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Wilson’s play picks up Buckeyes

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By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer 11:01 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

COLUMBUS — The hardest Kurt Coleman got hit all day was when he tried to embrace Ohio State teammate Lawrence Wilson, who had just capped off his acrobatic deflection and interception of an Illinois pass with a spastic, arms-flying, legs-kicking, stomp and tromp celebration as he made his way off the field.

“He was like a freight train,” laughed Coleman, the Buckeye safety from Northmont High, who caught a few inadvertent Wilson forearms and elbows as he tried hugging the 274-pound back-up defensive end. “None of us could stop him, he was just going crazy.

“And I think every guy on this team was happy for him. That (celebration) was for everything he’s gone through for two years.”

The OSU defense made a lot of big plays in its 30-0 victory over Illinois, Saturday, Sept. 26, at Ohio Stadium. Coupled with last week’s 38-0 blanking of Toledo, it marks the first time in 13 years the Bucks’ defense has registered back-to-back shut-outs.

But no defensive play the past two weeks warmed the hearts of Buckeye players the way Wilson’s pick did.

Two years ago — in the season opener against Youngstown State — Wilson suffered a broken right leg, an injury that left the stadium hushed as he was taken off the field in a cart.

He came back last year and then — against Purdue in game seven — suffered a torn ACL that required surgery and cost him another season.

“I saw him in the hospital after his last two injuries — both times his season was over — and it just broke my heart,” said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.

Wilson admitted “this has been the hardest experience of my life, but I kept listening to my parents and coaches. They’d always be in my ear saying, ‘Keep trying. Don’t give up.’”

He said if he focused on his terrible luck and the long recovery ahead, “it would drag my emotions, my attitude down. It would have turned me negative. I just had to take it day to day and remember — we’re just blessed to be playing football in the first place.”

He did admit he had dreamed of “one day doing something special again.”

Saturday he did just that when he intercepted Illinois quarterback Juice Williams at the Bucks 36 yard line.

“I saw him rolling, so I retraced my steps ... got my hands up and tipped (the ball),” he said. “I heard the crowd yelling, so I looked up and saw the ball and went ‘Wow, another interception.’’’

After taking a couple of steps and then getting bowled over by Illini tacklers, he got up and, still holding the ball, let loose with that primal celebration that came from the deepest recesses of his being.

“I don’t really know what I did, but I think I kinda went crazy,” he said sheepishly. “I noticed I still had the football when I got to the sidelines, so I just dropped it. Coach Tressel always says ‘Just give the ball to the referee,’ but I didn’t really see a referee.

“All I remember is sitting down on the bench and thinking, ‘What have you just done?’ I was definitely tired and a little sore, but I’ll have to see the film to know just what went on.”

Or, he could talk to the equally-sore Coleman.

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