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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
Recruiting updates as Signing Day approaches
Some recruiting ramblings with just a week to go before Signing Day …
Ohio State always welcomes decisions from NFL-caliber juniors to come back for their senior seasons, which is why there was rejoicing in Buckeye Land when James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Alex Boone all spurned the pros for one last hurrah as collegians.
But there is a down side when a third-year player makes an unexpected decision to return: That’s one fewer scholarship to give to an incoming recruit.
Coach Jim Tressel and his staff had to be counting on more defections than just the one by defensive end Vernon Gholston — because they’re getting dangerously close to being over the scholarship limit in the 2008 class.
Two full rides opened up this week when Massillon running back Devoe Torrence was dropped because of academic and off-field issues, and seldom-used fourth-year junior defensive lineman Alex Barrow, a classy kid, decided to move on with his life after earning his degree.
The loss of Torrence hurts the Buckeyes because he’s a top-100 prospect nationally, and he reportedly was told by OSU coaches that they wouldn’t recruit any other running backs if he came aboard, which will leave the team thin at that position if star Chris Wells turns pro after the 2008 season.
But even without Barrow and Torrence, OSU’s ‘08 recruiting class wasn’t expected to exceed 19, and the Buckeyes already have 17 commitments and still hope to land at least four more stars: quarterback Terrelle Pryor of Pennsylvania, offensive lineman Josh Jenkins of West Virginia, defensive end Keith Wells of Georgia and cornerback Brandon Harris of Florida. And the Buckeyes have realistic shots at all four.
How could they manage to fit them all in? It makes me think Tressel knows of more current players who won’t be back or incoming recruits who might not make the cut academically.
But rest assured: If all four players want to be Buckeyes, Tressel will find room.
On another note, the Buckeyes had better hope their gamble on passing up Northmont offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders doesn’t come back to haunt them. Sanders recently committed to Florida State and had offers from virtually every big-time program — except Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have had an unbelievable windfall in offensive linemen among seniors, getting three of the top seven in the nation. They also have been targeting Jenkins, and they felt they couldn’t spare a scholarship for Sanders.
In most years, offering a highly touted Dayton-area kid would be a no-brainer for OSU. But this hasn’t been an ordinary year.
Lastly, I’m asked often about Terrelle Pryor and his college choice. I don’t think the kid even knows yet where he’s signing, but he dropped LSU from his list and said he won’t have time to visit Oregon, which would seem to limit his choices to either Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan.
His high-school quarterback coach told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he thinks Pryor is leaning toward Ohio State. But a lot can change in the final week.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit will announce his choice on ESPNU at around noon Wednesday, and in my eight years covering the team, I can’t remember a more anxiously awaited decision than this one.
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Pryor eliminates LSU
We’re one week from Signing Day and there’s nothing concrete yet on coveted prep QB Terrelle Pryor, unless you count this: The hot shot QB from Jeannette, Pa., took LSU off his list this week. A small victory for Ohio State over the Tigers, I guess. It now looks like most Novembers: A showdown between OSU and Michigan.
Penn State’s Joe Paterno was scheduled to visit Pryor today in Jeannette, Pa., but Pryor — who has been compared to Vince Young — is expected to leave the state to play college football.
Both OSU’s Jim Tressel and new Michigan man Rich Rodriguez are expected to attend Pryor’s basketball game Saturday night. Pryor’s QB coach, Roy Hall, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he thinks Pryor is heading to Columbus.
Pryor is schedule to make his announcement next Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. ESPNU will be at his school to televise the festivities.
Other recruiting tidbits:
— Ohio State is down to 17 verbal commitments after backing off Massillon’s DeVoe Torrence, who has had his share of off-field issues.
— Rivals.com says that Trotwood-Madison linebacker Doug Rippy, who originally committed to Nebraska, has changed gears and is going to Colorado.
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Football recruiting clock ticking
National Signing Day is 13 days away. For serious college football fans, it’s kind of like counting down to Christmas.
Ohio State fans will find plenty of impressive players under the tree on Feb. 6. Of course the big prize, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, is still in play. He visited Michigan last weekend and, by all accounts, had a good time (although he did have to endure a UM basketball game, which should help OSU’s chances).
Currently, Ohio State’s incoming class is ranked No. 6 by rivals.com. The Buckeyes have commitments from seven of Rival’s top 100 players, as many as LSU (4) and Michigan (3) combined. Florida, Notre Dame and Alabama hold the top three spots in these very subjective rankings.
Ranking high school football players is an inexact science, and these rankings might not mean anything in two years, but they’re about the only measuring stick out there for those of us who like to keep score.
Jim Tressel is in Florida today, recruiting in the backyard of the SEC and ACC. The Buckeyes have 18 verbal commitments so far, including a few from the Sunshine State.
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Pryor sees himself fitting in at OSU
Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa., the top senior prospect in the nation, has kept folks in suspense throughout the recruiting process, adding and subtracting schools as if they’re cards in a gin rummy game.
But he’s always had Ohio State in his top five, and the athletic 6-foot-6, 220-pound quarterback spoke favorably of the Buckeyes in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article today.
While Michigan (a school Pryor is visiting this weekend) can offer a chance to start immediately, the presence of veteran QB Todd Boeckman at OSU isn’t a deterrent.
Pryor said he could see how an arrangement with Boeckman could work, citing the way Florida called on the mobile Tim Tebow as a freshman to complement drop-back passer Chris Leak during a national title season in 2006.
“If I don’t start, if I don’t win the job, I’d like to be like Tim Tebow was his freshman year,” Pryor was quoted as saying. “If I don’t win the job, maybe I can play a role like that.
“If they need a key first down, they throw me in there. It would give me exposure, give me a feel for the way the college game is played.”
Not that the competitive Pryor is conceding the starting job to the OSU senior.
“If that was the school I choose, I’d battle him,” Pryor said. “Whatever school I go to, I’ll battle for a position. They’re one of my top schools, but it’s not just for them. Wherever I go, I’d like to battle for the position.”
Michigan folks will no doubt fawn over Pryor this weekend and could sway him in their direction. He also has a visit left to Penn State.
But we probably can glean from those comments that he’s at least thinking very favorably about OSU at this point. And given what the Buckeyes have coming back next season, he could be just what they need to get over that national title game hump.
Signing day, though, isn’t until Feb. 6. And for Buckeye fans, that’s going to be a suspenseful two and a half weeks.
2008 schedule much tougher
If THE OSU makes it to next year’s BCS title game, the Buckeyes won’t be accused of taking the easy road. In addition to eight Big Ten games (and the Big Ten HAS to be better next season, right?), here’s who the Buckeyes play in nonconference tilts:
Youngstown State. Ohio University. Southern California. Troy.
OK, so Youngstown State is a gimme and Ohio University could only beat the Buckeyes if the two schools squared off in a keg-emptying contest. But those other two games …
Southern Cal speaks for itself. If OSU goes to Los Angeles in September and knocks off the Trojans, that would give the Bucks an inside track on a trip to Miami in January 2009. No doubt Ohio State will be an underdog, but will nearly the entire defense returning and a season of starting under Todd Boeckman’s belt, who knows?
Troy is an interesting game. The Trojans went 8-4 this season, 6-1 in the Sun Belt. Like the Buckeyes, they have trouble against the SEC, going 0-3 (although a 44-34 loss to Georgia is impressive).
Troy’s biggest win in 2007: A 41-23 pasting of the Oklahoma State “I’m A Man!” Cowboys. I seem to recall Troy pasting Missouri a couple years ago, too.
So anyway, Troy’s a step up from Akron.
Here’s the 2008 dates (all Saturday games, times tba):
Aug. 30 — Youngstown State, home Sept. 6 — Ohio University, home Sept. 13 — at USC (probably on ABC, prime time) Sept. 20 — Troy University, home Sept. 27 — Minnesota, home Oct. 4 — at Wisconsin Oct. 11 — Purdue, home Oct. 18 — at Michigan State Oct. 25 — Penn State, home Nov. 8 — at Northwestern Nov. 15 — at Illinois Nov. 22 — Michigan, home
Tigers, breaks, too much for Buckeyes
Ohio State was beaten by the better team. Let’s get that straight right up front.
LSU was clearly superior and would win most times those two teams tangled. But a few plays could have made a difference. Enough to turn around the 38-24 result? Doubtful. But things could have been very interesting in the second half if the Buckeyes didn’t implode when they did.
After LSU tied it at 10-all, the Buckeyes stampeded down the field. But a bonehead personal foul on receiver Brian Hartline halted the momentum.
They still had a chance to put seven points on the board, but a rare drop by Brian Robiskie in the end zone on third down forced the Buckeyes to go for a field goal with 10:53 left in the first half.
It was blocked because of a surge up front — the fourth blocked field goal this season for Ryan Pretorius, known for his low kicks — and the Tigers marched down the field with the help of two OSU personal-foul penalties for a momentum-changing score.
If the Buckeyes had gone up 17-10, they may have been able to nurse that lead into the half. And who knows what happens? Maybe LSU’s talent advantage ultimately takes over, but OSU would have gone to Chris Wells repeatedly, and he may have been capable of taking over long enough to make for an interesting finish.
There were plenty other what-if plays … like what if Austin Spitler doesn’t miss that potential blocked punt on the first possession of the second half with OSU trailing by 14?
But the bottom line, for the second year in a row, is there’s still a clear talent gap between the Buckeyes and the teams capable of winning a national title, like LSU and Florida.
Yeah, the Buckeyes didn’t have some breaks go their way. But they don’t want to have to go into these games relying on breaks.
No dramatics for OSU
Ohio State cornerback Malcomb Jenkins tried to spark a big comeback Monday night in the BCS championship game, but one LSU interception was just a temporary setback. Final from the Superdome: LSU 38, Ohio State 24.
“This game is about momentum,” said Jenkins, whose third-quarter interception was the highlight of OSU’s second half. “We started off with the momentum but then we gave it away. We tried to get ourselves back in the game but we kept giving it away with penalties and turnovers. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”
Maybe the Buckeyes were out of their element. The Louisiana Superdome certainly is LSU’s home away from home. The Tigers have won four BCS bowls in this building since 2002.
Maybe the Buckeyes were hypnotized by the moves of the LSU Golden Girls, who the PA announcer accurately labeled “vivacious.”
Maybe LSU was just better.
Some of the final numbers:
James Laurinaitis made 18 tackles, a record for all BCS games.
Chris Wells rushed for 146 yards, the second-best total in BCS title-game history (Vince Young, 200 in 2006).
A.J. Trapasso set a BCS record with a 63-yard punt.
Nice numbers, but not as significant as this one: The Southeastern Conference is 11-4 in 10 years of the BCS. The Big Ten? 8-9.
Those numbers don’t lie.
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Don’t go to bed yet
We have a reason to keep the TV on. Malcomb Jenkins’ interception and 23-yard return late in the third quarter led to an Ohio State touchdown. Todd Boeckman is starting to go for broke and, hey, he might as well.
There are some disturbing third-quarter stats, though. LSU is 11-for-14 on third-down conversions, OSU just 2-for-9. Also, LSU has a whopping 22 first downs, a sure sign that the Tigers are controlling the game.
But still …
Repeat of 2007?
Sorry to say, OSU fans, this is starting to look a lot like 2007. You know, Buckeyes score first then get smoked by a quick, creative Southeastern Conference team.
The second quarter brought us three OSU penalties and three LSU touchdowns. The lone highlight for the Buckeyes was Chris Wells’ 29-yard run during which he gave Chevis Jackson a shivering straight-arm after the Tigers tied it at 10.
Turning point: Brian Robiskie dropped a touchdown pass that would’ve given OSU a 17-10 lead early in the quarter. Instead, LSU blocked a field goal and went on to take a commanding lead.
It really feels like an LSU home game in the Superdome. LSU fans are lubed-up and loud. OSU fans are sporting that “oh no” look.
We will know in about 20 minutes whether the Buckeyes have a chance, because LSU gets the ball first in the third quarter. One more of those long scoring drives and it’s load up the bus and head north.
Fast start for Buckeyes
Ohio State had 147 total yards in the first quarter, but the one thing Buckeye fans should be concerned about: 1-for-3 on third-down conversions.
The Buckeyes came out with plenty of motion and tried to get a lot of guys involved. On the 44-yard pass to Brandon Saine that set up an OSU field goal, the Bucks had four receivers, one being Beanie Wells. He stood there and two LSU guys went after him. Nice decoy.
Speaking of Wells, his 65-yard touchdown run was the longest run in BCS title game history.
LSU’s Harry Coleman might’ve saved the game for the Tigers when he recovered a fumbled LSU punt late in the quarter.
Final thought: This one started a lot like last year’s title game. OSU will try to finish a little stronger.
Hey, it’s James Laurintitis
The pregame festivities at the BCS championship game were pretty entertaining — and loud. The Ohio State band pulled off a double Script Ohio and was followed by The Golden Band From Tigerland. Pretty good.
An awkwardly long moment of silence before the national anthem was a by-product, I think, of TV. Further evidence that TV rules the world. I don’t think TV wanted to miss the national anthem, so this moment of silence went on for, well, dozens of moments. The fans were well-behaved, at one point chanting “USA, USA!”
The coin toss was uneventful, except the PA guy identified OSU’s James Laurinaitis as “James Laurin-TI-tis.” Oops.
Who invented computers, anyway?
INSIDE SUPERDOME — There’s a hilarious and empathy-driving subplot in the press box at every major sporting event. You see a zombie-like group of reporters searching for the technology help desk, frantic that the game will start without an ability to file stories.
Last year, that was Doug Harris, the Buckeyes beat writer for the DDN. We were in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., about an hour before the BCS championship game started and he was without any connection to the Internet or ability to send stories to the paper.
That’s when you start sweating, and we’re seeing plenty of those folks about 90 minutes away from the start of this season’s championship game in the Superdome. It’s just another factor that makes putting on events like this a pain in the backside.
New Orleans, though, has been a wonderfully gracious host. You can see at almost every turn that restaurant employees, valets, city natives and (should I admit this?) blackjack dealers are happy to have you in town and want you to have a good time.
There weren’t too many sad faces walking down Poydras Avenue on their way to the stadium for the game today, except for the young couple quite audibly arguing at one point. The fans got to the Superdome without much major argument or hostile tones (unlike the French Quarter on Sunday night).
Whatever happens in the game, I’m just thanking all things holy that my laptop is working.
Mangold a fan favorite
For the record, the first audible OH-IO! cheer in the Louisiana Superdome came at 4:42 p.m., Central time. Outside, skies are overcast and it’s windy, but thousands of fans don’t seem to care.
I strolled through the Fan Fest on the south side of the dome. Saw Alter grad Nick Mangold signing autographs for fans lined up by the dozens. Future NFL hall-of-famer Cris Carter is scheduled to sign later.
Mangold is a good guy. He signs, chats and helps adoring little ladies up on the riser to get their picture taken. He even was a good sport and wore a wireless mic for a DDN video. He knew the drill, even snaked the cord up the inside of his shirt.
I asked him if he thought about grabbing a helmet and suiting up. His eyes danced at the thought.
“I’d like to, but that would be a little much,” he said.
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Let the predictions continue!
NEW ORLEANS — Throughout the week, reporters from the Columbus Dispatch have been asking reporters from different parts of the country for their predictions on the BCS championship game.
They ran today, and they were a little surprising to me. Of the 22 folks asked, 12 picked Ohio State. I thought the national perception was different than that.
There was one comment with which I totally agree, but I think is going to go the other way. Jason Lloyd of the Lorain Morning Journal picked Ohio State to win 31-27 and said, “Todd Boeckman will be the difference.”
Absolutely. The Ohio State quarterback is the most pivotal player in this game. No one else on the field, neither Matt Flynn nor Glenn Dorsey nor Chris Wells nor James Laurinaits, will affect his team the way Boeckman will.
Remember when Ohio State beat Penn State in State College earlier this season? Boeckman was the difference. And I don’t care how many times Illinois converted on third down on the November day in Columbus, Boeckman’s miscues cost the Buckeyes the game.
Perhaps the most telling comment from the Dispatch’s prediction page came from Pat Forde, the excellent ESPN.com columnist, who picked LSU 27-13: “I got burned last year; I’m not getting burned this year by the Buckeyes.” OSU must win if it again wants national respect, no matter how many consecutive regular-season games it won.
My pick? LSU, 21-17.
Cops protect and serve
Our group went out to eat Sunday night at a place called Mandina’s. We had to take a cab because it was on Canal Street, north of downtown. That means we left the comfortable bubble of clean streets, happy people and insane waits for a table.
As you go north out of downtown New Orleans, you get a sense of what’s going on here. Not a lot of lights. Some run-down houses don’t look life they’ve had electricity in quite some time. We saw one young man getting handcuffed.
Mandina’s is on the edge of this. A police car was parked outside the restaurant, and it was there the whole night. As we were waiting to get in — this place, like all restaurants this week was packed — a Chevy SUV “courtesy” vehicle pulled up. Out popped LSU chancellor Sean O’Keefe. The LSU fans applauded. I don’t think O’Keefe had to wait for a table.
Anyway, we had a nice meal and were the last ones out of the place. The pleasant police officer was still there, though. The employees seemed concerned that our taxi had not yet arrived. One cab did show up and a waitress who had been working since 11 a.m. told us to take it. We practically had to wrestle her into the cab.
The cop, still there, began making some calls for us. Then another employee called a cab company. We made it back downtown about 15 minutes later, driving past plenty of run-down reminders on Canal Street.
New Orleans has a ways to go, but it’s apparent that the folks of the Crescent City — police included — will bend over backward for tourists. And, yes, we left a good tip.
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Gordon Gee dressed to kill
The Buckeye Bash pep rally today at the New Orleans convention center was one giant OSU lovefest. It started 45 minutes late, which was annoying, but the thousands on hand seemed to have fun.
Among the speakers was OSU president Gordon Gee. Yes, he was sporting a bow tie. He also had a whole bunch of those Buckeye necklaces and some large scarlet and gray Christmas ornament things strung around his neck.
“I’m wearing the biggest Buckeye balls in America,” Gee yelled to the crowd. “I can’t believe I said that.”
Hey, no problem, Gordon. This is the Big Easy.
I spotted Buck-I-Guy and chatted with Jim Tressel lookalike Denny Singleton, the Pepsi truck driver from Huber Heights. He was a hit. Singleton was on Bourbon Street on Saturday night and estimates that he got his picture taken a hundred times.
He was in a nightclub with his wife, Cathy, and they announced over the sound system that they were thrilled to have Jim Tressel in the house.
He does look amazingly like Tressel and has the mannerisms down. One thing, though: Singleton’s hair isn’t as gray, although he’s older than the OSU coach.
“I’m working on that,” Cathy joked.
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Lots of steps in Superdome
I planned to write this entry about the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday, but I was too exhausted from my journey to the last row in the upper reaches of the old stadium. Well, that and Bourbon Street demanded my immediate attention.
I’m no Richard Simmons, but I wouldn’t consider myself totally out of shape. So I figured a jaunt up the steps would be a snap. Well, I was sweating when I reached the summit.
That was the 600 level. I think the 700 level is monitored by air traffic control.
I was never a fan of the Superdome. On TV, it looks so drab. Well, it looks kind of drab in person, but I have a new appreciation for the building. It has rebounded nicely from Katrina. If they had a medal for sports venues, this place would get a purple heart.
The place is still a bit dirty. I noticed a rusted outlet cover in a bathroom. Stuff you wouldn’t find in one of those new zillion-dollar stadiums (usually built by taxpayers).
OSU coach Jim Tressel seemed to like the place well enough on his first visit Saturday.
“In talking to Benny, the fellow that runs the security here, the way they look at this place is this is the place that saved 38,000 lives. That’s incredible.”
Yes, it is. Geaux Superdome!
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Don’t mess with Dorsey
LSU All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey slowly strolled across the plastic Superdome turf Saturday. He was heading to his riser to meet the out-of-shape set on media day. His legs were gigantic and his back side … well, let’s just say Dorsey could box out anyone on a basketball court.
But as big as Dorsey is, there are bigger guys who will play in the BCS championship game. According to the rosters we were given this week, both LSU and Ohio State have nine players who weigh in at more than 300 pounds. Dorsey’s at a svelte 302.
The biggest man on the field Monday night will be LSU guard Herman Johnson. He’s listed at 6-foot-7, 356 pounds. In case you can’t find him, he’ll be number 79. He’s the fellow who weighed like 15 pounds at birth.
Dorsey roomed with him when he got to LSU. He didn’t know quite what to think.
“I walked in my room and said, ‘Whoa, get me outta here.’ “
Big Herm, Dorsey discovered, wasn’t a bad guy. And he can play football.
“Herm’s a big fella and can move,” Dorsey said. “He’s agile.”
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Is plan to play Henton just a ruse?
Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline let it slip to reporters Friday that the team was working back-up quarterback Antonio Henton into the mix, which is a major development.
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman was quick to squash that revelation, saying the Buckeyes have no plans to put the redshirt freshman in the game, but comments from head coach Jim Tressel today indicate there may be something to that story.
“Is there a pretty good chance Henton will play?” Tressel was asked at the team’s media event at the Superdome.
“Define pretty good chance,” he said.
“Let’s say 65-percent chance,” the reporter replied.
“Maybe a little less than that,” Tressel said.
“Better than 50-50?” he was asked.
“Right about there,” Tressel said.
While it would be a risky move — Henton hasn’t seen the field since a mop-up role against Northwestern in the fourth week of the season — he gives the Buckeyes a dual-threat, change-of-pace quarterback to complement starter Todd Boeckman, who wasn’t all that reliable late in the season.
I’ll be surprised if the conservative Tressel gambles on the untested Henton with the stakes so high. But either way, the Buckeyes come out winners in this deal. Even if Henton doesn’t get off the bench, they’re probably generating some angst for mighty LSU just by allowing the speculation to persist.
Jim Tressel in a retirement home? Interesting thought
NEW ORLEANS — Probed today for his feelings on the loss to Florida in the BCS championship game last season, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel provided one of his most interesting answers of the season, and it involves Columbus Dispatch columnist Bob Hunter.
“Let’s pretend I was the guy who dropped a pass,” Tressel said, and we didn’t know what we were in for. “I don’t care what game it was, and we could have won, I’m not sure that ever goes away. Every time I run into a guy at a reunion, he says, ‘You dropped that pass.’
“It’s the same thing with a tough loss. Every time that it comes to the forefront (it’s not pleasant), and I guess out loss last year has been brought up quite frequently (no kidding).”
“I hope 20 years from now it won’t be brought up quite as often. But if it is and when it is, you know, I’ll see Bob at the retirement home in Columbus and Bob and I are the only two old guys here, and when they bring it up to me at the checkerboard or shuffle board, he might get an uppercut (which Tressel followed with the motion of the swinging punch).”
That’s about as loose as Jim Tressel gets. Throughout the season, he has tossed out his share of zingers, but I’ve rarely seen him more seemingly relaxed than he looked this afternoon in the Superdome while sitting on his raised chair answering questions for an hour.
Now, the only question is this: Will he and Bob have a second major loss to talk about, or a second major victory?
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Fun in the Superdome
NEW ORLEANS — Alex Boone is, indeed, silly.
That’s why, when television stations were looking for an Ohio State football player to interview other players as a gag, they turned to the large OSU offensive lineman, the man who said that defensive end Vernon Gholston’s arms look like “small children.”
Today’s media day at the Superdome had the flavor of a celebration. Several key players and both coaches were propped up on risers to take questions while the rest of the teams were seated in chairs throughout the dome. It provided an opportunity to catch up with the players not often available to the media.
It also provided a relaxed-enough environment that players could be goofy in front of cameras, mock interviewing one another about meals they’ve had on the trip or embarrassing moments throughout the season. It was good to see such fun from the OSU players.
One colleague mentioned the other day that the Buckeyes looked too dour in their time here leading up to the championship game. The Florida players last year, he said, seemed so loose and relaxed when they came into the University of Phoenix Stadium with personal video cameras, savoring the moment.
The Buckeyes, today, seemed just as loose and relaxed. Perhaps because they might’ve finally sized up the LSU players in person and noticed the Tigers aren’t monster-big. The OSU players look just as scary.
Especially when it’s Alex Boone with a microphone in his hand and a television camera behind him.
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Tired of hearing about speed
NEW ORLEANS — While players from both Ohio State and LSU have sat at the raised tables taking questions from reporters around the country, you can see some roll their eyes when asked about the differences in speed between the Big Ten and SEC. Heck, if I hear the word speed one more time I’m going to take everyone outside for a 40-yard dash immediately to settle it.
So earlier today, we found ourselves at the table of LSU center Brett Helms, a member of a supposedly fast SEC team that apparently is going look like the Road Runner to Ohio State’s Wile E. Coyote.
This is a guy who’s 6 feet 2, 290 pounds and wants to be known for his hitting, darnit.
“I hope so, that’s what we pride ourselves on,” Helms said. “As an offensive line, being dominant and physical, that’s what brought us here, that’s what we try to be.”
LSU ranks 12th nationally in rushing offense, at 218.9 yards per game, led by a former fullback (Jacob Hester) who confessed earlier today that the fastest 40 time in his life was 4.49 seconds. Hester gains 78.2 yards per game, and you’re telling me he does it with speed? He was a nose guard in high school, for crying out loud.
C’mon, let’s hear it for the big boys.
“As an offensive and defensive lineman, you want to be physical,” Helms said. “As far as we know, that’s all there is.”
Buck-I-Guy has arrived
I grabbed an early-morning flight out of Dayton today and connected through Charlotte. I settled into my seat, looked up and discovered that the party officially was under way. There he was: Buck-I-Guy.
You know who I’m talking about. That guy in the white cape and Ohio State cowboy hat who is a favorite of TV cameramen everywhere. He was chatting up fellow passengers, handing out photos. I caught up with him at baggage claim and asked him how he gets those great seats (he always seems to be in the front row).
“You have to pay through the nose for those tickets,” said John Chubb, who lives in Columbus. “It’s all on my own dime.”
Chubb posed for at least five pictures during our brief conversation. I even snapped one for a nice lady, surprising myself with my high-tech know-how. Chubb estimates he’ll pose for “about 2,000” photos this weekend. Definitely a Type A personality, he should be a hit on Bourbon Street.
Buck-I-Guy would not give a prediction on the big game, though.
“It’s going to be a great game between two football powerhouses,” he said.
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Ohio State players seem focused (really)
Ohio State players say they’re viewing their six days in New Orleans as a business trip, that they’re focused solely on winning a national title and don’t give a squat about the Crescent City night life.
Business trip. Making game preparations a priority. Sacrificing fun. Haven’t we heard this before?
It seems like the Buckeyes were saying those very things last year before getting their craniums kicked in by Florida. But there’s something different this time around. Maybe I’m just gullible — check back Monday night to see if I’m too easily duped — but I sense conviction in their voices and a sense of purpose in their demeanors.
Put it this way: they’re a lot more believable than accused steroid users in baseball insisting those regular shots in the butt were for vitamin supplements.
“I feel personally we’re a lot more focused than probably a lot of people will think,” sophomore defensive tackle Doug Worthington said Friday. “We’re not intimated by the stage we’re put on. With extra film study, playing hard and practicing harder than we ever did before … a lot of people will be surprised and shocked on Monday.”
Yes, they appear to have learned their lessons from last year when they went down without a fight. The Buckeyes may have been saying all the right things then, but, this year, it looks like they mean them.
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Vernon Gholston is scary
NEW ORLEANS — The buzz around the media room this morning was Doug Harris’ story about Vernon Gholston and his female roommate. Not that we need a reason to talk about the Ohio State defensive lineman, but it provided one.
Gholston is as frightening a physical specimen as exists in this BCS championship game. I mean, look at his freakin’ arms.
He’s listed at 6 feet 4 and 264 pounds, and although he’s not as heavy as the All-American LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (6-2, 303), he makes up for the lesser weight with a quickness that has produced 13 sacks (the next-highest Buckeye is James Laurinaitis with 5, and LSU’s leader is defensive lineman Kirston Pittman with 7; Dorsey has 6). In fact, he is fourth nationally in sacks.
“He’s a fun guy,” said Doug Worthington, the OSU defensive lineman. “He’s quiet, but when you get to know him, he’s a character. He’s a great athlete, he’s a great person. He’s a big brother to the defensive line.”
Players have also said that Gholston, to put it nicely, marches to the beat of his own drummer.
“I remember my freshman year, he used to do a whole bunch of push-ups and sit-ups during camp,” said Worthington, who likely joined his teammates in a fatigue during camp that wouldn’t allow such working out. “He would bring in extra Little Debbies to eat, to snack on.”
Feel free to insert your joke here about Gholston munching on offensive linemen and quarterbacks. The fact remains that there are two key defensive linemen in this game, and one of them just has really, really big muscles.
“He’s not a guy that cares about the shine or cares about the clothes,” Worthington said. “He’s a good friend and a good teammate. He would rather go out and watch a movie than go to a club. He would rather just relax, and he’s focused.”
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Former Buckeyes to support team
For ex-Ohio State players, the motto seems to be: Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.
OSU associate athletic director Steve Snapp is handling sideline passes for the BCS championship, and he’s been besieged by requests from NFL players who once wore the scarlet and gray.
Among those who plan to attend are Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Orlando Pace, Will Allen, Michael Jenkins, Chris Gamble, LeCharles Bentley, Darrion Scott, Santonio Holmes, Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Schlegel and Antonio Pittman.
Snapp said even the New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel is trying to work a trip to the game around the team’s playoff schedule.
OSU will have about a dozen sideline credentials for ex-players, and those who can’t be accommodated will be given tickets to the game.
The number of V.I.P. passes that the schools can give to celebrities looking for some camera time has been limited to five by the powers-that-be at the BCS. And those are usually reserved for A-listers.
The demand was so great last year that Snapp had to turn down the famed country music group Nickelback. When one of the band’s managers kept insisting on getting passes, Snapp ended the conversation by saying, “Look, even if the Beatles reunited, they’re not getting into this game.”
Robiskie taking the lead
NEW ORLEANS — Found this story on Brian Robiskie in this morning’s USA Today, and it’s fitting that the Ohio State junior receiver is getting so much attention.
From the Buckeyes’ first game, when he caught nine passes for 153 yards against Youngstown State, he has shouldered the weight left by Ted Ginn Jr. Brian Hartline, meanwhile, has served the role once held by Anthony Gonzalez quite well.
With a running back in Chris Wells who rumbles when he gets room, the Buckeyes’ passing game couldn’t have disappeared this season, and Robiskie made it happen. He’s big, fast and finds ways to pull down some Todd Boeckman passes that have been known to float.
And, as we prepare for this national championship game, recall that Ohio State’s passing game was awful last season against Florida, making Robiskie and Co. even more important against LSU this season.
We’ll hear from him in a little bit when Ohio State holds its first media session.
Just stand by this guy
You know you’re always going to get something good from Kirk Barton, the Ohio State offensive tackle. He delivered early in his interview session this morning.
A reporter asked if he had reached the saturation point in hearing about the title game. Comedy followed:
“I’m trying to figure out what saturation means,” Barton said. “All I know is saturate is … cause they had this deep-fryer set up when we arrived, and they kept deep-frying shrimp, and all I thought was saturated fat … I know what saturation means, I’m just being … I’m just thinking about all that shrimp I ate. Don’t say we got too fat and ate too much shrimp while we were down here. I’m just kidding.”
There’s more. One of the scenes relived (at least by Alex Boone) from last season’s title game aftermath involves Boone standing up on the team bus and saying something about the 41-14 loss being his responsibility. Barton said he didn’t recall that.
“It could be folklore,” Barton said.
Barton was then told Boone claimed that it did indeed happen.
“One guy doesn’t lose a game, unless it’s the kicker, I guess,” Barton said. “If it’s the kicker that did it, then, you know.”
The sore ankle heard ‘round Columbus
Running back Chris Wells was seen noticeably limping while rushing through the Atlanta airport on Tuesday to make it to New Orleans. That left ankle just doesn’t want to heel.
Not that it has made him look ordinary. The sophomore from Akron has rushed for 1,463 yards this season while nursing the continued … well, whatever it is (sprain? tweak? There have been a number of descriptions.
Wells says he’s now fine.
“It’s been nagging, throughout the whole year from the first game all the way to the last,” Wells said. “It’s something I just have to deal with a play through.”
Alex Boone said earlier in the day that sometimes Wells is so focused on the sidelines you can’t even talk to him.
“You never hear me say a word during the game,” Wells said. “Maybe before the football game I might say a word or two, but during the game I’m just all zeroed in just on the task at hand, focusing on what I need to do.”
And what has he done? In the past five games, it has been gaining 221 yards (Michigan State), 133 (Penn State), 169 (Wisconsin), 76 (Illinois) and 222 (Michigan). LSU allows 103.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th nationally.
Various stories
Georgia wants a shot at the national championship.
The ham radio enthusiasts are pumped!
A plug for Ohio State’s overall athletic program.
Remember when Miami University product Paul Dietzel coached LSU?
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Off to a rocky start
NEW ORLEANS — If today’s experience in trying to talk to Jim Tressel is any indication, it’s going to be a long work week.
Tressel was scheduled to be available to the media at 12:15 today at the Hilton Riverside, where the Buckeyes will be staying. A few of us found our way to the loading dock, waiting for the OSU bus to come in. We saw it about 100 feet away, but it couldn’t get any closer.
An employee was trying to direct traffic, as another bus was blocking the way. Eventually, the large bus with BCS championship and Big Ten Conference logos on the side opened its doors to let a few players off, and they rolled their luggage into the hotel.
An SUV carrying Tressel and his wife (with a courtesy driver, of course) pulled up behind the bus to let them out. Gene Smith, the OSU AD, was right behind.
So, we asked a hotel employee where Tressel would be meeting the media, and he said he had no idea what we were talking about, although he did eventually point us to the third floor. OK, great. We get into the elevator, get off on the third floor and turn right. Eventually, we come to a large, elegant room that floods into two other large ballrooms. Everything, except for our small group, was empty.
More reporters showed, until about 65 of us hovered in the middle of this large, carpeted room with a chandelier. Television reporters set up tripods, envisioning Tressel standing in the middle of the room. It never happened that way.
A small table was found and placed with a chair near the cameras. Generally, when holding a press conference like this, the print reporters will place our recorders on the table in front of the subject. This space, though, was too small for that.
New idea. Someone rolled in a podium with even less space for recorders than the other table. Now I’m guessing there were about 80 reporters gathered, including those from Atlanta, New Orleans and ESPN The Magazine. As often happens, we were all elbowing for room.
Tressel entered and, apparently feeling the need to help the poor guy trying to get another microphone in, held the BCS Championship Game-marked mic in his left hand as he talked.
Usually when these things happen, a room is scheduled in advance and reporters can easily find the subject. Today, though, we wound our way through the (lovely, I might add) Hilton and squashed together to hear Tressel talk about the excitement of being in New Orleans, Lloyd Carr’s retirement, excitement of the bowl season, his team’s mistake in arriving too early to Phoenix last season and using last season’s title game loss for motivation.
