From: ddn@cbnews.cb.att.com (david.d.nason)
Subject: Re: OSU: bad news and worse.  But still,they won....
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 14:05:23 GMT

In article <1992Sep13.021009.4081@desire.wright.edu> demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man) writes:
>	Now for the really bad news.
>
>	Injured and questionable for Syracuse:
>
>	Kirk Herbstreit
>	Jamie Galloway
>	Robert Smith

According to the news this morning, Herbstreit and Stablein
are day-to-day, but both are probable.  Galloway is definately out
and may be out for the year.  Smith is doubtful.  Kline is out
for Syracuse.  You'd have a hard time picking out 4/5 players
whose injuries would hurt the Buckeyes worse than these guys.
This does not bode well for a good offensive showing against Syracuse.

On top of the losses they've already sustained (Metzger, Cristopher,
Fickell, Paulk), the Buckeyes depth is looking pretty pitiful.  They had to
reach further into the Freshman grabbag against BGSU (DJ Jones, Styles,
etc.).  I can't remember a year when the Buckeyes have played so many
freshman, particularly 1st year freshman.

>went out in the second.  Robert is hurt from game one.  There is at least a
>small excuse for OSU's relatively low score.  Deprived of their #1 QB at full
>strenght, they were largely dependent on time-consuming running series. 

That's certainly true ... Herbstreit's strength is his mobility, and he sure
didn't look very mobile with that ankle.  They were one-dimensional on the
offensive side of the ball.  Not a heck of a lot else they could do except
throw Hoying into the fire, and he didn't look like he was ready for it.

>	Anyway, OSU's defense was there when it counted, but still does not
>play consistently.  They still are not pressuring the QB enough and pass
>defense 10-20 yards from the line of scrimmage *SUCKS*.

Good improvement by the defense from Game 1 - that's about the only
encouraging thing I can think of to say about the game.

>	As shown again today, OSU has enough talented RBs and TBs and FBs to
>stock several division 1-A teams.  No problems there.

Harris looked good - I really like him.  He runs over people.

>	For all those with Hoying-hoopla last year, we've seen that Kirk is the
>better QB.  Much more so today.  Playing hurt, Kirk did better than the jittery
>Hoying.  Let's hope it was only the first-game butterflies.  Kirk's numbers
>will suck from today, but he was playing hurt and a lot of his passes were off
>his bad foot, and necessary to avoid further injury via hard hits.

Hoying looked pretty shaky.  Can't really blame him since it was his first
experience, and it occurred in a tough situation.  I was glad to see him
get in at the end though.  We're going to need him.

I really thought Herbstreit showed some great determination in playing with
that ankle.  He was obviously very affected by it and I can't believe
he played as long as he did.

>	Kudos to BGSU, though.  They *are* better than many people thought. 
>And Miami (OH) tying WV last week and Central Mich. beating MSU *again* should
>demonstrate that the MAC is not the second-tier conference that most thought.

Sure, the MAC deserves more credit.  It's also true that the Big-10 deserves
less credit.  Early in the season, it looks to me like Michigan is the only
solid top-25 team in the Big-10.  Only time will tell about Ohio State.
Losing all these people to injuries and the way things have gone in these
first two games,  I'm not realy encouraged.  Then again, we should be able
to compete with all the other Big-10 schools and we have Michigan at home.
And hey, we got lucky and don't have to play Purdue this year!

>	Next week?  I'm hoping OSU stays within two touchdowns. :(

Me too.  I hope we don't suffer an embarrassment like we have in recent
years on the road, early in the season, against non-Big 10 teams (Washington,
Pittsburg, USC, etc).  My prediction:

		Ohio State : 	14
		Syracuse :	28

david
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college