Bellbrook graduation 2012
Fairfield Senior 2012 graduation
Kroger Aquatic Center opens
Underdog Illini shock Buckeyes
Illinois used ball control and quick scoring to pull off a 28-21 upset.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
COLUMBUS — A senior captain, offensive tackle Kirk Barton met with the rest of the Ohio State football team to sing the post-game alma mater. Behind him, though, Illinois celebrated at midfield.
As the tune wound down, Barton — all 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds of him — took off sprinting up the tunnel toward the Buckeyes' locker room. Linemate Steve Rehring was close behind.
Extras
Larry Grant, a senior linebacker, didn't make it all the way up the covered incline. He stood alone, holding the railing with both hands, slightly bent over. He, like the Buckeyes for the first time this season, was beaten.
Illinois, unranked and unfeared by many Ohio State football fans, made Ohio Stadium their playground on Saturday, beating the top-ranked and undefeated Buckeyes, 28-21, to end OSU's hopes of a second consecutive national championship game appearance. It was a devastating loss for Ohio State (10-1), which hoped to avenge its embarrassing performance in last year's title game.
"Whenever you lose as the number one team, especially when you control your own destiny, that's painful," said linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Ohio State had won a school-record 28 consecutive regular-season games and a Big Ten-record 20 straight conference games with a dominating defense that helped it storm the top of the BCS poll. But Illinois, led by elusive quarterback Juice Williams and burly back Rashard Mendenhall, gained 400 yards against the country's best unit at keeping opponents from such numbers.
The Illini, who improved to 8-3 as a two-touchdown underdog, scored quickly — two touchdowns in the first quarter, even though OSU opponents had totaled just 12 in that time frame this season — and converted two of quarterback Todd Boeckman's three interceptions into scores while stubbornly holding onto the ball for more than 13 minutes in the fourth quarter.
As Williams (70 yards rushing) and Mendenhall (88) gained yards and converted third downs, the seconds ticked away on Ohio State's dream of a second national championship under coach Jim Tressel.
"This stings," Tressel said, "but we have to pick up and move on."
Comments
By John Brown
November 12, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait to get to work on Tuesday and hear all of the OSU fans whine about how they got cheated in Saturday’s game. Boo, Hoo. The rankings have them at #7 today. They are lucky to get that high of a ranking with all of the high school teams they have been playing.
By john
November 12, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
It’s called any given day folks,…just ask Michigan and Ohio State after last week.
I’m a die-hard buckeye fan, and this is going to be an all out war. Carr (great coach, very nice man) is unfortunately fighting for his job. Tressel is fighting for the Big-10 title.
This is going to be a great, hard-fought contest- no matter who wins.
By juice
November 11, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this
I beat OSU’s vaunted defense singlehandedly yesterday. I am Juice on the loose in the shoe..I beat thee ohio state buckeyes.I float like a butterfly and like tressel says..sting like bee.
By joe
November 11, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
West Virginia overrated?! You have NO clue! If OSU has trouble with Illinois offense what do you think would happen with WV? They would embarrass and mop the floor with them! GET REAL! I’m no WVU fan but i want NOTHING to do with them!
By eddie
November 11, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
We have had a terrific season, much better than anyone thought we would…if we take care of business next week, who knows?…three of the teams ahead of us play each other still, LSU will be beaten again, and West Virginia has been overrated since day one…stranger things have happened…we’re still in the national title hunt
By boxter
November 11, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this
All OSU fans can go crawl back in your beer bottle now. You bunch of loser drunk that probally think the Browns are good also. I LOVE anyone that beats OSU. Tressel is a crook. Bring back Clarret.
By Rick
November 11, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Why isn’t anyone concerned about the fumble Illinois had on their opening drive. That was clearly a fumble and the ball went into the endzone. What’s wrong with Tressel’s wrist? Doesn’t he know he can challenge the ref’s calls? That was the biggest screw job!!!! why even have instant replay……………..
By joe
November 11, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
And the teams that do run the spread run the old 4 or 5 reciever with a traditional quarterback like Purdue and Northwestern. APP State, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS…all have the talent and quarterbacks to go 11 on 11…While i believe speed is overused term, talent, strategy and execution are not. The BIG TEN is going to have to contend with the likes of ILLINOIS in the future so they had better change the old ten yards and a cloud of dust mentality stack the line and wait for 31 or 32 lead mindset.
By Joe
November 11, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
The problem with the former elite in the BIG TEN is changing with the times. Most of the other Major and Minor Conferences have at least 3 or 4 teams who have adopted a speed first, wide open attack offensively and defensively. Not the traditional spread offenses, but one with a running back who just happens to be able to throw the football. Ron Zook brought it from Florida. OSU has now seen it twice and failed both times. The Big Ten teams face I-Formation, Split back offenses that are archaic.
By Justin
November 11, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Haha, so if you live in Ohio you have to like Ohio State?? Guess what, I don’t like Ohio State or Michigan, and I’m not moving out of Ohio. Get over it. When you’re successful in a particular sport, people tend to hate you. Go Cats and go SEC!!
By George for Bucks
November 11, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this
To all those Buckeye Haters out there, If you dislike them so much why don’t you find a new place to live. I personally know several of the players on the team and they are much better people than all you bashers. If you think they are so bad why don’t we line you up against them and see who is over rated. GO Bucks.
By ryan
November 11, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
hopefully there will be less fat people wearing red sweatshirts everywhere you look
By DJ Young
November 11, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this
OSU plays Youngstown, Kent and Akron. Their basketball team was beaten Tuesday by little Findlay College. Last year they set an ALL time ALL bowl games record for lowest total yardage of 82. They may get an invite to the Toilet Bowl after Michigan beats them next week.
By t
November 11, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
F**K OSU FINALLY THEY GET CAUGHT. THEY HAVE BEEN OVERRATED SINCE DAY ONE. F**K EM.
By A real coach
November 11, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this
Look you losers who call the games from your couch. You don’t know the first thing about running a team/game let alone your pathetic lives. I challenge each and every one of you to go to your local community centers or area junior high schools and volunteer to coach ANY sport. Then get back on this site and apologize to all of us who coach for a living. Tressel is one hell of a coach and needs to be appreciated for what he has brought to Ohio State football. Now get off your couches and go.
By Goose
November 11, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
As long as the officials allow teams to to hold or tackle defenders speed does not matter one penalty against Illinois for holding was a joke and the pick play on Illinois one touchdown was so obviuos the receiver used both forearms to take out the OSU defender. I am from Michigan and OSU got screwed by the officals.
By GoBucks!
November 11, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
Don’t you guys have anything better to do than rip on the best coach out there? Get real, you are just jealous that your team (Michigan) stinks!!!!!
By Harvey
November 11, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
Jason … what makes you think any smack talk is from Michigan fans? You seem paranoid. Plus, Jason, keep your comments to yourself — you still have to play the Wolverines.
By Jason
November 11, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
It amazes my that Michigan fans have the guts to come on here and say anything negative. Two words APPALACHIAN STATE!!!! How can you ever talk smack again after that loss?? If I were a Michigan fan I wouldn’t be stupid enough to say anything period ever again even if we won the national title the next 3 or 4 years, oh wait that will never happen as long as LLOYD (Im owned by Tressel) CARR is still coach.
By Steve
November 11, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
Harry is right. Until Tressel gets quicker people on defense and learns how to defend the spread, OSU is going to continue to lose to those teams that use it. Florida should have been a wake up call and apparently it wasn’t. Getting tired of seeing them being embarrased on the field because they don’t have a clue in what to do. Maybe they should play more teams that use it, maybe some tougher opponents outside of the Big Ten. Teams from down south (from the SEC)would be beneficial.
By Maurice
November 11, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
Gosh, I hope the Buckeye fans don’t have to go back on Suicide Watch like after their National Championship performances against Florida.
By Ms. M
November 11, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
I learned years ago, the bigger one is the harder the fall. Everyone wants a win and everyone wants a loss….that’s sports.
By boxter
November 11, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this
Their whole schedule was a fraud and it caught them. I LOVE IT! Tressel is a thug recruiter and should be in jail for what he did at YSU. Maybe he can get Clarret out of prison so he can win another bogus title. Maybe they should join the MAC…they do like to schedule them. GREAT WIN & made my day….no MY YEAR.
By Wlat
November 11, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Well, the Buckeye fans can hold their heads up high — they are still undefeated against Mid-American Conference teams.
By justin
November 11, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this
john Brown: the Buckeyes played ranked teams—Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin were ranked when we played them. Also, I thought Illinois should’ve been ranked going into this game.
By stung
November 11, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this
The fraud is exposed…they were who we thought they were..a mediocre overrated team, that the bcs commision wants in the big game because osu fans pour a lot of money into that week in January. Beanie turned into a weanie..
By J.C.
November 11, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this
Jim Tressel lost that game because of his failuar to throw out the red flad and contest Illinois first touchdown. Replay clearly showed the runner fumbled the ball before he got into the end zone. Someone needs to explain to the fans what happened. But Illinois did Ohio State a favor by saving them the embarrassment of getting slaughtered in the national championship game. Michigan next week? wake me up when it’s over.
By Ed W
November 11, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this
Bucks lose to michigan??? They might be bad but they’re not that bad!!Michigan is terrible!!
By Larry
November 11, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
Just can’t wait to see them loose to Michigan next week! The Bucks are way overrated and haven’t played any real teams this year, until now!!!
By Randy
November 11, 2007 7:11 AM | Link to this
Bob D is 100% correct! BUT it would have only extended a false dream because that unblemished record would have gotten a HUGE blemish against lets say an Oregon or an LSU.
By John Brown
November 11, 2007 7:05 AM | Link to this
It is about time that they played a real team. They have been playing second rate teams like Kent State and others. They haven’t even played a team in the top 25! And they think they should be number 1? Boo Hoo! Now there are over 10 teams that are undefeeted or have only lost one game, which brings back the reason for year end tournament to decide the true winner and not some ambiguous poll.
By Tim
November 11, 2007 6:29 AM | Link to this
Thank you Ilini, Go Blue.
By Harry the Horse
November 11, 2007 1:29 AM | Link to this
Ron Zook was going to punt the ball late in the 4th Quarter on 4th and inches and Ohio State calls timeout to give Zook time to think it over and go for it. Was that Jim Tressel on the sideline or John Cooper?? One thing is clear Ohio State’s defense is no better than when they played Florida. Play a team with the spread offense with quick athletic players and the Bucks defense looks slow, slow and slower. Until the Bucks get faster players on defense they will keeping losing the big games!
By Bart SWOhio
November 11, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this
Two reasons why they lost: Tressel’s play calling and Boeckman’s Int’s.
By Bob D
November 10, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
Why did they not call timeout after the opening drive fumble? It was so obvious, a time out and they would have had the ball on the 20 up 7 -0. That really set the tone for the rest of the day. Illinois just got the confidence to keep on driving. Oh Well as long as we beat Michigan.