And the Buckeye tailback did just that Thursday night, Sept. 2, as OSU trounced Marshall 45-7 in the season opener at Ohio Stadium.
On this steamy night, Saine showed his legs.
The fastest running back in OSU football history — at least that was the halftime consensus of three men who should know, former coach Earle Bruce, 1980s All-American offensive tackle Jim Lachey and OSU’s veteran Sports Information Director Steve Snapp — Saine ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
All but one of his nine carries were in the first half when he had a 40-yard run, then a 45-yarder for a score.
On each of those he ran away from Marshall defenders who looked like they were slogging through quicksand.
“When he hits that gear, he can go,” OSU head coach Jim Tressel said after the game. “B. Saine just hits the crease and is out of there.”
Nicknamed Zoom — while bruising Dan Herron, who shares the job with him, is Boom — Saine still holds the Ohio Division I record at 100 meters and once held the national prep record at 60 meters.
“I think I do pretty well in open space, and this year we’re going to try to capitalize on that,” Saine said. “I think our offense is really going to show some things this year.”
Although it was evident from the opening kickoff that Marshall was in over its head, OSU’s first-team offense was superb. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor nicely launched what could be a Heisman Trophy season, completing 17-of-25 passes for 247 yards and three TDs.
Unlike early in his career when he lacked patience and confidence, and tucked the ball and ran, Pryor spent the night moving around in the pocket while continually keeping his eyes on his receivers.
Part of the credit goes to his line, which kept Herd defenders at bay, but most of it was all Pryor.
“He’s a different player than when he first got here,” Saine said. “He knows everything he’s doing out there.”
Pryor’s maturation is helped by the Zoom/Boom duo, who keep the pressure off him.
With Miami’s 45-0 victory over visiting Florida A&M, the stage is set for next Saturday’s showdown in the Horseshoe. It’s the first meeting between the high-profile programs since OSU edged the Hurricanes 31-24 in double overtime in the national title game after the 2002 season.
“I was just a kid then, but I’ve seen replays of it and I remember the game Maurice Clarett had,” Saine said. “Ripping that ball away from them at the end, he showed another big way a running back can help his team.”
Thursday night, Saine did the same.