Article published Sunday, January, 2009
TACKLING ART
Buckeyes' Larimore is quite a masterpiece
Ohio State sophomore Dexter Larimore displays his work, Outburst, at an NCAA convention. His mother, Theresia, operated a studio and taught pottery and ceramics.
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - The recruitment of Dexter Larimore called for Ohio State to get a little creative and even a smidgen artsy.
Like most elite athletes being wooed by the Buckeyes, Larimore was shown the posh football training facilities, the stadium so steeped in history, and all the trophies and photos of Ohio State icons.
But closing the deal with Larimore, the Buckeyes had to sculpt an approach rarely used when 300-pound defensive tackles are considering a wardrobe of scarlet and gray.
"Have you seen our art department?" the Buckeyes asked.
OSU coach Jim Tressel and his brother, Dick, an assistant on the staff who was in charge of recruiting the northern Indiana area where Larimore lived, visited Merrillville High School and talked to the football coach about Dexter Larimore, the all-state lineman.
They also spoke with the wrestling coach about Dexter Larimore, the state champion heavyweight who was ranked No. 1 in the nation as a senior. And they no doubt talked to the track coach about the two-time state qualifier in the shot put.
But when the Tressels walked into the ceramics class one day, that's where they found their guy.
"I was working on a big project when they came in to talk with the art teacher," Larimore said. "It was neat, but I don't think art class is somewhere they have to go very often when they are out recruiting."
