advantage for either team in 7 or 8 years. That's what makes those games so great.

That one would be a bigger rivalry if it weren't always so early in the season.

[Ohio Dem]

3. Oh yeah, baby!!!!!

But first things first. Lets worry about Washington, then San Diego State, then North Carolina State, and Bowling Green.

Then, we can worry about the Big Ten. By the way, I'd rather win the Big Ten than the MNC. It means more to me. Of course, you can't win the MNC without winning the Big Ten first, so maybe that's why I think that way.

Your thoughts?

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

7. Washington first

You know, I was scared of Washington...but I think Neuheisel has really screwed them. The focus isn't on the team and isn't on the huge task of facing the defending National Champions in their own stadium. The focus is on the head coach instead.

However, the Buckeyes should be sponsored by Target this year, because that logo is already painted on every Buckeye jersey all year long.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

10. At this time....

....let us recall the greatest moment of the last season.

[Ohio Dem]

12. Nice.

I sent you the link to the video of that, didn't I?

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

13. Yep

Holy Buckeye!

What that video doesn't show is one of my favorite moments.

We scored the big TD against Purdue, and as the celebrating players were coming back up the sidelines to the OSU bench, a Purdue booster (looked about 60 years old) was just PISSED OFF and yelling right at Jenkins. The camera caught him twice, and it looked like if he were 20 years younger, he'd have been throwing fists.

I always wanted to read his lips to see what he said, but he had a mustache and it was too difficult.

[Ohio Dem]

14. You can't blame him.

They thought they had us. I know OSU fans that would react the same way.

So did several other teams (think they had us), but it's the final score that counts.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

17. I know

That's exactly how I would have reacted too...but it's still a favorite moment to watch.

[northzax]

23. if you're worried about bowling green

it's going to be a long, long season.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

16. Final 4 games

Looking back atthe season tonight...I had forgotten just how much of a roller-coaster ride that team took us on.

Look at the last 4 games.

Miami - Game not decided until Ken Dorsey threw incomplete on the final play.
Michigan - Game not decided until John Navarre threw an INT on the final play.
Illinois - Game not decided until Jon Beutjer throws incomplete on the final play.
Purdue - Game decided when Chris Gamble intercepts with 45 seconds to play.

The Minnesota game was before those (34-3), but the two games before Minnesota were no easier.

Penn State - Game decided when PSU fails on 4th down with 2:13 to play.
Wisconsin - Game decided when Krnezel runs a VERY wide sweep on 4th down, running out the clock. If Krenzel doesn't go so wide, Wisconsin may have had one second left for a hail mary.

And of course, don't forget Will Allen's interception in the end zone with 23 seconds left against Cincinnati.

7 games decided in the final seconds....yikes.

[Ohio Dem]

18. Yeah, I had to see a doctor after the season was over.

Not really, but my stomach still hurts a little.

[sasquatch]

19. I thought the Buckeyes were playing the Badgers at home this year

They played at Madison last year why in the hell would they play there again.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

21. 2-year contracts

Same thing haoppened with PSU/OSU in the mid-90s.

Teams schedule home-away series in 2-year deals. Last year was the 2nd year of a 2-year deal, and it just happens that the first year of the next deal is at Madison.

It sucks, but it happens to everybody in the Big Ten now and again (except the BIG rival games. Those are carefully scheduled)

[Best_man23]

20. Will be a Top 5 Team with Clarett in the Fold

Enjoy Maurice this year, Buckeye fans, because if this season's performance is anything close to last years, Mr. Clarett may be headed off to play on Sunday afternoons in 2004.

[AngryWhiteDemocrat]

22. Yeah, you may be right.

I worry about Maurice on many levels.

HELL of an athlete (keep in mind he missed 4 games last year and still became OSU's all-time leading freshman RB), but his head's not always in the right place.

Jim Tressell is the right coach to keep him in line and thinking straight, though. Keeping him out of the Illinois game to save him for Michigan was gutsy, especially when the Illinois game went into OT. Gotta respect and trust a coach who can have those decisions under his belt.