Buckeyes Fans Angry At Offense

COLUMBUS, Ohio—It seems everyone has an opinion on how the seventh-ranked Buckeyes ended up losing to Purdue, a team that had won just one of its first six games, 26-18 on Saturday.

Here are a few of those random (edited) opinions, comments gleaned from posts by angry fans to Web sites:

- “I’m starting to get the awful feeling that we might not win any more games this year if something drastic doesn’t happen. Penn State will cream us.“

- “All week long all I heard was how this was going to be the breakout game for the Bucks offense. Hey, Terrelle (Pryor), nice footwork. Week after week, you throw off your back foot. Where is your QB coach???“

- “Pryor looks like a lost child out there - as if he forgot how to play. Let the other guy (backup Joe Bauserman) have a chance to play some QB, he couldn’t do any worse. ... Also, I heard Lou Holtz say something utterly stupid on TV after the game; he said, ‘Pryor is going to need some help.‘ I thought to myself…HELP!?!?!? Yeah, he needed to help himself to a seat on the bench. Makes me wonder what the offense actually does in practice.“

- “Yes, the team is mediocre. But, under JT’s coaching style, he needs all the talent in the world to have a highly competitive team. His offense has ONE gear, and ONE style. It’s like driving a four-wheel drive vehicle in 4x4, low gear wherever you go, even on a highway trip.“

- “Tressel only knows five plays - he figures the other team doesn’t know which one he will call.“

QUIET COACHES: Each week, Ohio State’s coaching staff selects players of the week on offense, defense and special teams, in addition to singling out an offensive lineman, someone from the front seven on defense and the player with the biggest hit in the previous game.

In the wake of the loss at Purdue, the coaches did not select anyone on offense and defense, or any of the other awards except for special teams and some scout team honors.

Solomon Thomas, in on two tackles on kick coverage, was the special-teams player of the week. DL Stewart Smith was the scout team player of the week on defense, with TE Spencer Smith (no relation) the top scout team player on special teams.

And that was it.

EMERALD ANNIVERSARY: In addition to being homecoming, the Minnesota game also serves as the 55th anniversary reunion for the 1954 Ohio State national championship team. Team members are meeting Friday evening at the Faculty Club on campus and will be introduced at the game. The ‘54 team ran the table, going 10-0 including a 20-7 victory over Southern California in the Rose Bowl while outscoring opponents 249-75.

MORE THAN BRAWN: WR and Rhodes Scholar Mike Lanese, co-captain of the 1985 Buckeyes, will speak at the annual captains breakfast on Saturday morning.

FROM THE LEAGUE OFFICE: The Big Ten’s weekly players of the week included Indiana QB Ben Chappell, who established career bests with 333 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception to lead Indiana to a victory over Illinois; Michigan State WR Blair White, who set career highs with 12 receptions and 186 receiving yards and matched a career best with two touchdowns to help Michigan State rally from a halftime deficit to a victory over Northwestern; Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan, with a team-high nine tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the upset of Ohio State; and Purdue K Carson Wiggs, who became the ninth player in school history to kick four field goals in one game, converting on four of five attempts and two extra points to account for 14 points in the win over the Buckeyes.

BUCKEYE BASHING: No, the Buckeyes are not being bashed. At least not here.

The OSU alumni association will host a homecoming bash from 8:30-10 a.m. in a large tent just southwest of Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Rd. The cost is $10 for association members and $15 for non-members. Children 4 and under are free. Parking is not included in the price.

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