COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -In these days of spread attacks, multiple receivers and the wildcat, there’s something reassuring and downright throwback when Wisconsin and Ohio State collide.
There’ll likely be no subterfuge, no trick plays and no misdirection. This is a game for steelworker’s sons and hardworking farm kids.
Don’t look for any group hugs.
Just like it has been the better part of four decades, it’ll be a slugfest in a Blackberry-and-Twitter era, a game of sweat and sacrifice dominated by 248-pound running backs and backhoe-sized linemen.
“We watched the film from last year’s game. It was something else,” Ohio State linebacker Austin Spitler said. “Guys getting thrown around, guys getting thrown to the ground every play. It truly is a street fight out there.”
e back to the good, old days when the ninth-ranked Buckeyes (4-1) and the unheralded and overlooked Badgers (5-0) put unbeaten Big Ten marks on the line in a game that likely will be played a lot like Woody Hayes and Ron Dayne, Barry Alvarez and Chris Spielman would have played it.
Take that aforementioned 248-pound running back, Wisconsin’s John Clay. Forget about deception, Clay decided his best route to the end zone is right through whatever stands in his way.
“I used to focus on running away from people instead of just punishing them,” he said. “But now I’m doing it vice versa.”
Ohio State will be without noseguard Dexter Larimore, out with a sprained right knee. His teammates said they would miss him, but almost felt worse because such an intimidating lineman wouldn’t get to enjoy the mayhem.
“He’s just a big, physical player in a game like this you’d like to have,” fellow lineman Todd Denlinger said. “You’d hate to lose a guy like him any week, but a guy like Dexter you’d hate to see him go down when you’ve got a team like Wisconsin coming in. It’s a big game for us. I know he’d like to be out there.”
Sometimes the contact in the series has gone too far.
the next game.
A year ago, Badgers safety Jay Valai put vicious hits on Buckeyes Dane Sanzenbacher and Dan “Boom” Herron that left both with concussion-like symptoms. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel sent a tape to Big Ten officials and even Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema acknowledged one of the hits was questionable.
“We do remember a couple of guys getting hurt against Wisconsin,” Buckeyes offensive guard Bryant Browning said. “A couple of guys got a couple of concussions. I’m sure we’ll keep that in mind.”
Even when there aren’t cheap shots, the teams revert to a simpler time when straight-ahead blocking and controlling the lines ruled the day.
“All of you that have been around for Ohio State-Wisconsin games in the last couple decades know that they are extremely physical affairs,” said Tressel, whose 3-3 record against the Badgers is his only non-winning record against a Big Ten team. “It’s been a tough, tough series. It’s come down to the big things in the game of football – who handles the line of scrimmage, who takes care of the football.”
A year ago, Wisconsin led 17-13 until Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor led a lengthy drive deep into Badgers territory. He then kept around left end on an option play that seemed to befuddle the defense, covering the last 11 yards with 1:08 left for a 20-17 win.
But even in that game, the star for the Buckeyes was bruising 237-pound tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells, who rushed for 168 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Again this year, the so-called skilled players will grab the headlines, but the guys who decide the game will be the brutes up front.
“(We) always talk about Wisconsin being the hardest-hitting team in our league,” Ohio State punter Jon Thoma said. “So we know that’s what they’re going to try to do.”
The Badgers, needless to say, aren’t shying away from that.
“Wisconsin, traditionally, is built on being tough,” said Wisconsin’s imposing defensive end, 6-3, 248-pound O’Brien Schofield.
Sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it?
—
AP Sports Writer Colin Fly in Madison, Wis., contributed to this report.
Add A Comment