Times Record
1/12
Sign of the times: Bucks in town
Huge turnout for autograph session at mall
By JOHN KERR
Sports Writer
<!-- ARTICLE BODYTEXT --> <!--ARTICLE TEXT--> ZANESVILLE -Ohio State football fans turned out in droves to receive autographs from some of their favorite Buckeyes Wednesday night at Colony Square Mall.
Leslie Burkett, of Adamsville, was first in line for the event, arriving at 10 a.m. And, as the day went on, the crowd grew.
Ohio State senior linebackers A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter were among a group of 10 Buckeyes who signed autographs for at least three hours for designated fees at Sports Zone.
Center Nick Mangold, kicker Josh Huston, offensive tackle Rob Sims, cornerback Tyler Everett, tight end Ryan Hamby, fullback Brandon Schnittker and defensive tackle Marcus Green, from Ohio State's co-Big 10 championship football team that handled Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, also attended Wednesday's signing.By 4:30 p.m. an estimated crowd of 350 fans packed into an area near Sports Zone, located across from Old Navy. The remainder of the line formed was 4 to 5 wide and extended to near J.C. Penney, more than 400 feet from the signing area, with an additional 100 people in line at a vacant store next to K B Toys.
"Nothing around Columbus surprises me," Green said of the turnout. "We had a team signing and heard people were there at 7 a.m. and the signing was like 6 in the evening. I wouldn't do that, but I appreciate people are willing to do that."
With video games in hand, three young fans patiently waited all day to get Hawk's signature on their footballs and jerseys.
Logan Bash, 9, Ian Chambers, 11 and his brother, Eli, 9, of Zanesville, were prepared for a day of waiting as they sat in their Buckeye folding chairs.
Norma Farquhar-Shalan, of Zanesville, had a book to read while she waited to get items signed for her grandson, Joseph Bradish, 9, of Powell.
"He loves the Buckeyes," Farquhar-Shalan smiled. "I think Joseph will be just as pleased with the autographs."
Junior safety Donte Whitner, widely expected to announce he's entering the NFL draft on Friday, did not attend Wednesday's signing. Whitner's departure to the NFL leaves Ohio State with just two returning starters next season, but the Buckeyes' cupboard isn't exactly bare according to Hawk.
"We have a lot of guys who will be playing who don't have a ton of game experience. But it's not like they'll have true freshmen stepping in. There are so many linebackers returning competing for just three jobs ..."
Hawk, an expected top 10 pick in April's NFL draft, is still contemplating on whether it's worth the risk of playing in the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Mobile, Ala.
Carpenter, from Lancaster, is nearly 100 percent recovered from his broken right leg he suffered against Michigan in November.
"At the Fiesta Bowl, I felt I was able to contribute but maybe not be 100 percent," said Carpenter, a possible first-round draft pick who sat out the Fiesta Bowl. "I'm getting ready for the Senior Bowl and I want to be 100 percent going into that."
Schlegel, a middle linebacker who transferred to Ohio State from the Air Force Academy, said his time with the Buckeyes nearly met all of his expectations.
"Everything except for a national championship. We came close, but that isn't good enough," said Schlegel, who should also be drafted by an NFL team. "I was surrounded by quality people which really made it a great experience for me."
Schlegel, Hawk and Carpenter not only formed perhaps the top linebacking corps in college football, but also a close relationship.
"They are my best friends on and off the field. They are the reason I came to Ohio State. I wanted to play with great guys. It's been an honor to play with them," Schlegel said.
Huston, a recent Ohio State graduate with a degree in marketing, was signing autographs to help pay his bills. Huston could soon cash in at the professional level. He's one of just four college kickers invited to compete in a Skills Competition near Miami later this month. The event will be broadcast on ESPN.
"I'm pumped up. (ESPN) asked (NFL draft expert) Mel Kiper the four kickers he would pick first," Huston said. "It's a huge honor."
Huston watched the Skills Competition for quarterbacks two years ago when current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was involved.
"Ben used to hold (kicks) for me," Huston said. "You have a jersey on and no helmet ... It will be exciting to be in that kind of atmosphere."
As part of the deal, Huston will be flown to Detroit for Super Bowl week.
Green is one of several Buckeyes slated to attend the NFL Combine to work out for teams next month.
"I'm trying to get the drills down and get as strong as I can," said Green."
And a strong Ohio State team is what Kay Moran wants to see each year. The Zanesville woman and her 19-year-old grandson joined the waiting crowd around 1 p.m.
"I've nicknamed them the 'Cardiac Kids,'" she said, due to the fact they have managed to make her heart stop several times over the past couple of seasons.
After hours of waiting, 6-year-old Tyler Joseph of Duncan Falls was too starstruck to talk to his favorite player, but that didn't stop Hawk from talking to him.
"I'll come watch you play when you become a Buckeye," Hawk said.
And Garrett Lochary of Marietta thought he was the luckiest boy in the world Wednesday.
"I love them," he said of the Buckeyes. "I'm so glad I'm here. This is cool."
[email protected]
1/12
Sign of the times: Bucks in town
Huge turnout for autograph session at mall
By JOHN KERR
Sports Writer
<!-- ARTICLE BODYTEXT --> <!--ARTICLE TEXT--> ZANESVILLE -Ohio State football fans turned out in droves to receive autographs from some of their favorite Buckeyes Wednesday night at Colony Square Mall.
Leslie Burkett, of Adamsville, was first in line for the event, arriving at 10 a.m. And, as the day went on, the crowd grew.
Ohio State senior linebackers A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter were among a group of 10 Buckeyes who signed autographs for at least three hours for designated fees at Sports Zone.
Center Nick Mangold, kicker Josh Huston, offensive tackle Rob Sims, cornerback Tyler Everett, tight end Ryan Hamby, fullback Brandon Schnittker and defensive tackle Marcus Green, from Ohio State's co-Big 10 championship football team that handled Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, also attended Wednesday's signing.By 4:30 p.m. an estimated crowd of 350 fans packed into an area near Sports Zone, located across from Old Navy. The remainder of the line formed was 4 to 5 wide and extended to near J.C. Penney, more than 400 feet from the signing area, with an additional 100 people in line at a vacant store next to K B Toys.
"Nothing around Columbus surprises me," Green said of the turnout. "We had a team signing and heard people were there at 7 a.m. and the signing was like 6 in the evening. I wouldn't do that, but I appreciate people are willing to do that."
With video games in hand, three young fans patiently waited all day to get Hawk's signature on their footballs and jerseys.
Logan Bash, 9, Ian Chambers, 11 and his brother, Eli, 9, of Zanesville, were prepared for a day of waiting as they sat in their Buckeye folding chairs.
Norma Farquhar-Shalan, of Zanesville, had a book to read while she waited to get items signed for her grandson, Joseph Bradish, 9, of Powell.
"He loves the Buckeyes," Farquhar-Shalan smiled. "I think Joseph will be just as pleased with the autographs."
Junior safety Donte Whitner, widely expected to announce he's entering the NFL draft on Friday, did not attend Wednesday's signing. Whitner's departure to the NFL leaves Ohio State with just two returning starters next season, but the Buckeyes' cupboard isn't exactly bare according to Hawk.
"We have a lot of guys who will be playing who don't have a ton of game experience. But it's not like they'll have true freshmen stepping in. There are so many linebackers returning competing for just three jobs ..."
Hawk, an expected top 10 pick in April's NFL draft, is still contemplating on whether it's worth the risk of playing in the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Mobile, Ala.
Carpenter, from Lancaster, is nearly 100 percent recovered from his broken right leg he suffered against Michigan in November.
"At the Fiesta Bowl, I felt I was able to contribute but maybe not be 100 percent," said Carpenter, a possible first-round draft pick who sat out the Fiesta Bowl. "I'm getting ready for the Senior Bowl and I want to be 100 percent going into that."
Schlegel, a middle linebacker who transferred to Ohio State from the Air Force Academy, said his time with the Buckeyes nearly met all of his expectations.
"Everything except for a national championship. We came close, but that isn't good enough," said Schlegel, who should also be drafted by an NFL team. "I was surrounded by quality people which really made it a great experience for me."
Schlegel, Hawk and Carpenter not only formed perhaps the top linebacking corps in college football, but also a close relationship.
"They are my best friends on and off the field. They are the reason I came to Ohio State. I wanted to play with great guys. It's been an honor to play with them," Schlegel said.
Huston, a recent Ohio State graduate with a degree in marketing, was signing autographs to help pay his bills. Huston could soon cash in at the professional level. He's one of just four college kickers invited to compete in a Skills Competition near Miami later this month. The event will be broadcast on ESPN.
"I'm pumped up. (ESPN) asked (NFL draft expert) Mel Kiper the four kickers he would pick first," Huston said. "It's a huge honor."
Huston watched the Skills Competition for quarterbacks two years ago when current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was involved.
"Ben used to hold (kicks) for me," Huston said. "You have a jersey on and no helmet ... It will be exciting to be in that kind of atmosphere."
As part of the deal, Huston will be flown to Detroit for Super Bowl week.
Green is one of several Buckeyes slated to attend the NFL Combine to work out for teams next month.
"I'm trying to get the drills down and get as strong as I can," said Green."
And a strong Ohio State team is what Kay Moran wants to see each year. The Zanesville woman and her 19-year-old grandson joined the waiting crowd around 1 p.m.
"I've nicknamed them the 'Cardiac Kids,'" she said, due to the fact they have managed to make her heart stop several times over the past couple of seasons.
After hours of waiting, 6-year-old Tyler Joseph of Duncan Falls was too starstruck to talk to his favorite player, but that didn't stop Hawk from talking to him.
"I'll come watch you play when you become a Buckeye," Hawk said.
And Garrett Lochary of Marietta thought he was the luckiest boy in the world Wednesday.
"I love them," he said of the Buckeyes. "I'm so glad I'm here. This is cool."
[email protected]
Upvote
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I missed the ones at The Frame Shop. I checked on Kevin's website on the 10th and it said no dates were set. I got back on there last night and found out that I missed them. I guess I can still buy the ones I missed but it isn't the same as shaking the guys hand and telling them thanks for giving us all something awesome to do on Saturdays.
