Cook would be on the sidelines I was nervous.
Chris was hosting a great party at the Outdoor Ampitheatre. Food and cigars were being consumed in generous proportions. . He wanted to finish off various bourbons, whiskeys and ryes so there were plenty of bottles down to their last drinks. We all took advantage of the opportunity and his generosity.
Itwas midway through the 2nd quarter. He had gone into the house. I turned to Bruce and Ellis and said “Don’t tell Chris, but I’m nervous….. We may actually win this game.”
Before the game I was calm. I figured the chances of us winning were pretty slim and when Cook didn’t start, slim went out the window and in came remote.
It was calming in a strange way. There was nothing to lose. Now, I had made a bet with Chris. But it was non-monetary. It was a Gentleman’s bet. After the game, the loser had to shake hands with the winner and state “Your team is superior to mine, Sir” and then make themselves available for photographs.
A hit to the pride but I had already reconciled myself that it was indeed a factual statement. With all the injuries to the OLine, secondary and now Cook, Ohio State was clearly going to be the superior team.
Until the game started.
Chris was hosting a great party at the Outdoor Ampitheatre. Food and cigars were being consumed in generous proportions. . He wanted to finish off various bourbons, whiskeys and ryes so there were plenty of bottles down to their last drinks. We all took advantage of the opportunity and his generosity.
Itwas midway through the 2nd quarter. He had gone into the house. I turned to Bruce and Ellis and said “Don’t tell Chris, but I’m nervous….. We may actually win this game.”
Before the game I was calm. I figured the chances of us winning were pretty slim and when Cook didn’t start, slim went out the window and in came remote.
It was calming in a strange way. There was nothing to lose. Now, I had made a bet with Chris. But it was non-monetary. It was a Gentleman’s bet. After the game, the loser had to shake hands with the winner and state “Your team is superior to mine, Sir” and then make themselves available for photographs.
A hit to the pride but I had already reconciled myself that it was indeed a factual statement. With all the injuries to the OLine, secondary and now Cook, Ohio State was clearly going to be the superior team.
Until the game started.
State fumbles to set up an OSU TD State’s defense, the much maligned defense was playing off the charts. Sure, weather was a factor, the rain was torrential and then when it died down the winds picked up to a near gale. But it affected both sidelines.
The DL was chewing up the Buckeye OL. The BuckNuts were going nowhere.
It took a fumble by backup QB Damion Terry for OSU to get going. It set up OSU at the Spartan 32 and with the momentum. And yet, the defense was fantastic. It took 10 plays…10 plays! to go those 32 yards.
State was not going to give this game away. Not with that defense.
And then the first real indication that State may actually have a chance. The offense, the offense which struggled to run all year, the offense which relied on the arm of Connor Cook, used a 2 QB system ground out a brilliant 75 yard drive against the vaunted OSU defense. They get it to the OSU 12. First and 10. Tyler O'Conner hits Trevon Pendleton and its TD MSU!!!!. Trevon Pendleton came out of obscurity to be a hero in the Michigan game scores another huge TD against another huge opponent in another huge game! A game time player.
The DL was chewing up the Buckeye OL. The BuckNuts were going nowhere.
It took a fumble by backup QB Damion Terry for OSU to get going. It set up OSU at the Spartan 32 and with the momentum. And yet, the defense was fantastic. It took 10 plays…10 plays! to go those 32 yards.
State was not going to give this game away. Not with that defense.
And then the first real indication that State may actually have a chance. The offense, the offense which struggled to run all year, the offense which relied on the arm of Connor Cook, used a 2 QB system ground out a brilliant 75 yard drive against the vaunted OSU defense. They get it to the OSU 12. First and 10. Tyler O'Conner hits Trevon Pendleton and its TD MSU!!!!. Trevon Pendleton came out of obscurity to be a hero in the Michigan game scores another huge TD against another huge opponent in another huge game! A game time player.
But Pendleton scores again on the biggest of stages We are tied 7-7. .
“Don’t tell Chris but I’m nervous…”
Now, there was something on the line. A chance to win the game, to go to the Big Ten championship, and maybe…
“Don’t get your hopes up too much” Bruce was right. He has a way of keeping things in perspective. Stay calm and see how this thing plays out. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Still, prizes that had seemed long gone, taht seemed so remote, now seemed within reach. Nervous.
State continued to play stout on defense. OSU went three and out. Of the six drives Ohio State had in the first half, four were three and outs and one was a 10 play drive to go only 32 yards. The defense was dominating.
“Don’t tell Chris but I’m nervous…”
Now, there was something on the line. A chance to win the game, to go to the Big Ten championship, and maybe…
“Don’t get your hopes up too much” Bruce was right. He has a way of keeping things in perspective. Stay calm and see how this thing plays out. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Still, prizes that had seemed long gone, taht seemed so remote, now seemed within reach. Nervous.
State continued to play stout on defense. OSU went three and out. Of the six drives Ohio State had in the first half, four were three and outs and one was a 10 play drive to go only 32 yards. The defense was dominating.
State's defense stuffed the OSU offense OSU muffs the punt! States turn to score on a turnover! State gets the ball at the 32. Time to take over the game!
But we went nowhere. Gieger misses the FG. A play that would loom large.
At halftime, I didn’t know how to feel. We were playing fantastic on defense, the offense was moving the ball but when we had a chance to take control we missed it. Was Karma playing a bait and switch?
I was nervous.
The second half kicked off. The rain had turned to gusty winds. Ohio State elected to receive. We kicked so that we had the wind in our backs in the fourth quarter. The coin flip was to play an important factor in the game.
The defense was even more ferocious in the 2nd half.
And the offense was in FU mode. They were going to run, run and then run some more. Ohio State was putting 8, even 9 in the box. State didn't care. they were going to stull it up Ohio States back side.
But we went nowhere. Gieger misses the FG. A play that would loom large.
At halftime, I didn’t know how to feel. We were playing fantastic on defense, the offense was moving the ball but when we had a chance to take control we missed it. Was Karma playing a bait and switch?
I was nervous.
The second half kicked off. The rain had turned to gusty winds. Ohio State elected to receive. We kicked so that we had the wind in our backs in the fourth quarter. The coin flip was to play an important factor in the game.
The defense was even more ferocious in the 2nd half.
And the offense was in FU mode. They were going to run, run and then run some more. Ohio State was putting 8, even 9 in the box. State didn't care. they were going to stull it up Ohio States back side.
A muffed punt return set up another OSU score But once again, State turns it over to set up a Ohio State score. Macgarrett Kings badly misplays a punt in the wind. He reaches out to catch it, touches it but doesn't graps it, and it rolls 20 yards behind him to the State 6 yard line.
This time OSU is taking no chances. They fake the run up the middle, a play that State would consistently stop throughiout the game, JT Barrett rises up, and throws a TD to Jalin Marshall. OSU has the lead again 14-7
And once again, the offense took it personal. Once again they would go on a drive, another 75 yard drive. This one was a defining up yours drive. 13 plays, 13 runs, 0 passes. Stop us if you can BuckNuts.
This time OSU is taking no chances. They fake the run up the middle, a play that State would consistently stop throughiout the game, JT Barrett rises up, and throws a TD to Jalin Marshall. OSU has the lead again 14-7
And once again, the offense took it personal. Once again they would go on a drive, another 75 yard drive. This one was a defining up yours drive. 13 plays, 13 runs, 0 passes. Stop us if you can BuckNuts.
And Holmes ties it right back up They couldn't. Gerald Holmes punches it in from the 2. We are tied again 14-14.
The scored may have been tied, but in the battle to see who was tougher State was winning.
The TD set up a classic ending. One beffitting the intensity of the game.
State pinned OSU down on their 7 yard line. The BuckNuts go three and out and punt with 4 minutes to go. State gets the ball at midfield! Lets get a FG and win this game!
Again, the OL punched open holes and the running game moved the ball. More importantly, State was grinding down the clock.
The scored may have been tied, but in the battle to see who was tougher State was winning.
The TD set up a classic ending. One beffitting the intensity of the game.
State pinned OSU down on their 7 yard line. The BuckNuts go three and out and punt with 4 minutes to go. State gets the ball at midfield! Lets get a FG and win this game!
Again, the OL punched open holes and the running game moved the ball. More importantly, State was grinding down the clock.
Geiger had been making that kick for years State keeps the ball for a 9 play drive - all but one a rush. And while they are running it straight up the behinds of Ohio State, they grinding off all but three seconds on the clock. State gets it to the OSU 26. It's going to be a chance for a walk off winning FG.
Now I was really nervous. We really could win this game. All the goals that seemed gone with the loss to Nebraska were now in reach. All we need is for Geiger to make a FG.
Geiger, who has been inconsistent all year long. Who had missed a FG earlier that would have given us the lead now.
And then they showed Geiger's face on the sideline. He was smiling - a huge ear to ear grin. He knew he was going to make this kick. He had been practicing ever since he was a kid - practicing FG after FG over his swing set. He would think to himself "The FG to beat Ohio State" and kick away. He hated the BuckNuts ever since they wouldn't recruit him. He had been practicing this kick for years. And made it every time.
Now I was really nervous. We really could win this game. All the goals that seemed gone with the loss to Nebraska were now in reach. All we need is for Geiger to make a FG.
Geiger, who has been inconsistent all year long. Who had missed a FG earlier that would have given us the lead now.
And then they showed Geiger's face on the sideline. He was smiling - a huge ear to ear grin. He knew he was going to make this kick. He had been practicing ever since he was a kid - practicing FG after FG over his swing set. He would think to himself "The FG to beat Ohio State" and kick away. He hated the BuckNuts ever since they wouldn't recruit him. He had been practicing this kick for years. And made it every time.
This time the celebration was for real Now it was for real. He knew he was going to make it. So did I.
I was confident. I stood up to stand next to Chris. He was the nervous one now. Ohio State's chances for a repeat were on the line. All year it was about who would be the other three in the playoffs. OSU's place was already set. Now, maybe that place setting was for someone else.
State lines up and ... time out ...OSU. The lamest move in football. Trying to ice the kicker. Geiger knew they would pull that move so he kicked away. One last practice kick over the swing set. It was good. It was always good.
Now for the real kick. The one after all these years, the one that would count.
It's up and its GOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!
I knew it would be as soon as I saw that ear to ear smile on the sidelines.
Chris dropped his head for a moment. Then gathered himself and manned up.
In his full OSU regalia he stretched out his hand for mine, me in my best State gear, and said...
"Your team is superior to mine, Sir." Worth far more than any minor cash bet we may have made. And captured for eternity by Ellis and the gang.
Now all those goals are back on the table. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. One game at a time.
I was confident. I stood up to stand next to Chris. He was the nervous one now. Ohio State's chances for a repeat were on the line. All year it was about who would be the other three in the playoffs. OSU's place was already set. Now, maybe that place setting was for someone else.
State lines up and ... time out ...OSU. The lamest move in football. Trying to ice the kicker. Geiger knew they would pull that move so he kicked away. One last practice kick over the swing set. It was good. It was always good.
Now for the real kick. The one after all these years, the one that would count.
It's up and its GOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!
I knew it would be as soon as I saw that ear to ear smile on the sidelines.
Chris dropped his head for a moment. Then gathered himself and manned up.
In his full OSU regalia he stretched out his hand for mine, me in my best State gear, and said...
"Your team is superior to mine, Sir." Worth far more than any minor cash bet we may have made. And captured for eternity by Ellis and the gang.
Now all those goals are back on the table. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. One game at a time.
