Flash Forward: November, 2009—A Brief Look Into the Future

by HD Handshoe
Founder—BlockONation



If you haven't seen ABC's new show, Flash Forward, you are missing out. It is very good, so far.

To borrow the premise of the show, let's look ahead past the next three games/wins, and take a peek into the future, sans you having to blackout for two minutes and seventeen seconds.





Ohio State, barring Hell freezing and over, and pigs flying, should all but be guaranteed victories in their next three games, at Purdue in West Lafayette on October 17, then back home vs. Minnesota on October 24, and New Mexico State on October 31.

Some of you might not think it's a good idea to overlook these potential "trap" games, but I'm not a coach or player. I'm a fan with a blog, so those "do not look ahead rules" don't apply to me, so that's exactly what I'm going to do.

A year ago, Terrelle Pryor made two key freshman mistakes and gift-wrapped PSU's first win in Columbus in 30 years.


Flash Forward to November 7, 2009:

Ohio State will be 8-1, and in Happy Valley to face Penn State, who should also be 8-1 by then, unless they slip up in Ann Arbor on October 24, in which case they will be 7-2.

Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes will expose Penn State. The Buckeye defense will once again dominate the Nittany Lions, just as they did in 2008.

Pryor will connect with DeVier Posey, Duron Carter, and Dane Sanzenbacher for a total of three passing touchdowns, and look for Pryor and Dan Herron to also add a rushing touchdown apiece. Aaron Pettrey will also add a 38-yard field goal.

The defense will hold PSU to less than 20 points, and the Buckeyes spit in the face of the "white out" with the victory.

Final score in my Flash Forward:

Ohio State 38
Penn State 17


Flash Forward to November 14, 2009:

Ohio State will be 9-1, and back home to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in Ohio Stadium. Iowa will be 10-0, or 9-1 by then.

The only game they may be at risk of losing will be in Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers on October 17. The rest of the schedule looks to be smooth sailing up until the game in Columbus.

Both teams are solid defensively and this game will be low-scoring because of the stellar defensive play by each team.

Protecting the ball and playing the field position game will be the keys. Therefore, this is actually one time when fans will come to appreciate Tressel-ball, as the Buckeyes win the field position battle, and turnover margin, and ultimately the game.

Aaron Pettrey will end up being the MVP on this day as he boots five field goals. The defense will hold Iowa to less than 17 points, and the Buckeyes will prevail, but close.

Final score in my Flash Forward:

Ohio State 23
Iowa 16


Flash Forward to November 21, 2009:

Ohio State will be 10-1, and in Ann Arbor for THE GAME vs. TTUN, aka, TSUN, aka, Meatchicken, aka Meeechigan, aka scUM, etc...

Michigan will be 7-4 or 8-3. I'm going to go with 7-4 as I expect them to drop two more games before the season finale with Ohio State—October 24 vs. Penn State, and November 14 at Wisconsin will both be losses for UM.

The Wolverines started the year with four home games versus three cupcakes and an OK, but not great Notre Dame team. They went 4-0 over that stretch. Then reality set in.

Tate Forcier came back down to Earth, as UM fans realized he was not Superman. His play was shaky at times in UM's first two road games, and losses, to Michigan State and Iowa.

Losing by two points in Iowa City against a very good Hawkeyes team is nothing to be ashamed of, but the loss to the 1-3 Spartans, aka little brother as UM fans call them, was absolutely something to be embarrassed about.

So now we know Tate is good for a true freshman, but he's not great or perfect. We also know that UM's defense is not very good at all.

Ohio State's top-tier defense will force Michigan into many three and outs, and turnovers. I don't see UM scoring more than two or three times against the stout Buckeye "D".

Conversely, I do see the Buckeyes being able to move the ball, and score often.
Look for Pryor to have two or three passing touchdowns and one or two scores on the ground. Herron and Saine may get in on the act as well, and it will be Deja Vu all over again for the Wolverines.

Final score in my Flash Forward:

Ohio State 48
Michigan 17


In the TV show, the characters that had ominous visions of their futures believe that having this flash forward glimpse may help them change what they saw.

To the players and coaches at Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan, and to the fans of each team respectively, it's just a TV show for crying out loud.

You have no chance of avoiding or changing the fact that you will all lose to the Buckeyes in the coming weeks.

Face it, it is your destiny.


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My Team's OOC Schedule Can Beat Up Your Team's OOC Schedule

By HD Handshoe
Founder—BlockONation


So I'm guessing you figured out the title of this piece is a play-on-words taken from the old "My Dad can beat up your Dad," argument.

I know in the past, the Buckeyes have, and still continue to work hard at scheduling out of conference games verses other quality BCS teams.

And sure, they also have played some cupcakes along the way—But who hasn't?

The bottom line however here is that I dare any fan of any other program to provide me with evidence that would suggest that their team has scheduled, and played in as many big-time OOC games as my team, The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Here is every OOC game Ohio State has played since 2000, as well as the OOC games from 2009 and those that have been scheduled so far, all the way through 2019. That's a span of 20 years.

Bowl game opponents (**) are also noted, and included.

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2000 - Fresno State, Arizona, Miami (OH), **South Carolina

2001 - Akron, UCLA, San Diego State, **South Carolina

2002 - Texas Tech, Washington State, Cincinnati, San Jose State, **Miami (FL)

2003 - Washington, San Diego State, NC State, BGSU, **Kansas State

2004 - Cincinnati, Marshall, NC State, **Oklahoma State

2005 - Miami (OH), Texas, San Diego State, **Notre Dame

2006 - Northern Illinois, Texas, Cincinnati, BGSU, **Florida

2007 - YSU, Akron, Washington, Kent State, **LSU

2008 - YSU, Ohio, USC, Troy, **Texas

2009 - Navy, USC, Toledo, New Mexico State, **Oregon

2010 - Marshall, Miami (FL), Ohio, Eastern Michigan

2011 - Akron, Toledo, Miami (FL), fourth OOC game still TBD

2012 - Miami (OH), Cincinnati, California, UAB

2013 - California, three OOC games still TBD

2014 - Navy, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Kent State

2015 - Virginia Tech, three OOC games still TBD

2016 - Oklahoma, three OOC games still TBD

2017 - Oklahoma, three OOC games still TBD

2018 - Tennessee, three OOC games still TBD

2019 - Tennessee, three OOC games still TBD

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Now, I know Ohio State hasn't won every one of these OOC games, nor will they win all of those yet to be played.

That is not the point here. The point is they are scheduling big games verses top notch opponents like no other school in the country and have been for a very long time.

There have been rumors the Ohio State has been trying to schedule home and home two-game series with other SEC opponents such as Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and LSU but I have no confirmation as of yet.

I had actually heard that the home and home in 2018 and 2019 with Tennessee was supposed to be Georgia, but UGA didn't want to play in Columbus.

If you wish to dispute me on this, that's fine, but you better bring an arsenal of knowledge with you and plenty of big time OOC games for any team you claim is doing a better job at going out and playing other top-level teams.


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