Ohio State wins Sugar Bowl Thriller

In a game that featured both the best and worst of Buckeye football,Ohio State sprinted to the lead like a precocious two year old racehorse flashing their speed in a sprint and then staggered to the wire similar to a two year old racehorse going their longest distance in an attempt to outrun their pedigree.
In any event,the "never defeated an SEC team in a bowl" stat that ESPN has pounded for the last month is dead as Ohio State held off a furious late Arkansas charge for a 31-26 Sugar Bowl trophy.
The Buckeyes return to action on September 3rd at Ohio Stadium against the Akron Zips.

Buckeye Leaves

1) The last second interception by reserve defensive lineman Solomon Thomas that put the game finally away seemed to me to be more of a relief than a thrill.
Normally,I would have been off the couch screaming on such a play,but as the lovely Cherie told me as the Buckeyes used the kneel down "this doesn't feel the way a big win usually does,does it?".
It feels better now,but less than 12 hours ago-I know exactly how she felt.

2) This game featured the one glaring weakness in Jim Tressel as a coach-the button down,reign it in aspect of holding a lead.
In other words playing not to lose instead of to win.
Against good programs,that often can be a self fulfilling prophecy..

3) Quick aside,I like Colt McCoy,but if you watch Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett throw the ball and not want him as a Brown,I have to wonder about your thoughts.
What an arm!
The lovely Cherie even was stunned watching Mallett fire a deep ball effortlessly for what seemed to be miles.
I know Andrew Luck is the darling right now and I like him a lot too,but when you play your home games in Cleveland,an arm like this can go a LONG way in your gameplan.
I don't even remember a Cleveland passer with this type of arm and that includes the only candidate the howitzer like arm of Derek Anderson.
I doubt the Browns would go this way,but if A.J. Green is off the board and I was running the Cleveland draft-Ryan Mallett would be my pick.
Colt McCoy or no Colt McCoy.

4) The biggest reason that the Buckeyes won this game?
The receivers of Arkansas.
I counted six passes that were dropped by Arkansas pass catchers with one in the end zone resulting in the Hogs settling for a field goal and another on the first play of the game would have likely been a long touchdown pass.

5) The injury to corner Chimdi Chekwa's wrist was huge and removed the Buckeyes best defensive back from the game,but considering the replacements were freshmen.I didn't think the newcomers played too badly.The experience for those players will be important for next season with Chekwa moving on.

6) Terrelle Pryor was the winner of the MVP,but I thought the best player was clearly Cameron Heyward.
Heyward battled through an elbow and hamstring that he injured in the game and yet still was badgering Ryan Mallett all evening.
The flashy pick for the award was not the right pick.

7) Nice game by Dane Sanzenbacher as well with his fumble recovery in the end zone of a Pryor fumble and a excellent catch for a score against tight coverage.
The senior always played hard and on a team that needs a Jordan Shipley type possession receiver,I could see him sticking in the NFL.

8) Terrelle Pryor played well and with the fortunate exception of the first period fumble didn't make the mistake that turns games around.
Pryor's scrambling was running was the only part of the OSU offense that did anything in the second half and might have made the difference in taking enough time off the clock in the end.

9) The blocked punt looked to me that the Arkansas player might have been able to scoop the ball up and romp into the end zone for a game winning score,but two things to remember-replays show the he was a bit off balance and he might have thought considering that that falling on the ball was the better idea.
Keep in mind,most of the time that coaches drill "fall on the ball" into their defensive players heads and the smart play was to fall on the ball with Arkansas being out of time outs.
Also,and I cannot be sure of this,but I believe that the player that blocked/recovered the boot was one of the two Hogs that wiped each other out on the Pryor fumble that resulted in a Sanzenbacher  TD recovery.
Considering all that,tough to be too hard on the player...

10) Boom Herron rushed for 80+ yards and a score,but his fumble and later inability to get a first down allowed Arkansas two late game attempts to win the contest.
I just never can understand why Jim Tressel thinks so highly of what I consider to be an average back to the detriment of better backs on the bench...

11) I did think Herron's safety was a bad one,how many times have you seen similar plays throughout the years and it is ALWAYS called forward progress.
Just a bit of consistency,please!

12) Onto the suspensions,which I bet will be reduced to at least four games (gives the returnees the entire Big 10 schedule) or possibly three.
The non-conference list has games against Akron and Toledo at home,a visit to Miami and a home game against Colorado before the fifth game starts the Big Ten season against Michigan State.


13) The biggest issues to me are these-Who replaces Terrelle Pryor at QB?
Veteran Joe Bauserman or heralded freshman Braxton Miller?
Who gets the carries for Boom Herron and hopefully plays so well that Jim Tressel wakes up a bit?
Jordan Hall,Jaamal Berry or Carlos Hyde all return and there could be a freshman entry although Tressel usually goes with the older player unless a huge difference is seen.
Big questions to be answered,especially with a road game in Miami with the lesser experienced players in the lineup.

14) Finally,one last note-Mark May-Thanks for showing again just how little you know about the game.ESPN would improve overnight with the removal of May,who seems to think the Big East is superior to many including the Big Ten.

Photo Credits:Marvin Fong-Cleveland Plain Dealer