CPD
Cleveland area well-represented
Event honors OSU players minus QB
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
The heart of Ohio State's 12-0 team beats in Cleveland. Nine starters from Saturday's 42-39 win over Michigan graduated from Cleveland area high schools. Five players were back Tuesday night, though quarterback Troy Smith was a no-show, at the annual football appreciation banquet sponsored by the OSU Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland, once again talking about Cleveland things.
"We talk about LeBron a lot," said freshman defensive end Robert Rose from Glenville, "not that much about the Browns because they're kind of shaky."
But the players understand the contribution Northeast Ohio has made to the nation's No. 1 team.
"That means a lot to all of us," said receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a St. Ignatius grad. "A lot of us were born and raised here, and all of our memories of football and sports in general revolve around Cleveland -- the Browns leaving, the Browns coming back, the Indians going to the World Series, the Cavs getting LeBron James. And to be on a state team that is so well-represented by Cleveland people, it really is an honor and something I take a lot of pride in."
Gonzalez, Rose, defensive tackle David Patterson of Warrensville Heights, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. from Glenville and receiver Brian Robiskie of Chagrin Falls received awards at the $100-a-plate dinner at Windows on the River attended by more than 600 fans. But the night was spent waiting for Smith.
"His first name is Troy, his middle name is 'I'm on the way' and his last name is Smith," OSU coach Jim Tressel told the crowd when announcing Smith as the winner of the Lou Groza Award for the most outstanding OSU player from Northeast Ohio. "[Quarterbacks] coach [Joe] Daniels and I always laugh when we're prodding him along, whenever Troy sees my number or Coach Daniels' number [on his cell phone], he just answers, 'I'm on the way.' "
But Tressel said he and Ted Ginn Sr., Smith's high school coach, had been calling Smith and hadn't heard an "I'm on the way" yet.
"Troy was always where he was supposed to be until he got that darn Heisman," Tressel said with a laugh while anticipating the trophy Smith is the favorite to receive on Dec. 9. "He's killing me now."
Smith's absence likely won't earn him points with his coach. But Ginn accepted the award on Smith's behalf and spoke for the Cleveland Buckeyes.
"We all come out of the same area, and it doesn't matter if you're from Glenville, St. Ignatius, no matter where you're from," Ginn said, "we come together as one."
Notes:
Teams aren't required to arrive in Arizona for the Jan. 8 national title game until Jan. 2, but the Buckeyes are planning on arriving early, likely on Dec. 30. Maybe not coincidentally, that should make it easier for the coaches to keep tabs on the players on New Year's Eve. . . . Tressel arrived in Cleveland after attending the memorial at Michigan Stadium on Tuesday for former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. Tressel said he'd attended spring practices at Michigan while serving as an assistant coach at Akron and Miami (Ohio). Tressel also said he had Schembechler serve as an honorary coach for the spring game at Youngstown State one year. "He was always there for us," Tressel said. "And my dad always admired the Woody Hayes legacy group and the Woody family tree, and Bo was one of the biggest branches. So he was part of my life."
Cleveland area well-represented
Event honors OSU players minus QB
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
The heart of Ohio State's 12-0 team beats in Cleveland. Nine starters from Saturday's 42-39 win over Michigan graduated from Cleveland area high schools. Five players were back Tuesday night, though quarterback Troy Smith was a no-show, at the annual football appreciation banquet sponsored by the OSU Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland, once again talking about Cleveland things.
"We talk about LeBron a lot," said freshman defensive end Robert Rose from Glenville, "not that much about the Browns because they're kind of shaky."
But the players understand the contribution Northeast Ohio has made to the nation's No. 1 team.
"That means a lot to all of us," said receiver Anthony Gonzalez, a St. Ignatius grad. "A lot of us were born and raised here, and all of our memories of football and sports in general revolve around Cleveland -- the Browns leaving, the Browns coming back, the Indians going to the World Series, the Cavs getting LeBron James. And to be on a state team that is so well-represented by Cleveland people, it really is an honor and something I take a lot of pride in."
Gonzalez, Rose, defensive tackle David Patterson of Warrensville Heights, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. from Glenville and receiver Brian Robiskie of Chagrin Falls received awards at the $100-a-plate dinner at Windows on the River attended by more than 600 fans. But the night was spent waiting for Smith.
"His first name is Troy, his middle name is 'I'm on the way' and his last name is Smith," OSU coach Jim Tressel told the crowd when announcing Smith as the winner of the Lou Groza Award for the most outstanding OSU player from Northeast Ohio. "[Quarterbacks] coach [Joe] Daniels and I always laugh when we're prodding him along, whenever Troy sees my number or Coach Daniels' number [on his cell phone], he just answers, 'I'm on the way.' "
But Tressel said he and Ted Ginn Sr., Smith's high school coach, had been calling Smith and hadn't heard an "I'm on the way" yet.
"Troy was always where he was supposed to be until he got that darn Heisman," Tressel said with a laugh while anticipating the trophy Smith is the favorite to receive on Dec. 9. "He's killing me now."
Smith's absence likely won't earn him points with his coach. But Ginn accepted the award on Smith's behalf and spoke for the Cleveland Buckeyes.
"We all come out of the same area, and it doesn't matter if you're from Glenville, St. Ignatius, no matter where you're from," Ginn said, "we come together as one."
Notes:
Teams aren't required to arrive in Arizona for the Jan. 8 national title game until Jan. 2, but the Buckeyes are planning on arriving early, likely on Dec. 30. Maybe not coincidentally, that should make it easier for the coaches to keep tabs on the players on New Year's Eve. . . . Tressel arrived in Cleveland after attending the memorial at Michigan Stadium on Tuesday for former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. Tressel said he'd attended spring practices at Michigan while serving as an assistant coach at Akron and Miami (Ohio). Tressel also said he had Schembechler serve as an honorary coach for the spring game at Youngstown State one year. "He was always there for us," Tressel said. "And my dad always admired the Woody Hayes legacy group and the Woody family tree, and Bo was one of the biggest branches. So he was part of my life."
