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January 2009
Tressel won’t name next coach
The growing trend in sports throughout all levels is naming the next head coach before the current coach is finished. One of the most recent examples came at Texas, where the team announced that assistant Will Muschamp will follow coach Mack Brown when Brown leaves the program.
Seems a good enough idea, right? No question about continuity with recruits when the time comes, no worry from the coach that his or her legacy will be forgotten.
But don’t ask Jim Tressel to do the same thing at Ohio State:
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, a year younger than Brown, said he might have reservations for more pragmatic reasons. He said he had not spoken to coaches who have created a succession plan but has watched Big Ten opponents Wisconsin and Purdue go through the transition. Tressel acknowledged the advantages, such as retaining a standout assistant and creating stability, but he questioned the effect on players or other assistants who may be confused by divided leadership.
“The guy it’s easiest on, in my mind, is the athletic director,” Tressel said. “Maybe who it’s hardest on is the other coaches and the players.”
I can see his point. Other coaches might not stick around if they get other assistant offers because they know they have no shot at the head coaching job. If it seems like it’s getting close to the head coach leaving, players could lose respect for discipline and cozy up to the coach-in-waiting.
But, there will be no media-intensive and stressful search for the athletic director.
There are both positives and negatives to the practice.
Just don’t look for it to happen at Ohio State.
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Mr. Football looking hard at Ohio State
Last month, Erick Howard was high on the University of Miami when he visited Columbus.
He toured Ohio State’s facilities. He met with players. He talked with Jim Tressel.
The visit was a hit.
“It was opinion-changing,” Howard said.
That’s good for Ohio State, because Howard is the state’s reigning Mr. Football. He won the award as a junior after rushing for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns for North Canton Hoover last season. At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Howard is a little shorter than some coaches would like but makes up for it in toughness. Or, so says Hoover coach Don Hertler.
Howard, for example, plays defense as a linebacker and manages to stay powerful well after halftime.
“He’s a second-half player,” Hertler said.
He likely needs a similar strong late showing, though, to make it to Ohio State or another major program. Hertler said Howard has scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Illinois and Colorado and that most other schools and holding out to monitor Howard’s academic status.
“He’s got a long way to go,” Hertler said.
But, Hertler added, Howard is as motivated as possible. He’s beefing up his extracurriculars, including an appearance in the school musical, and he is making academics his main focus.
If he makes the grades, his college future is wide open. And Ohio State is at the front of the line.
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A Buckeye is honest (sort of) about Erin Andrews
Even if you’ve seen him flashing by on a television screen, you might not have noticed this man. It’s time, however, to give him his due.
Mark Titus is a member, technically, of the Ohio State basketball team. He’s listed as a junior guard, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound shooter from Brownsburg, Ind.
That, anyway, is his athletic resume.
He’s also an entertaining blogger. His effort is titled Club Trillion, which adds the tagline “Life views from the end of the bench.” His 800- to 1,000-word posts deal with many aspects of sports and life in general.
There’s also an insight or two into what the OSU bench players actually do during games. For example, a recent entry:
Last night we beat Indiana in a game that I admittedly had no idea was going on until there was about five minutes left in the first half. It goes without saying that there was one reason and one reason only why I was so distracted during the game, but I’ll say it anyway. My main squeeze, Erin Andrews-Titus, was in attendance and looked like a trillion dollars.
The following paragraphs contain an entertaining, if not reality-based, version of Titus’ struggles with Andrews. It ends with a made-up break-up, a fitting finish.
Maybe if I start (imaginary) dating another, younger celebrity (Taylor Swift comes to mind) Erin will get the hint. I don’t exactly know where our relationship will go from here, but I think it’s best to at least take a break for now.
Bravo, Mark. Bravo.
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Could Ohio State be caught up in economic problems?
During the 2007-08 academic year, the Ohio State athletic department pulled in $117.9 million in revenues (including $65.2 million from the football program).
During the same period, the department spent $98.9 million, for an excess of about $19 million.
Those numbers, though, don’t make OSU impervious to the current economic issues affecting other parts of the country. Football coach Jim Tressel has said as much:
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said athletics director Gene Smith talked with the staff in December about upcoming cuts.
“We have to tighten our belts just like everyone else’s in the midst of tightening theirs,” Tressel said at the American Football Coaches Association in Nashville, Tenn.
Could it go deeper, into the football program specifically, beyond the bottom line? That’s the suggestion from a recent New York Times story on recruits.
The story, in short, says that recruits could start turning to schools closer to their hometowns to cut down on family travel costs and other money issues when living far away from mom and dad. The main example is a player named Morgan Moses, a Richmond, Va., offensive lineman considering, among others, Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State.
But the economy has begun to factor into his family’s discussions about how far he will go from their home in Richmond, Va. While his mother, Marion, said she wanted her son to choose the right university for him, she said the family’s ability to watch him play would “make a big impact on the decision.”
One reason for Ohio State’s decision to cut could lie in the debt tied to its massive facilities construction and upgrades of the past decade. OSU personnel have said the debt is well under control, but like with many companies, revenue and expenses aren’t the only major concerns. You can’t miss debt payments.
I doubt there will be a noticeable difference on the field, of course. But behind the scenes, the Ohio State bean counters are keeping a closer eye on their own action.
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Buckeyes’ Washington leaving for NFL
Ohio State cornerback Donald Washington is leaving the Buckeyes. The press release from OSU follows. Do you think they have these “statements” ready to go for any situation?
Washington Leaving For NFL Cornerback bypasses senior season at OSU
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Defensive back Donald Washington announced this morning that he will enter his name into the 2009 National Football League draft.
A statement from Washington:
“I’m very excited to take the next step and pursue my dream of playing in the National Football League, but it has been a difficult and emotional decision.
“I thank Coach Tressel and all those within the OSU football program for creating such a terrific environment for me to succeed both athletically and academically. I have had tremendous experiences at Ohio State and at Franklin Central High School with Coach Lance Scheib, who continues to be an integral part of my life.
“I will especially, and most importantly, miss all of my teammates and brothers. I wish them nothing but the best and continued success.
“I would also like to give my word that I will uphold the Buckeye tradition of doing my best off the field, as well as my best in competing with the premier athletes around the world on the field in the NFL.”
Washington, an Indianapolis native, recorded 99 tackles during his three-year Ohio State career. He will graduate from Ohio State in June with a degree in communications.
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Hartline jumping to NFL
Brian Hartline, perhaps discouraged because he caught only 21 passes this season, is jumping to the NFL. He’d be a second-day pick — at best.
This decision by the OSU junior tells me how much confidence he has in Terrelle Pryor’s passing abilities (and the abilities of the coaching staff to come up with a diverse attack).
Or maybe it’s just a case of Hartline already picking up his degree. I also heard he’s getting married this summer. Whatever the reason, it’s another page being turned on the group of Buckeyes who came close to winning it all.
The news release:
Hartline Leaving For NFL Receiver bypasses senior season at OSU
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Wide receiver Brian Hartline announced this afternoon that he will enter his name into the 2009 National Football League draft.
A statement from Hartline: “I am thrilled to declare my eligibility for the National Football League draft.
“Everyone involved within The Ohio State University football program has done a tremendous job for me. I want to thank all of them, particularly Coach Tressel, for helping me to succeed as both a student and an athlete during my time here.
“I would especially like to thank the media and the fans of Ohio for being great to me and to my family throughout my career.
“I have had an outstanding experience at OSU and am thankful for the support I continue to receive. I now look forward to testing myself against the top competitors in the National Football League.”
Hartline, a product of GlenOak High School in North Canton, Ohio, recorded 90 catches for 1,449 yards during his Ohio State career, scoring 13 touchdowns (one on a 90-yard punt return). He is scheduled to graduate in June with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
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Buckeyes’ Coleman will return for senior season
Just got a press release from Ohio State. Kurt Coleman will take the field for his senior season:
All-Big Ten defensive back Kurt Coleman announced this morning that he has decided to stay at Ohio State for his senior year.
A statement from Coleman:
“After a lot of thought and study, I have decided to remain at Ohio State for the 2009 season to complete my degree and my college football career.
“I am extremely blessed to be in the position where these opportunities are possible, and I’m very grateful for the support of my family, my teammates and the Ohio State community.
“My decision to come back is a lot about helping this team. I feel we can do anything next year. We have a lot of great leaders coming back and an excellent group of underclass talent. For me personally, my family and I felt this was the best decision for me, to make my career at Ohio State even better than it has already been.
“I have a lot to prove to myself and a lot of things I want to accomplish. With one more year here, I can attain all those goals.
Coleman, a Northmont High graduate, was Ohio State’s defensive champion four times last season and an all-Big Ten selection. He had 78 tackles as a junior and four interceptions for the Buckeyes.
He is scheduled to graduate next December with a bachelor’s degree in sport and leisure studies.
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Beanie Wells heading to NFL
It didn’t take Ohio State running back Beanie Wells long to figure out where he’ll play football next season. Wells, whose career as a Buckeye was plagued by an assortment of injuries, announced today that he will declare for the NFL draft.
The officlal news release from OSU:
Prolific running back enters name in NFL draft
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two-time Ohio State MVP Chris “Beanie” Wells is entering his name into the 2009 National Football League draft, he announced this afternoon.
A statement from Wells:
“This has been a difficult decision, but in the best interest of my family, I have decided to enter my name into the 2009 National Football League draft.
“I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, my teachers and the academic advisors for all they have done, and I definitely want to thank the Buckeye fans for all their support. Ohio State has become like a family to me, and it will always be that way.
“There are a lot of things I know I will miss: just being in the locker room, spending time with my teammates, playing in the Michigan game, just all the aspects of being at Ohio State that make it such a special place. But in the best interest of my family, it’s time to move on and take a chance at fulfilling my lifetime dream of playing in the NFL.
“I will always appreciate everything Ohio State has done in helping me grow up and become a man, and I will always be a Buckeye.”
In three seasons, Wells rushed for 3,382 yards, fourth best in Ohio State history. Voted the Buckeyes’ MVP in 2007 and 2008, the Akron native had 16 career games of 100 yards or more and scored 30 career touchdowns. He set the Ohio State-Michigan game rushing record with 222 yards in 2007.
“Ohio State football will miss Beanie’s big runs, but we will also miss his big smile,” says OSU head coach Jim Tressel. “He has been a tremendous teammate and one of the all-time great performers in the greatest rivalry in college football. He will always be an ambassador for Ohio State and all of us wish him well.”
The National Football League draft will be held April 25-26, 2009, in New York City. January 15 is the deadline for players to declare their early entry into the draft.
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Coming close no consolation to Buckeyes
Ohio State had a much better showing in the Fiesta Bowl than in its previous two BCS bowl games, national championship losses to Florida and LSU, but that did not mean much to the Buckeyes’ players.
“It’s a loss. We can’t be proud of close games,” freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor said. “These are the type of games you have to take over and win. Hanging in there is not good enough.”
Pryor said he had absolutely no sense that the game was over when the Buckeyes took a 21-17 lead with 2:05 remaining on Dan Herron’s 21-yard touchdown run.
“We have a great defense, but they have a guy who was a top candidate for the Heisman” Trophy, Pryor said of Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy.
“He’s going to make plays, whether we like it or not. He’s a Heisman quarterback. He’s going to match them downfield.”
Pryor and Todd Boeckman were on the field for the first play of the game, with Boeckman at quarterback and Pryor at wide receiver, and were on the field together for maybe a dozen plays or more.
“I was cool with it,” Pryor said of the formation. “I could be used as somewhat of a decoy, and then get the ball, too.”
Pryor made his first college catch mean something - his five-yard touchdown reception from Boeckman with 7:31 remaining brought the Buckeyes within two, 17-15.
“Nothing special,” Pryor said.
Boeckman did not see it that way.
Pryor, used as a decoy when he lined up at receiver most of the night, was the primary receiver on the touchdown pass.
“We’d been practicing that the last couple of weeks, to let him go up and get it,” Boeckman said.
“When you are 6-foot-5 and that athletic… let him go up for the rebound. He’s a heck of a player. He is going to be making so many plays in years to come. I’m excited where’s he at.
“Being that young and that poised on a big stage, he’s special. He’s a smart player. He is only going to get better.”
Beanie Wells had his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 106, but he missed most of the second half after suffering a concussion in the third quarter.
“My guys fought out there, and I am proud of them for that,” Wells said.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t be out there to help my team whey they needed me most. Regarding a possible move to the NFL, “I haven’t even thought it,” he said.
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One key: Texas had too much time late
Ohio State just left Colt McCoy a little too much time at the end of the Fiesta Bowl, but what was Dan Herron supposed to do, not score on his 15-yard run with 2:05 remaining?
When Texas got the ball with 1:58 and two timeouts remaining left, McCoy did not have to force the ball deep and deviate from his quick-strike attack. The Longhorns did not even need to use a timeout on their winning drive, converting a 26-yard pass from McCoy to Quan Cosby for a 24-21 victory.
While the Buckeyes took no solace from coming close, the tightness of the game should keep Texas from being considered for the AP half of the national championship. That leaves Florida and Oklahoma to play for both No. 1 rankings in the BCS title game Thursday.
Other keys to the Fiesta Bowl:
Texas’ precision passing attack. Longhorns quarterback McCoy tried maybe three deep balls among his Fiesta Bowl-record 59 pass attempts, instead opting for short out routes or slant routes to his group of quick, sure-handed receivers. McCoy’s ability to dink and dunk the ball up the field enabled the Longhorns to remain in an offensive flow despite the fact that they got only 72 yards rushing and never showed much push off the line of scrimmage.
Beanie Wells’ concussion. Wells had 53 yards rushing in the first quarter and 96 in the first half, but he suffered a concussion early in the third quarter and had only four carries in the second half, two of those coming on the Buckeyes’ first two scrimmage plays of the third quarter. Wells gives the Buckeyes a power/speed option that makes him a top candidate to leave for the NFL, although after the game he again said he has not made a decision.
Fourth down success. Texas converted two fourth-down plays on the opening driving of the third quarter. Facing fourth-and-two from the Ohio State 47-yard line, the Longhorns lined up in punt formation, but upback Rashad Bobino took a direct snap and rammed over right guard for just barely the two yards he needed. Four plays later, on fourth-and-one from the 36, Cody Johnson gained two yards over the left side. McCoy scrambled around right end three plays later on a 14-yard touchdown run, giving the Longhorns their first lead, 10-6. “We had plenty of chances to get them off the field,” safety Kurt Coleman said. “They got that yard when they needed to.”
Settling for three. The Buckeyes controlled the first half — rushing for 140 yards and controlling the ball for four minutes, 38 seconds longer than Texas — but could not convert long drives into touchdowns. They reached the Texas 25-yard line on their second series but settled for a 51-yard field goal; the Texas 34 before missing a field goal, and the Texas 7 before a false start penalty and an incompletion forced a 30-yard field goal. It was 6-3 at half; it could have been 14-3, even 17-3.
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National exposure
The Blind Boys of Alabama just sang the national anthem.
They should mandatory at every major sporting event.
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“Get ‘em while they’re cold”
At kickoff here, it is a pleasant 55 degrees, even warmer inside the University of Phoenix Stadium with the retractable roof shut.
Only the scalpers were miserable.
One scalper was selling five tickets, faced value $150, for $20 apiece … really. And no one was buying.
“You can’t give them away,” said Mike from the Bay Area. “Get ‘em while they’re cold.”
This is at the same venue where Ohio State-Florida tickets at the same face value were bringing $1,000 a pop, with no shortage of customers.
Tickets for the Ohio State-Miami game here at Sun Devil Stadium after the 2002 season went for the game price.
“I was watching people shell out thousand dollar bills back then,” said Steve from Mentor, Ohio, who has been to the four Ohio State bowl games here.
“I’m just trying to get face value here, but I can’t get $50.”
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Second time the charm
Troy Graham mingled with Buckeye fans outside University of Phoenix Stadium 90 minutes before tonight’s Fiesta Bowl, traveling the 1,599 miles thanks to his brother-in-law and the Daily News.
Lewis, who lives in Topeka, Kan., won the Daily News’ online contest and received two free tickets to the game against Texas.
When Lewis could not use them, he called Graham, who lives in Dayton and was more than pleased to take the tickets off his hands.
“The paper Fed Exed the tickets to me, and we got out here yesterday,” said Graham, who brought Robert Jackson with him.
“We came out for the weekend. It’s great.”
A Buckeye fan, Graham watches the game on TV but has attended only one previous game in person, against Northwestern two years ago.
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43 … and counting
Ohio State’s seniors enter their final game with chance to make school history.
The Buckeyes have won 43 games since 2005, tied for the most in any four-year period with the 2002-05 and 1995-98 teams.
“We want to break that record,” said Huber Heights’ Marcus Freeman, whose career has spanned the two most recent 43-game winners after a knee injury forced him to redshirt in 2005.
“You want to be known as one of the most successful classes of Ohio State football. I don’t think this game is going to define the senior class, because I think we have accomplished so many different things over the past four years that no one game can define us.
“At the same time, this will be the last game and we want to go out on a positive note.”
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Texas seeks half of No. 1; Buckeyes have been there
With the Fiesta Bowl less than six hours away, the talk has turned to split national championships, a subject Ohio State knows a thing or two about.
The Buckeyes finished No. 1 in the 1954 AP poll and in the 1957 United Press International poll but were second in the other poll those years, to UCLA (1954, UPI), Auburn (1957, AP).
If things break just right in the final two major bowls, the thinking goes, Texas could win the AP share of the 2008 national championship.
The BCS side already has been decided - the winner of the Oklahoma-Florida game automatically is its No. 1.
According to the theorists, Texas would have a chance to sway the writers who vote in the AP poll if:
—- the Longhorns overwhelm Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, which is far from likely, and;
—- the BCS title game Jan. 8 is sloppy, low-scoring and close.
If Florida beats Oklahoma by a field goal or less, Texas and Florida would have one loss apiece, and the Longhorns could get votes because they beat the Sooners more decisively (45-35 on Oct. 11).
If Oklahoma just slips past Florida, both Texas and Oklahoma would have one loss - and, again, Texas did beat Oklahoma.
“Monday’s our national championship game,” Texas senior cornerback Ryan Palmer said.
“It’s a crazy scenario. You can’t control what BCS does. You can only control what you do. On Monday, we can control everything we do. If the writers consider us the national champion, that would be great, but we can win another bowl game and have a 12-win season. Everything that we want to do is still intact. We just have to go out and perform well.”
As Longhorns running back Chris Ogbonnaya said: “We can’t talk about being in the national championship picture without having a victory” today.
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Saine unlikely to see much Fiesta time
A difficult year for running back Brandon Saine got a little tougher Sunday, when Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Saine appears a doubtful participant in the Fiesta Bowl after being limited in practice this week.
“I don’t know if he will be able to help,” Tressel said at his final press conference Sunday morning.
“He really hasn’t worked as much as we would like. He is going to dress and so forth.”
Ohio’s Mr. Football in 2006 from Piqua, sophomore Saine had only 26 carries this season after getting 60 in 2007, and he appears to be a candidate to move to fullback next season.
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Malcom Jenkins: More than a little physical
Then-Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith hung the nickname “Little Physical” on All-America cornerback Malcolm Jenkins in his first few days of his first fall practice in 2005, and if the moniker fits …
Jenkins admits things can get heated in practice.
“‘Robo’ (wide receiver Brian Robiskie) shoves me every day in practice,” Jenkins said with a smile.
Some teammates have used the word “annoying” when talking about Jenkins, but he does not mind.
“That’s great. It means I’m doing something right. It means I’m going 100 percent. I’m always enthusiastic about what we are doing. That’s the kind of guy I am,” he said.
Jenkins has made it work. A senior, he was a Thorpe and Ronnie Lott award finalist after getting three interceptions this season while finishing sixth on the Buckeyes in tackles. He was unanimous All-Big Ten.
“I didn’t find myself getting physical until I got into college,” said Jenkins, a four-year starter.
“I mean, I liked hitting people, but that wasn’t my main goal. At Ohio State, I realized they need a physical corner. That‘s how they play. Then I kind of decided to get into the flow.
“I’ve actually calmed down. Freshman year, I was out of control. I remember the first two days of camp. (Wide receiver) Anthony Gonzalez, he was one of the calmest guys. After two days, he was ready to fight me.”
Robiskie, who entered Ohio State with Jenkins in 2005, said he has grown from their daily skirmishes.
“He’s one of the best corners in the country, and for me to have the opportunity to go against him every day is a bonus,” Robiskie said.
“’Annoying’ is probably the wrong word. He talks a lot, but that’s just something you get used to.”
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Forty (thirty-nine … thirty-eight … thirty-seven) winks
Wide receiver Brian Robiskie may not have gotten all of his normal rest this trip because of roommate Lawrence Wilson, who made the trip despite being lost for the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Purdue game.
“He snores. He snores bad. If I’m up and he’s snoring, I’m going to struggle to go to sleep. It’s bad,” Robiskie said.
Sounds bad.
Robiskie played along with a reporter when asked if a finely tuned athlete should have to put up with that while preparing for a game.
“I can see why you should be able to go to Coach (Jim) Tressel and say you want to rotate” roommates, Robiskie said.
“I think that should be an option. Him and Cam Heyward are probably the worst (snorers) I ever had. I didn’t know going into this game, but I have warned everybody since then.”
Robiskie was hoping to attend Atlanta’s playoff game against Arizona here Saturday because his father, Terry, is Atlanta’s wide receivers coach.
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Laurinaitis believes college football playoff “would blow up”
James Laurinaitis believes a playoff system in the NCAA bowl subdivision could grow into one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar.
A playoff system “is going to happen, and if it did, it would be so hyped up,” he said.
“Look at March Madness. I think a (playoff) would be good. The regular season would matter, and then it would blow up.”
Of the concern about student/athletes playing extra games …
“They talk about playing 15 games. I played 15 games in high school,” Laurinaitis said.
A.J. Trapasso likes the idea of a 16-team or eight-team playoff, to a point.
“What makes this team the 16th seed? Who is the five seed?” Trapasso said.
“If it’s still the BCS, there still will be problems.”
Asked if he likes the current “plus-one” bowl system used to determine the BCS national champion, snubbed Texas coach Mack Brown said “I’m a plus-something advocate. I don’t like what we’ve got.”
The Ohio State-Miami (2003 season) and Texas-USC (2005 season) Nos. 1-2 matches are the exception rather than the rule.
“On years like this, how do you possibly say that SC doesn’t have a claim?” said Brown, whose team has the most gripe this season.
And, yes, he has a plan.
“Cut out the (conference) championship games, cut it (regular season) back to 11 games, have a great bowl system, and a playoff like 1-AA going through … it doesn’t seem that complicated,” Brown said.
“But until somebody figures out where the money is going to go, there is no going to be a playoff.”
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Ohio State looks to mute Big Ten critics
The Big Ten is 1-5 in bowl games this season, with Ohio State the final conference team left to play in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday.
Iowa’s 31-10 victory over South Carolina is the lone bright spot. Northwestern took Missouri into overtime before losing, but all the other losses have been by double-digits.
While Ohio State players have heard the talk about being in a lesser conference, they know there is only one way to change the perception.
“You have to take it in. You can’t really get mad at it. Stats are stats, and stats don’t lie,” strong safety Kurt Coleman said.
“Us or the Big 10 haven’t really shown up in big games. So I think (Monday) is going to be a big opportunity for us to show everyone what we can do.”
The criticism is usually “about the Big Ten’s speed,” Beanie Wells said.
“We have gotten tired of it, but you can’t do anything about it other than to go out there each and every game and try to prove somebody wrong.”
Publicly, Texas is not buying into the lack of speed theory, at least in Ohio State’s case.
“They have guys who can run like we can,” Texas senior cornerback Ryan Palmer said.
“Their receivers can run. (Malcolm) Jenkins is a good player. (James) Laurinaitis is a good player. (Terrelle) Pryor can run. Even Beanie. Beanie is bigger guy, but he can stiff arm you and then run away from you.
“They play hard competition just like we do, so it’s going to be fun to see how these two conferences can match up on Monday. That’s how you can really separate yourself.”
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Gifted athletes
In bowl game loot, Ohio State and Texas players received:
—-MyVu personal media viewer;
—-iPod Nano;
—-watch;
—-snack pack;
—-game hat.
The media viewer enables users to watch video from their iPods in a pair of sunglasses, and several Buckeyes already have tried it.
“The way it is designed, it forms to your face. It is really nice in the way it allows your eyes to just look forward as opposed to trying to focus,” punter A.J. Trapasso said.
Trapasso watched Pineapple Express. Nader Abdallah watched Rush Hour. Alex Boone gave his viewer away as a Christmas gift.
The NCAA permits bowls to spend up to $500 on gifts for up to 125 members of a school’s traveling party.
“It shows the class of the bowl to go out and spend the money they do for the gifts you receive,” linebacker Marcus Freeman said.
Last year, the Buckeyes received a Nintendo Wii game system as the main gift. The year before, it was an XM radio.
“I’m good as far as electronics,” Freeman said.
Some of the other gift packages this year:
BCS championship game: $300 Sony gifting suite. Members of the official party may order gifts from a Sony suite set up at the team hotel.
Champ Sports Bowl: a $400 shopping spree at Best Buy during the bowl trip.
Emerald Bowl: Sony noise-canceling headphones.
Independence Bowl: Trek mountain bike.
Insight Bowl: Vizio 26-inch LCD HDTV.
Orange Bowl: $300 Sony gifting suite.
Sugar Bowl: Sony Blu-ray player, Sony Walkman digital MP3 player.
Sun Bowl: Sony DVD Handycam.
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A royal snubbing
During media day interviews Friday, Fiesta Bowl queen Jazmin Medina - she had the smile and the tiara to prove it - and her court circulated among the Longhorn players for a series of meet-and-greets.
The Texas players were more than willing to cooperate, and senior cornerback Ryan Palmer escorted them from table to table for introductions.
By the time the Ohio State players arrived a half-hour later, however …
Nothing.
No queen. No court. No light banter.
“What happened?” one player said.
Someone said something about a previous engagement. Whatever.
It made it difficult to determine the winner of the best-looking player award.
During the Texas session, the court demurred when asked to pick one.
But the foursome did stay to have their picture taken with Texas quarterback Colt McCoy on his way out of the building.
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An Ohio State-ment game
Senior linebacker James Laurinaitis looks at the Fiesta Bowl match against Texas on Monday as a way to throw off the stink of the previous two bowl games, BCS title games losses to Florida and LSU.
“We know we have talent,” said Laurinaitis, whose brother, Joey, is a Dayton police officer.
“We’ve had the talent the last few years, but maybe didn’t have the maturity. Guys sort of losing their heads, personal fouls, penalties. There were a few call-back touchdowns, and things start to unfold. It’s a maturity thing, keep battling.”
Laurinaitis, a three-year starter, has had 121 tackles in each of the last two seasons.
He believes the final minutes of a 20-17 victory over Wisconsin showed this team’s character, when the Buckeyes overcame a Wisconsin touchdown with 6:31 remaining with one of their own with 1:08 left.
“They scored late in the fourth quarter and the team could have thought ‘here we go again,’” Laurinaitis said.
“We were mentally tough and fought through it. We’re really excited about the chance to go out there (Monday) and show what this team is truly capable of.”
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Pryor, Texas-ex Young have a lot in common
The resemblance between Terrelle Pryor and Vince Young starts with the body type and continues between the lines, Texas coach Mack Brown said.
“They are real tall and strong. They can make plays with their feet. They both have strong arms,” said Brown, whose Longhorns won a national championship when Young made several game-changing plays in a 41-38 victory over Southern California in the Rose Bowl following the 2005 season.
Pryor is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, an inch taller and two pounds heavier than Young, now with the Tennessee Titans.
True freshman Pryor is even ahead of Young in one regard - playing time.
Pryor has seen action in all 12 games Ohio State this season while passing for 1,245 yards and rushing for 563 more.
Young redshirted his first year and was a part-time player in his second, not becoming a full-time starter until his third year with the Longhorns. He was the Heisman Trophy runnerup in 2005, his last year.
“The thing that Vince did is, he continued to grow as a quarterback and then he made everybody around him better. He helps recruiting,” Brown said.
“I think Terrelle had that kind of publicity coming into Ohio State. Terrelle has been very impactful for their program, and he will only help them in the future.
“I see him being a game-changer.”
Pryor is 8-1 as a starter and was named the Big 10 freshman of the year, joining Art Schlichter as the only true freshmen to start at quarterback for the Buckeyes.
Young was 30-2 as a Texas starter.
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Tressel shields Pryor from media day blitz
Ohio State can only hope quarterback Terrelle Pryor is as elusive Monday as he was at Fiesta Bowl media day Friday.
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel took advantage of the change in the arrangements to keep Pryor away from the media as he prepares for a Fiesta Bowl meeting with Texas on Monday.
Pryor and center Mike Brewster, both freshmen, were the only starters from either team who did not attend after media day parameters changed this season when University of Phoenix Stadium, the game venue, was unavailable due to preparations for the Atlanta-Arizona NFL playoff game Saturday.
Media day was instead held at a meeting room at the Marriott Camelback Inn, not large enough to accommodate all the players.
“We want him doing more homework. That’s what we are here for. I hope he has a very nice visit after the game,” Tressel said of Pryor, who will start.
The BCS championship game mandates all starters attend media day, and the Fiesta Bowl has a similar policy.
“We like having the players accessible. They tell the story of the game. We always want to best promote the game,” Fiesta Bowl president John Junker said.
Junker said he only learned when Ohio State boarded the bus for the Camelback Inn that Pryor would not attend.
“We were asked to bring 30 players and we sent a list of players. I did get one call asking ‘Did you happen to miss any?’” Tressel said.
“And I said you might be talking in terms of Terrelle and Brewster because they are starters. They are freshmen. When we were counting to 30, there were 30 others that were afforded the opportunity to be here.”
Pryor was in meetings with the rest of the players not at media day, Tressel said.
“My feeling is, he probably had something that would be more impactful on our cause and that was to spend time in the meeting room,” Tressel said.
Pryor, who took over for Todd Boeckman as the starter in the third week of the season, spoke to the media after games during the regular season but was not available during the week.
“It is tough to be the starting center (Brewster). It is tough to be the starting quarterback. It is tough to be in your first year of having study hall and tutors and mentors and advisers and all different things,” Tressel said.
“When you can use some time elsewhere, we’ve just felt that that’s the growing process that we would use.”
It is similar to the way Tressel shielded running back Maurice Clarett in his true freshman season.
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Buckeyes spend uneventful New Year’s Eve
Ohio State players spent New Year’s Eve watching the cactus grow, or thereabouts.
Beanie Wells, Terry Robiskie and his roommate, Lawrence Wilson, went out for a quiet dinner before returning to the team hotel to chill in the room.
“We had a prayer, actually,” Wells said of the way he welcomed in the new year.
“We prayed that God would bring us good health in the future.”
Robiskie said he was up until midnight … Columbus time.
“I didn’t see the ball drop. This year is a little bit different,” he said.
Tight end Rory Nicol and some teammates went to Benihana’s, but said the place did not compare to Gengi’s in Columbus. They also retreated to the team hotel, the Fairmont Princess.
“There was a party at the Fairmont, and I heard the countdown but I was watching a movie,” Nicol said.
“I didn’t watch any celebrations or anything. I’m a pretty pathetic person.”
New Year’s resolutions were made.
Robiskie said he resolved “to be a better person. To be a better brother.” He has two younger brothers, one a redshirt freshman at SMU and the other a senior at Cardinal Gibbons High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“I’m going to try to quit swearing,” Nicol said.
“It’s so stupid. Sometimes I do, and I say ‘why do I do that?’ But I’m going to be realistic and say I get five per practice.”
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Buckeyes bucking strength of schedule numbers
Ohio State’s road to a bowl victory is not any easier this year.
Texas, which many feel deserved to play in the BCS championship game, had the third-most difficult schedule this season, based on opponents’ winning percentage.
The Longhorns’ record was obviously helped by the strength of the Big 12 Conference, which had five teams finish in the top 21 of the BCS standings - No. 1 Oklahoma (12-1), No. 3 Texas (11-1), No. 7 Texas Tech (11-1), No. 13 Oklahoma State (9-4) and No. 21 Missouri (10-4).
Kansas beat Minnesota in the Insight Bowl here Tuesday to become the conference’s fifth 10-win team.
The top 10 toughest schedules, by opponents’ record:
1) Florida
2) Oklahoma
3) Texas
4) Alabama
5) Boise State
6) Utah
7) USC
8) Pittsburgh
9) Cincinnati
10) Penn State
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Beanie Wells not ready to commit, but …
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he believes Beanie Wells is ready for the NFL, but Wells was non-committal about his future Thursday, saying that he has not had enough time to make up his mind.
Wells sure sounded as if he would return for his senior season in 2009, however.
“I love the college experience. I told Coach Tressel when I first got here that I wanted to be the best to ever come through Ohio State. I definitely feel like I haven’t accomplished that,” he said at a Fiesta Bowl media gathering.
Reminded that Antonio Pittman said he wanted to return, then entered the NFL draft after his junior season, Wells said, “I vaguely remember that,” drawing laughs.
“Once I sit down and weigh all the other options, I definitely want to be a Buckeye and I definitely want to be the best Buckeye.”
What would that entail?
“You have to go through Archie” Griffin, still the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Wells said.
“Archie and Eddie (George). The Heisman, all-time rushing. Whatever it takes.”
After consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Wells has 3,276 rushing yards, fourth behind Griffin (5,589), George (3,768) and Tim Spencer (3,553) in school history. He could easily move up to finish No. 2.
Wells played only nine games this season because of foot and hamstring injuries, but said injury concerns will not play a role in his decision, although he did seem to tip his hand slightly.
“I don’t think that played a role at all. It was very minor in my decision,” he said, before catching himself.
“I actually haven’t made my full decision yet. I don’t want to say I’m leaning toward staying. I don’t want to say I’m leaning toward going.”
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Robiskie reunion in the desert
In a fortuitous travel twist, Ohio State wide receiver Brian Robiskie will get to see his father Terry, the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons, for the second time in seven days this week.
Brian attended the Falcons’ final regular-season game against St. Louis in Atlanta last Sunday. When Atlanta and Carolina both won last Sunday, the Falcons were matched against the Arizona Cardinals in a first-round playoff game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday.
“I am going to have a lot of family coming out,” said Brian, who led the Buckeyes with 37 receptions for 419 yards and eight touchdowns.
“They will be going to the Atlanta game and they will be going to my game. Obviously it worked out pretty good.”
Brian hopes to spend some time with his father in the next day or two and would like to attend Saturday’s NFL game after the Buckeyes’ practice, which ends at 2:30 pm, the same time the Atlanta-Arizona game starts.
He also left his father a ticket for the Buckeyes’ game against Texas on Monday … a game the elder Robiskie could attend only if the Falcons lose Saturday.
“But that’s not going to happen,” Brian said.
“I left him a ticket, but that seat is going to be empty.”
