I was completely skeptical about the whole "make a day of it" thingy for the Spring Game, but I must say that overall it was enjoyable!The sun was shining and the sky was clear. I purposefully sat on the shady side to get 50 yard line seats...which then became sunny over time.
I would have bet that the crowd approached 35K (but the athletic dept. claims 50,000!)
Best of the Flaggers:
- Play-by-play offered up by Frank Beckmann and Jimmy Brandstater. Or should I say stand-up comedy routine???? Best comment from Brando?? When Rick Leach tossed a sweep play and was reminded that the only passing that Bo ever let him do was backwards!
- Andy Mignery leading the Yellow squad at QB. Nice touch and placement with his throws. Too bad he peaked as a QB in his mid-30s.
- Larry Foote---"not" playing, but ended up with the one-handed game winning interception
- Ron Bellamy, at QB and wide receiver. Seriously! The man busted one for 40 yards and a TD.
- James Hall, guest referee, admitting that he hadn't seen the play but was going to give it to the Blue team anyway. Brando pointed out that he was performing just like the regular referees who call the games.
- Forcier is the REAL deal. Short, but fast, the kid ran thru and around the defense. Quick, crisp passes on timing routes, into the gaps and seams where need be--seriously, I'm
convinced. - Although I'm sure Denard Robinson is looking forward to fall practice->
- Cone---big, tall, slow, inaccurate.....can you say John Navarre???
- Jack Kennedy is one of our QBs. No, really. #18 Think Doug Flutie.
- Sheridan was wandering the sidelines in a walking cast along with his uniform. That may be the closest he gets given Tate's performance.
- We are deep at running back. Carlos Brown looked good breaking one for 80 yards (at least for now while healthy), and true Freshman #2 Vincent Smith looks like the second coming of a young Jamie Morris. Look for him to see some time this fall, I'll bet
- Offensive success however meant big gaps in the defense. Hard to tell, though, because there was no tackling of the QBs allowed and the Big Dogs weren't in the game much. Brandon Graham, however, was a brick wall and made his presence known. Freshman Vladimir Emilien, wearing #5, was a stand-out and clearly has the best name for a defensive player by far.
- Senior safety/linebacker Stevie Brown was awarded the Meyer Morton Award as the senior football player that experienced the greatest development and showed the most promise during spring drills.......not sure if that's a compliment or not?
- David Molk and junior/sophomore defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen, shared the Sophomore Award as players that displayed toughness and a strong work ethic on the field and in the locker room. Unfortunately Van Bergen left the game due to injury.....
- Despite the new additions to the stadium, the sound system still sucks. Variable clarity, generally inaudible, and dependent on the direction of the wind. Not sure how it could be worse than before, but somehow it succeeded in sucking...
Thanks to freep.com and detnews.com for the images. Check out the video highlights at mgoblue.com
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11 comments:
T9,
I had a great time at the spring game.
My only complaint was the rest rooms outside the concourses were closed, I hope that the renovations do not include elimination of the tradition of the men's room cattle call style urinals. I can email you some pics I took as I texted a couple to BAH.
Methinks Coach Rod has a new QB, but it is still too early to get excited.
I watched some of the live feed via Mgoblue and it definitely looked like Forcier knows what he's doing. Thats the first real time though I've seen him amongst other players and I fear for his body and what I like to call "pretzelling." He'll be in serious jeopardy of being hurt almost every game. Cross those fingers.
Great update T9 !
I know you have a camera (i've used it before). No pics ?
I am pissed I missed it. Scheduling this thing on Easter weekend is bad.
uhhh
tate ran through and around your 2nd string defense - they wouldn't even put him against your #1 defense and don't think there's not a reason for that
he's going to end up like your boy from texas, you know the you tube sensation, super fast, great moves, one vicious hit from the buckeyes and the next thing you know he's transferring. and as usual, the post transfer commentary will talk about how he really wasn't that great anyway so his leaving was actually a good thing
can't wait for november - this is going to be another fun year in the rivalry
T9,
nice update. certainly a much more positive spring game than last year's, both for fans and the team.
as for QBs & injuries, trolls who live in glass houses---
http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/04/ohio_state_football_pryor_ends.html
not that he can pass worth a damn when his elbow ISN'T wrapped, but tosu is a TP "bad knee" from oblivion this season.
WV? "demons"? go figure.
Sru: It sure is nice to have you back and in good spirits.
I'd love for you to educate me and name one school that let's the 1st string offense play against the 1st string defense in their spring game ?
Andy,
you don't think he really bothers to think about this dreck before he vomits it up on the comment page, do you?
however, the issue of QBs & injuries keeps coming up in the press. which leads me to ask a related question:
why is it everyone (Gary Danielson, et al) assumes that spread option QBs get hurt so much, but i don't recall anyone saying the same thing about option QBs?
i don't recall anyone ever suggesting to Bo that he should drop the option because Rick Leach might get hurt. do you recall press/reporters writing stories about how tosu/OU/Nebraska et al should NOT run the wishbone/option offenses because their QBs could get injured?
yet, the constant smack in the press is about how spread options get hurt so much (which i don't think the stats really back up, but that doesn't stop the Gary Danielson's of the world).
T9, Andy and BAH,
I emailed you the pics I took from the spring game.
Go Blue!
SIC,
Insightful. Yes, Gary Danielson sucks, just like the rest of CBS and Brent Mussberger.
Shorty,
thanks- i'm 46 (which is old). i remember the option days. QBs got tackled 10-20 times a game. i don't recall anyone suggesting the option was a "bad" offense because the QB got tackled.
all the talk about how "small" Forcier got me to thinking. anyone else remember Jamelle Holieway? kid came in as a frosh and led Sooners to a MNC in '85. widely considered one of the best option QBs of all time.
he was about 5'11". 185 lbs.
i'm not saying Tater is going to be another Jamelle Holieway (though that would be sweet). i am saying that from the '50's thru the mid '90's (and @ Ga Tech or TCUS, last season) teams ran option QBs who got tackled a lot, and they weren't Vince Young sized behemoths. for the most part they were shifty, quick guys about 6' tall.
Elvis, Todd Collins, Brady, Henson, and Henne were all big (200+ lbs), tall (6'2"+) guys who played out of I or pro set formations. and they all got hurt and missed games/playing time.
i just don't buy the theory (and that Danielson, an SEC mouth piece and douchebag, is its most vocal proponent doesn't help) that the spread is somehow more dangerous than other offenses (like a wishbone option).
has anyone come out criticizing Paul Johnson for running an option @ Ga Tech? how is that any safer than the spread option?
i guess the press has to write about something.
T9... Nice job on this recap. I could not make it out to Ann Arbor on Saturday and really missed not being able to go. I have never been to the spring game but several of our tailgate group went and were out at Pioneer at 5:30am just like for every home game in the fall. I will send you and Andy an email when we get closer the season and maybe you could stop by for a visit at our tailgate. I know everyone has there own "tradition" regarding tailgating but would love to have you join us. BAH and his dad tailgated with us at the last game last season and even though the weather sucked, I think they enjoyed it.
Keep up the great work....
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