Keep your head up, you've got a bright future ahead of you

In a game like this, there aren’t too many glamorous plays. No 70 yard bombs for touchdowns, no 50 yard halfback runs for touchdowns, and no wide outs running roughshod over defenses. This is the Big 10, where fans actually know the names of the defensive players, and points aren’t always guaranteed on every drive. What do we look like? The Big 12? Hell, if we wanted to watch that sort of football, we don’t even have to travel all the way down South, we’ve already got an eastern version of it in the Big East.

But never have I been treated as nicely as a visitor than at Ohio Stadium. And yes that includes you Michigan fans. My worst away experience was actually to Michigan Stadium where a bottle was thrown at me by a middle aged man old enough to be my dad for merely cheering on defense on third down. At Ohio State, the fans greeted us with friendly banter back and forth about our teams, our bands, everyone had a grin on when arguing about our teams, and even the ushers were extremely friendly. This was my first ever trip to Columbus and I will definitely want to go back again, but with no “open containers” this time, but I realized on my way back with my friends from our trip that all the bad rap that Buckeye fans get are mostly from the mouth of Michigan fans.

We were actually at the second floor bar in the Hyatt on Sunday morning talking to an extremely nice bartender who was a Buckeye fan and after this trip, I can honestly say the Buckeyes absolutely do not deserve any criticism for their fan base. Sure there are always bad apples, but I did not encounter one once. I was in Michigan for only 5 hours prior to the game and didn’t even stay the night and I was harassed by young and old fans alike. Not the friendly type either. In addition to the man who threw the bottle at me, there was a middle aged woman who cursed at me when everyone was trying to shuffle out of the stadium after the game. And this was after they won, I can’t imagine Michigan fans when they lose.

So for all those of you who have never made the trip away to Columbus, I would really highly recommend it, it was one of the best experiences of my life, even had we lost, I had so much fun at the tailgate (other than being swarmed by undercover “agents” and cited for open containers), it was honestly the best college football experience of my career including the ones at home in Happy Valley.

In a game where defense ruled the day, other than 1 big offensive play by each team, it was hard to select a specific defensive play that defined the game. It was a battle for every inch of turf in Ohio Stadium. Although I hate to be cliche and select the Pryor fumble, it honestly altered the outcome of the game and anyone who would otherwise argue either writes for Yahoo! Rivals, or did not watch the game, or both.

On third down after Beanie runs for less than a yard on 2nd, Ohio State runs a simple formation with Pryor under center and Beanie behind him

Expecting a quarterback sneak, which very well should have been the call with less than a full yard to go for the first down, Penn State collapses their defense inside

Pryor seeing the line collapse inside, decides to run to his right hoping for more than a first down

Safety Mark Rubin barely 5 yards from the line of scrimmage to begin the play remains on the outside making it 1 on 1 against Pryor. He makes the play of the game by popping the ball out when he attempts to tackle Pryor

And the mad dash begins

Because the ball made a Penn State bounce backwards from the line of scrimmage, even if the Buckeyes had recovered it, it would most likely have been a fourth down for the Buckeyes unless the officials determined that Penn State obtained possession during the mad dash

Fortunately all that was moot because Penn State recovered and the play of the season was born

It is hard to fault any quarterback for wanting to be a hero. It seems the original play called in was a quarterback sneak. If you look closely at the second image, once the ball is snapped, Beanie doesn’t even make an attempt to run forward indicating that it was not a designated run by the tailback. Had Pryor simply fallen forward, a first down and 3 points in Penn State territory was all but assured.

But Pryor being the competitor he is, wanted more. They always want more. He bounces a simple quarterback sneak to the outside on his right and is met by Rubin, who pops the ball out sending the Lion faithful into a frenzy.

This was a no brainer. Daryll Clark’s pass to sophomore WR Graham Zug late in the second quarter was the offensive play of the game. Sure it only resulted in 3 points, but in a game like this, this play was an absolute home run.

Right before this play on 1st down, Penn State moved the chains on a quarterback sneak following a 7-yard Daryll Clark run up the middle. The Buckeyes were wary of another quarterback keeper at this point

How does Penn State follow up 2 quarterback keepers? Play Action!

The Buckeyes bit on the play action when their defense end hesitated to rush the quarterback even though he had a direct path

Though by the time they got to Daryll Clark, he had found his target Graham Zugg streaking down the right side of the field wide open

Zug brings Penn State into Buckeye territory

The Buckeyes have so much respect for Derrick Williams lined up on the left side of the field, they bit on his route sending him across the middle of the field which occupied the safety, leaving Zug with space streaking down the right side of the field

The safety allows Zug behind him thinking Williams was the intended target

Had the ball been thrown in front of Zug, it would have been 7.

This game was one of the best I’ve ever witnessed in person. I’ve seen shootouts (Orange Bowl 05′ and Illinois 08′), and I’ve witnessed defensive battles (Iowa 04′ and Ohio State 05′). I just prefer traditional Big Ten football alot more.

I will have something on my actual experience at the Shoe later in the week. Great game by both teams, I just can’t stress that enough.