DaytonDailyNews.com

Ohio State players have space in their media-guide bios where they can name their heroes or idols. Nobody could top mom and dad, who are mentioned 20 times.

God and grandparents are next on the inspiration list with four nods apiece among 33 responses.

But when third-year sophomore center Jimmy Cordle was asked who impacted him the most, he said former Buckeye star Nick Mangold.

The Alter High School product embraced the role of mentor to Cordle, who graduated early from Lancaster and enrolled in time for spring practice in 2005.

"He helped to recruit me here — not that I needed to be recruited, I always wanted to be a Buckeye," Cordle said. "But I have a great relationship with him. He taught me the ropes. I came in here for spring ball, and he showed me what to do."

The 6-foot-4, 302-pound Cordle was redshirted after suffering a foot injury as a true freshman, and he spent that time studying Mangold, who didn't possess the raw power of one of his predecessors, LeCharles Bentley, but excelled through smarts and fundamentals.

"Nick plays with such great technique," Cordle said. "You look at LeCharles, who's more physical and strong and more explosive than anybody — I'm not quite like that. But I can try to use my technique like Nick did."

OSU centers make all the blocking calls at the line, and Cordle, a first-year starter, was named the team's offensive player of the week for his effort in deciphering Akron's 3-5-3 defense.

Geiger honored

Former OSU Athletic Director Andy Geiger, who retired to the Seattle area last year, will serve as the Buckeyes' honorary captain today. His son Greg is a student manager for Washington's football team.

Geiger will have a lasting legacy at OSU, having built top-of-the-line facilities, hiring Tressel and basketball coach Thad Matta, and preserving men's sports while bringing the department into compliance with Title IX.

Tidbits

• The Buckeyes have won 20 straight regular-season games, one short of the school record (1967-69).

• OSU has a 7-3 all-time record against Washington, but the home team has won five straight meetings. The last road win in the series was the Buckeyes' 41-14 victory in Seattle in 1969.

The road: OSU is 62-48-7 all-time in road openers

Defense: The Buckeyes held their first two opponents to a combined eight points (Youngstown State 6, Akron 2), marking the lowest total point total allowed through two games since 1996. That season, Ohio State beat Rice 70-7 and Pitt 72-0 in the first two games of the season.

By the numbers

2

Division I-A coaches with more career wins than Jim Tressel, who is tied for third with Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer with 199. Florida State's Bobby Bowden has 367 and Penn State's Joe Paterno 365.

1

The Buckeyes' ranking nationally in total defense, having surrendered just 122.5 yards per game.

64

The Buckeyes ranking nationally in total offense (out of 119 teams) with an average of 390 yards per game.