BiGFuNkNaStY
History Will Repeat Itself Again
Box score shows no fumbles but Homan forced one that Boeckman recovered and i saw another one Russell recovered
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Moose
Back on track baby!!!!!!!!
A scenic pic of the shoe, which shows where I sat. I was impressed with several things. But most of the posters on here have hit on them.
Homan= AJ prototype
Beanie Well= bruiser back
Andre Amos was making noise
I saw Alex Boone with an attitude on the field, he is an intense player.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Canton
4/22/06
4/22/06
Tressel proclaims 'good progress’
Sunday, April 23, 2006
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Freshman running back Chris Wells (28) was the leading rusher in Saturday’s spring scrimmage, with 48 yards.
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COLUMBUS - The sun was shining. The kids — young and old — made plays. And no one limped from the Horseshoe with an injury.
Coach Jim Tressel and his Ohio State football team couldn’t have asked for a much better Scarlet and Gray game.
The Buckeyes wrapped up the spring season in front of 63,649 fans Saturday at Ohio Stadium with the Scarlet topping the Gray, 12-0, in the annual spring scrimmage.
The game ends three weeks of practice that Buckeye fans hope is a prelude to big things in the fall.
“I think we made good progress,” Tressel said. “The fact that we got through nice and healthy, and had a lot of opportunities to grow, I thought it was a good spring.”
Tressel saw something to like in lot of different areas Saturday, a glorious spring day that had the feel of an early regular-season game because of the large crowd.
“The fans made more of it than maybe it should have been, but that’s good,” said redshirt freshman wide receiver Brian Hartline (GlenOak) after getting game-highs of seven receptions and 88 yards. “When you have that many people, it’s going to put more pressure on (players). It’s more of a game-like situation.”
Added Tressel, “We need everyone of those things because Northern Illinois is coming to town pretty soon.”
That’s Sept. 2, to be exact, the season opener. Starting quarterback Troy Smith will likely play more then.
In his one series Saturday, the senior completed all four of his passes for 62 yards and carried once for 7 yards, all while wearing a black jersey which meant he couldn’t be touched. The drive ended in an Erik Haw 4-yard touchdown run — the only TD of the day.
While veterans like Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez played little, and running back Antonio Pittman didn’t play at all, other players used the game as an introduction to Buckeye Nation.
Chris Wells showed a glimpse of the future, and maybe the present. The 225-pound freshman ran through tackles and made people miss, finishing with a game-high 48 yards on 11 carries and one catch for 9 yards.
Wells’ blend of speed and power will be hard to ignore, even with Pittman coming off a 1,000-yard season.
“What was most impressive today is that he looked like he did this whole spring, which is comfortable, patient,” Tressel said of Wells, who graduated from Akron Garfield early and enrolled at OSU for the spring quarter. “That’s a big guy with the ability to accelerate. He wants to help ... but he knows he’s going to have to compete.”
The defense got good contributions from a lot of sources, a welcome sign as the Buckeyes replace their entire starting linebacking corps and defensive backfield.
Sophomores Marcus Freeman, Vernon Gholston, Lawrence Wilson and Malcolm Jenkins and freshmen Ross Homan and Kurt Coleman all had big days. Richardson, a fifth-year senior, had two sacks. Carrollton grad Chad Hoobler was active and broke up three passes.
“Winning the jersey scrimmage (on April 8) and holding (the offense) to 12 points today, I think it gives us a lot of confidence in what we can do as a defense,” said sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis, who nagged an interception and totaled six tackles. “It’s something we can build on through out the summer.”
Hometown guys
Other Stark County natives making an impact were senior Justin Zwick (Massillon) senior T.J. Downing (GlenOak), redshirt freshman John Thoma (Aquinas). Zwick played two series at quarterback. Downing started at right guard and was a captain for the Gray squad. Thoma punted three times for an average of 45 yards. His long was 50. Senior OL Kirk Barton (Perry), junior WR Devin Jordan (Massillon) and senior SS Curt Lukens (Hoover) did not play.
Buckeyes
The walk-up sales for Saturday’s game totaled 23,600 ... Former Buckeye LeCharles Bentley — now a Cleveland Brown — served as honorary head coach for the Scarlet, while former Lou Groza Award winner Mike Nugent served in the same role for the Gray ... Mount Union Coach Larry Kehres and Walsh University Coach Jim Dennison, along with former Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz, were the featured speakers at Friday’s Ohio State high school coaches clinic Reach Repository sports writer Josh Weir at (330) 580-8426 or e-mail: [email protected]
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
SCARLET 12 GRAY 0
Smith gives Scarlet a boost, then bolts
Quarterback leads lone touchdown drive, capped by Haw’s 4-yard jaunt
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>BARTH FALKENBERG </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>David Patterson, left, replaces Jay Richardson’s helmet after it popped off when he sacked Gray quarterback Justin Zwick. </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>
</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>LISA MARIE MILLER DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Scarlet quarterback Troy Smith guided his offense on an 80-yard touchdown drive to open the game. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
There was star power galore on display yesterday in Ohio State’s spring game. Of course, it was mostly on the field at halftime, when OSU honored the departing 2005 seniors, a slew of whom will be drafted by NFL teams next week.
But fortunately for the Scarlet team, it had the services of one returning star player for one series, and that was all it needed.
Quarterback Troy Smith directed a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to start the game. It was capped by Erik Haw’s 4-yard run, and it was the only TD in the Scarlet’s 12-0 victory.
Smith completed all four of his passes on the drive, for 62 yards. And then that was it, as he donned a headset on the sideline and helped the coach.
"Yeah, I broke a sweat," Smith said, grinning. "On the sidelines coaching. We did a good job over there, the Scarlet staff."
As it always is, the game is about protecting key players from injury while giving younger players the chance to prove themselves.
So after the first quarter, it felt more like the rookie game during an NBA All-Star weekend. OSU coach Jim Tressel, who let his assistants direct the teams, did a live television interview with his back to the field while plays were being run.
Still, a crowd of 63,649 enjoyed perfect weather in Ohio Stadium. Maybe it had something to do with the $5 ticket price, which is less than one-10 th the cost for a game in the fall.
Whether they got their money’s worth or not, Tressel refused to put Smith at risk after his one perfect series. The original plan had been to play him for a quarter.
"That was enough," Tressel said. "He threw it where it needed to be, and then after the first drive I told coach (Jim) Bollman that was it for Troy for the day, and then coach Bollman was not happy with me.
"But I’ve seen enough of (Smith) and wanted to see a lot more of (young quarterbacks) Todd (Boeckman) and Robbie (Schoenhoft)."
Boeckman, Schoenhoft and senior Justin Zwick produced exactly three points between them, a 38-yard Ryan Pretorius field goal after Schoenhoft led a 44-yard drive.
Boeckman had a rough start for the Gray. On his first play, backed up to the 1-yard line, he handed off to Maurice Wells, who was tackled by Todd Denlinger for a safety that made it 9-0.
On his next play, he was sacked. He recovered to lead the Gray to the Scarlet 1-yard line just before half. But on fourth down from there, his sneak was stuffed by Jay Richardson, Ross Homan and John Kerr.
"It’s definitely frustrating; you have to get in the end zone," Boeckman said. "I thought I was in, I just kind of rolled around right, but it’s the ref’s call."
Zwick played two series and was 4-of-6 passing for 32 yards. Boeckman was 13 of 27 for 189 yards and two interceptions. Schoenhoft was 9 of 28 for 109 yards with one pickoff.
With starter Antonio Pittman held out because of a hamstring injury, three running backs shared the load and all had moments. Freshman Chris Wells had 11 carries for 48 yards, Haw had 10 attempts for 38 yards and Maurice Wells added 33 yards on 10 carries.
Tressel was pleased with the day, in part because it is a valuable learning tool.
"We know even more vividly how far we have to go at some positions," he said, "compared to watching the films from last fall of some older guys that will be wealthier next Sunday than they are today. But I think we made good progress."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
COMMENTARY
Wells has his moment in the sun in spring game
Sunday, April 23, 2006
BOB HUNTER
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Scarlet running back Chris Wells eludes the tackle attempt of the Gray team’s Andre Amos on a first-half carry. Wells rushed for a game-high 48 yards on 11 carries. </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>
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It wasn’t quite as big as Babe Ruth’s "called shot."
Some heretics would tell you the Ohio State spring football game ranks a notch or two below the 1932 World Series, and freshman running back Chris Wells didn’t exactly make a gesture indicating that he was about to hit a home run. All he did was pound his chest a couple of times before the ball was snapped and then break a tackle for an 11-yard gain.
Besides, if you know the Ruth story, you know how easy it is for simple things to be misinterpreted. Cubs pitcher Charlie Root used to say that Ruth’s home-run gesture meant nothing of the sort, and there’s no way for us to know exactly what Wells was intending with his chest slap. He might simply have been quelling a cough or straightening his shoulder pads or …
"That was to let them know I was coming," Wells said. He grinned. "There was a lot of jawing out there … "
So there you have it, another spring game legend to put in your mental scrapbook along with whatever other ones, real or perceived, might have gotten lodged there by mistake.
One reason Ohio State’s relatively meaningless spring game can draw 63,649 is that the fans love talking about their team as much as they do watching it. So it is that they come to Ohio Stadium to watch sophomore defensive end Lawrence Wilson make a big hit or redshirt freshman defensive lineman Todd Denlinger tackle quarterback Todd Boeckman for a safety. Then they can tell their friends who couldn’t be there how great these players are going to be next year, regardless of whether they’ve ever heard of them.
But Wells takes this spring game perception stuff one step further. After all, he’s the player who, on national signing day, running backs coach Dick Tressel said reminded him of Jim Brown. Tressel wouldn’t back off that comparison after watching Wells through four weeks of spring practice.Whether fans think they saw the second coming of Brown yesterday is what this whole Scarlet-Gray thing is all about. This is one day of the year where reality seldom intrudes on perception.
Wells looked good. He led both squads in rushing with 48 yards on 11 carries. He broke a lot of tackles, a lot like Brown used to do in Cleveland.
"I used to be coached by my father," Wells said. "He always told me don’t go down with the first one. I’m too big for that. He just told me, ‘Roll with the punches. Just take what they give you, and if they give you something else, just take the extra.’ "
The fact that returning starter Antonio Pittman, a 1,300-yard rusher, didn’t play because of a hamstring strain made it all the better. It meant that Pittman couldn’t get in the way of the dream.
If what happened yesterday doesn’t have a whole lot to do with what will happen during the season — Bam Childress could have been called "Mr. April" for his spring game exploits, but he never was able to duplicate those feats in the fall — that never seems to detract from the fans’ enjoyment of it.
There’s more than four months between now and the opener against Northern Illinois, and this one glorified practice is the only in-the-flesh glimpse that fans have to fuel their conversations. So maybe we should forgive them for ignoring the fact that Wells was the third running back taken in his teammates’ draft for this game — Erik Haw was first and Maurice Wells was second — and let them dwell on positives that went even beyond Wells:
In his only series of the game, senior quarterback Troy Smith led a impressive nineplay, 80-yard drive that resulted in the game’s only touchdown. The defense, which has to replace nine starters, had a safety and allowed only one field goal after Smith left.
Negatives? This is mostly about reinforcing the perception that the Buckeyes are going to be great next season.
And are they?
This "Game" says they will. But then, it usually does.
Bob Hunter is a sports columnist for The Dispatch.
[email protected]
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
SCARLET AND GRAY DAY
Buckeye fever
Cheap seats, warm weather draw 60,000-plus to intrasquad spring football game at Ohio State
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Mike Lafferty
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>BARTH FALKENBERG DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Former OSU basketball star J.J. Sullinger signs Alison Underhill’s cast. Alison, 12, of New Albany, broke her arm during a track meet. Sullinger helped lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship this past season. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
It’s the only big-time sports event in town where a front-row seat costs less than an order of super nachos.
So the Ohio State spring football game is the place where the Williams brothers and their five sons can leave the girls at home and bond.
Desmond, 34, comes from Lima and P., 38, from Dayton every year for the game. They and their five sons, ranging in age from 5 to 8, occupied seven seats in Ohio Stadium yesterday for $35.
That’s about half what they would have to pay for one seat during the regular season — if they could get one.
So for the Williamses and most of the 60,000-plus fans bedecked in scarlet, gray and, umm, white, adorned with buckeye necklaces with faces painted with block "O’s", yesterday was a family affair, thanks to the cheap seats.
"In a regular game you can’t get this close and not pay $200," said Mike Woodling, who drove from Medina with friends.
Woodling, 18, tries to make a couple of games a year.
"My parents are both OSU alumni and they had season tickets but they didn’t like John Cooper and they canceled them. Now it’s hard to get them back," he said.
Katie McElroy, 10, made the 5 1 /2-hour trip from Silverwood, Mich., with her parents and was immediately inspired by her first college game.
"I want to be a football player or a cheerleader," she said.
Katie was a team Scarlet fan, as was 12-year-old Alison Underhill, of New Albany, who won a bet on the game with her dad, Mike.
Alison also won in another way. OSU basketball standout J.J. Sullinger signed the cast on her broken left arm.
Kenny Ward, 46, of Columbus, was going to pass up the game until Mark Watkins, 46, of Columbus, called him up with those five electrifying words:
"I got Ohio State tickets," said Watkins, a die-hard Michigan fan originally from Detroit.
The sentence remains magical for a game often short on scoring, even for Ward, who knew the Buckeyes weren’t playing the Wolverines.
It was Ward’s first spring game, and Kim Ingram’s first game, too.
Ingram, 35, and her two children, plus her friend Jason Gregory, 26, and his child, knew it was the one chance for of all of them to see a game.
Gregory wanted to analyze the Buckeyes.
The perfect weather brought out Ingram.
"I don’t like cold and wet," she said, even for Ohio State.
The ’Shoe wasn’t home to the only game in town, however.
Stephanie Berry, a 20-year-old Ohio State junior from Chillicothe, had left the team out of her Saturday plans.
Co-workers at a local marketing firm had an extra ticket.
"She was going to go to a yoga convention," said Dennis Lindahl, 37, "until I told her I had a ticket."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
Future secondary takes stage for first time
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>The Scarlet’s Jamario O’Neal, right, tackles the Gray’s Albert Dukes during the second half of OSU’s spring game in Ohio Stadium. O’Neal also had an interception and 34-yard return. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Ohio State went into the spring with a need to replace all four starters in the secondary, and it left with what the coaches believe is an abundance of candidates.
Mostly, though, they are no-names at the moment, even though the spring game threw several — including safeties Anderson Russell and Nick Patterson, and cornerbacks Antonio Smith and Kurt Coleman — into the spotlight for the first time.
"As a group, we’re young and hungry," said senior safety Brandon Mitchell, who with cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (four starts as a freshman last year) are the only returnees with extensive experience. "A lot of these guys don’t know what it’s like to be a starter and play in front of 105,000, but they all want that feeling. So everybody is trying to get that No. 1 spot."
That’s the feeling defensive backs coaches Paul Haynes and Tim Beckman said they also picked up on this spring.
"These guys, they’re real green, but they’re hungry," Haynes said
The squad was split yesterday to fill the needs of the Scarlet and Gray. So there were a few times when coverage was spotty, but for the most part it was solid. For instance, there was no touchdown pass completed, whereas Coleman, a freshman, made a diving interception at the goal line, and safety Jamario O’Neal had a late interception and 34-yard runback.
"We made some plays, and that’s what the coaches are looking for from us," O’Neal said.
If the team was prepping for a real game this week, the starting unit probably would be Jenkins and Antonio Smith at the corners, replacing the departed Ashton Youboty and Tyler Everett; and to replace safeties Nate Salley and Donte Whitner the pool would include O’Neal, Nick Patterson, Brandon Mitchell and Anderson Russell. And Coleman, fresh out of Clayton Northmont, might play some at corner, along with Donald Washington, Andre Amos and Mike Roberts.
Heck, they might even use seven or more DBs in the first few games.
"That could very well happen," Mitchell said. "We have the talent and the depth to do that. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we’re not talented. We have a lot of guys who can play, and that only helps us when you’re playing the Northwesterns of the world who will pass a lot."
Patterson and Russell turned heads this spring as the team looks to replace the sometimes omnipresent Whitner. For Patterson, it started in the winter workouts.
"He hustled; he was a leader," Haynes said. "He’s been putting extra time into it.
"Plus, he’s big, at 200 pounds, and he can run. He’s a legit 4.4 (-second 40) guy, and he’s smart. So he has all the tools of a free safety. He’s just got to get some preparation."
That goes for almost every player back there, Beckman said, which is why at least deciding on a top eight "is crucial" headed toward the summer, when the players work unsupervised in seven-on-seven sessions against the passing offense.
"These guys need to continue what we’ve learned in the last 15 days and take it into the summer so that we can get ourselves ready for Northern Illinois and Texas," Beckman said.
In those days, just like the past 15 spring practices, many of those players likely will lean on Mitchell for guidance.
"I talked to (departing free safety) Nate Salley about it, how I look to my left and my right and the guys I came in with they’re not here anymore," Mitchell said. "So it kind of forced me into a large leadership role, because obviously I know the defense a lot better than a lot of these guys coming in. I like it, because they depend on me a little and I like helping them along."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
5 QUESTIONS
Sunday, April 23, 2006
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Based on developments through the 15 practices of spring, did the Ohio State football team get enough work done to be considered a contender for the national championship in the fall? Well, based on the Scarlet’s 12-0 win over the Gray yesterday in the spring game in Ohio Stadium, fans have to be asking "Where’s that socalled high-powered offense? "
Most of it — starting quarterback Troy Smith, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and running back Antonio Pittman — was sitting on the sideline most of the day in a game tailored toward the young and inexperienced. It was the spring game, after all.
But more to the point, Dispatch beat reporters Tim May and Ken Gordon had five questions going into the spring. Did the Buckeyes get those answered? Let’s see:
Question 1: Is replacing all three starting linebackers the most important task?
May: Yes, and if nothing else, the team found about six or seven who are capable of stepping into the void, led by sophomore James Laurinaitis, senior John Kerr and sophomore Marcus Freeman. Those are the oldest and/or most experienced linebackers, and all three made a good play or two yesterday.
Gordon: What impressed me most is that there are more talented candidates for those spots than I thought going into the spring. Freshman Ross Homan just makes plays, and Curtis Terry showed versatility, moving to end or dropping into coverage. Junior-college transfer Larry Grant certainly seems talented enough to help immediately. And don’t forget three blue-chippers — Mark Johnson, Thaddeus Gibson and Tyler Moeller — are coming in for preseason camp.
Question 2: Isn’t replacing the entire starting secondary a major concern, too?
Gordon: It still is, and it will be until the new players prove themselves in real games this fall. One player who unexpectedly stood out was Kurt Coleman, who should be a senior in high school right now. But remember, besides little-used senior Antonio Smith, Malcolm Jenkins remains the savvy veteran of this cornerback group, and he’s all of 18 years old.
May: At safety, watching Jamario O’Neal, Nick Patterson and Anderson Russell emerge, joining the lone veteran Brandon Mitchell, was a major development for the team. If nothing else, what stands out about the group is speed. And as those players showed yesterday, some savvy.
Question 3: Having quarterback Troy Smith back among eight offensive starters gives the Buckeyes a solid core. But who steps in for No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes and for center Nick Mangold and guard Rob Sims?
May: I’ll take the Mangold-Sims part — Doug Datish is the prime candidate to replace Mangold, moving from left tackle where he started last year. But he didn’t practice this spring, which allowed Tyler Whaley, Jim Cordle and Jon Skinner to make headway. If the coaches can get massive Steve Rehring going at left guard, with equally massive Alex Boone next to him at tackle, they might have something, well, huge.
Gordon: At receiver, everyone raved about Ted Ginn’s growth. We didn’t see much of it, with his playing time limited in the jersey scrimmage and spring game. Tony Gonzalez should be a solid No. 2, so the question remains whether Roy Hall is No. 3. I thought Brian Hartline made a case this spring to move into that spot, although the coaches likely will give the senior Hall every chance.
Question 4: How about at running back, where 1,300-yard rusher Antonio Pittman is returning but is bothered by a hamstring pull? Does this set the table for incoming freshman Chris Wells to steal the show?
Gordon: No. At first, I thought the coaches were simply paying homage to what Pittman did last year. But after watching the young backs, I don’t think any of them did enough to steal significant carries from Pittman, at least at first. That being said, Wells is a big, strong kid, and once he gets comfortable in the system, I wouldn’t let him languish on the sideline all year. .
May: What impressed me was the way Erik Haw bounced back this spring. There is so much more depth there than a year ago. Actually, Pittman having to sit and watch was a blessing for the group, because the others got plenty of work.
Question 5: Punter A.J. Trapasso is back, but who do the Buckeyes have to replace outstanding kicker Josh Huston?
May: Good question, because going into the spring it was thought by many to be simply the time for Ryan Pretorius. But up stepped Aaron Pettrey. And though he didn’t get a chance to kick for the Gray yesterday, his 59-yard field goal to win the kick scrimmage two days earlier proved he has no plans for going away.
Gordon: Hey, if we don’t have a quarterback controversy and we can’t manufacture a running back battle, we’ll settle for a kicking competition in the fall, right? Coach Jim Tressel said he could foresee Pettrey and Pretorius splitting time in the fall, at least at first. The key is not a 59-yard leg, though, it’s 75 percent accuracy or better.
Three new questions to ponder
Question 1: Who is the No. 3 quarterback, Todd Boeckman or Rob Schoenhoft?
May: I think the coaches probably are happy they don’t need to make that call at the moment. The two times the media got to watch, Boeckman seemed to have the edge, including yesterday. But they both made mistakes, and yesterday was a bit of a circus because of operating behind shuffled lines.
Gordon: Yes, they both made mistakes yesterday. Somehow, though, I sense Boeckman is more ready to step up right now. He seems more consistent with his passes, with fewer underthrows or overthrows or throws into tight coverage.
Question 2: Did any player jump up in the spring and surprise you?
Gordon: Coleman and Hartline. They just keep producing, and it might be hard to keep them off the field because of it. To throw out a few deeper sleepers, try cornerbacks Andre Amos and Donald Washington, two more promising youngsters at a spot of great need.
May: Without a doubt, Anderson Russell. He proved to be hard-hitting and playmaking. A redshirt last fall, he appears to have gained at least a shot at the nickel back position.
Question 3: Was that the offense yesterday, or is Tressel going to let it rip in the fall?
Gordon: It was not the offense yesterday. It was minus a 1,300-yard rusher and used two Heisman Trophy candidates (Troy Smith and Ginn) for about three series combined. My opinion is this offense is preparing to throw a lot more variety at defenses than in recent years. If the offensive line produces, the Buckeyes should be able to switch from a power running game to a five-wide shotgun look, and handle both styles well.
May: Smith got to play one series, leading the Scarlet to the only touchdown of the day. And he said afterward the team showed "about 7 percent" of its offense. But it’s a good question, because with a young defense, will the Buckeyes try to run away from opponents in the fall, or play try to play keepaway? It probably will be a little of both.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
Cornerback still dealing with fallout from injury
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Dan Potokar and Gray teammate Brandon Smith break up a pass intended for Marcus Williams in the second half of the annual spring game in Ohio Stadium. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Freshman cornerback Kurt Coleman made a spectacular play yesterday in the Ohio State spring game. He said he planned to say a prayer last night. Not one of thanks for that play but one for reserve receiver Tyson Gentry, who nine days ago suffered a serious spinal injury in practice.
Gentry is still in intensive care in OSU Medical Center, a school spokesman said yesterday. He has undergone two surgical procedures, but other than that there has been no official word on his condition or prognosis.
It’s still not clear whether it was the hit by Coleman or hitting the ground in an awkward way that shattered the vertebra in Gentry’s cervical spine. But Coleman, though not able to visit Gentry, has kept him in his thoughts.
"I have sent him several letters and prayed for him every night," Coleman said. "It’s a tough thing."
Only a month out of Northmont High School in Clayton, Coleman used the spring to get a head start on his college career. His leaping interception at the goal line for the Scarlet in its 12-0 win yesterday put an exclamation point on that.
But for a time after Gentry’s injury, "At first I was really discouraged; I didn’t know if I really wanted to hit anyone else hard," Coleman said. "But then I sat down and thought about it. It’s the game, and it can happen to anyone."
Seeing it happen was rough on everyone, redshirt freshman receiver Brian Hartline said, yet three days later he had no qualms about catching passes over the middle.
The one thing I was thinking about (the afternoon) when he went down was, ‘Man, I don’t want to go back out there’ at that time," Hartline said. "But the next day, I honestly have to admit I just didn’t think about it."
But off the field, they think of Gentry often, Hartline said, and he had a message for him: "Everything happens for a reason, Tyson. Keep the Lord in your thoughts and he’ll take care of you."
Back to football
In the two game-like settings this spring Hartline was the leading receiver, catching five passes in the jersey scrimmage and seven yesterday for the Scarlet.
He and sophomore Brian Robiskie are chasing Roy Hall for No. 3 receiver, so Hartline said a good outing never hurts.
"This is almost a business, and I am selling myself," Hartline said. "I kind of treat these things as like an interview. You show them what you have, give them all the situations, they’ll go back and review and decide if you’re the guy."
Hall had five catches yesterday for 66 yards. Robiskie had three for 59.
Making it count
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Todd Denlinger looked at the spring game as his coming-out party, especially after he tackled Maurice Wells for a safety in the second quarter.
"That was my first tackle in Ohio Stadium, at least in front of a big crowd, and that was a huge point in my life," Denlinger said. "Yeah, it doesn’t really count as an official stat, but it counts to me, just being out there for the first time in front of 65,000 people – it’s awesome."
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
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4/22/06
Spring game wrap-up by Adam Jardy.
rivals.com (free)
4/22/06
Photos from the Spring Game....
4/22/06
Spring game wrap-up by Adam Jardy.
rivals.com (free)
4/22/06
Photos from the Spring Game....
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
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4/22/06
Spring game wrap-up by Steve Helwagen.
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4/22/06
Spring game notebook.....
scout.com$
4/22/06
Blog by Dave Biddle...
4/22/06
Spring game wrap-up by Steve Helwagen.
scout.com$
4/22/06
Spring game notebook.....
scout.com$
4/22/06
Blog by Dave Biddle...
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