This took place in Kazakhstan between two 10U teams and literally looks like the TV show South Park in real life.

I must admit, I’m not a huge fan of fighting in hockey. Every other sport’s athletes have found ways to swing momentum in games by not throwing punches, so it is about time that hockey gets out of that prehistoric notion.

But, I’m a huge fan of kids doing funny things on camera and this ranks with the best. Plus everyone had full-screen helmets and no one got hurt, so we can all laugh about it.

Let’s break it down.

0:00-0:06- Ah, the old post-game handshake. There was that one kid that always thought he was so cool for saying something other than ‘good game’. I never got mad when that kid said ‘we won’ or ‘you suck’ while shaking hands because well, as a nine-year-old there were much more important things than indoor soccer such as Pokemon Gold/Silver or the post-game snack run.

0:07- After spitting some Kazakhastani trash talk, the child in the green jersey looks up to see a kid in the white jersey who is charging toward him. NOTE: the two kids no proper hockey ediquette. No cheap blows off the bat. Eye contact, a nod letting the opponent know a challenge has been made and….

0:08- The gloves are off. You can tell the kids have been practicing for this moment for a long time. Flawless execution.

0:09-0:17- Anyone that knows hockey will tell you that you need to stick up for your teammates. Kid in green gets tangled up, teammate goes to help. Kids in white see they are outnumbered now and they all go to help. Brawl on.

0:18- If you look to the right third of the screen, you’ll see #21 for the white team lay a beauty of a body check.

0:23- Parents now enter to help the poor refs break it up. Notice their calm demeanor. U.S. parents could learn a thing or two from them: Let the kids play. As an umpire in the Little League ranks for many years, I absolutely hated how much parents felt like they could control things. No need to run out onto the field/court/ice whenever your teenage child got hit by a haywire 20 MPH curveball. If this were happening in the States, the parents would be fighting more than the kids and lawsuits would be involved.

0:25- On the left third of the screen, you’ll see a coach dressed in black carry a kid off. Hopefully he was heard from again.

0:30- In the center, you’ll see goalies from both teams just standing around watching. Obviously these kids haven’t learned from Brent Johnson. Weak.

0:35- Order seems to be coming back, but #75 for the green team wants the last say. The coach in a red jacket makes a game-saving tackle from letting him do so.

0:46- Now comes the awkward part of trying to find your right equipment. That kid you were just punching might have taken your glove and you need it back. Kind of weird to start using your ‘please and thank you’s’.

0:49- This is probably the best part of the video. Every good hockey fan knows you have to let their players know you appreciate thier dropping the gloves. So, the parents and spectators have a loud ovation for the kids. Again, go go Kazakhistanian parents.

Think you can top that brawl? Shoot me a hockey fight video in the comments or on my Twitter page.

As I return to Athens, Ohio, 20 credit hours plus high school and college basketball beats will severely limit my time on here. Since it is Syllabus Day, I thought I would take a break from the doom and gloom of the current sports world to give credit to one of the greatest video game enhancements of all time.

No, it’s not the one-timer on NHL ’93, nor the infamous Playmaker controls on Madden 2004.

I’m writing this to heap praise upon EA Trax.

While deep in-game soundtracks got their start with action sports games such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater, EA Trax kicked the door down on in-game music when it debuted in Madden NFL 2003.

When navigating menus of our franchises, dynasties, career modes and everything in-between, gamers no longer had to reach for the mute button when the lone menu song drove them insane. It also was a hit with musicians who benefited from the free advertising of their songs. Some acts that were virtual unknowns have used sports video games to propel their careers.

Now a look back at some of my favorite in-game soundtracks of all time.

Madden NFL 2003

A great place to start would be the beginning. The first-ever EA Trax game got off to a good start with the invigorating “Party Hard” by Andrew W.K. upon start. The soundtrack focused on alternative rock that featured artists such as Seether, Bon Jovi and Nappy Roots. Throw in a then relatively unknown O.K. Go with “Get Over It” and the middle school dance staple “Anthem” by Good Charlotte and this 12-year-old was sold.

NBA Live 2004

In the mid-2000′s, hip hop culture was taking over and NBA Live captured it perfectly with the emerging artists. Start with OutKast’s “Ghetto Musik” off of the Grammy winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and “Hands Up” by The Black Eyed Peas along with offerings from Jermaine Dupri, Sean Paul, Da Brat and Dilated Peoples. The cherry on top? Has to be the “NBA Live Remix” of “Right Thurr” by Chingy.

NCAA March Madness 2005

One thing that makes college sports unique is the bands that play music at the stadiums and arenas. March Madness covered this with pep bands performing a wide range of songs from  the moderns “Hey Mama” by the Black Eyed Peas and “Hanging by Moment” by Lifehouse to older hits such as “Disco Inferno” by The Tramps and “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis. The only original recording on the game was Luther Vandross’s famous “One Shining Moment”. If I could find mp3′s of the other songs, they would still be a part of my running rotation.

NCAA Football ’06

Another change-up by the folks of EA Sports, the usual rotation of fight songs were replaced with a variety of college radio hits from both yesteryear (The Clash, The Pixies) and of today (Lagwagon, The Pietasters). It added a very dorm room-esque sound to the game. EA Sports scrapped it however and went back to the fight songs the next year. Boo.

FIFA Soccer ’12

With the underground music movement bigger than ever, no game has been able to capture this more than the FIFA Soccer series. The global soundtrack features a bevy of international songs and enough indie rock to have the most mainstream players channeling their inner hipster. I have no idea who Portugal, The Man, The Vaccines, or The Chain Gang of 1974 were before playing, but I now have plenty of their songs on my iPod. At 39 songs, it is also the largest soundtrack found on any game.

—

As games continue to advance, so have the music capabilities. All games now feature custom music features that allow songs from hard drives to be uploaded. The ability to customize songs to venues and teams have added a new dimension of realism.

So next time you’re jamming in a gaming lobby, think of the Tecmo Bowl theme and see how far we’ve come.

Any hockey fan should be too.

In a time where card companies have been facing heat for sub-par products and ignoring the basic wants of collectors, those who are  hardcore cardboard collectors should take solace in the fact that there are still products that are fun and affordable to collect.

I don’t have a box break for you, but I’ve bought enough packs to get a full range of what UD Hockey has to offer fans.

Base Cards

Upper Deck divides their cards into two series much like Topps Baseball, with cards 1-200 being in Series 1, while 250-450 appear in Series 2.

The base cards are absolutely beautiful.

The cards utilize every millimeter of space on the card with a graphic that looks sharp and allows the photography to dominate.

Speaking of photography, it is absolutely amazing. The wide variety of shots used showcasing the players both on and off the ice keep the cards from getting repetitive.

The cards also are printed on durable, heavy stock which adds to the quality of the cards.

Inserts

UD Hockey features some quality insert sets that don’t swell to the point of overkill as seen in a lot of modern products (ahem, Topps Baseball).

Young Guns Rookies

While most sets center around jersey/memorabilia and autograph cards, UD Hockey keeps it old school with the wildly popular Young Guns set. Falling one in every four hobby packs, this set features the hottest rookies in the NHL on a sharp card. Defying the  laws of 21st century collecting, these no-frill cards still have a ridiculous amount of value. The card featuring top draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers can be found on eBay going for $80-$100. Since the base is relatively easy to complete, finding the 50 rookies that account for cards 201-250 pose a fun challenge to collectors looking for something extra.

UD Canvas

I absolutely hate parallel sets. There is nothing more pointless to me than received a clone of a card but with a different border, font color, etc.. Upper Deck has one psuedo-parallel set, but it satisfies me. The UD-Canvas features a set of the biggest stars of the game printed on canvas instead of the traditional cardboard. The catch? It features a completely different graphic set and photo. Anything that gets to show off the great photography work even more gets a thumbs up from me.

Hockey Heroes

This insert set also falls about one in every four packs and features various players from the 1950′s. Not the biggest fan of this, but unlike in baseball cards, there aren’t many cards devoted to old players. I’ll live with seeing this every once in a while.

All-World Team

This long standing set assembles a team from various countries around the world. I know hockey is a very global game but they have been doing this since the 1990′s. Time for a change.

Hits

Each hobby box should deliver two jersey cards. It features a very vibrant design that jumps off the card. For those that are really lucky, autographs of top players are also to be found. The checklists for both feature a wide variety of players ranging from the unknowns to the Sidney Crosby’s and Alex Ovechkin’s of the NHL.

Final Grade: A

This is what a card set should be. A nice base set, some challenges (Young Guns) and some nice “hits”. The amount of value that can come from a box of this that retails from $60 to $70 is hard to beat this day in age ($3-$4 per pack). Once you start collecting, you won’t be able to stop until Series 2 comes out in February. I know I won’t.

Hearing the news of Todd Graham leaving Pitt for Arizona State floored me. It seemed that after a 6-6 season in the Big East, Graham seemed like one of last people that would be moving out.

In typical Pittsburgh fashion, the media firestorm ensued. After taking the day to soak it all in, here is what I’ve taken out of it.

1. Todd Graham has every right to leave when he wants.

Let’s be real here. It certainly is easy to say what a horrible person Graham is for bolting out on Pitt for Arizona State, but if we are in his shoes, do we stay put? Todd Graham wanted his family and himself to be happy. If that means going for more money and living in a place with better weather, so be it. I know I would not stay in a place where I was unhappy when a arrangement that means more happiness for me and my family could be made (mainly $$$). It may upset others, but I would still do it. It is 21st century college football and I’ve grown to accept it. On the other hand….

2. There is no excuse for the way Todd Graham left.

My parents always tell me how much people don’t know how to communicate face-to-face in the 21st century. Texting and social media, in their opinion, has ruined our ability to talk with one another. I always thought they were crazy, until now.

What in the world was Todd Graham thinking?

A text to his assistant coaches was then forwarded in an email to players which read:

“I have resigned my position at Pitt in the best interest of my family to pursue the head coaching position at Arizona State. Coaching there has always been a dream of ours and we have family there. The timing of the circumstances have prohibited from telling you this directly. I now am on my way to Tempe to continue those discussions. God Bless. Coach Graham.”

It’s one thing to leave a team, it’s another to completely abandon them.

Then his wife Penni had the audacity to post this picture to Twitter of the two of them on a private jet to Tempe.

Graham is outfitted in ASU colors. It is as if they are mocking the Pitt program.

Could he really not work up the courage to look his players in the eyes and tell them he was moving on? He never had a problem keeping quiet when criticizing players or hyping up his failure of an offense. Why the silence now? I’m not buying his excuse of it being a time issue. Arizona State wasn’t going to give the job to someone else in the hour it would have taken to address the team. That’s what really upsets me.

3. Steve Peterson should lose his job

I don’t know how many chances someone in a powerful position such as athletic director of a BCS school should get. My hunch is it should be less than the number Pitt AD Steve Pederson has received.

After botching coaching hirings at Nebraska, it should be no surprise that he has now twice hired men of questionable character in less than a year to lead the football team. When Pitt takes the field for the BBVA Compass Bowl under interim head coach Keith Patterson, that will make it five different head coaches in roughly 13 months for the program. Someone should have to take responsibility for it, and Pederson should be gone.

4. The players have every right to be mad.

The backlash from players has been strong. None have been more vocal than wide receiver Devin Street.

I never played a day of organized football, but after being on the beat of a D-I college football team for a year, I can tell you there are few relationships in sports that compare to the one between football coaches and players. The athletes, who come from different backgrounds, connect with what the coaches are saying, not only on the field but off of it as well. To have a coach leave like this must be a horrible feeling. With all of the turmoil at Pitt in the past year, you can see that each incident brings this group together more. Though they are far from being the most talented college football team, they have certainly dealt with a lot of adversity which makes them a stronger group.

5. This will hurt Arizona State more than it will hurt Pitt.

I don’t know what the ASU Sun Devils are thinking getting a coach that just came off of a 6-6 season in the weakest conference the BCS has ever seen. The reaction has not been good on the SB Nation ASU blog House of Sparky.

Reports are that many former ASU players and alums are upset with the hiring, as a pattern of unloyalty has really become exposed for Graham. With the news of his departures spreading across the nation, recruits will know about his ways, and will basically know he is lying to their faces. Pitt may lose some recruits with another coaching upheaval, but they still have their reputation. That’s what matters when getting players.

—

It will be interesting to see what happens next, as what was looking to be another quiet off-season for Pitt Football has been turned upside down. While you are browsing for the latest rumors, make sure you check out Graham’s introduction press conference HERE.

The vicious cycle has begun yet again. Graham will make his debut as Arizona State coach on December 22 in the Las Vegas Bowl. It will be safe to say that a good portion of Western Pennsylvania will be trading their blue and gold for blue and orange that night.

Some will tell you it is trying to stay focused on academics during spring quarter and the fabled “Fest Season”. Others will tell you finding a place to live as an upperclassman or getting a table at Shively Dining Hall.

Another big one is filling the six-week void that is Winter Intercession. Due to the quarters system, students are off from Thanksgiving to New Years. Luckily for me, I was able to get a job and of course, cover some fun events.

My first full week off featured me returning to the $7.65 per hour grind of working in a toy store. While it is fun at times, and the team I work with is great, it doesn’t take many spoiled, bratty houswives yelling in your face at 7 a.m. over not having Just Dance for Kids in stock to realize that it is far from a desirable place to make a career.

To avoid letting this get me down too much, I was able to get experience writing right off the bat over break, covering two big-time events: The annual “City Game” between Duquesne and Pitt, and the 2011 MAC Championship which was held in Detroit, all in a three-day window.

The craziness began on Wednesday, November 30 at CONSOL Energy Center.

This was the first “big-time” event I had covered. After checking in and heading to the media room to get settled, seeing every Pittsburgh sports media member you could think of was surreal. The facilities were top notch. I had never gone to a place that has an actual “media workroom” or a buffet for the press consisting of more than a sandwich ring. My spot on press row was surrounded by members of the Oakland Zoo that made the trek up Forbes Avenue.

The game was attended by 15,580 people, the largest ever for a meeting between the two teams, making it a very unique atmosphere. Though the Dukes fell for the 11th consecutive year, it was still an entertaining game and seeing people you’ve seen on T.V. such as Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon in the flesh following a game was still something that has yet to sink in.

On the way out, I got lost (big surprise, right?). But while I wondered the bowels of the NHL’s newest facility, I got a unique view of the coolest parts of the arena.

Here is a mural outside the Penguins’ dressing room.

The doors to their locker room.

Right across the hall from there is the prestigious “Suite 66″, a luxury box with seats right on the glass next to the bench.

The suite features a clear glass wall that allows the fans lucky enough to get inside a chance to see the players make the walk down this hallway to the ice.

When I finally found my way, I then noticed this unique glass mural at the administrative entrance. It features the names of all Penguins to win the various trophies of the NHL.

After spending Thursday morning and afternoon working, it was back to Downtown Pittsburgh to board a bus at 12:15 a.m. to Detroit for the MAC Championship.

After arriving in a wet snow at 5:30 a.m., I got some sleep in our hotel room before taking in the sights of Detroit.

I stopped by Comerica Park and the cavalcade of Tigers guarding the ballpark.

I ate lunch at the Hockeytown Cafe.

Here is the GM Headquarters, known as the Renaissance Center. Our hotel was located in the middle tower.

I know Detroit has gotten an incredibly bad reputation as a depressed area, but it really was better than I was expected. It was eerily deserted for a workday (a Friday), which probably answers questions about the economic situation there. I still never felt like I was in danger, and some parts really impressed me including Ford Field.

There is a reason why it has hosted such huge events as the Super Bowl and Final Four, as it was a really beautiful facility. Even though this was a much smaller-scaled event, having something like the MAC Championship there made it feel like a big-time game.

It also blew my mind how much cheaper everything was inside. Souvenir drinks ran you back $6.95 at a concession stand, but you get unlimited refills. The same goes for $6 popcorn. I can’t think of an NFL stadium having that kind of deal. Parking was also much, much cheaper than what I was used to seeing on the North Shore back home. If you’re short on dollars, you may want to become a Lions fan.

I was perched a whopping eight stories above the field, much higher than I was used to.

The nice part about a domed stadium would be the fact that the press box was in the open, as there isn’t a need for a pane of glass to keep the elements out. It really made it feel as if you were a part of the game more than your typical outdoor stadium.

The game went just about as horrible as you could expect, with the Ohio Bobcats blowing a 20-point second half lead to the Northern Illinois Huskies, leaving the ‘Cats still without a MAC Championship since 1968.

The post-game interviews with head coach Frank Solich and senior linebacker Noah Keller were painful. Adding insult to injury, you could hear the celebrations of the Huskies echoing down the hallway. Though they were still able to make a bowl game, you could just tell this game was going to stick in the heads of the players for a long time.

The loss stung for any member of the Ohio University family, including me. Covering the team all year and getting to know the players throughout the season made it extra hard to swallow such a tough defeat after seeing the student-athletes work so hard toward their goals.

I then returned to my normal life in Bethel Park Saturday, including work the following Monday. After the first bratty customer to give me a hard time, it really dawned on me: A bad day in sports writing, including witnessing one of the worst losses I had seen in my life, beats the absolute crap out of doing anything else for a living.

No, not quite.

That’s right, I’ve taken a road trip with the Bobcats to the 2011 MAC Championship which will be coming to you from Ford Field in Detroit. The Bobcats will be taking on the defending West Champion Northern Illinois Huskies. Keep it here for updates throughout the game.

5:20- No matter who wins tonight, one team’s streak MAC Championship futility will come to an end. NIU hasn’t won the conference since 1983, Ohio since 1968.

5:26- First people to the seating bowl? The Marching 110 of course!

5:38- The main matchup tonight will be Huskie quarterback Chandler Harnish vs. the Bobcat defense. He has single-handedly taken over games for NIU, averaging over 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game.

5:41- Going down to the field.

6:25- Well, that was surreal.

6:32- Both teams have been receiving late season love in the polls. NIU earned 19 points in last week’s USA Today Coaches’ Poll (ranked 30th) while Ohio received eight (ranked 32nd).

6:38- The Marching 110 takes the field to do a pre-game set. Ohio will serve as the away team.

6:42- It’s go time

6:45- With the way the NIU band entered, we may just have two of the most unique bands I’ve seen playing tonight.

6:48- Just how good is Chandler Harnish on the ground? He ranks 15th in the nation in rushing yards per game. Remember he’s a quarterback!!

6:54- An Ohio win tonight would give them 10 wins, something they have also not accomplished since 1968.

6:55- For those curious, the game is airing on ESPN2.

6:58- Ohio is going to try and emulate Eastern Michigan’s game plan which consists of run, run, and run some more on offense to keep the ball away from NIU.

7:01- Kickoff, Ohio receives as Donte Harden returns the kick to the Ohio 26.

7:03- So about those jitters? Tettleton’s first pass of the game finds LaVonn Brazill for a 44 yard gain. Ohio down to the NIU 30.

7:06- The feelings are short-lived as Tettleton forces a pass into double coverage in the end zone two plays later by Jhony Faustin.

7:06- Two plays later, Noah Keller takes the ball right back for the Bobcats on a tipped pass and returns it all the way to the NIU 19. Bobcats couldn’t have asked for a bigger break.

7:11- Ohio can’t muster anything on offense and must settle for a 30-yard Matt Weller field goal. OU has had a problem capitalizing on red zone opportunities as of late.

7:12- That Harnish pick on the Huskies first drive was his first since October 15. Just his 5th total of the year.

7:18- Harnish’s first big run of the night get’s negated by a clipping penalty. Huskies can’t convert a 3rd and 16 and gives the ball back to Ohio. Bobcats have a chance to inflict some real damage here.

7;25- That’s how you finish a drive. An 8-play 70-yard drive capped with the ol’ Phil Bates reverse pass to Donte Foster. Ohio pulling out every trick in the book. 10-0 Bobcats with 4:05 left in the first quarter.

7:31- Huskies finally get a first down, but Ohio puts the clamps down. Incredible that they have held NIU to -2 yards passing and just 33 total yards as the first quarter winds down.

7:35- LaVon Brazill with another crazy one-handed catch to extend the drive.

7:37- END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

Ohio 10
NIU 0

-Holy domination.

-NIU has -2 yards passing.

-I’ll repeat that again, after one quarter NIU has -2 yards passing. 33 total.

-Tettleton is 7-of-9 for 103 yards with that one interception the only chink in the armor.

-Ohio is throwing the ball laterally more than I’ve seen all year. They are getting opportunities deep on the secondary with ease.

-This is not a time for Ohio to take their foot off the gas. NIU can get back in this game just as easily.

7:46- Bobcats driving yet again. Haven’t seen them move the ball at will like this since the Marshall game.

7:49- This could be a huge stop for NIU as Ohio is able to get down to the 5-yard line before stalling. A Weller chip shot makes it 13-0 with 11:03 remaining in the first half. It may not be in the Bobcats’ best interest to leave this game in the defense’s hands.

7:53- Return specialist Tommylee Lewis fumbles on the ensuing kickoff after being hit by kicker Matt Weller. Ohio has a chance to make this a laugher before half time.

7:56- Tettleton makes another bad decision forcing a throw while getting hit that gets picked by Dechane Durante.

8:01- NIU gets the spark they need as Harnish finds Nathan Palmer on a bomb that puts the Huskies at the Ohio 18. Huskies now inside the Bobcat 5.

8:04-Ohio gets yet another huge play as Noah Keller forces a fumble that is snatched up by Hasting. Survives the dreaded “tuck rule” review. Nothing could be going more wrong for NIU who will have to dig deep on defense yet again.

8:13- Ohio has driven down to the NIU 34 but call a time out when faced with a big 3rd-and-3. This could be a huge momentum swing.

8:18- Mario Dovell gets divine intervention from the replay booth as a questionable call keeps Ohio’s drive alive. Tettleton gallops for an 18-yard touchdown the next play. 20-0 Ohio with 2:35 left in the first half.

8:21- This is just getting uglier and uglier for NIU. They nearly lose the ball again on a fumble in their own territory. Mental struggles starting to creep in.

8:26- HALFTIME

Ohio 20
NIU 0

-The Huskies have been shut out at half time for the first time in 25 games.

-The yardage numbers are gruesome. Ohio with 302, NIU with 92.

- Even with Ohio topping 200 passing yards in the first half, I think they turn to the rushing game more in the 2nd. Harden has had some nice holes and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

-Chandler Harnish is 3-0f-7 for 35 yards. If it were not for his 37-yard completion late in the half, he would still be in the red.

-The always important time of possession battle favoring Ohio 19:21 to 10:39.

-LaVon Brazill has 7 receptions for 118 yards. Hello MVP.

-NIU looks like a D-6 high school band compared to the Marching 110.

8:50- NIU blows their chance to get back into the game with yet another fumble that gets recovered by Josh Kristoff. A scrum in the pile results in Cory Hastings getting ejected for punching an NIU player. Huskies have now committed four turnovers so far tonight, a new season high.

8:56- Ohio goes three-and-out and Paul Hershey punts for the first time tonight.

8:59- Announced attendance is 13,052. That is much lower than the season average for both teams.

9:07- NIU finally puts together a scoring drive. 10 plays 78 yards in 3:52 makes it a 20-7 game. Ohio has to be careful as there is still 6:19 left in the third.

9:15- A sickly feeling coming over the green-and-white clad at Ford Field. A quick three-and-out gives NIU a chance to really make noise late in the 3rd.

9:21- Ohio defense steps up big time making tackles when needed. Offense trying to put something together before the end of the third quarter.

9:26- END OF THE THIRD QUARTER

Ohio 20
NIU 7

-NIU came out much more focused for the better part of the quarter and it showed.

-Ohio didn’t try anything fancy that quarter. Didn’t hurt them, but it didn’t help them slam the door either. Just 35 yards for the offense in the 3rd.

-NIU averaging just 3.6 yards per carry on the game. Mega props to the Ohio defense for containing Harnish and Co. on the ground.

-LaVon did not see the ball once in the third quarter. The Huskies have taken him out of the game which helps their cause greatly.

9:33- Ohio still can’t finish. A nice drive stalls only to see Ohio come up empty handed when Weller pushes a field goal wide right. It is his first miss from inside 40 yards all year.

9:42- Jelani Wosley doing it big on defense for Ohio, coming up with a huge sack on third down with the Huskies driving. Ohio can really put a dent in this game with another time consuming drive.

9:48- Tettleton makes a really, and I mean really dumb decision throwing a deep ball into double coverage on a first down. No need to try that when running the clock out. NIU gets life yet again. Can they finally convert?

9:54- Personal fouls. Blown coverages. Ohio is coming unglued. Missed PAT keeps it a 7-point game after the NIU touchdown.

10:03- Ohio takes some time off (thanks to another offsides on fourth down) but after a shanked punt, NIU has a short field with 4:36 to work with.

10:08- Tie game. Harnish to Palmer yet again. Tied at 20 with 2:52 to play.

10:13- 1:18 remains with Ohio punting the ball back to NIU. They have a really, and I mean really good chance to win this in regulation.

10:18- NIU gets it down to the OU 19 with 37 seconds to play. Would be a 36-yarder for the win.

5:22- Last home game of the year for the Bobcats. Since they have the division locked up it is a meaningless senior night. Keep it here for updates, especially you who couldn’t stick around due to break. I’ll forgive you.

5:31- Judging from the traffic headaches, this was a really bad idea having a game mix with the deadline for upperclassmen to be out of the dorms. That’s what ESPN will do though. Money 1 Common Sense 0.

5:39- Even with the lack of people expected tonight there was still a line of fans waiting to get in at 5 p.m.

5:44- This senior class has accumulated 35 wins, the most of any class. It’s a shame they won’t have the students around to support them for their last home game.

5:47- A win tonight would give Ohio six straight victories over Miami. Put that on your iPhones Redhawk fans.

5:59- Heading down to the field to take pictures.

6:26- I’m back. Walked alongside the Miami sidelines where one cheerleader was wearing designer boots with her uniform. Miami stereotypes for the win.

6:34- Pics won’t upload so my apologies.

6:38- Ohio needs to score just 15 points to set an all-time record for points in a season.

6:40- More records to watch: Donte Harden is 270 all-purpose yards shy of becoming the school’s all-time single season leader. Kicker Matt Weller needs 15 points to gain that record.

6:49- Alma Matter, Ohio and the anthem have been played. It is now time to honor the senior class.

6:50- Baring something horrible, Tyler Tettleton will be the all-time leader for completions in a season. He needs six.

6:57- As for the Redhawks they have a nice quarterback in Zac Dysert who is coming off a 413-yard performance last week against Western Michigan.

7:02- Rain begins to fall as the teams enter. Miami will receive.

7:08- Miami marching down the field with a furious pace. Five wide receivers on the field every play. Already inside the Ohio 10.

7:13- Curtis Meyers delivers the first big play of the game, sacking Dysert on a 3rd and 2 from the Ohio 2 for a huge loss. Mason Krysinski pushes the 30-yard field goal attempt wide left and the ‘Cats come away unscathed. They are very lucky to do so.

7:16- The sophomore Krysinski has struggled this year making just two of six attempts.

7:19- Just like that, Ohio has to punt. Miami bringing blitzes every play and a sack derails the drive. Tettleton will have to stay composed and make quick throws if this becomes the norm tonight.

7:26- Miami inside the Ohio 10 again and Keller limps off the field with a hammy tweak. Not good.

7:31- Ohio almost gets another goal line stand but Dysert is able to scramble on a 3rd and goal from the 1 to make it 7-0. Defense has been on the field a ton in the first quarter.

7:37-Ohio goes three and out but gets life after a running into the kicker penalty. They have been out of sorts in the little time they have had the ball.

7:42- Weller’s 48-yard attempt misses as time expires in the first. Ohio needed points there.

7:44- End of the 1st Quarter

Miami 7
Ohio 0

-While Ohio got rolling after the penalty, still disappointing to see them come up short.

-Zac Dysert is 10-for-13 for 117 yards. Ohio needs to slow him down as Miami will keep airing it out.

-Still no signs of Noah Keller after he was shaken up. The longer he is out, the less chance Ohio will have of slowing down the Redhawks. He is the heart of the defense.

-In the quarter, Miami outgained Ohio 125 yards to 59.

-Dr. Pepper (10 variety tonight) count at 2 and just cracked open number 3.

7:52- Miami drives to midfield before punting for the first time tonight. Ohio has exploded in the second quarter after slow starts all year. Can they do it again?

7:57- Tettleton finally finds LaVon Brazill for the first time tonight. Miami has been smothering him all night.

8:03- You’d think the Redhawks were down with minutes left in the game with the pace they are playing at. Oregon would be jealous.

8:08- Ohio has 90-yards 4:36 on the clock to do something with this rather forgettable first half for the offense.

8:11- Another record goes down as Tettleton now holds the single-season school record for completions. Now sitting at 218. Ohio driving toward midfield with 3 minutes to go.

8:15- Tettleton can’t find anybody open and the drive gets ugly quick. ‘Cats end up punting on a 4th and 28.

8:17- A shanked punt by Hershey gives Miami a golden opportunity to take the reigns of this game as they start on their own 45 with 1:04 left in the half.

8:26- Halftime

Miami 7
Ohio 0

-Yuck

-Miami’s secondary is really the difference in the half. Tettleton can’t find receivers and then is forced to take a sack.

-Ohio is still right there. One play is all it takes.

-Miami leading the yardage battle 217-150.

-Redhawks still dominating possesion, as they hold the lead 18:10-11:50

-Ohio has stopped the run, holding the Redhawks to 32 yards on the ground (2.3 average per rush)

-Zac Dysert making the plays at quarterback, completing 19-of-25 for 185 yards. Nick Harwell has seven receptions for 59 yards. While they have been able to get a bunch of completions, Ohio has done a good job keeping the big plays from happening.

-Marching 110 breaks out “Party Rock Anthem” for their last home show. Hopefully that can rally the troops.

8:41- How good has Miami been covering the pass. LaVon Brazill has one catch for six yards. Wow.

8:49- Ohio takes a touchback to start the half. That was the first time they had done so all year.

8:50- Tettleton gets the party started with an 11-yard completion and then a 40-yard run. ‘Cats in the red zone 90 seconds into the half.

8:52- Oh my. Tettleton does all that work only to literally give the ball to the defense on a pick. Jaytee Swanson’s first career pick throws any momentum Ohio gained out the window.

8:56- Ohio gets a 3 and out but a wicked bounce on the punt has it go all the way to the Ohio 10. 59 yard net.

9:00-Tight End Jordan Thompson doing his best Heath Miller impression, taking over this drive. ‘Cats down to the Miami 33.

9:05- LaVon Brazill now leads in all-time receiving yards and single-season receptions. Ohio down to the Miami 5 after an option play to Beau Blankenship. If the ‘Cats don’t score here, they never will.

9:08- Finally six for the ‘Cats. Tettleton finds Thompson in the back of the end zone for the score. Nice comeback drive that makes it 7-7 with 5:49 left in the third.

9:15- Ohio’s defense getting soft again like at the beginning of the game. Miami taking advantage.

9:19- The ‘D’ bends but doesn’t break. Ohio looking to take the lead.

End of the 3rd Quarter

-Miami 7
-Ohio 7

-Much better quarter from the Ohio offense.

-Defense didn’t as much late, as Miami was only kept off the scoreboard by penalties.

-Bobcats took control of the ball that quarter and it showed. TOP difference down to two minutes.

-Time for TT to show some mental toughness as he needs to stay strong to finish the game and pick up the ‘W’

9:27- ‘Cats come up big on the very first play of the quarter. Tettleton finds Foster on a 3rd-and-11 and get all the way down to the Miami 10 but a block in the back brings it back to the 35. Ohio still has life however.

9:29- A botched reverse pass somehow ends up in an 8 yard gain for Riley Dunlop. Tettleton then scrambles inside the 10.

9:31- How about that? Tettleton throws to Foster in the corner for a 4-yard TD that caps a 12-play, 80-yard drive. 14-7 Ohio.

9:34- Though it isn’t as big as the crowds we’ve grown used to during the season, the few that have made it out are into this game an awful lot for not meaning anything.

9:36- With that the announced attendance is 14, 155. Of course that is the number sold.

9:38- Ohio forces a punt and Ryan Clark picks it off the bounce and takes it to midfield on a nice return. Bobcats can put it away here as 10:38 remains in the game.

9:42- TT with a Madden-esque 48-yard scramble to set up a 2-yard pass to Riley Dunlop. 21-7 with 8:43 remaining. This one is over.

9:47- There is only one way to describe the weather at Peden right now.

9:48- That touchdown makes it 383 points this season for Ohio, an all-time record.

9:51- A wise man once said “not so fast my friend”. Miami storms down the field (80 yards in 2:06) to cut it to 21-14. 6:37 still remain.

9:58- Watch out. Redhawks get a stop and will take over with 4:17 remaining. They will start from their own 17.

10:01- ‘Cats really stumbling. Zac Dysert getting out of tackles with ease. Down to the Ohio 37 with 2:27.

10:06- Keith Moore crushes Dysert for an eight yard loss. Redhawks up a creek now.

10:08- Dysert to Harwell for the 1,000th time tonight and a big gain. Redhawks back in the red zone.

10:11- Mose Denton, sack, goodnight.

10:13-Final 

Ohio 21
Miami 14

Six straight wins for the Cats. Recap will be on macreportonline.com

When the 2011 schedule was released, I along with many others saw this as just another weeknight game in November. Boy, was I wrong.

For the third consecutive year, this matchup will determine who controls their fate in the final three weeks of the season. Throw in the first time that ESPN is broadcasting from Peden, along with the school’s inaugural “blackout”, and you’ve got a recipe for the most hyped Ohio Bobcat football game in ages. I’ll be heading to the stadium around 6 p.m.. Keep it here for updates throughout the night.

6:29- Made it to Peden. Some things to start.

-Plenty of scouts are here tonight. The New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and New England Patriots all have representatives here. No idea who they are looking at in particular but scouts always come in droves to weeknight games.

-More importantly, a representative from the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is expected as well.

-Senior linebacker Noah Keller is wearing number 62 tonight.

6:35- Going to try and get on the field for warmups to get some pictures.

7:37- I’m back. Lot’s of recruits here which is nice to see.

7:42- Student side has filled in nicely, rest of the stadium not so much. But that is to be expected on a Wednesday night.

7:44- Temple has allowed 5.8 points per game on the road this season. Wow.

7:50- It’s go time.

7:56- Your random nugget from the media notes: Temple is the only one of the 13 teams in the MAC to play their home games on grass.

7:59- You know what would be cool, if the scoreboard at Peden would be big enough to showcase these awesome intro videos by Evan Shaw and co..

8:02- The team enters with Johnny Cash blaring. Temple wins the toss and defers. Now the first of many times that we will wait for TV tonight.

8:11- That didn’t take long. Tyler Tettleton making it look easy as the ‘Cats march down the field in 2:05 to go up 7-0. Mind you Temple averages just 10 points allowed on defense per game. After the huge scoring drive it’s time to see the defense handle Temple’s running game.

8:29- ‘Cats take over on their own 10 when LaVon Brazill showed his incredible speed on a 56 yard end around. Ohio goes three and out immediately after and Weller’s 53-yard FG misses. First missed opportunity of the night for the Bobcats, something they can’t do much longer.

8:32- Safe to say the blackout looks good on TV.

8:35- Temple trying to get a spark by sending Chris Coyer in at QB. Expect plenty of runs with him in.

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER

Ohio 7
Temple 0

-Ohio had three plays of 25 or more yards in the first quarter. Very uncharacteristic of the Temple defense.

-Coyer leads Temple with 23 rushing yards. He has played one drive. The Owls running nothing but zone reads with him trying to keep the Bobcats on their toes.

-Tyler Tettleton’s composure with the pressure Temple has been bringing is outrageously good. He has dodged numerous sacks.

-If the Owls want to have a chance, they need to get Pierce the ball.

8:52- Donte Foster coughs up the ball which is recovered by the Owls. A late hit allows Temple to set up shop at the Ohio 17. 5 plays later Coyer finds Evan Rodriguez on his first pass attempt of the year for a touchdown. All of a sudden it’s a completely different ballgame.

9:02- Bobcats strike back led by the arm of Tyler Tettleton. He throws, receives and then finally runs to get a touchdown for the Bobcats.

9:11- Ohio forces a thee and out. Temple winning the time of possession battle 12:01 to 11:25. They are used to a much bigger margin.

9:22- Another missed FG and Temple pounces on the opportunity. They go 69 yards in under two minutes. It’s a tie game that shouldn’t be. Coyer finally found Rod Streater who has been burning Omar Leftwich all night.

9:32- HALFTIME

Ohio 14
Temple 14

Some tidbits

-Ohio is dominating this game on paper. They are out-gaining the Owls 261 to 153 and are winning the time of possesion battle. Turnovers and missed (field goal) opportunities are the difference.

-Temple’s Bernard Pierce has just 28 yards on 12 carries. Backup QB Chris Coyer on the other hand is taking advantage of the fact Ohio is unprepared for him.

-It’s going to be an interesting second half. Hopefully the student body hangs around.

9:49- And with that, the exodus begins. I love this student body but hate them at the same time. So apathetic.

9:55- Ohio gets a lucky three-and-out to start the half. The receiver falls out of bounds just short of the first down mark. Ohio ball at their own 17.

10:03- Teams trade punts early in the 3rd.

10:06- Huge swing after a Streater catch at Ohio’s 2 gets called back due to pass interference. A net of -44.

10:08- Coyer fumbles at the Ohio 15. Harden makes them pay with an 81-yard run. Everyone thought it was coming back as a ref threw a flag as he dove unnecessarily into the end zone. Instead it was a sideline foul on Ohio. Run stands 21-21.

10:22- Things starting to open up. Bernard Pierce is free at last. 20-yard run ties the game up. 2:43 left in the third.

10:30-END OF THE THIRD QUARTER

Ohio 21
Temple 21

-Ohio cannot contain Chris Coyer. He has 131 yards on 11 carries. If they keep biting on his reads, Ohio will lose this game.

-Don’t know what else to say for Ohio offensively in the 4th. They get momentum but then have the drives stall abruptly. The Temple defense is playing much much better in the 2nd half.

-Updates will be a little more sparse here late. Tune it to the twitter (@suhlmann12) for more info on the game.

10:34- Temple’s gutsy move of a fake punt pays off for Temple. Huge gain into Bobcat territory could be the difference.

10:40- Bobcats get a stop but not quick enough. Brandon McManus sneaks a 27-yard field goal into the uprights to give Temple their first lead of the night. 24-21 with 10:57 left.

10:51- 8 plays, 80 yards, Ohio has the lead again. LaVon Brazill’s ridiculous catch inside the Temple 5 survives a review and sets up a Tettleton pass to Thompson. 28-24 with 7:51 remaining.

A game against the lowly Akron Zips was just what the doctor ordered for the Ohio Bobcats, as they snapped their two-game losing streak with a 37-20 victory at InfoCision Stadium Saturday.

The “big-play offense” of the Bobcats was clicking as Ohio outgained Akron 556 yards to 249.

While the offense was able to move the ball at will, three turnovers and 100 penalty yards dampened what was otherwise a good performance.

“I think we showed some signs of coming out of (our slump),” Head Coach Frank Solich said. “Three turnovers again today. That’s not what we’re after, but we were able to overcome that.”

The first turnover, a Tyler Tettleton interception on the team’s first drive, stalled the early momentum. Despite the mistake, Tettleton continued his efficient ways completing 21 of 29 passes for 328 yards.

Another long drive in the first quarter resulted in a Matt Weller field goal. The kick made him Ohio’s top scoring kicker.

Akron would counter with a 72-yard drive that was capped with an A.J. Fox field goal.

With both teams scuffling through most of the first half, a big blow came when Tettleton would find his favorite target, LaVon Brazill for a 78-yard touchdown with 6:17 remaining in the second quarter.

“I think it came at a good in the game,” Solich said. “Neither team had the game in control and both teams were fighting for a little bit of an advantage, but there was a lot of football to play.”

The Bobcats were able to do a much better job keeping drives alive compared to last week’s game against Ball State as they converted 11 of 14 third-down conversions.

Ohio then went on a run where they would score 27 of the next 34 points, featuring two Tettleton touchdowns (one rushing, one passing), A Beau Blankenship touchdown run and two more Matt Weller field goals.

Akron was hoping to take advantage of a banged-up Ohio defensive line by going to running back Jawon Chisolm early and often. Ohio contained him well as he only had 49 yards on 21 carries. The Zips as a team had just 81 total rushing yards.

For Ohio, Donte Harden had a good game statistically, picking up 123 yards on 22 carries, but another costly fumble saw him benched for a short while.

In addition to getting their season back on track, losses by Temple and Buffalo bring the Bobcats back into the running for the MAC East title. While the sudden change of fortunes will have the team looking to go for the kill, both the players and coaches are keeping it in perspective.

“We’ve got to play one game at a time,” cornerback Travis Carrie said. “We can’t focus on other teams.”

“I have no idea where that stands and how that all works, but obviously that helps us,” Solich said. “We’re going to have to win out in order to be in the game. We got four more to go in order to get that done and a huge one next week with Temple coming to our place.”

The Bobcats next game will be a pivotal matchup with the Temple Owls in Athens next Wednesday. Akron will play Central Michigan at home Saturday.

I have a hard time believing that there is a more beautiful setting in college football in fall than Peden Stadium.

Ohio is looking to rebound after a terrible loss to Buffalo last week against a less than stellar Ball State Cardinals squad that is coming off a 42-0 loss to Temple.

2:13- Some notes:

-Warrior Jeff King will be wearing the number 62 today in honor of Marcellus Williamson.

-Wicked winds here along the Hocking today. Gusts are expected in excess of 40 mph. It’s going to affect the kicking, punting and passing games.

-LaVon Brazill needs eight receptions to become Ohio’s all-time leader in receptions.

-Reps from the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants have spots in the box today. No idea who they are here to look at but it’s getting to that time where we see scouts around Peden.

-As it plays on the video board, I can’t stress enough how good The Bobcat Showcase on WOUB is. It covers all Ohio sports and does a great job of covering the teams from unique angles. You can check out full episodes HERE.

2:43- Ball State is 3-3 but like previous opponents they have been battle-tested. They have played Oklahoma, South Florida and Indiana.

2:50- Ball State quarterback Sean Baker has thrown the most interceptions in the nation. The Bobcat secondary has feasted on turnovers all season and could use some today.

3:00- Now that I’m done feeling bad for myself over another horrid effort from the Pitt Panthers, some more news. DL Neal Huynh is still a couple of weeks away from playing and won’t dress. CB Xavier Hughes is officially out for the year.

3:09- Tyler Tettleton has been incredibly efficient. He is one of 11 quarterbacks in D-I with at least 1o touchdowns and two or less interceptions. He is in the same company with players such as Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck.

3:30- Just about game time and the place has filled up. The crowd is louder than in past home games so it should be a very fun afternoon of football.

3:34- Teams are out. Rufus’s motorcycle has returned. Ball State will start with the ball. Let’s play.

3:42- Both teams can’t get much going on their first drives. With the wind, the run game will be very important. Donte Harden had 11 yards on his first carry but the drive stalled immediately after.

3:48- Ohio forces another three and out and has much better field position on the Ball State 38.

3:55- LaVon Brazill gives the crowd some life with an impressive 37 yard return on a 65 yard punt that featured a huge block by Mose Denton.

3:58- A bit puzzling how Ohio continues to pass when it clearly isn’t working so far.

4:02- 11 minutes in Ball State gets the first 3rd down conversion of the day. They are driving, now inside the Ohio 35.

4:06- END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Ball State 0 Ohio 0.

Pretty mundane quarter of football there, but we have seen things get crazy i a relatively short amount of time.

-Ball State is in the middle of a 5:43 drive and are down to the Ohio 20. They have figured out a way to move the ball with the wind.Ohio should look to do the same.

-Just 24 total yards for the Bobcats- 21 rushing, 3 passing. It would be in their best interest to keep the ball on the ground.

-Time of possession: Ball State-11:05 Ohio: 3:55.

4:11- 14 play 59 yard drive is capped with a field goal. Ball State 3 Ohio 0.

4:16- Funny how Ohio gets a first down and the chain gang forgets to move the sticks as they were asleep from the lethargic first quarter.

4:18- Six for the ‘Cats on a reverse pass from Phil Bates to LaVon Brazill for the score. 7-3 Bobcats after tripling their 1st quarter output on their first drive of the 2nd. That is Brazill’s 6th TD of the season and he is now just three receptions away from the all-time mark.

4:36- We’ve hit another lull in the middle of the second. BSU trying to make the best of good field position starting their drive on the Ohio 46.

4:40- BSU gets down to the OU 24 before stalling. The Bobcats dodge a bullet when Steven Schott misses the 41-yard field goal attempt. Still 7-3 as the game inches toward half.

4:50- Horrible drive for the Bobcat D who allow the Cardinals to go 9 plays and 81 yards in less than four minutes. 10-7 Cardinals with less than a minute left in the half.

4:54- Wow. A deflected Tettleton pass with 38 seconds remaining in the half picked off by Travis Freeman and returned all the way down to the Ohio 8. The Cardinals settle for a FG and have a 13-7 lead at the half.

HALFTIME: Ball State 13 Ohio 7

-What a downer. Ohio had seemed to seize control of the game with their first touchdown but Ball State put together a nice drive and then a big play on defense to sneak away with the lead at half.

-This was without a doubt Ohio’s worst offensive half of the year. They cannot move the ball on a regular basis today.

-Phil Bates on his one touchdown pass has more yards than Tyler Tettleton. That’s all you need to know about how the passing game has been.

-The defense broke down on BSU’s first touchdown of the half after tackling and doing their jobs well all half.

-Donte Harden has just seven carries. The Cats absolutely need to get him involved if they want to get it going offensively.

-God bless the Alumni Marching 110. Well worth the price of admission for fans.

-Jahwan Edwards has 91 yards on 15 carries for BSU. Not the bounce back effort the front half of the Bobcat defense was looking for.

5:19- Donte Harden comes out like a man possessed to start the half. Runs over Joshua Howard on a carry up the middle and knocks him out of the game. Brutal.

5:27- Bobcats get a TD on a drive that relied on the vertical passing game. Tettleton completes two passes to Riley Dunlop before a play action pass to Harden in the end zone completes the score. A blocked PAT almost results in two points but holder Paul Hershey makes the stop. 13-13 with 11:28 remaining.

5:38- A short QB sneak completes the counterpunch by Ball State. 10 plays, 77 yards, in  5:11. Things are about to get real for the Cats if they don’t get it together.

5:45- All-American effort by LaVon Brazill on a 74-yard TD reception, the longest play of the year for Ohio. He is one away from tying the all-time reception mark. 20-20 with 5:02 in the 3rd.

5:54- END OF THE 3RD QUARTER: Ohio 20 Ball State 20

-Game is tied but Ball State is in the red zone. Defense needs to dig deep if Ohio wants to win.

-Remember in the first half when it was nothing but punts?

-Ball State has nearly doubled Ohio in time of possesion.

-Bobcats held Edwards to just 18 yards, but the pass defense has looked bad.

5:57-Ohio gets the stop in the red zone and Cardinals get another FG. 23-2o with 14:19.

6:02- To give an idea of how much BSU has controlled this game, the Cardinals have run 66 plays to Ohio’s 38.

6:05- Wrapping up the running blog. Keep it to my twitter (@suhlmann12) for the updates in this barn-burner.