Get Ready for Combat

Get your game face on Buckeyes because the Badgers are coming to town on Saturday, and they're in a bad, bad mood.

What happened late Saturday night in East Lansing could have possibly been the worst thing for the Buckeyes depending on how high Wisconsin's dreams were really set. The Badgers have been riding high all season on a potent top-ten ranked offense and a stingy, also top-ten ranked defense; and that all came crashing down late Saturday night. The Badgers, who faced their toughest defensive foe of the season, started high scoring 14 easy points in a first quarter shutout. If they were ever doubting their ability to win going into Sparty's territory, those doubts were put to rest early. Russell Wilson looked like the seasoned veteran that he is completing passes, and Monte Ball gashed the Spartan defense for big yardage. Both players accounted for a touchdown in the first quarter. These two players are who the Badgers ride on, they are the heart of this team. If they are playing well, the team is playing well; but when they make mistakes, the team falls too. Many of the mistakes that Wilson made were due to the pressure that Sparty's defense put on, a pressure that the Buckeyes know first hand. Wilson had a costly intentional grounding out of his own end zone which gave the Spartans their first 2 points of the ballgame. Wilson also accounted for two interceptions which was double his season total going into the game. Montee Ball never really made any mistakes, but his absence from the game due to a big hit showed how important he is to this team. James White is a great RB, but the quickness that he brings to the table doesn't make up for the power that Ball has. The Badger offense always runs behind an enormous offensive line, and they have found a great combination with Ball consistently bringing excellent running abilities to the table.

Last season the Buckeyes struggled to stop the rushing attack of Wisconsin. Wisconsin ran the ball down our throats the entire game which was fueled by David Gilreath's opening kickoff returned for a touchdown. The fact that the Buckeyes let John Clay rush for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns doesn't shock me because the guy was practically an offensive guard with 4.6 speed. The Buckeyes, specifically Orhian Johnson, looked foolish trying to tackle Clay up top throughout the game.

The thing that scares me is that even though Wisconsin's RB's this year don't have the size of Clay, we struggled to stop James White who weighs all of about 190 pounds. They run behind that big offensive line, and the Buckeyes have to find a way to stuff the run. Ball missed a good chunk of the second quarter, a quarter in which Sparty tallied up 23 points all while holding the Badger offense scoreless. White filled in for Ball but lacked the ability to break tackles which is crucial when playing a solid defense like Michigan State's.

Wisconsin's offense looked very good at times specifically on those two first quarter touchdown drives and their two much-needed touchdown drives in the 4th quarter. Wilson looked composed throughout the entire game even when he made mistakes. The absence of Ball slowed the Wisconsin offense down quite a bit, and he was either held out or took off a few drives late in the game. His health is imperative to the success of this offense.

The Buckeyes got to sit at home and watch this game from their couches as they had a bye week. It was amusing reading tweets all night of players watching this game. Buckeye fans should feel good knowing that on the weekend off, the player's minds were focused on their next game and playing with a renewed energy. Even after a sluggish start, this season has purpose. Transition season? No way, it's just taken time for the Bucks to gel. Now, a showdown with Wisconsin approaches, and the Buckeyes want this one bad.

This is a series that has haunted Buckeye fans in recent years. If Luke Fickell only coaches one season at Ohio State, he has a shot to do something that the great Jim Tressel didn't even do...have a winning record against Wisconsin.

Robert Reynold's Choke

In 2002, the Buckeyes narrowly escaped Madison with a 19-14 victory which they had done at just about every venue that year. The following year the Buckeyes had to travel back to Madison again. They were once again squeaking out victories and were riding the nation's longest win streak, and then Robert Reynolds committed a nasty foul which Badgers still talk about. Jim Sorgi left the game, and Matt Shaubert came in to finish the game.

The one emotion I remember from this game was the feeling of defeat before the game was over. The Buckeyes were used to playing in close games from the past season and a half, but this one was different. The momentum seemed relatively even through the 3rd quarter as the Badgers only added a FG to give them a seven point lead. The momentum seemed to "jump" in Wisconsin's favor when the game entered the 4th quarter.

The Buckeyes tied the game at 10, but the Badgers still seemed to possess the momentum. The fans stuck behind their team, and the Badgers continued to pound it out. When Shaubert came into the game the Badgers leaned heavily on their ground game, and the Buckeyes had shut down Lee Evans throughout the entire game. One big play would decide the fate of this game. If Evans runs an out, Gamble takes it back for 6; and the Buckeyes continue their run toward a second national championship in two seasons; but instead of that happening...

That 17-10 loss would be followed in 2004 by another loss, this time at home. The series momentum seemed to sway toward Wisconsin, and it seemed that there was a new rivalry born. The Buckeyes and Badgers had a few seasons away from each other. These two programs resumed action in 2007 which was the start of 3 straight Buckeye victories. Within these victories was a defense-dominated Buckeye victory in Columbus which resulted in some hateful words coming out of the mouth of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema. The coach talked about how much he hated losing to Ohio State and stressed his focus of beating the Buckeyes in the future.

David Gilreath's TD kickoff return

That three-game winning streak came to an end last season. Ohio State was looking at another National Championship appearance while being ranked #1 in the nation, but the Badgers controlled the ball and got to the Buckeye QB throughout the entire game. J.J. Watt is a name that Buckeyes won't forget for a long time. That loss was the start of the fall which didn't seem to have ended until a few weeks ago, but some aren't convinced that the falling has stopped yet. This weekend's game will give us an insight as to if this team has found their identity yet.

J.J. Watt

Braxton Miller had a solid game going at Nebraska before injuring his ankle, and last week Boom Herron returned and proved to be just about all of the Buckeye's offense. The victory over a previously unbeaten Illinois was huge for the program as there seemed to be separation forming between players and coaches, coaches and coaches, and offense and defense. The win gave the Buckeyes new life, and the week off allowed the players to relax; but they didn't relax. The players stayed up late tweeting all night about the game that they were watching, and when instant replay had announced the touchdown at the end of the game, Buckeye players exploded. Players were saying things like 'God's given us another chance' and 'we're back in this' among other positive tweets. That tweeting has continued through the week, but Luke Fickell has tried to keep players away from the media and denied that this game was about revenge. Some Buckeyes tweets would say that revenge is a factor, but this team is definitely in the best possible place they could right now, especially mentally, with what this season has dealt them.

Wisconsin fans after the 31-18 upset

The players have tweeted all week about how anxious they are for this weekend, and even limited talk with the media has produced some positive quotes. The players have their groove back, and they want to make sure that Ohio Stadium is in full force this weekend. Even Fickell has stated that he hopes Buckeye Nation is ready for this game. This is time for Buckeye faithful to be the true fans that we can be and show the nation that we can be loud. Wisconsin fans pride themselves on being loud and belligerent. This is a school where profanity toward other teams has been practiced. Sorry for the language, but these chants have to be heard by Buckeye Nation.

These are the same fans that have shown repeated hatred for Ohio State. Jealousy? Perhaps, but the issues with the Wisconsin fan base have passed the line of acceptable. After the Badger football team pulled off a monumental upset of Ohio State, the Basketball team gave OSU their first loss of the season when they were also ranked #1. Chants of 'just like football' started in the Badger crowd, but it wasn't the chants that crossed the line this time. It was reported that before and especially after the game, Badger fans spat in the face of Buckeye star Jared Sullinger. When Bo Ryan was asked about it he replied with something along the lines of 'all I know is we won, so deal with it'. Deal with it? Well, the basketball Bucks dealt with it by stomping the Badgers on their visit to Columbus. Now, it's time for the football team to deal with it. Nothing would have been sweeter than to knock Wisconsin from the list of unbeaten, but all of us Buckeyes would gladly accept a solid win playing the physical style that both teams love. Beat them at their own game. This includes running the ball, hitting hard, controlling the line of scrimmage, and being loud, energetic fans. I can't stress the last part enough.

It's Halloween weekend, and the Buckeyes play an 8:00 game. Even though there are some exciting games on this weekend, the 8:00 time slot isn't filled with any game with more excitement than the Buckeyes vs. the Badgers. This is the chance for the players and all of us fans to show the nation who we are. Let everyone know that we are strong, and we aren't going anywhere.

The Scarlet Storm rolls into Columbus Saturday night and needs to be fierce

We have been blessed with a second life in this season, and we have to take advantage of it. Buckeyes at the stadium have a chance to have a great time, but come 8:00; we need to get ready for combat. The game faces go on, and we need to support this team by being loud and energetic. We will not sink to the level of the Wisconsin fans because we are smarter and better than them. We need to be loud and cause problems for the Badgers.

The Buckeyes will be ready for combat in their Nike Pro Combat Uniforms. The players have been excited about these helmets all week, and I think these are the best Pro Combats that we will have worn so far. We will take anything to give us an edge in this game, and we can only hope that with the uniforms meant to honor Woody Hayes' 1961 Buckeyes comes the brute strength and attitude that they brought week in and out. This is going to be the coming out party of this Buckeye football team, and they can't wait for Saturday night to get here.

The Pro Combat Helmets

Picture it in your head. There's a chill outside that's warmed by the energy surrounding the Shoe. The adrenaline rush sweeps over your body as the game draws near, and the chills fade. You want to run full speed at a Badger and knock him square on his butt and let the sweet vibrations of impact calm the beast if only for a few seconds. You envision it as the time draws near. The stadium is a scarlet sea jumping and yelling fans. The stadium erupts as the marching band rolls out of the tunnel. The sounds are all a blur as the volume escalates with the anticipation of the Buckeyes racing onto the field sporting their new uniforms and shiny silver helmets. The emotions from the fans are passing through the players as they wait at the end of the tunnel for their grand entrance. The Best Damn Band In The Land creases open giving way to the Buckeye players as they race across the field waving their arms for the fans to get louder because they love the rush that has made their extremities go numb. The anticipation and volume somehow grow louder as the ball is placed on the tee. The countdown is on...3...2...1, and boom; the ball is kicked off as the crowd yells O-H-I-O so loud that it frightens fans in that state up north. The scene looks like something from 300 as two enemies clash into each other at full force. The fresh sounds of pads smashing each other is briefly heard before the crowd and players scream in satisfaction of the start of war. It's on. Buckeyes vs. Badgers. Where will you be?

The Ruby Red's

This weekend is going to be one to remember, and I can only hope that Buckeye Nation will be represented well. Check back later in the week for my game breakdown, but until then...

Go Bucks!!!