Minnesota vs. OSU Preview Part 1

Minnesota vs. OSU, October 28, 3:36 PM

ABC Regional with Mark Jones (play-by-play), David Norrie (analyst), Stacey Dales (sideline)

 

Series

This will be the 46th game between these two schools, with OSU leading the series 38-7. Ohio State has won 19 of the 22 games in Columbus. Minnesota last beat Ohio State in 2000, in Columbus, 29-17. The two teams did not meet in 2003 or 2004, due to the Big Ten rotation schedule. Last year Ohio State won 45-31 in Minneapolis. Antonio Pittman lead the Buckeyes with 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Troy Smith threw three touchdowns. Ted Ginn Jr. had an incredible 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Minnesota was able to keep it tied at half-time, but OSU pulled away, scoring 28 points in the second half, while Minnesota only added 14.

 

Coaches

Jim Tressel 58-13 (81.6%) in his sixth year at Ohio State, 193-70-2 (73.2%) in his 21 years of coaching. He is 3-0 versus Glen Mason and the Gophers.

 

Coach Glen Mason is 61-55 (52.5%) in his tenth year at Minnesota, 120-119-1 (50.2%) in his 21 years of coaching at Minnesota, Kansas and Kent State. He is 1-6 against Ohio State, 0-3 against Tressel. Mason played under Woody Hayes at Ohio State and was an assistant coach to Hayes and Earl Bruce for eight years ('78-'85.) Many Minnesota fans are calling for him to be fired. He has been very defensive stating that Minnesota did very poorly before him and that he is still building the team. He hopes that putting a stadium on campus will help, ground for the stadium was broken this past September. Fans are concerned, because he signed a five-year contract last year. In his defense, his 32 wins in the last four seasons ('02-'05) are the best four year win total since 1902-1905. He has led teams to six bowl games in the past seven years, winning three of them over BCS teams. His win over OSU in 2000, was the first win for Minnesota over OSU since 1981 and the first win in Columbus since 1949. With his history with OSU and the big win in 2000, it appeared he would be John Cooper's replacement, but in 2001 OSU hired a lesser known candidate from a Division I-AA school in Northeast Ohio that has a Penguin as a mascot. It us unlikely that OSU regrets that decision.