Our Honor Defend

Posting has been rather light around here of late.  In my defense, I did just reformat my hard drive and have been monkeying around with Ubuntu for this week.  That, and I found a bar that has $1 PBR nights.  And, I mean, c’mon… c’mon.

That said, in monkeying around with the new distro, I had to do the requisite trials with the video editor to see if everything was hunky-dory.  I thought I’d use the 1999 Sugar Bowl.  It also gave me the opportunity to sit down and watch that game beginning to end.

The game started with some fireworks.  Ohio State began the game with the ball, but quickly fell behind down and distance, culminating in a forced 3 and out from Texas A&M’s Wrecking Crew defense.  Texas A&M drove down the field with ease on its first possession, ending with a 9 yard scamper to the endzone by Aggie back Dante Hall.  It was the wakeup call the Buckeyes needed.  Ohio State responded with an effortless score of its own.  Reggie Germany — Mr. 0.0 himself — capped off the aerial assault with a 19 yard touchdown grab.  The Bucks weren’t done.  On its’ next drive, Ohio State pounded Texas A&M on the ground.  Minus a few out routes to David Boston, Michael Wiley moved the Buckeyes into the Aggies’ half of the field.  Then, Joe Montgomery broke free.  It was a great showcase for the senior back who struggled with injuries through his career.  Afterwards, Fred Pagac’s Silver Bullets stuffed A&M, forcing a 3 and out and a punt.  Disaster for the Aggies followed.  By the end of the first quarter, Ohio State led 21-7.

And by the start of the second quarter, I was already bored.  For a game that sticks out prominently in the minds of Buckeye fans in my age bracket, this game was painfully boring to watch after the first quarter.  Texas A&M’s defense had adjusted to John Cooper’s pass-happy tendencies.  Rather than punish a front 7 with no ability stop the rush, the Buckeyes continued to dial up passing plays for Joe Germaine.  He set an Ohio State bowl record for passes attempted with 38, but completed only 21 for 222 yards.  Even when Ohio State needed to kill precious clock early in the 4th quarter, Joe Germaine and Ohio State’s playcallers continued to hope desperately for a home run threat to emerge.  When it did, Joe Germaine either overthrew David Boston (badly) or Boston was flagged for offensive pass interference.  28 points were scored in the first quarter, but only 10 in the 3 succeeding quarters.  Ohio State only contributed a second quarter field goal.  Dan Stultz was 1/3 on the day.

One drive in particular sticks out: Texas A&M’s second drive of the third quarter.  It was A&M’s only other touchdown (and score) from this game.  Lack of focus, lack of discipline and dumb decisions all extended the Aggies drive, twice after they came up empty on third down plays.  In the first case, Antoine Winfield came off the edge on a corner blitz and drilled the quarterback on a handoff.  Brandon Stewart (A&M’s quarterback) had his back to Winfield, so ‘Toine couldn’t see that he did not have the ball.  An unnecessary roughness penalty was assessed.  Later, said QB found the waiting arms of Damon Moore on a 3rd and 11 for what should’ve been a turnover.  However, Ohio State was flagged for pass interference and the Aggies’ drive continued.  Later, on what I think was a 3rd and 29 — or basically a 3rd and forever — Ohio State was flagged again, this time for defensive holding.  A few plays later, Stewart found Leroy Hodge for a touchdown.  Ohio State’s commanding 21-7 first quarter lead was now 24-14 midway through the third quarter.

However, where Ohio State’s offense was providing no help through the second half, the Silver Bullets were up to the task after that drive.  A&M accomplished little afterwards.  Andy Katzenmoyer drilled Brandon Stewart on a 3rd down play to end the Aggies’ ensuing drive.  In the 4th quarter, Jerry Rudzinski tipped a lateral pass and recovered the live ball for a crippling turnover for the Aggies.  Still, this game provided no YouTube-worthy fireworks in the second half.  After Ohio State’s halftime FG, the compilation I made just kind of degenerates into a grab bag of Ohio State’s defense either looking dumb or looking brilliant.  It’s mostly the latter, of course.  We miss you Fred Pagac.

You can watch my compilation below.  Sadly, one of the final VOB files was corrupted and I could not extract the “final seconds” as I usually like to do.  Instead, the best I can do to end the clip is show how Ohio State’s victory made the Big Ten 5-0 in bowl games where few others had even a respectable bowl record.

Enjoy your weekend as well.