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Ohio State Sports
Ohio State’s Top 10 Moments of 2011: 10-6
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — This was not a year to remember for Ohio State fans.

Not since 1999, John Cooper’s second-to-last season in Columbus, had the Buckeyes managed as few as six wins in a season. What happened on the field was nothing compared to the turmoil that surrounded the university for nearly all of 2011.

From the tattoo scandal to the resignation of Jim Tressel to the NCAA’s postseason ban, it has been a year to forget in the minds of most Buckeyes fans. They are ready to move on to 2012, the start of the Urban Meyer era and another NCAA Tournament run for Thad Matta and the basketball Buckeyes.

There were a handful of memorable moments in 2011, however, which is more than some programs can say on a good year. We take a look back at Ohio State’s top 10 moments of 2011.

Jake Stoneburner
Photo by Jim Davidson

10. Jake Stoneburner catches three touchdowns in season-opening win over Akron. In a normal year, this kind of accomplishment probably would not even sniff the top 25 moments for any given year at Ohio State, even if we are only talking football. But this wasn’t a normal year, despite the fact it got off to a familiar feel. Remember that? Way back in September when Joe Bauserman accounted for four touchdowns, including a fancy little scamper in the first quarter, as the Buckeyes hammered Akron 42-0. Stoneburner had a career day with four catches for 50 yards and three touchdowns, and it looked, for a moment, like Ohio State might actually be all right without their suspended players for the first half of the season.

We now all know now that the game was merely a mirage. Akron went 1-11 with a victory over Virginia Military Institute and they were blown out in nearly every one of their losses. For the season, they were outscored 449-134 in their 11 losses, but that game in Columbus was the last time the Buckeyes really looked like the team we had seen for the past six seasons. It was also a day Stoneburner will never forget.

Jon Diebler
Photo by Jim Davidson

9. Jon Diebler drains 10 threes as Buckeyes roll over Penn State. There weren’t too many fans who got to watch Diebler’s record-setting night in State College, but those who did find their way to the Bryce Jordan Center on March 1 were treated to an unbelievable night of scoring from Ohio State’s all-time three-point shooting leader. Whether he was wide open, off-balance fading away or spot up over a defender, Diebler simply could not miss from long-range against the Nittany Lions. After missing his first attempt from behind the arc, “Three-bler” connected on a run of nine straight from outside before missing his final attempt with 2:03 left. Not only was it a 30-point night for Diebler, but Ohio State’s 82-61 victory also locked up at least a share of their fourth conference championship in six years.

Braxton Miller
Photo by Jim Davidson

8. Braxton Miller becomes Ohio State’s starting QB in week four against Colorado. It came two games too late for most OSU fans, but Braxton Miller finally got his first real chance to run the Ohio State offense in week four of the regular season. Following a horrendous performance by Bauserman in the loss at Miami, Miller was tabbed as the starting quarterback by interim head coach Luke Fickell. He threw a pair of touchdown passes to Devin Smith in his first start and racked up 83 yards on the ground in a 37-17 win over Colorado, but the real reason this makes our list is that it was the start of something good and the end of something, well not as good. It would take some time for Miller to get comfortable, and he has yet to prove himself as a passer, but it became clear rather quickly that Miller is a dynamic young player with a bright future. He should flourish in Urban Meyer’s offense next season, but the experience he got as a starter in 2011 was invaluable.

Carlos Hyde
Photo by Jim Davidson

7. Buckeye offense explodes in first half at Nebraska. It didn’t end the way Ohio State fans would have liked, but the first half of the game at Nebraska was easily one of the high points of the 2011 season. After an atrocious offensive showing against Michigan State in week five, the Buckeyes came out firing in their first trip to Lincoln. Braxton Miller’s throwback screen to Stoneburner went for a 32-yard touchdown and gave Ohio State a 10-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Carlos Hyde broke through for a 63-yard score early in the second quarter and his one-yard touchdown run gave the Buckeyes a 27-6 lead early in the second half. It crumbled from there, thanks to a fumble by Miller and an injury to his ankle, but that first half was probably the most exciting half of football the Buckeyes played all season.

David Lighty
Photo by Jim Davidson

6. David Lighty’s career night leads Ohio State to blowout of George Mason in NCAA Tournament. It was supposed to be the second step on Ohio State’s run to the NCAA Championship, but Ohio State’s 98-66 win over George Mason in the second round of the tournament was a fun moment for Buckeyes fans. It was also a big moment for senior David Lighty. Playing in front of friends and family at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland, Lighty put on a show. In just 30 minutes, Lighty scored 25 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists. He was 9-of-10 from the floor and could not miss from behind the arc. Lighty was a perfect 7-for-7 from long range as Ohio State breezed past the Patriots and back into the Sweet 16.

Top Five

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