Saturday, October 22, 2005
Taking stock of the day's happenings around college football:
*Ohio State fans, don't get too worked up over Saturday's blowout win at Indiana. The Hoosiers were highly-overrated at 4-2 coming into the game, with wins over Central Michigan, Nicholls State, Kentucky and Illinois.
Still, the Buckeyes did what they should have done -- win big against an overmatched opponent. And they did so with a variety of weapons -- a strong running game, balance on offense, a stifling defense and play-making on special teams.
Next weekend's trip to Minnesota should be a real test for the Buckeyes, with the Gophers' potent running game led by Lawrence Maroney.
Ohio State has the potential to run the table and tie for the Big Ten championship.
Inconsistent playis source of worry
The Buckeyes have also shown the ability to play poorly, enough so that the games against Minnesota, Northwestern and Michigan shouldn't be marked down as victories just yet, in our opinion.
Ohio State has displayed an annoying habit of inconsistent play on offense. A BCS bowl bid is not out of the question, but the offense is going to have to put together more days like Saturday than like those against Penn State and Michigan State.
*Youngstown State begins perhaps the most crucial three-week stretch in the football program's history with regular season-ending games against Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois (both on the road) and the home finale against top-ranked Western Kentucky.
Coach Jon Heacock failed to take the Penguins to the I-AA postseason in his four previous seasons, but following Saturday night's win over Missouri State, YSU is 7-1 and in first place in the Gateway Conference.
Heacock has the Penguins' program back where it was for so many years under his predecessor, Jim Tressel -- among the elite teams in I-AA.
Penguins have takenpersonality of coach
It hasn't been easy following a coach who had so much success like Tressel. Earle Bruce, who succeeded Woody Hayes and Ohio State, and Frank Solich, who replaced Tom Osborne at Nebraska, can attest to that.
It's taken Heacock some time to forge his own identity as head coach, but his hard work and dedication to the program is surely evident this fall. We believe many more good times are just over the horizon.
It's time, then, for the YSU administration to reward Heacock with a contract extension. He's earned it.
*Easy victories by Southern Cal and Texas on Saturday have us convinced those will be the two teams playing for the national championship in the Rose Bowl.
But what about for the 2006 season? Keep an eye on Notre Dame.
Quinn, Irish shouldbe contenders in '06
Quarterback Brady Quinn gets more comfortable each week in the sophisticated offensive system designed by coach Charlie Weis.
Saturday, Quinn threw for a school-record six touchdown passes as the Fighting Irish routed BYU.
In just seven games, Quinn has thrown for over 2,300 yards and has 20 touchdown passes, with only four interceptions.
Notre Dame has three home games remaining, including next weekend's against a Tennessee team that will be on an emotional bubble following its devastating, last-second loss, to Alabama.
Quinn will also face Navy, Syracuse and Stanford, all defenses he should be able to dissect rather easily.
Not only can we mark Notre Dame as a national championship contender in '06, but Quinn should be one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy.
*And finally, congratulations to Ohio Northern, which proved that once every 111 games the Mount Union football team is human.
XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.