Buckeyes bounce back with 49-0 win over Boilermakers

Let’s Be More Like George W. Bush. Seriously.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman

Demagoguery has always flourished during times of national unease. And so it is not surprising that while Americans grapple with the consequences of war and recession, media personalities and future presidential hopefuls are preying on their fears.

For the past several weeks, talk radio and cable news has been abuzz with the controversy regarding the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan, not far from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people and destroyed the World Trade Center.

Because of the hyperbole with which this topic has been discussed in the media, it is understandable—though regrettable—that many Americans have a negative reaction to the proposal. It is extremely unfortunate, however, that some of our would-be leaders are using this moment to fan the flames of division and intolerance.

The question of whether Muslims in New York have the right to build an Islamic Center near Ground Zero isn’t really a question at all: Of course they do; this is America. Religious freedom is one of the foundations upon which this nation was built. Every American has the right to worship how and where they see fit.

This principle, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, is one of many that make me proud to be an American. But others apparently think it should be revisited. For example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently suggested that when it comes to religious freedom, America should follow the lead of Saudi Arabia.

“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich is clearly hoping to ride this issue all the way to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, though I don’t know that suggesting that America take its cues from an Islamic theocracy is the best strategy.

Not all opponents of the New York mosque are making as radical a case as the former House speaker. Some have acknowledged that Muslims have the right to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, but say they should have the decency to refrain from exercising that right because of the attacks of nine years ago.

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Buckeyes bounce back with 49-0 win over Boilermakers

By Felix Hoover

For Your News Columbus

Oct. 23, 2010

Photo by Terry Gilliam

Special teams and penalties set the tone early in Ohio State’s homecoming game against Purdue.

The Buckeyes won the coin toss and uncharacteristically elected to receive.

That move paid off as the opening kick went out of bounds. Returner Jordan Hall hovered over the ball to make sure the free kick crossed the sideline before a member of the kicking team could pounce on it.

Operating with a short field, the OSU ground attack featuring Dan “Boom” Herron delivered the ball to the end zone in under two minutes.

Two series later, the Bucks mixed in a few passes among Herron runs to record their second TD early in the first quarter.

OSU again entered the Red Zone shortly before the first stanza ended.

Between quarters, OSU’s recently retired baseball coach Bob Todd was recognized for his 39 years of service to the Scarlet and Gray.

A pass from Terrelle Pryor to Jake Stoneburner took the ball to pound-in territory; Jordan Hall broke the plane on a 1-yard run.

Another drive ended prematurely with an interception, but a series later OSU was back in scoring business. A Pryor pass to DeVier Posey and Devin Barclay’s fourth PAT made it 28-0.

Dane Sanzenbacher, the Bucks’ most reliable receiver this season, turned on the jets with a 56-yard catch and run, followed by a 7-yard TD reception.

A 15-yard pass to Corey Brown gave Ohio State its sixth touchdown of the half.

If avenging last year’s loss to the Boilermakers and bouncing back from last week’s defeat at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers were at issue, those matters were pretty much settled by halftime.

Dotting the “I,” one of the OSU Marching Band’s most treasured traditions, took on a new twist Elvis impersonator Mike Albert did the honors in a “Script Elvis,” capping off a halftime program dedicated to “The King.” Though impressive, the formation was no way comparable to Script Ohio.

Many fans exited Ohio Stadium early in a second half that saw but one more touchdown, a 23-yard pass from Joe Bauserman to Spencer Smith, and PAT by the Buckeyes..

A 56-yard field goal attempt by Purdue fell well short, enabling the host squad to preserve a shutout and post a 49-0 win.