2006 Spring Game info/discussion

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

4/24

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
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</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."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com (free)

4/24/06

Photo Gallery of the Spring Game, by Gary Housteau.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton Rep

4/24

Comment on this story.
[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]OSU report[/FONT]
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Advertisement</center></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Horseshoe hype
Freshman Ross Homan’s play Saturday had some media members comparing him to A.J. Hawk. That kind of talk is a bit of an exaggeration at this point, but it’s clear Homan is special. Starting at the Will linebacker for the Scarlet, the 6-1, 237-pounder from Coldwater had eight tackles and a sack.
“Homan has been very productive from day one,” Coach Jim Tressel said. “That position is productive in the nature of our defense. Cie Grant was productive, and A.J. Hawk was productive. In the design of our defense, that position is going to get the opportunity to make plays. Now, can you make them? Ross Homan can make them.”

Early birds
Homan, running back Chris Wells and defensive back Kurt Coleman all graduated from high school early to enroll at OSU — a move that will pay dividends in the fall when they have a leg up on the incoming freshmen.
“I think I have a lot more confidence,” Wells said of his experience during spring practice. “It was overwhelming to me at first, everything was new. Now I feel like I have a grasp of everything.”
Each made a big impact on Saturday. Wells (6-2, 225) carred the ball 11 times for a game-high 48 yards. Coleman (5-11, 185) had an impressive interception, a pass break-up and two tackles. Coleman and Wells, who each enrolled for the spring quarter, don’t turn 18 until July and August, respectively.
Homan, 19, enrolled for the winter quarter and has already been on campus for 14 weeks. Tressel said he’s carrying a 3.7 grade-point average.
Staying positive
Brian Hartline, who broke his collarbone during preparation for the Fiesta Bowl and was back in five weeks, had a rod drilled into his leg after the injury back in 2004. He recovered in time to win the 110- and 300-meter hurdle championships at the state track and field meet his senior year.
“I always thought things happen for a reason and I still think that,” he said. “That’s kind of the attitude I take. And really if you think that way, every situation has a good outcome.”

Future QBs
Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft, who may be battling for the starting quarterback job in 2007, got extended playing time Saturday.
Boeckman got off to a rough start. Maurice Wells was tackled for a safety by freshman Todd Denlinger on the sophomore QB’s first play from scrimmage. The second play — after a 4:20 Scarlet drive that ended in a Ryan Pretorius 38-yard field goal — resulted in a sack by Jay Richardson.
Boeckman went 13-of-27 on the day with two interceptions, while Schoehoft — a redshirt freshman — also was up and down, finishing 9-of-28 with one pick. The pair will get a chance to compete with Justin Zwick for the back-up QB job in the fall.

Bulldogs on hand
McKinley offensive linemen Tyrell McDonald and Zach Slagle attended Saturday’s game. Both will attempt to walk-on at OSU this fall.
JOSH WEIR

 

[osugrad21]

Toledo Blade

4/24

OSU linebackers tough act to follow
63,649 watch spring competition to replace Hawk, Carpenter, Schlegel

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
<center></center>
COLUMBUS - There are tough acts to follow, and then there's the job of playing linebacker at Ohio State University. At this point in time, that has to rank as one of the most difficult encores around.
<center></center> The Buckeyes are replacing one of the most highly-regarded linebacker trios in school history - A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. Hawk and Carpenter were home-grown All-Americans now headed for the NFL, while Schlegel was a gritty fifth-year senior who had started his career at Air Force.<center></center> "You don't try and fill the shoes of players like that, or think that you are looking for someone to replace them," OSU linebackers coach Luke Fickell said.<center></center> "With the guys we have in the program, we stress that we want them to be who they are and do what they do best. We're not asking them to be A.J. Hawk or Bobby Carpenter or Anthony Schlegel. We want them to take what they do best and just go with it."<center></center> The eight scholarship players and one transfer who are in contention to start at linebacker for the Buckeyes this fall got their first, best chance to impress the Ohio State coaches yesterday in the Scarlet and Gray game that brings Ohio State spring practice to a close. It was a job interview conducted in front of 63,649 fans, the announced crowd on hand for the spring game.<center></center> Senior John Kerr, a transfer who started his career at Indiana, and freshman Austin Spitler started at middle linebacker for the two squads, while sophomores James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman worked the outside positions for the Gray and junior Curtis Terry and freshman Ross Homan worked outside for the Scarlet.<center></center> Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he saw a lot from his linebackers yesterday, but the sorting process will continue.
<center></center> "That position is going to be productive," Tressel said. "With our defense, the linebackers make plays - now the question is, can you make them. We have competitive guys out there who have the height, weight and speed, but don't have the experience.<center></center> "They're bright kids and we're going to have some great battles to see who emerges from that group."<center></center> Listed at backup yesterday was junior Larry Grant, who many expect to be on the field when the Buckeyes open at home Sept. 2 against Northern Illinois. The Norcross, Ga., native was the 2005 Junior College National player of the year at City College of San Francisco.<center></center> "This place is known for its linebackers - great linebackers - and with Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel, that's three of them right there," Grant said. "My mindset since I got here is to come in, work as hard as I can, learn the system, and hopefully earn a starting spot. There's a lot of competition, but that should make all of us better."<center></center> Freeman lettered in 2004 as a true freshman, but he injured his knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio) last season, and a subsequent infection cost him the remainder of the year.<center></center> Laurinaitis came to Ohio State last year after being named the top defensive player in the state of Minnesota, and after playing spot backup duty most of the season got pressed into service in the Michigan game when Carpenter was injured on the opening play. He started in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.<center></center> In yesterday's game, Laurinaitis enhanced his stock by picking off a pass thrown by Scarlet quarterback Robbie Schoenhoft.<center></center> Laurinaitis tipped the ball and juggled it for a few seconds before collecting the pass and returning it 18 yards. Homan had a sack that stopped a Gray possession deep in Scarlet territory.<center></center> "I just wanted to get out there and compete," Homan said, "and I thought I competed pretty well. I wanted to try and be as comfortable as possible, but the first time playing in front of close to 70,000 people - that was something else."<center></center> Freeman led the linebacker group with 10 tackles, while Homan had eight and Laurinaitis had six.<center></center> "We think we have a good group - probably seven guys who could end up starting for us," Fickell said. "We'll see how they develop over the rest of the summer and then through fall camp. There's a lot of competition - healthy competition."

 

[osugrad21]

Toledo Blade

4/24

Buckeyes notebook: Smith successful in only series

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
<center></center>
COLUMBUS - Quarterback Troy Smith played just the opening series yesterday.
<center></center> But the Ohio State senior led his team to the game's only touchdown as the Scarlet defeated the Gray 12-0 in the annual spring football game.<center></center> Erik Haw ran four yards for the touchdown to complete the drive.<center></center> Ryan Pretorius kicked a 38-yard field goal for the Scarlet, and Todd Denlinger tackled the Gray's Maurice Wells in the end zone for a safety.<center></center> Ohio State coach Jim Tressel used the session to get an extended look at a number of younger, inexperienced players.<center></center> "The kids competed, and anytime you tell them that you are keeping score, they love it," Tressel said. "That was as close to game-like as you can get. Now we know more about the capabilities we have, and we know how far we have to go at some positions."<center></center> ALLS WELLS: Ohio State freshman tailback Chris Wells was given an opportunity to take center stage while last year's starter Antonio Pittman sat out the game. Wells had 48 yards on 11 carries.<center></center> "What was impressive to me was that he looked like he has all spring - confident, patient, and with the ability to accelerate," Tressel said.<center></center> "There's a lot of great athletes out there," said Wells, who enrolled at Ohio State for spring quarter so he could take part in practice. "The best thing I could do was to come here early. That helped a whole lot."<center></center> CROWD CONTROL: The game and the warm, sunny spring afternoon that accompanied it produced a huge crowd, and the accompanying traffic jam surrounding Ohio Stadium.<center></center> The announced attendance was 63,649, and 23,600 of that was made up of an extremely large walkup crowd.<center></center> MED REPORT: Besides senior linebacker Mike D'Andrea, who sat out yesterday's game and was kept out of contact this spring to give his ailing knee more time to heal, several other Buckeyes stayed on the sidelines during the Scarlet and Gray game.<center></center> Defensive linemen Doug Worthington and Ryan Williams as well as cornerback Shaun Lane were all spectators as they recover from knee surgeries. Tailback Antonio Pittman was also kept out of contact to give minor injuries from last season additional healing time.<center></center> FOUR NEW FACES: Ohio State had four new faces on the field - additions since the end of the 2005 season.<center></center> Freshman linebacker Ross Homan enrolled at the start of winter quarter, while defensive back Kurt Coleman, linebacker Larry Grant, and tailback Chris Wells came to Ohio State for the start of spring quarter. Grant is a junior college transfer with two years of eligibility, while the other three are freshmen with four years of eligibility.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

TelegraphForum

4/24/06

It's all about the 'D'

By Jon Spencer
T-F staff



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COLUMBUS -- Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis can think of a lot worse things than playing a football game that doesn't count on a summer-like Saturday afternoon in April.
"Where I come from, we don't even get to play outside ball in the spring," said the only Buckeye from Minnesota after his Gray team fell 12-0 to the Scarlet in Ohio Stadium. "This is a dream come true. You can come out, get a nice tan ... it's beautiful. This is where I want to be."

There were 63,649 fans in the 'Shoe who obviously felt the same way, even though they were treated to only one touchdown and a cameo appearance by starting quarterback Troy Smith. His day was over after he completed all four of his passes on the opening series, capped by Eric Haw's 4-yard TD run. "Troy wasn't speaking to me because we had a black shirt on him," coach Jim Tressel said of the no-contact jersey, "but I thought he displayed good confidence. After that first drive, I told (offensive coordinator Jim) Bollman Troy was done for the day, and then coach Bollman was mad at me."


Smith spent the rest of the afternoon wearing a headset. He stopped short, however, of donning a sweater vest.

"Yeah, I broke a sweat ... on the sidelines coaching," Smith joked. "The protection (from injury) is cool, but I want to dive for some first downs or shake a couple of guys to keep the chains moving."

The other quarterbacks struggled in that regard. Senior backup Justin Zwick played a couple of series in the first quarter, was a respectable 4-of-6 for 32 yards and had a seat. Redshirt sophomore Todd Boeckman got most of the snaps for the Gray, but was just 13-of 27-for 189 yards and threw a pair of interceptions. Redshirt freshman Rob Schoenhoft spell-ed Smith and went 9-of-28 for 109 yards. He was picked off once.

Neither Boeckman nor Schoenhoft -- both good-sized, dropback passers like Zwick -- would speculate on the pecking order heading into the fall.

"I don't think about that," Schoenhoft said. "Whatever the coaches decide is best for the team. I'm just trying to make every play I can. The other two (backups) are great quarterbacks and we have Troy in front of us."

Two early enrollees in the newest recruiting class made a good impression for the Scarlet. Chris Wells, the 6-2, 225-pound tailback out of Akron Garfield, led all ballcarriers with 48 yards on 11 carries. His longest gain was 11 yards and he also caught a nine-yard pass. Linebacker Ross Homan, who led Coldwater to a state title last fall, led the Scarlet with eight tackles, including a sack.

"Today was another learning experience," Wells said. "I'm still new to everything. The first day (of spring drills) I was lost. The coaches put in more plays the first three days than I've seen my entire career.

"But it's fun. Having all the fans here, I could barely hear the plays. It was loud. I can just imagine what it's like in a real game."

Don't tell strong safety Jamario O'Neal, one of the youngsters fighting to fill nine vacancies on defense, this wasn't a real game. His interception of a Boeckman pass with 1:23 left sealed the Scarlet victory.

"The biggest difference this year is having the vision needed to break on the ball," the sophomore from Mansfield said. "Last year, guys broke late and there weren't as many interceptions.

"(The pick) means a lot and it helps my confidence grow a little. The coaches are always emphasizing that we have to be better at pass break-ups and interceptions. They tell us that as DBs we're in the business of making big plays."

Most of the memorable plays Saturday were on that side of the ball. Redshirt freshman tackle Todd Denlinger tackled tailback Maurice Wells in the end zone, upping the Scarlet lead to 9-0 in the second quarter. After 27-year-old kicker Ryan Pretorius made it 12-0 near the end of the half, the Scarlet got greedy by attempting an onside kick.

The Gray recovered, but on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Boeckman was stopped short by a swarm of Scarlet jerseys as time expired.

A Laurinaitis interception set the Gray up at the Scarlet 32 in the third quarter, but freshman cornerback Kurt Coleman -- another early enrollee -- made an over-the-shoulder interception at the one-yard line on a Boeckman pass intended for Albert Dukes.

"I thought when I threw the ball it was a touchdown for sure," Boeckman said, "but Coleman made a helluva play."

The Gray had two more chances to get on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, but tight end Marcel Frost dropped a 21-yard pass from Boeckman in the end zone and O'Neal preserved the shutout with his interception. "We're both getting better," said O'Neal, refusing to give an edge to the revamped defense over a veteran offense after 15 spring workouts. "Both sides were missing starters today. We're all trying to get better and pick up where we left off last year."

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[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

On the fumble issue, Dukes lost the handle on a ball as well. From my angle, I couldn't tell if it was out of bounds or not (when he lost it, it surely went out before any recovery)... Was over on the west sideline.

 

[Taosman]

Didn't see anything on DE Lawrence Wilson. Did he play much or was just not obvious?
He says he's up to 275, now. And has GAINED speed! Hand timed 4.57 forty!!

I think this "D" line could just Dominate games!

What is a prettier sight than a DE sacking a QB? :tongue2:

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Lawrence was all over the place. I thought he played very well.

 

[exhawg]

The main thing that I was thinking the whole game was why Grey didn't use the second position pick in the draft to take a RB, and then they passed over Chris Well for Mo Wells when Scarlet picked Haw. Nothing against Mo, but if I only get 1 of the 3 RB's I'm taking the bruiser over the smaller shifty back. IMO Chris Wells was the player of the game by a large margin. I never saw what the draft order was, but IMO the Grey captain's made a mistake by not picking RB first. Everyone around me kept saying that Pittman better watch his back. We are stocked at RB right now.

 

[gobucks19]

The main thing that I was thinking the whole game was why Grey didn't use the second position pick in the draft to take a RB, and then they passed over Chris Well for Mo Wells when Scarlet picked Haw. Nothing against Mo, but if I only get 1 of the 3 RB's I'm taking the bruiser over the smaller shifty back. IMO Chris Wells was the player of the game by a large margin. I never saw what the draft order was, but IMO the Grey captain's made a mistake by not picking RB first. Everyone around me kept saying that Pittman better watch his back. We are stocked at RB right now.

I agree and certainly didnt understand that pick. Maybe they were concerned about blitz pickup or maybe the coaches "suggested" it to keep things in perspective for all involved.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

ok cool, yea i know i didn't see 60 yards on there after the first drive.. but they did start from the 20 and he hit nicol acoss the middle early for what 15-25 yards?

Another question, in regaurds to TG's post about attendence.. i know kids got in free from whatever age down.. did they get tickets (for free obviously) or could they just walk in?

6 and under got in free, and they did not have a ticket, just walked in... Or, in my son's case, sat on my shoulders.

 

[coltsfan16]

did anybody stop by the "senior signings" beforehand? i did not, and as a glutton for punishment, i want to see what i missed out on.

 

[holybuckeye33]

did anybody stop by the "senior signings" beforehand? i did not, and as a glutton for punishment, i want to see what i missed out on.

We stopped by. A $50 donation to Make a Wish got you an autographed senior team picture and one other item of your choosing signed by all the '05 seniors (Minus A.J. and Bobby). You could get additional items signed (by all the seniors) for $10 per item. We got the photo and collectible football signed. Don't ask me why I didn't get another item signed for just 10 bucks. All the guys were cool and very gracious with their time. Now my son just has to track down A.J. and Bobby somewhere.

 

[Dryden]

We stopped by. A $50 donation to Make a Wish got you an autographed senior team picture and one other item of your choosing signed by all the '05 seniors (Minus A.J. and Bobby). You could get additional items signed (by all the seniors) for $10 per item. We got the photo and collectible football signed. Don't ask me why I didn't get another item signed for just 10 bucks. All the guys were cool and very gracious with their time. Now my son just has to track down A.J. and Bobby somewhere.

Nick Mangold organized the Senior Signing and coordinated making sure all the seniors were there. Don't know why you didn't get Bobby's sig -- he was there. Nick sounded disappointed that AJ went to the ND spring game with Laura, especially since AJ had confirmed he would be at the OSU game for the signing.

Sounds like somebody is a little whipped ... :p