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HINYG8
You never come back from Copperhead Road
I just spoke with Evan's mother....and all I can say is we can thank Tressel for making Evan's decision easier. She had very positive things to say about JT and how OSU has treated Evan during his recruitment.
Interesting to hear the parent's side of the process and I was proud to be a Buckeye as she described some of Evan's experiences....I am looking forward to seeing him in S&G!
Interesting to hear the parent's side of the process and I was proud to be a Buckeye as she described some of Evan's experiences....I am looking forward to seeing him in S&G!
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Smooth Olaf
Checking out Channel 9, man.
Are there any pics of him, in action or otherwise?
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OSUBucks22
No touching!
His scout profile has some pics... None in action though I don't think...
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Local points: Beat rival, advance in playoffs<!-- icons are from http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/ --> By Chris Weeden
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Center headed into the regular season finale at Aliquippa with an 8-0 record, but the 25-14 loss seemed to drain the energy from a promising 2005 season. A week after losing the emotionally charged contest, Center lost to Ford City in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, 39-8.
This year's team hopes not only to beat Aliquippa, but to advance further than the first round of the postseason. The seniors have yet to beat Aliquippa and for the third time in four years, they will visit The Pit, Aliquippa's home field, to play their chief rival Oct. 27.
"I haven't beaten them yet, in anything, actually," lineman Evan Blankenship said. "I want to go out with a bang. I don't care how we do it, so long as we come out with a 'W.' "
Center opens its Midwestern Conference schedule Sept. 1 against Sto-Rox, which has dropped from Class AAA to Class AA. The addition of Sto-Rox not only upsets the balance of the conference, but preparing for the game will be difficult.
"I don't know much about them other than what I've seen on film," coach Larry Taddeo said.
Linemen Nate Glasser and Blankenship will be four-year starters and should be the strength up front. Glasser was second-team all-state a year ago and is garnering interest from some Division I-AA, Division II and Division III schools. Blankenship has verbally committed to Ohio State.
"Our motivation is to get off the ball, get off our blocks and stay in our blocks and give our backs an opportunity to run," Taddeo said. "Sometimes that didn't occur last year, so we're trying to be more consistent.
They will be blocking behind second-year starting running back Jeff Ciccone and second-year starting quarterback Carl Farrow.
Defensively, Glasser, Ciccone and Blankenship are the only returning starters and Ciccone is the only experienced member of the secondary, but he's switching from cornerback to free safety.
"We have got to come together," Ciccone said.
One of the bigger losses to the defense is all-state safety Ashton Cobb, who had two interceptions and 35 tackles last year. In 2004, he was All-Midwestern Conference, and he is now playing at Kentucky on a scholarship.
Glasser said the strength of this year's team is its leadership, which could help counter the inexperience on defense and the team's habit of letting one mistake change the course of the game.
"If somebody makes a mistake, you get over it, you go on to the next play," Taddeo said. "Let's play ball."
Chris Weeden can be reached at [email protected].
Local points: Beat rival, advance in playoffs<!-- icons are from http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/ --> By Chris Weeden
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Center headed into the regular season finale at Aliquippa with an 8-0 record, but the 25-14 loss seemed to drain the energy from a promising 2005 season. A week after losing the emotionally charged contest, Center lost to Ford City in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, 39-8.
This year's team hopes not only to beat Aliquippa, but to advance further than the first round of the postseason. The seniors have yet to beat Aliquippa and for the third time in four years, they will visit The Pit, Aliquippa's home field, to play their chief rival Oct. 27.
"I haven't beaten them yet, in anything, actually," lineman Evan Blankenship said. "I want to go out with a bang. I don't care how we do it, so long as we come out with a 'W.' "
Center opens its Midwestern Conference schedule Sept. 1 against Sto-Rox, which has dropped from Class AAA to Class AA. The addition of Sto-Rox not only upsets the balance of the conference, but preparing for the game will be difficult.
"I don't know much about them other than what I've seen on film," coach Larry Taddeo said.
Linemen Nate Glasser and Blankenship will be four-year starters and should be the strength up front. Glasser was second-team all-state a year ago and is garnering interest from some Division I-AA, Division II and Division III schools. Blankenship has verbally committed to Ohio State.
"Our motivation is to get off the ball, get off our blocks and stay in our blocks and give our backs an opportunity to run," Taddeo said. "Sometimes that didn't occur last year, so we're trying to be more consistent.
They will be blocking behind second-year starting running back Jeff Ciccone and second-year starting quarterback Carl Farrow.
Defensively, Glasser, Ciccone and Blankenship are the only returning starters and Ciccone is the only experienced member of the secondary, but he's switching from cornerback to free safety.
"We have got to come together," Ciccone said.
One of the bigger losses to the defense is all-state safety Ashton Cobb, who had two interceptions and 35 tackles last year. In 2004, he was All-Midwestern Conference, and he is now playing at Kentucky on a scholarship.
Glasser said the strength of this year's team is its leadership, which could help counter the inexperience on defense and the team's habit of letting one mistake change the course of the game.
"If somebody makes a mistake, you get over it, you go on to the next play," Taddeo said. "Let's play ball."
Chris Weeden can be reached at [email protected].
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timBUCK2
Tim the Enchanter... WOLVERINE SLAYER!!
Beaver County Times
Trojan horses: Carter, LaValle, Farrow key victory
Randy Senior, Calkins Media
09/24/2006
ELLWOOD CITY - They call Maurice Carter "Mo" for short at Center Area High School. What he provides on the football field is a longer form of his nickname: momentum.
http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerad...=100&AREA=487&VERT=13449&NAREA=409&barnd=3583Carter accounted for 173 yards, surpassing the 100-yard plateau in the first half on two long runs, but the Center offensive attack firmly established two other prominent weapons in a 24-7 victory against Ellwood City Friday night.
Senior quarterback Carl Farrow gained 101 yards, and junior receiver Matt LaValle caught three passes, including the opening touchdown.
But speaking of momentum, Center coach Larry Taddeo was hoping penalty flags wouldn't steal it away. He didn't quite get his wish as the Trojans (3-1) were guilty of 10 infractions for 65 yards.
"Even with this victory, the stupid mistakes are going to come back and haunt us," Taddeo said. "I thought we played a sound football game, but we have to eliminate mistakes."
Carter, the talented sophomore running back coming off huge games against Freedom (218 yards) and Beaver Falls (166 yards), broke a 60-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. By the end of the night, Center rushed for more than 300 yards as a team (304) for the third consecutive week.
Three plays after Carter's early burst, Farrow linked up with LaValle for a 15-yard touchdown.
"It's a play that has worked in the past for us on third down," LaValle said after his TD catch on third-and-10. "It was just a matter of running the right route and Carl (Farrow) putting the ball on the dot."
A week ago at Quaker Valley, Ellwood City quarterback Nick Nardone's most reliable target was junior fullback Trey McKim. And the Nardone-to-McKim connection worked again in the first half as Nardone completed a pass underneath to McKim for 18 yards to the Center 46-yard line. But a promising drive was killed when, three plays later, Center's Nate Glasser recovered a fumble. Moments later, Carter broke away from a pack of defenders on a 48-yard scamper to the end zone.
"The right side of my offensive line, Nate Glasser and Evan Blankenship, opened holes and I was able to slip some tackles," Carter said.
Farrow hurt Ellwood City (1-3) with a 32-yard scamper, then used a play-action fake and found LaValle free in the secondary on a 32-yard strike. That set up Garrett Tonio's 27-yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining before halftime to stretch the Trojans' lead to 17-0.
"We felt we needed this win, because road games in the MAC are always huge," said LaValle who also had a sack of Nardone and an interception in the end zone that he returned 27 yards.
Zack Spearing recovered a late fumble, and Jeff Ciccone slammed over from the 2, before Ellwood City averted the shutout as McKim took a Nardone pass down the sideline en route to a 65-yard touchdown.
Trojan horses: Carter, LaValle, Farrow key victory
Randy Senior, Calkins Media
09/24/2006
ELLWOOD CITY - They call Maurice Carter "Mo" for short at Center Area High School. What he provides on the football field is a longer form of his nickname: momentum.
http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerad...=100&AREA=487&VERT=13449&NAREA=409&barnd=3583Carter accounted for 173 yards, surpassing the 100-yard plateau in the first half on two long runs, but the Center offensive attack firmly established two other prominent weapons in a 24-7 victory against Ellwood City Friday night.
Senior quarterback Carl Farrow gained 101 yards, and junior receiver Matt LaValle caught three passes, including the opening touchdown.
But speaking of momentum, Center coach Larry Taddeo was hoping penalty flags wouldn't steal it away. He didn't quite get his wish as the Trojans (3-1) were guilty of 10 infractions for 65 yards.
"Even with this victory, the stupid mistakes are going to come back and haunt us," Taddeo said. "I thought we played a sound football game, but we have to eliminate mistakes."
Carter, the talented sophomore running back coming off huge games against Freedom (218 yards) and Beaver Falls (166 yards), broke a 60-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. By the end of the night, Center rushed for more than 300 yards as a team (304) for the third consecutive week.
Three plays after Carter's early burst, Farrow linked up with LaValle for a 15-yard touchdown.
"It's a play that has worked in the past for us on third down," LaValle said after his TD catch on third-and-10. "It was just a matter of running the right route and Carl (Farrow) putting the ball on the dot."
A week ago at Quaker Valley, Ellwood City quarterback Nick Nardone's most reliable target was junior fullback Trey McKim. And the Nardone-to-McKim connection worked again in the first half as Nardone completed a pass underneath to McKim for 18 yards to the Center 46-yard line. But a promising drive was killed when, three plays later, Center's Nate Glasser recovered a fumble. Moments later, Carter broke away from a pack of defenders on a 48-yard scamper to the end zone.
"The right side of my offensive line, Nate Glasser and Evan Blankenship, opened holes and I was able to slip some tackles," Carter said.
Farrow hurt Ellwood City (1-3) with a 32-yard scamper, then used a play-action fake and found LaValle free in the secondary on a 32-yard strike. That set up Garrett Tonio's 27-yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining before halftime to stretch the Trojans' lead to 17-0.
"We felt we needed this win, because road games in the MAC are always huge," said LaValle who also had a sack of Nardone and an interception in the end zone that he returned 27 yards.
Zack Spearing recovered a late fumble, and Jeff Ciccone slammed over from the 2, before Ellwood City averted the shutout as McKim took a Nardone pass down the sideline en route to a 65-yard touchdown.
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PG West: Center won't be winging it against Ford City
Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Rich Emert, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The question posed to Center High School football coach Larry Taddeo was meant more as an icebreaker, not one that would conjure up bad memories.
When asked what he knew about Ford City, Center's opponent tomorrow night at 7:30 in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals, Taddeo said quickly, "I know they handed it to us, 39-8, last year."
OK, but that was more than 365 days ago.
What's interesting is that Ford City coach John Bartolovic figures the Trojans are still smarting from that first-round playoff loss.
"I'm sure they want to make amends for last year," he said.
Center (8-2) and Ford City (9-1) will square off at Deer Lakes High School's Lancer Stadium.
The fact the Trojans played Ford City last year helps ... some.
Ford City runs the Delaware Wing-T offense and has three running backs with impressive numbers. Derek Bush, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior leads the way with 1,137 yards on 143 carries. Sophomore fullback Sean Kriley has 607 yards on 92 carries and Carter Haponski has more than 500 yards rushing.
In their first-round playoff game against Steel Valley, a 24-3 win, the Sabers rushed for 299 yards and had 352 yards total offense.
"We played only two Wing-T teams last year in Mars, during the regular season, and Ford City," Taddeo said. "I don't think we went against any teams that run that offense this year.
"It's just a question of telling the players not to get caught looking into the backfield because that's when you get in trouble."
The Wing-T relies on quickness, slick ballhandling and misdirection plays. It is a great ball-possession offense and a team that runs it well, such as Ford City, can put together long, methodical scoring drives that consume big chunks of time.
Wing-T teams do not throw the football much, although Ford City's Ryan Hand has completed 46 of 98 passes for 811 yards. Teams that run the Wing-T can have problems if they get behind.
That's why Taddeo wants Center to get off to a fast start.
The Trojans also like to run the football and have a talented running back in Maurice Carter, a 5-8, 175-pound sophomore who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. They also have a gifted quarterback in Carl Farrow, a 6-5 senior who has passed for 738 yards and run for more than 300.
"Their size is what's impressive about them," Bartolovic said, referring to Center linemen Evan Blankenship, who is 6-4, 315, and Nate Glasser, 6-0, 267. There is also John George, 5-11, 234, and Kevin Kosmal, 6-0, 231. Ford City has just three players heavier than 240.
"They are huge up front. Their size is a factor. Hopefully, we'll be able to offset that with our quickness."
Ford City comes into the game averaging 40.5 points. And the Sabers are playoff-tested, advancing to the quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive year. Bartolovic had nine defensive and eight offensive starters returning when camp opened.
Center has been stingy on defense, allowing opponents just 13.2 points per game. The Trojans have not allowed a WPIAL team more than 14 points in a game since the first week of the season and that includes top-ranked Aliquippa, which edged Center, 13-7, two weeks ago.
The Trojans have also been opportunistic. Junior Matt LaValle has nine interceptions and Farrow has five. Hand did not throw an interception in eight games this season.
Taddeo said his Trojans are ready for Ford City. Center scrimmaged against Hopewell and Moon in August and went against Franklin from District 10 in a non-league contest. All are Class AAA schools and Hopewell and Moon are still alive.
"We go against those teams to get ready for games like this and the one we played last week against Yough, which was Triple-A last year," he said.
"At this point it doesn't matter much who you are playing ... everybody's good," Bartolovic said. "We didn't play all that well this past week against Steel Valley. We'll need to pick it up against Center."
PG West: Center won't be winging it against Ford City
Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Rich Emert, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The question posed to Center High School football coach Larry Taddeo was meant more as an icebreaker, not one that would conjure up bad memories.
When asked what he knew about Ford City, Center's opponent tomorrow night at 7:30 in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals, Taddeo said quickly, "I know they handed it to us, 39-8, last year."
OK, but that was more than 365 days ago.
What's interesting is that Ford City coach John Bartolovic figures the Trojans are still smarting from that first-round playoff loss.
"I'm sure they want to make amends for last year," he said.
Center (8-2) and Ford City (9-1) will square off at Deer Lakes High School's Lancer Stadium.
The fact the Trojans played Ford City last year helps ... some.
Ford City runs the Delaware Wing-T offense and has three running backs with impressive numbers. Derek Bush, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior leads the way with 1,137 yards on 143 carries. Sophomore fullback Sean Kriley has 607 yards on 92 carries and Carter Haponski has more than 500 yards rushing.
In their first-round playoff game against Steel Valley, a 24-3 win, the Sabers rushed for 299 yards and had 352 yards total offense.
"We played only two Wing-T teams last year in Mars, during the regular season, and Ford City," Taddeo said. "I don't think we went against any teams that run that offense this year.
"It's just a question of telling the players not to get caught looking into the backfield because that's when you get in trouble."
The Wing-T relies on quickness, slick ballhandling and misdirection plays. It is a great ball-possession offense and a team that runs it well, such as Ford City, can put together long, methodical scoring drives that consume big chunks of time.
Wing-T teams do not throw the football much, although Ford City's Ryan Hand has completed 46 of 98 passes for 811 yards. Teams that run the Wing-T can have problems if they get behind.
That's why Taddeo wants Center to get off to a fast start.
The Trojans also like to run the football and have a talented running back in Maurice Carter, a 5-8, 175-pound sophomore who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. They also have a gifted quarterback in Carl Farrow, a 6-5 senior who has passed for 738 yards and run for more than 300.
"Their size is what's impressive about them," Bartolovic said, referring to Center linemen Evan Blankenship, who is 6-4, 315, and Nate Glasser, 6-0, 267. There is also John George, 5-11, 234, and Kevin Kosmal, 6-0, 231. Ford City has just three players heavier than 240.
"They are huge up front. Their size is a factor. Hopefully, we'll be able to offset that with our quickness."
Ford City comes into the game averaging 40.5 points. And the Sabers are playoff-tested, advancing to the quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive year. Bartolovic had nine defensive and eight offensive starters returning when camp opened.
Center has been stingy on defense, allowing opponents just 13.2 points per game. The Trojans have not allowed a WPIAL team more than 14 points in a game since the first week of the season and that includes top-ranked Aliquippa, which edged Center, 13-7, two weeks ago.
The Trojans have also been opportunistic. Junior Matt LaValle has nine interceptions and Farrow has five. Hand did not throw an interception in eight games this season.
Taddeo said his Trojans are ready for Ford City. Center scrimmaged against Hopewell and Moon in August and went against Franklin from District 10 in a non-league contest. All are Class AAA schools and Hopewell and Moon are still alive.
"We go against those teams to get ready for games like this and the one we played last week against Yough, which was Triple-A last year," he said.
"At this point it doesn't matter much who you are playing ... everybody's good," Bartolovic said. "We didn't play all that well this past week against Steel Valley. We'll need to pick it up against Center."
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CleveBucks
Serenity now
PSU fans can't like reading articles like that... it used to be Paterno causing the uproar in PA high schools.
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Blankenship glad to have discovered Columbus
Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff
11/29/2006
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CENTER TWP. - Among the 105,708 fans who had the pleasure of watching the Ohio State-Michigan classic was the big man from Center, Evan Blankenship.
Sitting in the first row of seats, right around the 35-yard line on the home team's side at Ohio Stadium, Blankenship watched in awe as the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes edged the No. 2-ranked Wolverines, 42-39.
"It was an experience of a lifetime," Blankenship said of the Nov. 18 showdown in Columbus. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Starting next year, Blankenship will be experiencing college football's fiercest rivalry from a different perspective. A 6-foot-3, 305-pound two-way tackle, he's verbally committed to accept a scholarship from Ohio State. He'll make it official by filing his letter-of-intent on national signing day Feb. 7.
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"My mom tells me almost every day, 'You're going to be playing for the No. 1 team in the nation next year,' " Blankenship said. "I can't wait. I'm excited for the new challenge."
On Tuesday, Blankenship met with his future coach when Jim Tressel made a stop at Center High School. Sunday was the first day of an NCAA recruiting period that allows coaches to meet off-campus with a recruit.
"We (talked) mostly about the official visit I'm making the first or second week of December," Blankenship said of his brief visit with Tressel. "I'm glad he's here. It's nice to talk to him one-on-one."
Blankenship's association with Ohio State began when he attended Buckeye football camps before his freshman and sophomore seasons. Before leaving the camp in 2004, Blankenship was told by Tressel that Ohio State would offer him a scholarship before the start of his junior season.
"Sure enough, I got a letter in the mail," Blankenship said. "It was a scholarship offer from Ohio State."
Even though he had an offer in hand, Blankenship didn't commit to Ohio State until August of this year. Still, despite the many overtures he received from other schools, he always figured Ohio State was the place for him.
"I fell in love with the place the first time I was there," he said.
Blankenship, who's already met the NCAA's academic requirements for freshman eligibility, has seen at least 10 games at the Ohio Stadium's famed "Horseshoe." But because of NCAA rules that prohibit recruits from attending games played off campus, he won't be allowed to make the trip to Glendale, Ariz., for the Jan. 8 BCS National Championship.
Blankenship glad to have discovered Columbus
Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff
11/29/2006
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CENTER TWP. - Among the 105,708 fans who had the pleasure of watching the Ohio State-Michigan classic was the big man from Center, Evan Blankenship.
Sitting in the first row of seats, right around the 35-yard line on the home team's side at Ohio Stadium, Blankenship watched in awe as the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes edged the No. 2-ranked Wolverines, 42-39.
"It was an experience of a lifetime," Blankenship said of the Nov. 18 showdown in Columbus. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Starting next year, Blankenship will be experiencing college football's fiercest rivalry from a different perspective. A 6-foot-3, 305-pound two-way tackle, he's verbally committed to accept a scholarship from Ohio State. He'll make it official by filing his letter-of-intent on national signing day Feb. 7.
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"My mom tells me almost every day, 'You're going to be playing for the No. 1 team in the nation next year,' " Blankenship said. "I can't wait. I'm excited for the new challenge."
On Tuesday, Blankenship met with his future coach when Jim Tressel made a stop at Center High School. Sunday was the first day of an NCAA recruiting period that allows coaches to meet off-campus with a recruit.
"We (talked) mostly about the official visit I'm making the first or second week of December," Blankenship said of his brief visit with Tressel. "I'm glad he's here. It's nice to talk to him one-on-one."
Blankenship's association with Ohio State began when he attended Buckeye football camps before his freshman and sophomore seasons. Before leaving the camp in 2004, Blankenship was told by Tressel that Ohio State would offer him a scholarship before the start of his junior season.
"Sure enough, I got a letter in the mail," Blankenship said. "It was a scholarship offer from Ohio State."
Even though he had an offer in hand, Blankenship didn't commit to Ohio State until August of this year. Still, despite the many overtures he received from other schools, he always figured Ohio State was the place for him.
"I fell in love with the place the first time I was there," he said.
Blankenship, who's already met the NCAA's academic requirements for freshman eligibility, has seen at least 10 games at the Ohio Stadium's famed "Horseshoe." But because of NCAA rules that prohibit recruits from attending games played off campus, he won't be allowed to make the trip to Glendale, Ariz., for the Jan. 8 BCS National Championship.
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Ohio State coach pays Center a visit
Mike Bires TIMES SPORTS STAFF
11/28/2006
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[FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-2] The Times/LUCY SCHALY
Jim Tressel, the football coach at Ohio State University, poses for a photo with secretary Carla Copple and Ohio State assistant football coach Joe Daniels. [/SIZE][/FONT]
CENTER TWP. ? It was just past 11:30 Tuesday morning when a dignified looking gentleman walked through the doors at Center High School and turned the main office into his personal greeting room.
?I think he?s met everybody in school today,? said principal Anthony Mendicino.
The man everyone wanted to meet was Jim Tressel, the football coach who?s fast becoming a living legend at Ohio State University.
Now in his sixth season in Columbus, Tressel needs just one more victory to cap off his second unbeaten season and capture his second national championship with the Buckeyes (the first came in 2002).
?For me, this is like meeting the President of the United States,? said Carla Copple, a secretary at Center whose daughter, Dana, is a senior cheerleader at Ohio State. ?I grew up in Wellsville, Ohio, so I?ve been a Buckeye fan since I was a baby.?
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?It really is tremendous privilege to coach at Ohio State,? said Tressel, who was hired by the Buckeyes winning four NCAA Division I-A national titles at Youngstown State during his 15-year tenure.
?I remind our players every day, ?What a privilege you have. I know we recruited you, and I know we wanted you to come here. Still, the fact you chose to come here to be part of this, it?s a tremendous privilege.?
On Tuesday, Tressel came to Center because he?s extended Evan Blankenship, a star lineman, the privilege of wearing the Scarlet and Gray.
With the Buckeyes (12-0) off until they play Jan. 8 in the BCS National Championship, Tressel is making his rounds this week, visiting with high school recruits who?ve verbally committed to Ohio State.
Because of NCAA rules, Tressel can?t talk to the media about a recruit until that recruit signs a national letter-of-intent (the first day of the next signing period for recruiting classes of 2007 is Feb. 7). But Tressel is still allowed to visit with Blankenship ? a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder who?ll play guard or center at Ohio State ? primarily to keep tabs with his second recruit from Beaver County in recent years.
Ohio State?s starting tight end Rory Nicol, a redshirt sophomore, graduated from Beaver High School.
?Obviously, I can?t talk about who, but it?s fun when you get a chance to watch a kid grow,? said Tressel.
?It?s fun to watch kids who work hard and do what they?re supposed to do. Then they have an opportunity to come to place like Ohio State or Penn State or Pitt, or wherever, and you can?t help but feel good for them.?
When Tressel arrived at Center along with Ohio State quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels, he was greeted by a cast of school administrators, faculty and students who wanted to meet the man who?s on the verge of his sixth national championship.
?You could just feel the electricity in our school today because of Coach Tressel?s visit,? Mendicino said. ?There was definitely a buzz in our school today.?
Tressel and his Buckeyes sure created quite a buzz in Columbus two Saturdays ago when Ohio State clinched its spot in the BSC national championship game by beating Michigan in a classic showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country.
Now, Ohio State must wait to find out if will play No. 2 Southern Cal (10-1), No. 3 Michigan (11-1) or No. 4 Florida (11-1) for the national title.
?Any of those three teams will be tough,? Tressel said. ?But for as much fun as the Ohio State-Michigan was (on Nov. 18), imagine what it would be like if we played again.?
Ohio State coach pays Center a visit
Mike Bires TIMES SPORTS STAFF
11/28/2006
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Jim Tressel, the football coach at Ohio State University, poses for a photo with secretary Carla Copple and Ohio State assistant football coach Joe Daniels. [/SIZE][/FONT]
CENTER TWP. ? It was just past 11:30 Tuesday morning when a dignified looking gentleman walked through the doors at Center High School and turned the main office into his personal greeting room.
?I think he?s met everybody in school today,? said principal Anthony Mendicino.
The man everyone wanted to meet was Jim Tressel, the football coach who?s fast becoming a living legend at Ohio State University.
Now in his sixth season in Columbus, Tressel needs just one more victory to cap off his second unbeaten season and capture his second national championship with the Buckeyes (the first came in 2002).
?For me, this is like meeting the President of the United States,? said Carla Copple, a secretary at Center whose daughter, Dana, is a senior cheerleader at Ohio State. ?I grew up in Wellsville, Ohio, so I?ve been a Buckeye fan since I was a baby.?
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?It really is tremendous privilege to coach at Ohio State,? said Tressel, who was hired by the Buckeyes winning four NCAA Division I-A national titles at Youngstown State during his 15-year tenure.
?I remind our players every day, ?What a privilege you have. I know we recruited you, and I know we wanted you to come here. Still, the fact you chose to come here to be part of this, it?s a tremendous privilege.?
On Tuesday, Tressel came to Center because he?s extended Evan Blankenship, a star lineman, the privilege of wearing the Scarlet and Gray.
With the Buckeyes (12-0) off until they play Jan. 8 in the BCS National Championship, Tressel is making his rounds this week, visiting with high school recruits who?ve verbally committed to Ohio State.
Because of NCAA rules, Tressel can?t talk to the media about a recruit until that recruit signs a national letter-of-intent (the first day of the next signing period for recruiting classes of 2007 is Feb. 7). But Tressel is still allowed to visit with Blankenship ? a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder who?ll play guard or center at Ohio State ? primarily to keep tabs with his second recruit from Beaver County in recent years.
Ohio State?s starting tight end Rory Nicol, a redshirt sophomore, graduated from Beaver High School.
?Obviously, I can?t talk about who, but it?s fun when you get a chance to watch a kid grow,? said Tressel.
?It?s fun to watch kids who work hard and do what they?re supposed to do. Then they have an opportunity to come to place like Ohio State or Penn State or Pitt, or wherever, and you can?t help but feel good for them.?
When Tressel arrived at Center along with Ohio State quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels, he was greeted by a cast of school administrators, faculty and students who wanted to meet the man who?s on the verge of his sixth national championship.
?You could just feel the electricity in our school today because of Coach Tressel?s visit,? Mendicino said. ?There was definitely a buzz in our school today.?
Tressel and his Buckeyes sure created quite a buzz in Columbus two Saturdays ago when Ohio State clinched its spot in the BSC national championship game by beating Michigan in a classic showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country.
Now, Ohio State must wait to find out if will play No. 2 Southern Cal (10-1), No. 3 Michigan (11-1) or No. 4 Florida (11-1) for the national title.
?Any of those three teams will be tough,? Tressel said. ?But for as much fun as the Ohio State-Michigan was (on Nov. 18), imagine what it would be like if we played again.?
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