Tag: Ohio State Buckeyes (Page 22 of 22)

      Best and worst college football coaches for the buck

      August 14, 2008 /

      FORBES.com put together a collection of the best and worst college football coaches for the money.

      Jim Tressel
      No. 1 Most Underpaid
      Ohio State University, Buckeyes
      Conference: Big Ten
      Score: 122
      Record since 2005: 33-5 (1-2 in BCS bowl games)
      His teams have finished ranked in the top five in five of the past six years, while his $2.6 million salary was lower than eight of his peers last season.

      Pete Carroll
      No. 4 Most Underpaid
      University of Southern California, Trojans
      Conference: Pac-10
      Score: 114
      Record since 2005: 34-5 (2-1 in BCS bowl games)
      Carroll has led the Trojans to unmatched success this decade, including two national championships, yet he is 14% underpaid despite being college football’s highest earning coach at $4.4 million.

      Kirk Ferentz
      No. 1 Most Overpaid
      University of Iowa, Hawkeyes
      Conference: Big Ten
      Score: 71
      Record since 2005: 19-18 (1-2 in bowl games)
      Ferentz has posted a mediocre record over the last three seasons but still pocketed $3.4 million last year.

      Charlie Weis
      No. 3 Most Overpaid
      University of Notre Dame, Fighting Irish
      Conference: none
      Score: 84
      Record since 2005: 22-15 (0-2 in BCS bowl games)
      Last year’s three-win season–the worst for the Fighting Irish in 44 years–was the second in a 10-year contract extension for Weis, reportedly worth between $30 and $40 million over the length of the deal.

      Interesting figures. It’s hard to blame a university like Notre Dame for doling out big bucks to try and turn around the football program. At the same time, ND’s season last year was a joke and Weis had more than a few boneheaded calls.

      One thing Forbes forgot to mention about Tressel is that he’s absolutely owned Michigan during his tenure – something that means even more to Buckeye fans than finishing in the top 5 every year.

      College Football

      Former USC Trojan Carson Palmer rips Ohio State

      July 22, 2008 /

      Former USC Trojan and current Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Carson Palmer had some choice words for the Ohio State football program in a recent interview with a Los Angeles radio station.

      I cannot stand the Buckeyes. It’s amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the crap I gotta put up with being back there.

      I just can’t wait for two years from now when SC comes to the ‘Shoe and hopefully we’ll have a home game that weekend, and I can go up there and watch us pound on them in their own turf.

      I’m really getting sick of it, and I just can’t wait for this game to get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin’ and go back to the Big Ten.

      Shortly afterwards, Palmer did his best defensive back impersonation and backpedaled:

      “I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too. I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry unless both sides are great teams.”

      In the immortal words of White Goodman (Ben Stiller) from Dodgeball: You don’t crap where you eat, Palmer. You might be a Trojan through and through, but you make your earning in the state that Woody Hayes built. Better choose your words carefully.

      Actually, I love what Palmer said (pre-backpedal). Current and former USC players should hate Ohio State and vice versa. Rivalries are part of what college football is all about.

      College Football

      Michigan is still #2 in the BCS, but USC and Florida might advance

      November 19, 2006 /

      Will this be the season that makes everyone give up on the BCS in favor of a playoff system? One can only hope. While Ohio State is the undisputed #1 team in the country, there is little consensus on which team should be #2.

      Despite Michigan’s loss to Ohio State, Michigan is hanging on as the #2 team in the BCS standings. Their lead over #3 USC, however, is very small. Thus the Trojans will likely leapfrog Michigan if they can win their remaining games against Notre Dame and UCLA. Michigan doesn’t have any more games, so the Wolverines don’t have any more opportunities to impress the voters. Also, if USC loses and Florida wins the SEC championship, the Gators will also have the opportunity to leapfrog Michigan. I won’t even bother discussing scenarios for Arkansas and West Virginia.

      Those arguing in favor of Michigan are focusing on the three-point margin of defeat in their road game against #1 Ohio State. Those arguing against Michigan can focus on the three Ohio State turnovers that made the game close. Without a couple of errant snaps by Ohio State’s center, the Buckeyes could have won that game by three touchdowns. They torched Michigan’s celebrated defense for 42 points and over 500 yards.

      Neither USC nor Florida has been overly impressive this season, but each will have impressive victories on their resumes if they can win out. It’s hard to argue that they should not get a shot at the Buckeyes.

      Of course, this mess makes it clear that college football needs a playoff. Urban Meyer’s opinion on the matter is probably shared by many:

      Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday a rematch between Michigan and Ohio State would be cause for immediate change to the BCS.

      “If that does happen, all the [university] presidents need to get together immediately and put together a playoff system,” he said. “I mean like now, January or whenever to get that done.”

      He’ll probably feel the same way if USC and Florida both win out but USC gets the #2 ranking over Florida.

      The BCS works great when there are two teams who rise above the rest of the pack. The Ohio State/Miami match-up and the Texas/USC match-up from recent years come to mind. For that reason, the BCS is better than the old system that prevented these games from taking place. But in most years, the selection of the #2 team is very difficult. Fans deserve a playoff system.

      College Football

      College Football Wrap: Ohio State 42, Michigan 39

      November 18, 2006 /

      The hype, these teams and this contest did not disappoint. The two best teams in college football played Saturday and in my opinion, the better team won, too.

      Ohio State had a better game plan, was more physical and out-executed Michigan. Think about this: the Buckeyes coughed up three turnovers, which led to 10 points. Take away two bad snaps by a club-handed OSU center and the Buckeyes win by at least two touchdowns.

      Everything that was wrong with Michigan’s defense last year was on display again in this game. Poor run defense, tackling and dumb mistakes plagued UM for four quarters. The tackling and dumb mistakes were on the Wolverines, but credit must be given to Jim Tressel and the OSU offense for the way Michigan’s run defense was shredded for touchdown runs of 52 (Chris Wells) and 56 (Antonio Pittman) yards. Tressel used spread formations with four and sometimes five receivers to get the Wolverines’ talented group of linebackers back on their heels. That created gaping holes for Wells and Pittman and UM did the rest with shoddy tackling. This was a defensive unit that was giving up just over 29 yards on the ground per game coming into this contest and left Columbus surrendering 202.

      Troy Smith should have cemented his claim for the Heisman Trophy tonight. While I thought he was a little careless on the two OSU fumbles (although both not his fault), Smith picked apart the UM secondary, was accurate the entire game and displayed great mobility getting outside the pocket. Smith threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns while connecting with playmaker Ted Ginn Jr. eight times for 103 yards and a 39-yard touchdown. Both Smith and Ginn got Morgan Trent turned around like a top on more than a handful of occasions. I thought the stat of the game for Smith was how he connected with eight different receivers, including four different teammates on his touchdown throws.

      Mike Hart and Chad Henne should not be overlooked in Michigan’s loss. Hart rushed for 140 yards on 23 carries and scored three times. Henne, although not as accurate as Smith was, threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Mario Manningham (six catches, 85 yards) was superb too, although OSU did a nice job of keying on him after the opening drive. While I thought UM was extremely balanced on offense, I’m surprised that they didn’t run Hart even more in effort to keep OSU’s offense off the field. Although you can’t argue with the passing lanes that were created by offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s scheme, which allowed the Wolverines to pass more than they usually do. While I thought the Buckeye secondary would play a lot better, give credit to Henne for throwing a couple of frozen ropes.

      In the end, the Buckeyes played fundamental ball and had a tremendous game plan on offense to remain balanced. While UM will kick itself for not making better adjustments after giving up 28 points in the first half, the effort given for the late Bo Schembechler shouldn’t be overlooked.

      College Football

      Coaches rank Ohio State #1, Texas #2 in preseason poll

      August 4, 2006 /

      Coming off a dominating win over Notre Dame last season in the Fiesta Bowl, the Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #1 in the coaches preseason poll. Defending national champions Texas is ranked #2, followed by USC and Notre Dame tied for the #3 spot.

      Ohio State has to overhaul its defense with the graduation of several stars, including the entire starting linebacking trio of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. But the Buckeyes have talented players waiting in the wings, and they return nearly all of their key players on offense, including quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr., both Heisman Trophy candidates.

      Defending national champion Texas (13-0) is second after receiving 11 first-place votes and 1,378 points. But the Longhorns, who won a championship for the ages with a 41-38 triumph over Southern California in the Rose Bowl, have to replace all-everything quarterback Vince Young, who left after his junior season and was drafted third by the Tennessee Titans.

      This sets up another huge matchup between the Buckeyes and the Longhorns, this time in Austin on September 9th. Both schools deserve huge credit for scheduling games in back-to-back seasons.

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, College Football

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