Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John PorentasWhether the Weather: OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor told reporters after the game that the Buckeye offensive brain trust scrapped the game plan in OSU's 30-0 win over Illinois due to the weather conditions. Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook seemed to be saying after the game that his staff elected to more or less ignore the weather conditions.
"In the second quarter when it started raining pretty hard it was a little bit harder to throw the football down the field but you've still got to be able to do it," said Zook.
Zook was asked directly if the weather impacted the way his offensive staff called plays in the game. His response indicated that while weather was a concern, it didn't impact their play calling.
"Not really, but when you get into running the option it's a bit like throwing the football too. It's a little like throwing the football too, you worry about that," Zook said.
Andrew Sweat
Photo by Jim DavidsonSweat is the Answer: OSU linebacker Ross Homan left the game in the second half with an as-yet undisclosed injury. His replacement was Andrew Sweat. According to OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, Sweat performed very well in his call to action.
"It was critical today," said Heacock of Sweat's performance.
"Andrew has really come on probably the last two weeks.
"He's young and probably hasn't played much but the last two weeks he's really come on and is getting some confidence and making some plays.
"He was really critical on a couple of the sacks because he did a great job of re-routing the receiver. He did a good job."
Juice Doesn't Flow: Illinois quarterback Juice Williams broke Buckeye hearts with his brilliant performance in 2007. This time around, however, the Juice never got into the flow and the Illini were shutout.
"They did some things a little differently, they weren't going to let him run the football," said Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook.
Thadeus Gibson
Photo by Jim Davidson"We wanted to contain Juice, he's what makes it go," said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.
"You've got try to contain him and control the line of scrimmage," Heacock said of OSU's defensive game plan.
"We definitely wanted to take it to him," agreed defensive end Thad Gibson.
"We know he’s their guy and he runs the show, so we if we affect him we pretty much stop their offense."
With Juice out of the picture as a runner, the Buckeye defense was able to concentrate on part B of the plan, particularly in the second half.
'Going into halftime, coach said we’re playing good but we can play better," said Gibson.
"A light when on in all our heads that said, ‘You know what, he’s right, let’s go out there and show them what we’re really made of.’ And that’s what we did"
Heacock agreed with Gibson's assessment of OSU's second half defensive performance, especially along the defensive line.
"We thought our guys needed to perform up front and I thought in the second half we came on and started getting after it a little bit," Heacock said.
Now Hear This, Now Hear This.: The Buckeyes were able to move the ball effectively most the day against Illinois, sometimes even when the Illini knew exactly what play was coming.
Mike Brewster
Photo by Jim DavidsonIn one instance OSU came to the line of scrimmage with a play called, but OSU guard Justin Boren got a little confused as to what the call was after the offense had broken the huddle. What did he do? He asked teammate Mike Brewster. The problem with that was that the Buckeyes were already at the line of scrimmage and their conversation was held within earshot of the entire Illinois defense.
"It was funny," said Brewster.
"We got up to the line and Boren said 'Is this 76 screen or not screen?'
"I said 'Oh yeah, it's a screen, but I think the D-lineman knows that now," Brewster said with a laugh in the postgame interview.
Despite the fact that they broadcasted the call to the Illini, the play was successful.
"Maybe the d-lineman thought we were lying to him because we still got like maybe eight yards on it," Brewster grinned.
Paper Tigers: There was a pregame incident which involved the Illini interjecting themselves into OSU's huddle at the 50-yard line and then trying to stomp on the Block-O at midfield. That bit of pregame bravado backfired on the Illini as it fired up the Buckeyes and the Illini were not able to backup their pregame intimidation. No wonder, because the OSU coaching staff had made sure all week that the Buckeyes remembered Illinois' last stomping of the Block-O.
"I watched it on TV," said OSU center Mike Brewster who was not on the OSU squad in 2007.
"They played it in the locker room all week. I probably know every play in that game and the end of it and everything that happened. I wasn't even here but I just felt the emotions run through me."
When the Illini came out to midfield before the game, those emotions got tapped.
"We were going to protect it. That's our Block-O. No one can disrespect us, that's for sure. I'm glad we went out there and took care of business," said Brewster.
Brewster also felt that the Block-O incident had something to do with Jim Tressel's decision to tack on a late touchdown to the final score, and Brewster was glad of that decision.
"We all remember what happened in '07, stomping on the Block O," Brewster said.
"I didn't want them to get away with a field goal on that last drive.
"I wanted us to put it in and send a message that this is our house and we're going to protect this house and you're not going to come in here and disrespect us.
"I was happy when coach made that call. I thought we played well today. They played hard but I think maybe we out-schemed them a little bit."
Lawrence Wilson intercepts the pass from Juice Williams
Photo by Jim DavidsonFinally: OSU defensive end Lawrence Wilson has had a tough two years. A starter in the first game in both 2007 and 2008, Wilson missed almost the entirety of those two seasons with leg injuries. He broke a leg in the opener in 2007 and then suffered a serious knee injury requiring surgery in 2008.
Wilson is back for his final year as a Buckeye in 2009 and feels like he is beginning to regain his old form.
"I was probably about 80 percent when we started camp. My coach has been telling me that each week it's getting better and better. I was trying to help my teammates as much as I can. I'm 100 percent now," he said.
Wilson made a huge play against the Illini. He tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage, then intercepted the ball to thwart a developing Illinois drive.
"I saw him kind of rolling out so I retraced my steps. I saw him passing and I got my hands up and tipped it. I grabbed it and started running and got tackled. It was a fun play," Wilson said.
What was even more fun for OSU fans who saw the play was Wilson's jubilant celebration as he came off the field. It looked like two years of frustration were released in that moment.
"I was just excited. I'm an emotional guy, I'm extremely emotional, and I was glad we got off the field. They were driving on us. I just wanted to make a play for my teammates," said Wilson.
"When I sat on the bench I thought to myself 'What did I just do?' I was in shock over what I did. My teammates were giving me a hard time the rest of the game about it. It was fun. I was excited to be out there.
"I was telling my teammates that I was through so much and it just felt so good. I was just going crazy," Wilson said.
It was a great moment, not only for Wilson, but for those who have watched him persevere for two years to come back
"It's really been a hard road for him to come this year," said defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.
"To see him have some success is just unbelievable."
Heacock was thrilled with the turnover and thrilled for Wilson, but was a little concerned that Wilson's celebration might be misunderstood by the officials.
"He was fired up. I kept saying 'Give the ball back to the official,'" said Heacock who is in the OSU press box on the headsets during the game.
"Somebody said on the phone 'How can you not be happy for him?'"
That memory brought a smile to Heacock's face.
Sweet Victory Dance: Some wins are better than others. For the OSU football team, the win over the Illini was an important one for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of the loss in 2007. The Buckeyes were elated after the game.
"I've never seen the locker room so excited after a game," said defensive lineman Todd Denlinger.
The post-game celebration included a locker room jump around that included none other that Jim Tressel.
"Coach Tressel got fired up after the win today. He was pretty excited. He was down there dancing. I thought he had a lot of fun today," said OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor elected not to elaborate on Tressel's dancing skills.
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