Troy Smith Sees Greatness In Ohio State Quarterback Braxton Miller

The sky is the limit for Miller

Since first stepping onto the field in a game against the Akron Zips in the 2011 season, sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller has drawn many comparisons in his style of play. 

It's a common thing college football fans do. Terrelle Pryor was Vince Young, Carlos Hyde is/was Eddie George. When Miller took the reins at quarterback, he instantly was the next Troy Smith. 

Out of many comparisons, I think this one in particular is spot on. Both quarterbacks aren't the tallest in the game (Smith is 6'0" while Braxton stands at 6'3"), but the athletic ability surpasses any type of weakness. Whether it's making plays with their feet or dancing around would-be tacklers to buy time to throw, Troy and Braxton have a lot in common.

Now, Troy Smith himself is calling out the comparison. Only thing is, he's taking it one step even further: 

“I see a lot of myself in him, all of myself,” Smith said. “I solely believe he has a chance to be 10 times better than I was. He’s a lot faster. He’s a much better athlete.

“I’m extremely excited about his future. I want to see him take off.”

Smith said he is impressed with how Miller handles himself off the field, as well, something he learned more about when he said the two quarterbacks met for the first time recently. Smith said Miller and other players today have increased media coverage and social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, which put standouts such as Miller under more of a microscope than Smith was under during his OSU career.

To not only be compared to Troy Smith by Smith himself, but to also be told that he can be ten times better than what Smith was in college is a pretty damn good compliment. Smith, as you know, won a Heisman trophy in 2006 while on the way to the biggest stage in college football. The Buckeyes hadn't been to the championship game since 2002, when Smith was a freshman (he later red-shirted). The ending wasn't as sweet as anyone wanted it to be, but Troy had led his team to the promised land. 

Friday's Buckeye Bits

It's the end of another week here at ITS, and we plenty to catch up on.  In other words, it's FRIDAY! Time to dress casually for work (if at all), leave early, play that awful Todd Rundgren song, and sit in traffic for hours since everyone forgot how to drive in snow.  Yay!

Leading off, as we told you yesterday, Cameron Burrows is Urban Meyer's first recruit for the 2013 national championship team. The number two CB in the nation hails from Dayton's legendary Trotwood-Madison program. Landing a high-profile commitment 13 days before the prior year's signing day is a major coup for the new coach. Burrows announced his decision at a press conference in his school's auditorium. We just wish he'd said "I'm taking my talents to High Street."

Ohio State Planning "Scarlet Out" Against Wisconsin

Wouldn't this look nice?

The Horseshoe is hosting one of the best teams in the country on the 29th, and they want Buckeye Nation to come well prepared for Ohio State to knock off the Badgers. It appears Ohio State is trying to form another "Scarlet Out" for the homecoming game, and honoring Eddie George at halftime. Of course, don't forget that this is the game that Ohio State is wearing their Nike Pro Combat Uniforms, which honors the 1961 football team. From the story:

"While things may turn black and blue on the field when these two heavyweights collide in a key Big Ten Conference Leaders Division matchup, the color of choice in the stands will be the prominent school color scarlet. The Ohio State Department of Athletics is encouraging all fans to dress warm, but to dress scarlet to show your pride for the team and to display a unity that only 100,000-plus fans clad in scarlet can accomplish. 

The Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game is the 2011 Ohio State Homecoming Game. This year’s game will mark the 90th Homecoming in school history." 

Eddie George Elected Into The College Football Hall Of Fame

And gone

Yesterday, During the telecast of College Football Live on ESPN, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today that Eddie George, the star running back at Ohio State from 1992-95, will be a member of the 2011 College Football Hall of Fame Class. 


Some info on Eddie George, (as if you don't know already):


"Winner of the 1995 Heisman Trophy, Ohio State's Eddie George is the latest in the storied lineage of Buckeye ball carriers to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.

George enjoyed many successes under College Football Hall of Fame coach John Cooper at Ohio State. He helped the Buckeyes to an overall 38-9-2 record, and a 24-6-2 mark in Big Ten play, where Ohio State never finished lower than second during George's tenure. He ranks among the top three in school history in rushing yards (3,768), rushing touchdowns (44), 100-yard games (20) and holds school records with five 200-yard outings and 12 consecutive 100-yard games. As a senior, George set a single-season school record with 1,927 rushing yards en route to winning the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Doak Walker Award and Jim Brown Award while leading the nation in scoring, placing fourth in all-purpose yards and fifth in rushing yards per game and yards per carry. 

A look back in Buckeye History.

This will start a new thing here at INS (Inside The Shoe). Every now and then, we will look back to great moments in Ohio State history and recap what happend. Today we will be looking back at 1995 when we played Notre Dame here in the Shoe. The reason for doing this game is because it goes along with our POW. Let us know if you like this!

Ohio State - 45 Notre Dame - 26

The last time these two teams met before that day was 1935, which then, was 60 years ago. Last time the team's met, Notre Dame erased a 13-0 4th quarter deficit to win 18-13. Then, it was the the game of the century, and it seemed like it was.

 This time around, when Notre Dame was ahead 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter, Ohio State was punting, and then Notre Dame squandered three straight chances to score, because of the next three possessions resulting in 2 fumbles and an interception. After some confusion on a punt return, Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying took advantage of the turnover and 3 plays later, scored on a 15 yard touchdown throw to Rickey Dudley which put OSU up 21-20. After an interception, on the heels of a 56 yard throw, Ron Powlus threw an interception. Then the Buckeyes proceeded with a 4 play drive resulting in an 82 yard touchdown throw from Hoying to Terry Glenn. The play was fairly short, but in the middle of the field, Glenn's speed was to much for the Irish.

 That drive itself was enough of a statement to put fear into the Irish. Powlus's next drive resulted in him fumbling a snap, which lead to a third three play drive for the Buckeyes in which Heisman canididate Eddie George stormed into the end zone giving the Buckeyes the lead, 35-20. The Fighting Irish were inspired to keep playing, coming as close as 35-26, but the back breaker was certainly on the next drive where Eddie George broke free on a sweep to the left for 61 yards, and a Buckeye touchdown. Irish coach Lou Holtz gave credit to the Buckeyes saying that their big play ability gave them the win. Eddie George finished with 35 carries for 207 yards on the day. This was Eddie's 4th 200 yard game in his career and his second on the year. The win over Notre Dame gave John Cooper his first out of two wins that would come the following year aganist the Irish, and it would give way to a 11-0 start to the season. Michigan then proceeded to upset the Buckeyes 31-23 as Cooper's Michigan woes became more solid into his career. The Buckeyes followed up with another loss, this time to Tennesee in their bowl game that year losing to the SEC by a touchdown, 20-14. Eddie George did manage to win the Heisman despite those losses, giving the Buckeyes their 5th Heisman.

Your POW.

I feel like I should post again today, so I will start a new thing here at Inside The Shoe. Every week towards the end of it, we will have a famous, funny, or picture sure to be famous, from now on. If you would like to suggjest some photos, just email us at insidetheshoe2009@hotmail.com or tweet @us, or even fire off a message at Facebook. Either way, there will always be a picture up for awhile, unless you all just totally shun the idea, in which case, it will most likely cease to exist. Anyway, here is your picture of the week (POW)

It comes from an era of dominace. Eddie George, doing his thing.