Area should remain recruiting pool for OSU

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By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer 11:57 PM Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Miami Valley prep football pipeline to Ohio State University was great while it lasted.

It wasn’t so long ago that the Buckeyes always seemed to unleash an exclusive all-out press for Cleveland-Canton area prospects. Besides, Notre Dame had a lock on the Cincinnati area.

The Miami Valley would produce its OSU recruit highlights, but often one at a time.

That all changed when Jim Tressell replaced John Cooper as OSU’s coach.

Now, the Buckeyes own Cincinnati recruiting and until this year, most of the Dayton-area blue chippers.

Barring an unforeseen reverse, no area senior will be linking up with the Buckeyes during today’s National Signing Day.

That’s to be expected, and not only because of a perceived talent drop. After 11 years of sending locals to Columbus, the trend was bound to break.

Dips and peaks in talent at all levels and for all sports are constants. Great high school programs that are maintained by outstanding coaching staffs and unwavering community support can often help overcome lean years, but not always.

Many of the 24 area products that joined the Buckeyes during the streak helped OSU consistently position itself among the BCS’s best, and three times for a national title.

They also provided an influential shout out to Miami Valley football. OSU will be back here.

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