Up until now, OSU’s defense has come away from these shutouts unscathed.   For all you Buckeye faithful out there, no worries there are no injuries to report.   However, the defense has taken a major hit, with the loss of an all-conference player in the middle of league play.  The Big Ten has suspended senior safety and Captain Kurt Coleman for one game, the conference ruled that Coleman must sit out OSU’s game at Indiana this Saturday.  The suspension is a result of helmet to helmet contact against Illinois backup QB Eddie McGee.  Coach Tressel and Athletic Director Gene Smith weren’t pleased with the Big Ten’s decision. 

A joint statement released by Tressel and Smith stated; "Obviously, we will abide by the one-game suspension from the Big Ten conference, but we feel as if there was poor judgment throughout.  We concur that Kurt's hit was late and a result of poor judgment; he was thus penalized and removed from the game by his coaches. We do not agree that it was 'pre-meditated' or that he was 'targeting a defenseless' player.”

At Coach Tressel’s weekly press conference he neglected to comment on the issue but said ‘Coleman took it like a man, and we ll move forward.”   Senior defensive tackle and fellow Captain Doug Worthington said “It definitely hurts our defense.   Kurt is a great player and a great leader.  We will miss his presence but, we have players ready to play and fill in."

Having two straight shutouts after suffering a loss to the Trojans shows the ability of the Buckeyes to bounce back.  Kurt Coleman will have no problems acting in true buckeye fashion and bouncing back against Wisconsin.