Aviation Hall of Fame induction
MidFirst balloon festival
You've been spotted: 2008 Air Show
For a day, Ohio State lacrosse shares football's spotlight
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Last spring, Joe Breschi approached the Ohio State hierarchy with the idea of coaching his Buckeyes men's lacrosse team in a match at Ohio Stadium preceding the football team's spring game. Jim Tressel, the OSU football coach, was receptive.
"He said when he was the quarterbacks coach at Syracuse, the lacrosse team did the same thing and even brought fans to the football game," said Breschi, in his 10th year with the Buckeyes. "I said, 'This time, it will work pretty much in reverse.' "
Extras
Possibly gaining lacrosse fans isn't the only perk involved with snuggling up to the powerful football program. The effort to increase attendance at the OSU lacrosse match against Denver on Saturday at 11 a.m. before the football spring game is one example of how the nonrevenue sports benefit from the thundering, $60 million football program at OSU, Breschi and other coaches said.
The lacrosse team, for instance, practices inside the massive Woody Hayes Athletic Center. It receives apparel from Nike as part of a contract spearheaded by the football team. Tressel has stressed to Breschi that the football team's state-of-the-art weight room is open to his players.
There is also a chance to play in Ohio Stadium, one of the country's most revered facilities, as another benefit to sharing an athletic department with a highly successful football program.
"Coach Tressel and (basketball coach) Thad Matta, they embrace the other programs," Breschi said. "It's Ohio State football and basketball first, absolutely. But when you have the coaches of those programs drop you e-mails and send you notes, talk to your players, talk to your recruits, that speaks volumes of the atmosphere of Ohio State."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Busy Saturday
What: Doubleheader lacrosse match, football spring game
When: Lacrosse at 11 a.m., spring football game at 1 or 1:30 p.m.
Where: Ohio Stadium
Cost: Age 6 and under free; $5 for everyone else
