Kickoff Has Arrived

Kickoff Has Arrived
Ohio State Script Ohio

Kickoff Has Arrived

The time has arrived for Ohio State to kickoff the 2008 football season against the Youngstown State Penguins. The team is focused on this one game with the goal to win the Big Ten outright and claim the National Championship thereafter.

By Steve Patterson

Youngstown State

            Youngstown State is a major underdog (51 ½ according to1800-sports.com) and was beaten handily last season, 38-6. But the Buckeyes know that anything can happen in a game and are not looking past the Division 1A (FCS) team. “There are a lot of playmakers on this team. It is going to be a tough task.” Senior linebacker Marcus Freeman told reports after practice on Tuesday.

            Ohio State starting tailback Chris Wells did not have the best game last season only rushing for 46 yards on 16 carries. This year he looks to be more patient and put up better numbers on his way to a Heisman season. “It was not one of my best games. I learned a lot from the first time we played Youngstown State. Last year, I felt like I rushed everything. I was anxious with it being the first game. I’m anxious this year, but I know not to rush everything.” He said.

            Ryan Pretorius just wants to get his first kick of the year over with. “I can’t wait for Saturday to get the first kick out of the way. I’m looking for straight, hard balls down the middle. It doesn’t matter if they’re 20-yards or 60-yards, one point or three points.”

Terrelle Pryor

            Speculation has been that Terrelle Pryor will get a number of plays on Saturday and Head Coach Jim Tressel has labeled his position as a #2 quarterback along with Joe Bauserman recently. Also mentioned as one freshman that will play and not be red-shirted, Pryor received praise from junior wide-out Brian Hartline. “I think we’re all anxious to see him on the field. There is no question the guy can run. He’s definitely a football player.”

Dominate all Season

            Slightly shocking from starting tailback Chris Wells was his opinion that the team slacked off from one quarter to the next.  “We know that it’s important to play dominant football from start to finish. Last season, we had a good quarter here and there, but we never played that well from start to finish and that’s something that we’re hoping to accomplish this year.”

            If the team can dominate every quarter this coming season Ohio State fans everywhere will be thrilled with a team that went 11-2 and finished 4th in the country in the US Today Coaches Poll to came back and go undefeated, dominate, and win the biggest awards available.

 
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