Cold weather arrives
2008 World AIDS Day
Canine Christmas
OHIO STATE NOTES
Tressel sidesteps Michigan questions
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
COLUMBUS — With just one game remaining between the Ohio State football team and its matchup against Michigan, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel was asked Monday about preparing for the Wolverines throughout the year.
"I was here with Coach (Earle) Bruce, and I don't remember us preparing for the Michigan game other than trying to get better," Tressel said. "But I don't know how much of that is folklore and how much of it is fact."
Extras
Here's the fact: If the top-ranked Buckeyes defeat visiting Illinois this weekend, then top Michigan on Nov. 17 in Michigan Stadium, they will appear in the national championship game for the second straight season and third time in Tressel's tenure. Regardless of national title implications, OSU's distaste for Michigan inspired stories that former coaches, including Woody Hayes and Bruce, prepared for the Michigan game year-round.
Last year, while meeting with reporters just days before he died, former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler was adamant that he and his staff did something to prepare for Ohio State every day. Tressel was asked if he thought Hayes did the same.
"You know, Coach Bruce, was he able to do that?" Tressel said from his podium toward Bruce, who was sitting among reporters. "I can't answer that. Did you really practice for Michigan?"
Bruce deadpanned.
"Only," Bruce said, "when Woody said I better do it."
Wells keeping pace
OSU running back Chris Wells, with 169 yards in Saturday's win against Wisconsin, has 1,165 this season. That puts him on pace to rush for 1,398 yards by the end of the regular season and 1,515 after the Buckeyes' bowl game.
The latter total would place the sophomore sixth on the school's single-season rushing list, just behind Tim Spencer, who gained 1,538 yards in 1982. Eddie George had OSU's top rushing season in 1995, when he gained 1,972 yards.
Gaining on the ground
In Ron Zook's three seasons as Illinois' coach, the Illini have steadily improved their rushing offense. In 2005, Illinois ranked 47th nationally, at 158.2 yards per game. Last year, the Illini were 10th, at 188.8 yards per game.
Now, heading into Saturday's game, they are first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally in rushing. Led by running back Rashard Mendenhall (1,314 yards) and quarterback Juice Williams (568 yards), they gain an average of 261.3 yards per game on the ground.
