OCT. 10, 2006

OSU-MICH. STATE: POINT-COUNTERPOINT

The Spartans are reeling, but they're always dangerous. Cal Remkey and Scott Clifton take turns answering five questions about OSU's trip to East Lansing::

1. Did the Bucks really play that bad against Bowling Green, or was it just a case of looking ahead?

>> SCOTT CLIFTON: Ohio State was obviosly not that enthusiastic about playing the Falcons. They only had the ball for 33 seconds more than BG, and quarterback Troy Smith was sacked twice and chased into running the ball several times. I think the offense executed when it had to and the defense made big plays when it had to, but there was no sense of urgency. I hope this team doesn't think it can just turn it on when it needs to because there will be a revisiting of Black Saturday if they do. Maybe not this week, but sometime before TSUN makes a visit to the 'Shoe.

>> CAL REMKEY: I don't understand those people who actually think that players and coaches prepare the exact same way for every opponent regardless who they are playing. Of course this was a result of lack of preparation. Or maybe you believe that the Bowling Green defensivle line is miles ahaed of the Texas D-line? Regardless of what people were saying this week about working hard and staying focused, this was the bye week. This was the week off. It had to be after that daunting September. This week it's back to work.

2. Sparty always plays OSU tough in East Lansing, will the Spartans be up to the challenge this year?

>> CLIFTON: Wait. Is John L. Smith still the coach up at MSU? He is? Uh, no chance that Sparty rises up this week. As long as Smith looks over and sees don Tresselli across the field this game will be as good as over. Not to mention, the Spartans will be without starting running back Javon Ringer, starting wide receiver Matt Trannon, and starting guard Daniel Zynn. Plus, two tight ends were suspended indefinitely this week for undisclosed reasons.

>> REMKEY: I don't know. Two years ago, MSU took the Bucks to the brink and if it wasn't for Ted Ginn's coming out party, the Buckeyes may have been in Nashville that December. The last visit before that — in 1999 — resulted in one of the worst ass kickings that I have ever seen my Buckeyes endure. Granted, OSU had a free safety lined up under center. I guess I just always start to get nervous when I see Sparty, especially when the Bucks are good. MSU has been as nasty as TSUN when it comes to the spoiler role. Stories of 1974 are told and retold. And 1998 still gives me nightmares.

3. What match-up is critical to Ohio State's success this weekend?

>> CLIFTON: I debated just pitting OSU against the officials, but that's the big match-up every week. I guess what I'll be interested in watching is the OSU run defense against the MSU ground game. Jehuu Caulcrick is a 260-pound beast and the Buckeyes have been a little suspect when it comes to tackling in the open field. If OSU's defensive line — without David Patterson — can't do a good job against a depleted Spartans O-line, I'm not confident OSU's secondary is strong enough in the tackling department to handle Caulcrick all day long.

>> REMKEY: Oooh — officials. That's a good one. If I had thought of it first, I would probably be writing about it. But I think the key will be the OSU ground game. As Scott mentioned above, if the Buckeyes stop the run, Sparty doesn't have a chance. If the O-line allows Antonio Pittman to work his magic, and control the clock, I look for a repeat of the Iowa game. I always feel that an easy way to overcome a hostile environment is to milk the clock. The best way to keep Caulcrick out of the defensive secondary is keep the ball away from him.

4. Given what you have seen thus far from Justin Zwick, should he still be Troy Smith's primary backup?

>> CLIFTON: If hesitation, lack of arm strength and limiting what plays the coaches can call because of your inability to make all the throws are qualities you like to see in a No. 2 quarterback, then hell yes! My God! Can we please start to get Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft some experience for next year? Even if the likes of Pittman and Ginn stay for their senior years, the quarterbacks are going to go through some growing pains. Why not let them go through some of those this year? I understand Jim Tressel — like all dons — is loyal. Signing Zwick was instrumental in getting some of the blue-chip recruits in 2001. But Zwick had his chances, let's move on.

>> REMKEY: I agree wholeheartedly. Do you know how many touchdown passes Zwick has thrown in the past year and a half? One. That is the exact same amount as Boeckman and Zwick has had plenty more opportunities. I don't know. I don't see these guys in practice on a daily basis. But let me say this: In the past three years, I have yet to see Zwick do anything in a game situation that makes me feel as if he is anywhere near the level of where a fifth-year senior quarterback should be. Maybe it's because there is such a contrast between he and Smtih, but after his performance against BG, I cannot imagine Boeckman being any worse.

5. Talk about your experience on Nov. 7, 1998, when Sparty spoiled a perfect Ohio State season.

>> CLIFTON: It was one of the most disappointing days of my life as a Buckeye fan. The entire season was like party up to that point. The Bucks opened up ranked No. 1 in the country and rolled everybody they played. The closest game was 34-17 at West Virginia in the season opener. And it was team that you knew was finally going to get Coop past TSUN. And they did. But watching the second half against Sparty was painful. It was like it happened in slow motion. The Joe Germaine sack and fumble, Coop gnawing on his fingers until they were just bloody stubs, Renoldo Hill's interception of Germaine at the goal line. It was horrible. I was in a daze for weeks. I wasn't even excited about teh TSUN game — and we beat the Wolverines for once! The disappointment over having one of the greatest college football teams ever and not being able to run the table was too much for me to handle. Let's put it this way, I lived in southern Califronia at the time and it was one of the longest winters of my life.

>> REMKEY: I was a freshman in college and was traveling back to Cincinnati from East Lansing, of all places. There were four of us in the van that day and I was frantically surfing the AM radio stations as we moved farther and farther south down I-75. At first, it appeared that OSU was going to roll past the Spartans as they had every other opponent that season. We lost our radio signal sometime after Damon Moore returned an interception for a touchdown midway through the third quarter to give the Bucks a commanding 24-9 lead. When we picked up the radio signal again, Cedric Irvin was plowing across the goal line to give MSU the lead. I managed to make it back to my dorm room, only to see the final drive of the game. I still can't believe the play calling on those last two drives. The worst part about the whole day was riding in the car with a Tennessee fan who was openly rooting for Sparty.

But look at it this way: If OSU wins that game, they probably go on to choke in the national championship game. That might have bought Copper five more seasons, and then 2002 never happens. Notre Dame hires Tressel after Bob Davie is fired. Then, in 2003, after three more losses to TSUN, Cooper is eventually fired, and Ohio State ends up settling for Glen Mason. Maybe it wouldn't have played out like that, but it's scary to even think that it could have!

Cal can be reached via email at calremkey@meanbrutus.com

Scott can be reached via email at scottclifton@meanbrutus.com