Would love nothing more than to end "the streak." This article from
http://www.news-herald.com/sports/201409...incinnati:
Ohio State Buckeyes aim for keep in-state streak intact vs. Cincinnati
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, left, looks for a receiver as center Jacoby Boren blocks Navy guard Bernard Sarra during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baltimore, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
By John Kampf, The News-Herald
POSTED: 09/22/14, 6:24 PM EDT | 0
COLUMBUS — Nearly a century has passed since an in-state school defeated Ohio State on the football field.
That being said, Buckeyes defensive lineman Adolphus Washington knows what is probably in store if he and his teammates were to lose to visiting Cincinnati on Sept. 27.
“They’d probably party all week in Cincinnati,” Washington said.
Ohio State has not lost in 44 consecutive games against fellow Ohio schools. The last loss was 7-6 to Oberlin back in 1921, though the Buckeyes settled for a 7-7 tie in 1924 against the College of Wooster.
The Buckeyes will try to keep that positive streak going against Tommy Tuberville’s Bearcats, who are an impressive 2-0 while averaging 44.5 points per game in wins over Toledo and Miami (Ohio).
“Offensively, they’ve been good in the past,” Meyer said. “They’re exceptional now.”
The good news is the Buckeyes are coming off an off week, which has given Meyer and his staff two weeks to coach the young Buckeyes and two weeks to prepare for the gun-slinging offense of quarterback Gunner Kiel and his plethora of athletic receivers.
Meyer said he and his staff approached the off week differently than in years past. Part of the reason, assistant Kerry Coombs said, is the competitive spirit of the team, which thrives on live, 11-on-11 practices.
“This group just lights up when it’s 11-on-11,” Coombs said.
So Meyer and his staff focused on that during the off week.
“We practiced a lot of game reps, and it wasn’t just for (quarterback J.T. Barrett), but it was that offensive line,” Meyer said. “Then obviously on defense we have some new players there as well, so (we did) more game reps than we’ve ever done on a bye week.”
What’s the benefit of that over regular practice, including drills and working on mechanics?
Linebacker Joshua Perry said it’s a simple formula.
“When you have a team that loves to play ball and young players with a chip on their shoulder, you’ll go out there on a bye week and have good practices,” Perry said. “If you come here and you are what you say you are and are what everybody thinks you are, when it comes to 11-on-11 live drills, you’re going to be pumped up.”
Whether that translates into a much-needed big-time performance against a Cincinnati team that Meyer claims is worthy of being listed among the “Power Five” conferences remains to be seen.
But it’s safe to say the Bearcats have the Buckeyes’ attention.
“The one thing that I remember (Cincinnati coach) Tommy Tuberville saying is that they’re the best group of receivers he’s coached,” Meyer said, “and that struck a chord with me because I know what he’s coached, some good teams and good players.”
Just where Ohio State is, or what kind of team they have, might still be up in the air. After a Week 1 win over Navy, in which the Buckeyes gave up 300-plus rushing yards, the Buckeyes were upset at home by Virginia Tech. The rebound was a 66-0 win over Kent State in Week 3 heading into the bye week.
Meyer admitted the offensive line is still unsettled and that the pass defense, revamped in the offseason, still hasn’t been tested like it will against Cincinnati.
But he is not buying any talk about having a young team, even if 97 of Ohio State’s 121 points have been scored by freshmen or sophomores.
“(When people say) we have a new quarterback — no you don’t,” Meyer said. “He’s a veteran player now. We try not to go there.
“You played your prime-time game, you played wishbone. You know, it’s Week 4. So as far as I’m concerned, (talk of youth) is over after Week 1.”