Game Prep

Greetings from C-bus where it is game week.

The weather is a pleasant fall-like upper 70s and it is sunny. I'm hoping this holds out for Saturday and so far local weather-caster Jym Ganahl is on board.

While the team is now looking ahead to Navy and Tressel will resume his regular weekly game week lunches tomorrow, it is also time for fans to get game-prepped.

First, beware of 315 construction. Face it, Columbus freeways are a mess and all routes to and from campus on 315 are closed, re-routed, and/or under construction with orange barrels blocking various access routes. University officials are saying that exiting the game might take 3+ hours this Saturday. Added to the mix is the fact that students are not on campus so there will be more alumni/drivers in attendance this Saturday.

Second, the university has instructed fans to wear "red" for all games - okay, I'm sure they meant "scarlet" but despite the media gaffe, the stadium does look better with the uniformity that an all scarlet-wearing crowd provides. For some of you, that might mean purchasing new game wear and there is plenty available. Don't expect bargains, however, this early in the season.

And for those outside of Columbus, the famed Hineygate has moved just about 1/2 block east down Lane Ave. The former Holiday Inn is now university housing and needless to say, a drunken crowd is not exactly what Gordon Gee wants on his campus. That being said, the proximity of the new location probably means that no one will get lost finding the new Hineygate but I seriously wonder how the expect to get the same crowd in the new location given it's just not that big! I'm guessing overflow will be in alley behind the businesses. I am truly anxious to see how this works out for 610WTVN, the hosts, and the crowd. Particularly next week with USC visiting and presumably ESPN Game Day.

Finally, the university and athletic department has released a video asking fans to applaud Navy as it enters the field this Saturday. While it is never appropriate in my opinion to boo an opponent (unless it is UM), paying respect to these young men who will go on to defend our country after they finish their days on the football field is entirely appropriate and honorable.

So, Buckeye Nation, time to get fired up for the first home game and first game of the 2009 Buckeye season. The Navy triple-option was the most productive offense in college football in 2008. Not much has changed and unfortunately, the clear difference in offensive scheme is not going to help with USC preparation this week. That being said, the Bucks carry the weight of the entire Big Ten going into next week. So let's take care of business early this Saturday.

The game is noon eastern, ESPN TV.

GO BUCKS from JennyBucks!

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaack

Greetings from C-bus where preseason camp is winding down and next week is a game week for the Buckeyes. Today's preseason camp ended with the voting on captains and reminiscent of the 2002 season, there will be captains on the defense and a rotating offensive captain on a weekly basis. But this year there are 3 defensive captains in a departure from tradition: Kurt Coleman, Austin Spitler, and Doug Worthington. Any speculation about the health of Austin Spitler should be alleviated by his elevation to the captaincy by his teammates. It shows he's a contributor.

And what does the lack of a captain on the offense say ... perhaps too many votes for Terrelle Pryor and the coaching staff's unwillingness to name him a captain as a sophomore? Perhaps no clear leader has emerged, as well. I tend to think that if the talk coming out of camp is true and Pryor has made huge improvements in his game, his reads, and his execution, it may be the former. In the case of 2002, Craig Krenzel ultimately emerged as the true leader on that offense and he was a junior. There were also 2 other offensive leaders in the 2002 season - Jenkins and Hartsock. It did not turn out too bad that season! I was a bit surprised that a captain did not emerge this year from the O-line. However, that might speak to the unsettled nature of that line right now due to injuries and quite a bit of uncertainty on the left side. That gives me NO comfort.

In another surprise announcement yesterday, USC announced that they will start a true freshman in Matt Barkley in the QB spot next Saturday. And Coach Carroll stated that it is not just a 1-week experiment. He is the freshman phenom on the team ... could the outcome on 9/12 be akin to that of the outcome in 2008 but in reverse order ... the Bucks will start a more seasoned QB to USC's true freshman. True, the Bucks did not start Terrelle Pryor in that game but he got his "trial by fire" and baptism all in one game. Could Barkley be headed for the same rude reception? Let's hope so.

Next week is game week ... but the Bucks are not back in school due to the quarter system ... they have nearly another month before classes begin. No distractions. All football, all the time.

And high school football in Ohio begins tonight. Look for my alma mater in the Herbstreit Classic on Saturday at noon eastern on ESPN. The Upper Arlington Golden Bears will be taking on the defending national champions St. Thomas Aquinas in the first of 4 games over 2 days played in Ohio Stadium. Please go easy on my Bears men! Shock the world! GO BEARS!

Stay tuned ... more next week as the 2-deep gets announced and game preparations begin in earnest. The O-line is what I am watching .....

GO BUCKS from JennyBucks!