T-minus 29 days and counting

I heard on the radio today that my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked #1 in the pre-season polls. I'm not too sure how I feel about that. Yes, it's great that the Bucks are getting some pre-season respect, but being #1 is like painting a bullseye on your chest and going to a firing range. Yes, we are returning almost all of the starters on the offensive squad, but we lost about half of the defensive starters. I have faith in the coaching staff and think that the offense is going to put up some mad numbers this year, I am just a little bit nervous about the defense. Then there is the schedule. The second week of the season, the Buckeyes get to go play Texas. The only silver lining is that Vince Young is no longer playing for the Longhorns. Still, it is going to be a nerve wracking game to watch. Two weeks later, Penn State rolls into Columbus. All of the Big Ten games are going to be tough this year. Probably the toughest game of the year is going to be The Big One, when M*ch*g*n defiles the OSU campus on the 18th of November. A wierd thing that I noticed is that OSU doesn't have a bye week this season. The silver lining is that every rough game is followed by a game that should be not-so-tough. No game is a given, the MAC teams thrown in the schedule will take the edge off the rough Big Ten season this year. Something else to be excited about are the two Heisman Trophy candidates on the Buckeye offense, Ted Ginn Jr and Troy Smith. I have to admit, I wasn't always a fan of Mr. Smith, but by the end of last season, he showed everyone that he can lead the team to victory in tough games. Had he been the started all year, OSU could have won the National Title. Well, I look to this season with a great amount of enthusiasm.

Northern Illinois Sept. 2, 3:30 pm
@ Texas Sept. 9, 8:00 pm
Cincinnati Sept. 16, Noon
Penn State Sept. 23, TBA
@ Iowa Sept. 30, 8:00pm
Bowling Green Oct. 7, TBA
@ Michigan St. Oct. 14, TBA
Indiana Oct. 21, TBA
Minnesota Oct. 28, 3:30
@ Illinois Nov. 4, TBA
@ Northwestern Nov. 11, TBA
M*ch*g*n Nov. 18, 3:30