Meyer Proves His Worth in Comeback Victory Two Weeks Ago, I Argued the Case That to Temporarily Stop the Clock
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Originally Published: Oct. 27, 2012 OPINION Meyer Proves His Worth In Comeback Victory Two weeks ago, I argued the case that to temporarily stop the clock. Guiton followed Five years later, OSU dug itself out of an coaching matters … and it matters a lot. That with a spike and the Buckeyes were at the even deeper hole by erasing a 31-0 deficit at Vol. 32, No. 8 was driven home like a golden spike Oct. 20 Purdue 11 with 15 seconds left. Minnesota before rallying for a 41-37 victory. Oct. 27, 2012 when Ohio State faced an eight-point deficit to The next play called for Guiton to hit QB Greg Frey threw for 362 yards and three www.BuckeyeSports.com Purdue with only 47 seconds to do something Spencer as he raced toward the end zone, touchdowns while tailback/kick returner about it. peeling off in front of his defender just before Carlos Snow accounted for 278 all-purpose Sure, give Kenny Guiton credit for coolly reaching the goal line. But Guiton threw yards and tallied three scores in what was directing a 61-yard touchdown drive. Give too low and too wide, and a diving Spencer at the time the largest comeback in NCAA Buckeye Sports Bulletin (USPS 705-690, ISSN 0883-6833.) is published 24 times a Chris Fields credit for making crucial catches couldn’t come up with the reception. history. year (weekly September through November, the junior receiver heretofore hadn’t made Third down, 12 seconds left. Time for two There have been other great comebacks, of biweekly mid-March through May and during his college career. Give Tom Herman more plays. course, including the 2002 Purdue game when January through early March and monthly credit for dialing up a perfect two-point conver- This time, Meyer called for a fade route in Craig Krenzel’s “Holy Buckeye” touchdown June through August and December) by: sion call. And give the much-maligned Ohio the end zone to Spencer, but while the pass pass to Michael Jenkins erased a 6-3 deficit Columbus Sports Publications State defense its due for managing to hold off seemed to sail on Guiton, Purdue cornerback with 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter of an 1350 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 30 the Boilermakers in overtime. Josh Johnson had his hands all over the OSU eventual 10-6 victory. P.O. Box 12453 Columbus, Ohio 43212 But if you ever wondered why Urban receiver and drew a pass interference call. But perhaps Ohio State’s greatest come- (614) 486-2202 Meyer is worth $4 million a year, you need from-behind victory came nearly a century look no further than the Buckeyes’ 29-22 vic- ago. Periodical class postage paid at tory over Purdue. The reason Guiton was so In 1916, the Buckeyes faced a 6-0 fourth- Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing EDITOR’S offices. POSTMASTER: Send address chang- cool, Fields was so clutch, Herman was so quarter deficit at powerful Illinois when sopho- es to: Buckeye Sports Bulletin, P.O. Box confident and the defense was so able to rise NOTEBOOK more sensation Chic Harley passed and ran 12453, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Subscription to the occasion could be summed up in one Mark Rea his team to the Illini 12-yard line with 1:10 to rates: $77.95/year. word: leadership. play. On the next play, Harley faded to pass PUBLISHER No offense to last year’s coaching staff, but found all his receivers covered. He took Frank Moskowitz but there was no way Ohio State would have That gave the Buckeyes the ball at the off and cut quickly to his left, evaded three beaten Purdue last season given the same Purdue 2-yard line, but with only 0:08 showing would-be tacklers inside the 5 and then dived ASSISTANT PUBLISHER EMERITUS Karen Wachsman 1944-1999 set of circumstances. In fact, the Buckeyes on the clock. That’s when Fields made a div- over the goal line for a touchdown. faced similar circumstances last year in West ing catch of a ball only he could have caught Harley followed by calmly changing his MANAGING EDITOR Lafayette, and while they rallied at the end of just over the goal line for the touchdown. mud-caked cleats for a dry pair and booting Mark Rea the game, they were the ones who made the Now, with just 0:03 remaining, Meyer the extra point to give the Buckeyes a 7-6 vic- ASSISTANT PUBLISHER crucial mistakes and they were the ones who needed one more clutch call to achieve the tory. It marked Ohio State’s first-ever win over Becky Roberts went home losers. tie. He got it from Herman, who overruled his Illinois and propelled the Buckeyes to their Meyer had already laid the groundwork linemen who were lobbying for a run. first Western Conference championship. PHOTOGRAPHY Sonny Brockway Terry Gilliam for OSU’s comeback this year with his unique The play called for tight end Jeff Heuerman Harley went on to become a three-time All- Kevin Dye Josh Winslow style of break-’em-down and then build-’em- to block initially and then break away from American, and Ohio State went on to become back-up philosophy. the line of scrimmage and drift into the end one of the most storied and successful pro- CONTRIBUTORS Bill Armstrong Bob Roehm The coach has admitted Guiton was prac- zone. Heuerman nearly carried out his decoy grams in college football history. David Breithaupt Julie Roy tically on a bus back to Houston last winter too long, allowing pressure to bear down on Rich Exner Mark Schmetzer before he decided to buy into Meyer’s system. Guiton before the QB flipped a rainbow that Championship Aspirations Matthew Hager Steve Siegfried Likewise, Fields was buried so far down the the Ohio State tight end gathered in for the With an NCAA-mandated postseason ban Marcus Hartman Stacey Stathulis Rich Leonardo Jeff Svoboda depth chart at receiver that the junior needed two-point conversion. in place, Ohio State cannot play in the Big Ten Craig Merz Mike Wachsman a flashlight and a compass to find his way out. After the game, Herman confirmed the Championship Game or compete in any bowl Eric Loughry Ari Wasserman Yet with Braxton Miller and Corey “Philly” team had been practicing that play for just the contest – BCS or otherwise. ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Brown sidelined down the stretch, it was right time. What OSU does have the opportunity to do, Peggy Beathard Ron Friedman Guiton and Fields upon whom Meyer relied to “When the game is on the line is not the however, is take a run at the No. 1 spot in The Jack Woodworth get the job done – Guiton, Fields and his own time to go against what you’ve practiced,” the Associated Press writers’ poll. Unfortunately, coaching acumen. offensive coordinator said. “We knew they’d the Buckeyes will have to win with more 2012-13 PUBLICATION SCHEDULE (VOL. 32) No. 1 Sept. 8 No. 13 December The fact is no one could have scripted the been playing man coverage all game and authority than a 29-22 overtime victory over a No. 2 Sept. 15 No. 14 Jan. 12 final moments of regulation any better than knew it would be there eventually. It took mediocre Purdue team. That win pushed Ohio No. 3 Sept. 22 No. 15 Jan. 26 Meyer did. (Heuerman) awhile to get out. I was holding State’s record to 8-0, but the AP voters were No. 4 Sept. 29 No. 16 Feb. 16 No. 5 Oct. 6 No. 17 March 2 Purdue milked the clock to 59 final ticks my breath. But everybody who was on the unimpressed, dropping the Buckeyes from No. 6 Oct. 13 No. 18 March 16 before punter Cody Webster launched a 48- field did a helluva job.” No. 7 to No. 9 in the rankings. No. 7 Oct. 20 No. 19 March 30 yard effort that bounced to the Ohio State 30. In overtime, Guiton led the Buckeyes There is more than ample opportunity for No. 8 Oct. 27 No. 20 April 20 But mindful of his head coach’s “Plan to Win” to a quick touchdown before a rejuvenated upheaval among the teams ahead of Ohio No. 9 Nov. 3 No. 21 May No. 10 Nov. 17 No. 22 June mantra, Fields saved a few precious seconds defense clamped down on a demoralized State, however. No. 11 Nov. 24 No. 23 July by scooping up the ball and then got the Purdue offense. Top-ranked Alabama must visit No. 6 LSU No. 12 Nov. 30 No. 24 August Buckeyes 9 yards closer to the end zone with Game, set, match, and Ohio State moved on Nov. 3 while the Crimson Tide and No. 3 The next issue (Nov. 3 cover date) will a return to the OSU 39. to 8-0, stealing a game that most likely would Florida seem on a collision course to play one be mailed on Oct. 30. With 47 seconds remaining, Meyer and have been lost with anyone else but Meyer at another in the SEC title game. Herman quickly drew up two plays on the the controls. Second-ranked Oregon still has dates at No. Buckeye Sports Bulletin is a privately sideline. The first was designed to get sopho- 10 USC and No. 7 Oregon State on the regular- owned newspaper and is not affiliated directly or indirectly with The Ohio State more receiver Devin Smith open between Greatest OSU Comebacks season schedule, No.