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DDN
Buckeyes unveil pair of Heisman candidates today
Troy Smith's love of Ohio spared coach embarrassment of recruiting snub.
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
COLUMBUS — Ohio State spent so much time schmoozing Justin Zwick while recruiting in 2002 that it had little love left for other highly rated quarterbacks in that class, much less the athletic but unpolished Troy Smith.
Coach Jim Tressel never promised Smith, a Cleveland Glenville High School star, a chance to compete for a starting job as a freshman, saying he'd have to spend his first season auditioning at other positions while the more-heralded Zwick did battle with upperclassmen Craig Krenzel and Scott McMullen.
Extras
RELATED
Glenville greats 2005 Statistics Troy Smith Passing: 2,282 yards, 16 TDs, four interceptions, .629 completion rate Rushing: 611, 11 TDs Ted Ginn Jr. Receiving: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs Punt and kick returns: 2 TDs Heisman Trophy leaders Notre Dame (7): Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Leon Hart, John Lattner, Paul Hornung. John Huarte, Tim Brown Southern Cal (7): Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush Ohio State (6): Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin (2), Eddie George
Although he had offers from West Virginia and others, Smith managed to overlook the snub because his heart was set on becoming a Buckeye.
"This is where I'm from," he said. "I'm not going to want to live anywhere else. It upsets me sometimes when I hear college students say they want to go where there's no snow. I wouldn't want to have Christmas without snow.
"I love Ohio. I love Columbus. I love Cleveland. Who else is going to make our state and our cities better besides us?"
Smith spared the Buckeyes a major recruiting blunder. And his choice opened a Glenville pipeline that would lead to Ted Ginn Jr. joining him two years later, giving OSU a pair of legitimate Heisman candidates this season.
After leading the Big Ten in passing efficiency as a junior last season, Smith's stock is rising faster than corporate CEO salaries. He's completed 61 percent of his career passes so far — the school's best mark ever.
And Ginn is blossoming into a feared receiver and will go into his junior year already possessing the OSU career record for punt-return touchdowns with five. But he's not exactly preoccupied with the Heisman.
"I came to Ohio State to play football first and go to school," he said. "I got here and saw the opportunity to make things happen and I did. Being a Heisman front-runner is great, and it's a good award to win. But I'm just going to play hard for my seniors and have fun doing it."
Contact this reporter at 225-2125 or at [email protected].
RELATED
Glenville greats
2005 Statistics
Troy Smith
Passing: 2,282 yards, 16 TDs, four interceptions, .629 completion rate
Rushing: 611, 11 TDs
Ted Ginn Jr.
Receiving: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs
Punt and kick returns: 2 TDs
Heisman Trophy leaders
Notre Dame (7): Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Leon Hart, John Lattner, Paul Hornung. John Huarte, Tim Brown
Southern Cal (7): Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush
Ohio State (6): Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin (2), Eddie George
Buckeyes unveil pair of Heisman candidates today
Troy Smith's love of Ohio spared coach embarrassment of recruiting snub.
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
COLUMBUS — Ohio State spent so much time schmoozing Justin Zwick while recruiting in 2002 that it had little love left for other highly rated quarterbacks in that class, much less the athletic but unpolished Troy Smith.
Coach Jim Tressel never promised Smith, a Cleveland Glenville High School star, a chance to compete for a starting job as a freshman, saying he'd have to spend his first season auditioning at other positions while the more-heralded Zwick did battle with upperclassmen Craig Krenzel and Scott McMullen.
Extras
RELATED
Glenville greats 2005 Statistics Troy Smith Passing: 2,282 yards, 16 TDs, four interceptions, .629 completion rate Rushing: 611, 11 TDs Ted Ginn Jr. Receiving: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs Punt and kick returns: 2 TDs Heisman Trophy leaders Notre Dame (7): Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Leon Hart, John Lattner, Paul Hornung. John Huarte, Tim Brown Southern Cal (7): Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush Ohio State (6): Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin (2), Eddie George
Although he had offers from West Virginia and others, Smith managed to overlook the snub because his heart was set on becoming a Buckeye.
"This is where I'm from," he said. "I'm not going to want to live anywhere else. It upsets me sometimes when I hear college students say they want to go where there's no snow. I wouldn't want to have Christmas without snow.
"I love Ohio. I love Columbus. I love Cleveland. Who else is going to make our state and our cities better besides us?"
Smith spared the Buckeyes a major recruiting blunder. And his choice opened a Glenville pipeline that would lead to Ted Ginn Jr. joining him two years later, giving OSU a pair of legitimate Heisman candidates this season.
After leading the Big Ten in passing efficiency as a junior last season, Smith's stock is rising faster than corporate CEO salaries. He's completed 61 percent of his career passes so far — the school's best mark ever.
And Ginn is blossoming into a feared receiver and will go into his junior year already possessing the OSU career record for punt-return touchdowns with five. But he's not exactly preoccupied with the Heisman.
"I came to Ohio State to play football first and go to school," he said. "I got here and saw the opportunity to make things happen and I did. Being a Heisman front-runner is great, and it's a good award to win. But I'm just going to play hard for my seniors and have fun doing it."
Contact this reporter at 225-2125 or at [email protected].
RELATED
Glenville greats
2005 Statistics
Troy Smith
Passing: 2,282 yards, 16 TDs, four interceptions, .629 completion rate
Rushing: 611, 11 TDs
Ted Ginn Jr.
Receiving: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs
Punt and kick returns: 2 TDs
Heisman Trophy leaders
Notre Dame (7): Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Leon Hart, John Lattner, Paul Hornung. John Huarte, Tim Brown
Southern Cal (7): Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush
Ohio State (6): Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin (2), Eddie George
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DDN
OSU vs. Northern Illinois analysis/prediction
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Quarterback
Northern Illinois senior Phil Horvath gets by mostly on his smarts. The Huskies, though, not only must worry about Troy Smith's head, but everything else attached to it, too.
Extras
EDGE: OSU
Running Back
The pixel-sized Garrett Wolfe rushed for 1,580 yards last year despite missing three games. But the Buckeyes' bruising freshman backup, Chris Wells, will get his first crack at an opposing defense, and it may be wise to keep the tape and gauze handy.
EDGE: OSU
Receivers
The Huskies have a player patterned after Ted Ginn Jr. in sophomore Britt Davis, but the Buckeyes have the original.
EDGE: OSU
Offensive line
The 6-foot-7, 302-pound Doug Free (known as Doug Freak to his NIU
teammates because of his athleticism) may be a future NFL tackle. But having to replace three of its starting front five doesn't bode well for NIU.
EDGE: OSU
Defensive line
The Buckeyes will have the best starting front four on the field — by far. And the next-best unit will be wearing scarlet, too.
EDGE: OSU
Linebackers
Both teams are going through transitions at the position, but the Buckeyes have been stockpiling talent precisely for moments like this.
EDGE: OSU
Defensive backs
Northern Illinois has returning starters at corner in Adriel and Alvah Hansbro, identical twins who have combined for seven career interceptions, and at safety in Dustin Utschig, the team's defensive MVP last season.
EDGE: NIU
Special teams
OSU kickers Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorius have ability, but even Mike Nugent needed a year to silence the jitters and boos.
EDGE: Even
Prediction:
Ohio State 31, Northern Illinois 17
OSU vs. Northern Illinois analysis/prediction
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Quarterback
Northern Illinois senior Phil Horvath gets by mostly on his smarts. The Huskies, though, not only must worry about Troy Smith's head, but everything else attached to it, too.
Extras
EDGE: OSU
Running Back
The pixel-sized Garrett Wolfe rushed for 1,580 yards last year despite missing three games. But the Buckeyes' bruising freshman backup, Chris Wells, will get his first crack at an opposing defense, and it may be wise to keep the tape and gauze handy.
EDGE: OSU
Receivers
The Huskies have a player patterned after Ted Ginn Jr. in sophomore Britt Davis, but the Buckeyes have the original.
EDGE: OSU
Offensive line
The 6-foot-7, 302-pound Doug Free (known as Doug Freak to his NIU
teammates because of his athleticism) may be a future NFL tackle. But having to replace three of its starting front five doesn't bode well for NIU.
EDGE: OSU
Defensive line
The Buckeyes will have the best starting front four on the field — by far. And the next-best unit will be wearing scarlet, too.
EDGE: OSU
Linebackers
Both teams are going through transitions at the position, but the Buckeyes have been stockpiling talent precisely for moments like this.
EDGE: OSU
Defensive backs
Northern Illinois has returning starters at corner in Adriel and Alvah Hansbro, identical twins who have combined for seven career interceptions, and at safety in Dustin Utschig, the team's defensive MVP last season.
EDGE: NIU
Special teams
OSU kickers Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorius have ability, but even Mike Nugent needed a year to silence the jitters and boos.
EDGE: Even
Prediction:
Ohio State 31, Northern Illinois 17
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DDN
Huskies know what kind of tunes they'll hear
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
COLUMBUS — The Northern Illinois University football team will be making its first trip to Ohio Stadium today, but the players may get the peculiar feeling that they've been there before.
Coach Joe Novak has had the Buckeyes' fight song and Hang on Sloopy blaring over loudspeakers during practice. And he's plastered pictures of the Horseshoe nearly everywhere the Huskies turn.
Extras
"You don't want to walk into the stadium and be worrying about the noise and the atmosphere," Novak said, "because then you're not at your best."
The Huskies took the same approach before playing Michigan last season, and they displayed plenty of spunk in the Big House before falling, 33-17.
"It probably won't be as loud (at OSU) as we've played the music," Novak said. "But if you get into that (closed) end zone, it might."
Running back handled with care
Franchise running back Garrett Wolfe, who rushed for 1,580 yards last year, has been practically kept in bubble wrap while overcoming offseason shoulder surgery and a minor knee injury during fall camp.
A preseason first-team All-American pick by Playboy and third-team choice by Street & Smith's, Wolfe has seen only minimal contact so far.
"We've been real smart with him and his practices," Novak said. "We don't knock him around, and the players know enough not to knock him around, too.
"His shoulder is 100 percent and couldn't be any better."
Huskies know what kind of tunes they'll hear
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
COLUMBUS — The Northern Illinois University football team will be making its first trip to Ohio Stadium today, but the players may get the peculiar feeling that they've been there before.
Coach Joe Novak has had the Buckeyes' fight song and Hang on Sloopy blaring over loudspeakers during practice. And he's plastered pictures of the Horseshoe nearly everywhere the Huskies turn.
Extras
"You don't want to walk into the stadium and be worrying about the noise and the atmosphere," Novak said, "because then you're not at your best."
The Huskies took the same approach before playing Michigan last season, and they displayed plenty of spunk in the Big House before falling, 33-17.
"It probably won't be as loud (at OSU) as we've played the music," Novak said. "But if you get into that (closed) end zone, it might."
Running back handled with care
Franchise running back Garrett Wolfe, who rushed for 1,580 yards last year, has been practically kept in bubble wrap while overcoming offseason shoulder surgery and a minor knee injury during fall camp.
A preseason first-team All-American pick by Playboy and third-team choice by Street & Smith's, Wolfe has seen only minimal contact so far.
"We've been real smart with him and his practices," Novak said. "We don't knock him around, and the players know enough not to knock him around, too.
"His shoulder is 100 percent and couldn't be any better."
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Canton
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[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]N. ILLINOIS AT OHIO STATE[/FONT]
Saturday, September 2, 2006 TV ABC will televise the game with Mark Jones and David Norrie in the booth.
RADIO Ohio State Radio Network (WHBC-AM 1480, WKNR-AM 850, WAKR-AM 1590) with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Marty Bannister.
ODDS Ohio State is a 201⁄2-point favorite. The Buckeyes are 100-12-4 in home openers and have won 27 straight. Their last home-opening loss was in 1978 against Penn State.
THE SERIES First meeting. Ohio State is 20-1 against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference. It’s been more than 110 years since the Buckeyes lost to a current MAC team (Akron in 1895).
WHO IS JOE NOVAK? All Joe Novak has done in his first 10 seasons at Northern Illinois is take the Huskies to four of the last five MAC West Division titles and produce six straight winning seasons. The Huskies had nine straight losing seasons from 1991-99. Novak took over in 1996. His best season was 2003, when NIU beat ranked Maryland and Alabama and finished 10-2. Novak spent 12 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Indiana. He was defensive coordinator at NIU for four years in the early 1980s after he coached at Illinois and Miami University in Oxford. He played defensive end for Bo Schembechler at Miami in 1965 and ’66. Novak graduated from Mentor High School and got his coaching start at Warren Western Reserve in 1968 as an assistant. Five years later he was promoted to head coach and went 12-0 and won the first big-school state title in 1972. He went 11-1 a year later and lost in the state title game.
HEARD OF THEM? U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert earned a master’s degree from NIU in 1967. Actor Steve Harris (“The Practice”), three-time Oscar nominee Joan Allen and Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, are NIU graduates. NIU grad Paul Sereno is credited with finding the world’s oldest dinosaur fossil (225 million years old).
WHEN OSU HAS THE BALL Buckeye fans have waited since the Fiesta Bowl to see this offense again. OSU’s offense is explosive, but it also has lofty expectations on its shoulders. The offensive line is led by Perry graduate Kirk Barton (6-6, 310) and GlenOak grad T.J. Downing (6-4, 305). They make up the right side of the line. LT Alex Boone started three games last year and could become as good as Orlando Pace. C Doug Datish is a preseason Rimington Award candidate. QB Troy Smith figures to be the beneficiary of a better line. Smith is a threat to pass and run. This is really his first chance to get hit, as Head Coach Jim Tressel has had a no-contact jersey on his Heisman Trophy candidate this summer. Smith spent the offseason becoming a student of the game. Smith will have more liberty to call plays at the line. RB Antonio Pittman seems to have a chip on his shoulder, and for good reason. Pittman rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season and most of the talk in the offseason has been on freshman Chris Wells. The wide receivers are very good. Ted Ginn Jr. is a deep-play threat, but his hands have been inconsistent. Ginn needs to become a reliable option. Anthony Gonzalez is sneaky quick and a solid possession-type receiver. Look for Ginn to get the ball in the air and on the ground. Don’t be surprised if he plays DB at some point this season.
WHEN NIU HAS THE BALL There is no hiding the Huskies’ key cog: RB Garrett Wolf. He is the nation’s leading returning rusher with 1,656 yards. In two seasons as a starter, Wolf has 3,236 career rushing yards and 34 TDs. LT Doug Free goes 6-7, 302 pounds and may be drafted before Wolf next spring. Free is a converted tight end and has turned into an All-MAC performer. QB Phil Horvath is better than his numbers indicate. He led the nation with a 70.6 completion percentage last year. Horvath missed the last three games with a broken arm. He threw for 2,001 yards in ’05 in nine games. He was picked off eight times, and threw 18 TDs. NIU is relatively inexperienced on offense after Wolf and Free. The offensive line will welcome three new starters, including C Eddie Adamski. NIU will be a run-first team. Novak calls it the “East Coast Offense.” Buckeye LBs Marcus Freeman, James Laurinaitis and John Kerr will be under the microscope. JUCO transfer Larry Grant will get action at linebacker, as will freshman Ross Homan.
NOTABLE Novak and Tressel come from the same coaching tree. Both were assistants at MAC-member Miami. Tressel was there from 1979-80 and Novak from 1974-76. ... Ohio State has finished in the Top 5 the three of the last four years and begins this season No. 1 in both the coaches’ and media polls. ... Columbus natives Chris and John Hauser will be on opposite sidelines. Chris is a first-year grad assistant at OSU and John is a full-time assistant at NIU. This is his third season there. ... Smith owns four of OSU’s top 10 spots for total yardage in a game. His 408 against Notre Dame last year is No. 2. He could top that today. ... Justin Zwick (Massillon) is the backup QB, but Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft may play. Boeckman is a close No. 3 QB.
TAKING A PEEK The Buckeyes head to Austin for a prime-time showdown against Texas next Saturday (8 p.m. ABC). Texas beat OSU a year ago en route to winning the national title. The Longhorns are No. 2 in the coaches’ poll and No. 3 in the media poll
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[FONT=Verdana,Times New Roman,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]N. ILLINOIS AT OHIO STATE[/FONT]
Saturday, September 2, 2006 TV ABC will televise the game with Mark Jones and David Norrie in the booth.
RADIO Ohio State Radio Network (WHBC-AM 1480, WKNR-AM 850, WAKR-AM 1590) with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Marty Bannister.
ODDS Ohio State is a 201⁄2-point favorite. The Buckeyes are 100-12-4 in home openers and have won 27 straight. Their last home-opening loss was in 1978 against Penn State.
THE SERIES First meeting. Ohio State is 20-1 against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference. It’s been more than 110 years since the Buckeyes lost to a current MAC team (Akron in 1895).
WHO IS JOE NOVAK? All Joe Novak has done in his first 10 seasons at Northern Illinois is take the Huskies to four of the last five MAC West Division titles and produce six straight winning seasons. The Huskies had nine straight losing seasons from 1991-99. Novak took over in 1996. His best season was 2003, when NIU beat ranked Maryland and Alabama and finished 10-2. Novak spent 12 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Indiana. He was defensive coordinator at NIU for four years in the early 1980s after he coached at Illinois and Miami University in Oxford. He played defensive end for Bo Schembechler at Miami in 1965 and ’66. Novak graduated from Mentor High School and got his coaching start at Warren Western Reserve in 1968 as an assistant. Five years later he was promoted to head coach and went 12-0 and won the first big-school state title in 1972. He went 11-1 a year later and lost in the state title game.
HEARD OF THEM? U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert earned a master’s degree from NIU in 1967. Actor Steve Harris (“The Practice”), three-time Oscar nominee Joan Allen and Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, are NIU graduates. NIU grad Paul Sereno is credited with finding the world’s oldest dinosaur fossil (225 million years old).
WHEN OSU HAS THE BALL Buckeye fans have waited since the Fiesta Bowl to see this offense again. OSU’s offense is explosive, but it also has lofty expectations on its shoulders. The offensive line is led by Perry graduate Kirk Barton (6-6, 310) and GlenOak grad T.J. Downing (6-4, 305). They make up the right side of the line. LT Alex Boone started three games last year and could become as good as Orlando Pace. C Doug Datish is a preseason Rimington Award candidate. QB Troy Smith figures to be the beneficiary of a better line. Smith is a threat to pass and run. This is really his first chance to get hit, as Head Coach Jim Tressel has had a no-contact jersey on his Heisman Trophy candidate this summer. Smith spent the offseason becoming a student of the game. Smith will have more liberty to call plays at the line. RB Antonio Pittman seems to have a chip on his shoulder, and for good reason. Pittman rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season and most of the talk in the offseason has been on freshman Chris Wells. The wide receivers are very good. Ted Ginn Jr. is a deep-play threat, but his hands have been inconsistent. Ginn needs to become a reliable option. Anthony Gonzalez is sneaky quick and a solid possession-type receiver. Look for Ginn to get the ball in the air and on the ground. Don’t be surprised if he plays DB at some point this season.
WHEN NIU HAS THE BALL There is no hiding the Huskies’ key cog: RB Garrett Wolf. He is the nation’s leading returning rusher with 1,656 yards. In two seasons as a starter, Wolf has 3,236 career rushing yards and 34 TDs. LT Doug Free goes 6-7, 302 pounds and may be drafted before Wolf next spring. Free is a converted tight end and has turned into an All-MAC performer. QB Phil Horvath is better than his numbers indicate. He led the nation with a 70.6 completion percentage last year. Horvath missed the last three games with a broken arm. He threw for 2,001 yards in ’05 in nine games. He was picked off eight times, and threw 18 TDs. NIU is relatively inexperienced on offense after Wolf and Free. The offensive line will welcome three new starters, including C Eddie Adamski. NIU will be a run-first team. Novak calls it the “East Coast Offense.” Buckeye LBs Marcus Freeman, James Laurinaitis and John Kerr will be under the microscope. JUCO transfer Larry Grant will get action at linebacker, as will freshman Ross Homan.
NOTABLE Novak and Tressel come from the same coaching tree. Both were assistants at MAC-member Miami. Tressel was there from 1979-80 and Novak from 1974-76. ... Ohio State has finished in the Top 5 the three of the last four years and begins this season No. 1 in both the coaches’ and media polls. ... Columbus natives Chris and John Hauser will be on opposite sidelines. Chris is a first-year grad assistant at OSU and John is a full-time assistant at NIU. This is his third season there. ... Smith owns four of OSU’s top 10 spots for total yardage in a game. His 408 against Notre Dame last year is No. 2. He could top that today. ... Justin Zwick (Massillon) is the backup QB, but Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft may play. Boeckman is a close No. 3 QB.
TAKING A PEEK The Buckeyes head to Austin for a prime-time showdown against Texas next Saturday (8 p.m. ABC). Texas beat OSU a year ago en route to winning the national title. The Longhorns are No. 2 in the coaches’ poll and No. 3 in the media poll
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ABJ
Remaining on top can be difficult
Starting at No. 1 means OSU has room to fall
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - There is one glaring negative about Ohio State opening the season as the nation's No. 1 team.
Only Florida State in 1999 and Southern California in 2004 have gone wire to wire, starting with the top ranking in the Associated Press poll, holding it every week and finishing in the same spot.
The Buckeyes captured two national championships -- under coach Paul Brown in 1942 and under coach Woody Hayes in 1970 -- in the previous six times they began atop the poll.
The '42 team went 9-1 and won the AP title despite a loss at No. 6 Wisconsin in midseason. The '70 team finished 9-1 and was recognized as the best by the National Football Foundation, even though it lost to No. 12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The Associated Press acknowledged that it released its final rankings before the bowls until sometime in the 1960s.
As the Buckeyes kick off today at 3:30 p.m. against Northern Illinois in front of a sellout crowd at Ohio Stadium, OSU upperclassmen insist there has been no conversation about the lofty ranking.
``I try not to think about that,'' senior quarterback Troy Smith said. ``It's all about where you finish. Don't get me wrong, it's great being (among) the top teams. But the preseason sometimes can cut your throat if you let it.
``We read a quote in our `Winners Manual' (a book provided to players by coaches) that said something like, `The media and some of the tabloids are like poison. They can only hurt you if you swallow it.'
``I think it's in the back of guys' heads. I don't think there's a person in our locker room who has enough guts or macho to come out and start talking about that,'' Smith said. ``We focus on getting better day in and day out.''
Junior running back Antonio Pittman knows the Buckeyes have a target on their backs with the ranking, but insists he doesn't feel any pressure.
``We've got to go out and perform just like we're not ranked,'' he said. ``We have to stay on our toes at all times. We can't even think about No. 1.''
But then Pittman sounded like he might not be able to do that himself.
``I think we've got something to prove. Any time you come out No. 1, you want to let it be known that you're No. 1 for a reason,'' he said.
Senior linebacker John Kerr doesn't quite agree with Pittman.
``It's not about being anxious to show the country what we can do, it's being anxious to show ourselves,'' Kerr said. ``To prove to ourselves, `Hey, yeah, we're going to be fine.' ''
The preseason optimism was borne out of OSU's returning offensive firepower, led by Heisman candidates Smith and flanker-kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., and a strong second half of last season. A 10-2 campaign concluded with a 34-20 drubbing of No. 6 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. On that night, Smith knew that the new BCS national championship game would be played next year in Glendale, Ariz.
It is scheduled for Jan. 8, a week after the other bowls conclude.
To achieve that goal, the Buckeyes must cope with the loss of nine starters on defense and kicker Josh Huston. Redshirt freshman Aaron Pettrey won the job Mike Nugent and Huston so aptly handled since the start of the 2002 season.
Northern Illinois could prove to be a dangerous foe, especially since a trip to No. 3 Texas is next up for OSU on Sept. 9.
The Huskies went 7-5 last season and tied for first in the Mid-American Conference with a 6-2 mark. With the nation's leading returning rusher in senior Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois is favored to win the MAC's Western Division.
``I'm glad we're catching them first,'' Wolfe said. ``Hopefully those defensive guys aren't worried, they're very confident. Hopefully they're thinking about those Longhorns.''
Junior receiver Anthony Gonzalez insists that isn't so.
``We're focused on this game,'' he said.
``Northern Illinois is going to give us everything we want and more. In no way are we looking past Northern Illinois. I haven't watched a Texas film since the summer.''
Sophomore linebacker Marcus Freeman, stepping into a starting spot after redshirting when he tore a meniscus in the 2005 opener, is more concerned with defensive coordinator Jim Heacock's total team concept. But what about 13-0?
``That's the number we want to hear at the end of the season,'' Freeman said.
Remaining on top can be difficult
Starting at No. 1 means OSU has room to fall
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - There is one glaring negative about Ohio State opening the season as the nation's No. 1 team.
Only Florida State in 1999 and Southern California in 2004 have gone wire to wire, starting with the top ranking in the Associated Press poll, holding it every week and finishing in the same spot.
The Buckeyes captured two national championships -- under coach Paul Brown in 1942 and under coach Woody Hayes in 1970 -- in the previous six times they began atop the poll.
The '42 team went 9-1 and won the AP title despite a loss at No. 6 Wisconsin in midseason. The '70 team finished 9-1 and was recognized as the best by the National Football Foundation, even though it lost to No. 12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The Associated Press acknowledged that it released its final rankings before the bowls until sometime in the 1960s.
As the Buckeyes kick off today at 3:30 p.m. against Northern Illinois in front of a sellout crowd at Ohio Stadium, OSU upperclassmen insist there has been no conversation about the lofty ranking.
``I try not to think about that,'' senior quarterback Troy Smith said. ``It's all about where you finish. Don't get me wrong, it's great being (among) the top teams. But the preseason sometimes can cut your throat if you let it.
``We read a quote in our `Winners Manual' (a book provided to players by coaches) that said something like, `The media and some of the tabloids are like poison. They can only hurt you if you swallow it.'
``I think it's in the back of guys' heads. I don't think there's a person in our locker room who has enough guts or macho to come out and start talking about that,'' Smith said. ``We focus on getting better day in and day out.''
Junior running back Antonio Pittman knows the Buckeyes have a target on their backs with the ranking, but insists he doesn't feel any pressure.
``We've got to go out and perform just like we're not ranked,'' he said. ``We have to stay on our toes at all times. We can't even think about No. 1.''
But then Pittman sounded like he might not be able to do that himself.
``I think we've got something to prove. Any time you come out No. 1, you want to let it be known that you're No. 1 for a reason,'' he said.
Senior linebacker John Kerr doesn't quite agree with Pittman.
``It's not about being anxious to show the country what we can do, it's being anxious to show ourselves,'' Kerr said. ``To prove to ourselves, `Hey, yeah, we're going to be fine.' ''
The preseason optimism was borne out of OSU's returning offensive firepower, led by Heisman candidates Smith and flanker-kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., and a strong second half of last season. A 10-2 campaign concluded with a 34-20 drubbing of No. 6 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. On that night, Smith knew that the new BCS national championship game would be played next year in Glendale, Ariz.
It is scheduled for Jan. 8, a week after the other bowls conclude.
To achieve that goal, the Buckeyes must cope with the loss of nine starters on defense and kicker Josh Huston. Redshirt freshman Aaron Pettrey won the job Mike Nugent and Huston so aptly handled since the start of the 2002 season.
Northern Illinois could prove to be a dangerous foe, especially since a trip to No. 3 Texas is next up for OSU on Sept. 9.
The Huskies went 7-5 last season and tied for first in the Mid-American Conference with a 6-2 mark. With the nation's leading returning rusher in senior Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois is favored to win the MAC's Western Division.
``I'm glad we're catching them first,'' Wolfe said. ``Hopefully those defensive guys aren't worried, they're very confident. Hopefully they're thinking about those Longhorns.''
Junior receiver Anthony Gonzalez insists that isn't so.
``We're focused on this game,'' he said.
``Northern Illinois is going to give us everything we want and more. In no way are we looking past Northern Illinois. I haven't watched a Texas film since the summer.''
Sophomore linebacker Marcus Freeman, stepping into a starting spot after redshirting when he tore a meniscus in the 2005 opener, is more concerned with defensive coordinator Jim Heacock's total team concept. But what about 13-0?
``That's the number we want to hear at the end of the season,'' Freeman said.
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ABJ
BUCKEYES SCOUTING REPORT
Northern Illinois at No. 1 Ohio State
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m.
2005 records: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1, tied for first in the Big Ten Conference); Northern Illinois (7-5, 6-2, tied for first in Mid-American Conference).
Coaches: Jim Tressel (50-13) is in his sixth season at Ohio State; Joe Novak (54-60) is in his 11th season at Northern Illinois.
Broadcast: Radio -- WAKR (1590-AM); WHBC (1480-AM), WKNR (850-AM), WQKT (104.5-FM). TV -- WEWS (Channel 5).
Notebook: Northern Illinois has upset the big boys before, beating No. 15 Maryland in overtime and No. 21 Alabama in 2003, No. 20 Bowling Green in 2002 and No. 24 Fresno State in 1990.... This marks the second time the Huskies have faced a No. 1 team; they lost 34-0 at Miami (Fla.) in 1986. Their overall record against ranked teams is 4-23.... Senior RB Garrett Wolfe, the nation's leading returning rusher (1,656 yards) will try to change that as he runs behind 6-foot-7, 312-pound senior LT Doug Free.... Senior QB Phil Horvath led NCAA Division I-A in completion percentage (70.6) last season and ranked sixth in passing efficiency (159.5) before missing the final three games with a broken left arm. His favorite target could be sophomore WR Britt Davis (42-441-3 TDs in '05), a former QB who stands 6-2... NIU's defensive standouts are senior DE Ken West (55 tackles, four for losses, three sacks, 17 hurries) and senior FS Dustin Utschig (121 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions)... Junior K Chris Nendick (25-of-34 career field goals) was dubbed the MAC's best under pressure by Street & Smith magazine.... Novak is from Mentor and played DE for Bo Schembechler at Miami in 1965-66.
Pick: Ohio State, 31-13.
BUCKEYES SCOUTING REPORT
Northern Illinois at No. 1 Ohio State
Kickoff: 3:36 p.m.
2005 records: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1, tied for first in the Big Ten Conference); Northern Illinois (7-5, 6-2, tied for first in Mid-American Conference).
Coaches: Jim Tressel (50-13) is in his sixth season at Ohio State; Joe Novak (54-60) is in his 11th season at Northern Illinois.
Broadcast: Radio -- WAKR (1590-AM); WHBC (1480-AM), WKNR (850-AM), WQKT (104.5-FM). TV -- WEWS (Channel 5).
Notebook: Northern Illinois has upset the big boys before, beating No. 15 Maryland in overtime and No. 21 Alabama in 2003, No. 20 Bowling Green in 2002 and No. 24 Fresno State in 1990.... This marks the second time the Huskies have faced a No. 1 team; they lost 34-0 at Miami (Fla.) in 1986. Their overall record against ranked teams is 4-23.... Senior RB Garrett Wolfe, the nation's leading returning rusher (1,656 yards) will try to change that as he runs behind 6-foot-7, 312-pound senior LT Doug Free.... Senior QB Phil Horvath led NCAA Division I-A in completion percentage (70.6) last season and ranked sixth in passing efficiency (159.5) before missing the final three games with a broken left arm. His favorite target could be sophomore WR Britt Davis (42-441-3 TDs in '05), a former QB who stands 6-2... NIU's defensive standouts are senior DE Ken West (55 tackles, four for losses, three sacks, 17 hurries) and senior FS Dustin Utschig (121 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions)... Junior K Chris Nendick (25-of-34 career field goals) was dubbed the MAC's best under pressure by Street & Smith magazine.... Novak is from Mentor and played DE for Bo Schembechler at Miami in 1965-66.
Pick: Ohio State, 31-13.
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ABJ
STARTING NO. 1
A look back at seasons when Ohio State started as the nation'sNo. 1-ranked football team:
1942 -- Finished 9-1, won AP national championship
1958 -- Finished 6-1-2, third in Big Ten
1969 -- Finished 8-1, tied for Big Ten title
1970 -- Finished 9-1, won National Football Foundation national title
1980 -- Finished 9-3, tied for second in Big Ten
1998 -- Finished 11-1, tied for Big Ten title
STARTING NO. 1
A look back at seasons when Ohio State started as the nation'sNo. 1-ranked football team:
1942 -- Finished 9-1, won AP national championship
1958 -- Finished 6-1-2, third in Big Ten
1969 -- Finished 8-1, tied for Big Ten title
1970 -- Finished 9-1, won National Football Foundation national title
1980 -- Finished 9-3, tied for second in Big Ten
1998 -- Finished 11-1, tied for Big Ten title
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Link
Wire-to-wire No. 1s? That's the challenge
By Jon Spencer
News Journal
COLUMBUS -- It should be comforting for Ohio State football fans to know the Smiths are on the same page.
Athletic director Gene Smith kicked off fall camp with a mission statement. The basic message was this: become the first band of Buckeyes to go wire-to-wire as the nation's No. 1 team.
"I've never mentioned that, but he talked about distinguishing yourself, and how do you do that at a place like Ohio State where there have been so many great teams?" coach Jim Tressel said. "He threw out the challenge to us ... there is a way to distinguish yourself."
Quarterback Troy Smith, on the receiving end for once, fielded the AD's challenge and vowed not to fumble away this opportunity. The quest for unprecedented success begins today at home against Northern Illinois and, if all goes according to plan, will end with a BCS championship Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz."Who says we can't write our own ticket and make our place in history and do something no one else has done?" Troy Smith said. "That's a huge thing and takes a tremendous amount of focus, but I believe with our 18 seniors and great group of guys that we'll be able to do it."
This marks the sixth time the Buckeyes have opened the season ranked No. 1, but first since 1998. Not once in those other five seasons did they end up No. 1. The 1998 team, stunned at home by Michigan State after an 8-0 start, rebounded to finish No. 2.
Oh, how Ohio State would love to start a new trend. To win a title, the Buckeyes will have to run a gauntlet that includes three top 20 teams in the first five weeks: No. 2 Texas on Sept. 9, No. 19 Penn State on Sept. 23 and No. 17 Iowa on Sept. 30.
Waiting at the back end of the schedule is No. 15 Michigan on Nov. 18.
But the Buckeyes can't afford to get ahead of themselves. Mid-American Conference favorite Northern Illinois is a worthy tuneup for Texas, featuring the nation's top returning rusher in 5-7 dynamo Garrett Wolfe. The Huskies have beaten four BCS conference schools since 2001, upsetting nationally-ranked Maryland in the 2003 opener. That same season NIU went to Alabama and knocked off the nationally ranked Tide.
"With our young guys, (overlooking the Huskies) will not be an issue," Tressel said. "Some of our older guys -- we've got 17 fifth-year seniors -- have more seniority than ... our coaches. So I'm hoping their maturity can handle that."
While nine new starters have put a strange face on the defense, a veteran offense with explosive capabilities might have an identity crisis of its own. Is this a wide-open attack that will revolve around the two Heisman candidates, Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., or is it a power attack that will lean on tailbacks Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells to move the chains, eat the clock and relieve pressure on the defense?
"We would like people to be nervous about us running by them," Tressel said. "We would like people to be nervous about us pounding them. We would like people to be nervous that we might run the option at them, or misdirection, or a control passing game. There's not much we don't want to be, but I don't know that we know for sure who we are right now.
"Everybody talks about all those defensive guys we lost, but (NFL draftees) Santonio Holmes and Nick Mangold and Robbie Sims -- they were part of our offense, so we have a lot to prove over there as well."
Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak is not so sure about that.
"If we start backpedaling (on defense) right now, hopefully by game time our guys will be 40 yards deep," he joked about the futile attempt to simulate OSU's speed in practice. "We don't have anyone as fast as Ginn, let alone a scout player. We've tried to watch a lot of film, emphasizing the Notre Dame game (a 34-20 OSU win in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl). We've tried to make our guys as aware as we can. Hopefully we'll keep the ball in front of us and not let them get behind us."
Five new starters on OSU's defense are sophomores: end Vernon Gholston, a converted linebacker; outside linebacker-turned middle linebacker James Laurinaitis; outside linebacker Marcus Freeman, sidelined all last year by a knee injury; cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and free safety Nick Patterson.
"A lot of these guys were top recruits, so that will help a lot," defensive tackle David Patterson, a senior captain, said. "The young guys watched Nate (Salley) and his swagger last year and that kind of thing rubs off. There's going to be time when you face adversity, times when somebody is going to have to make a big play. Experience being around older guys will help the young guys hang in and keep fighting."
Debuting on national TV should be powerful incentive to play well. Of course, Novak is counting on the same being true for his Huskies.
"We're going to be on ABC," said Novak, a Mentor, Ohio, native. "That's great for our program and great for our school. That's advertising you can't put a price tag on."
[email protected] 419-521-7239
Wire-to-wire No. 1s? That's the challenge
By Jon Spencer
News Journal
COLUMBUS -- It should be comforting for Ohio State football fans to know the Smiths are on the same page.
Athletic director Gene Smith kicked off fall camp with a mission statement. The basic message was this: become the first band of Buckeyes to go wire-to-wire as the nation's No. 1 team.
"I've never mentioned that, but he talked about distinguishing yourself, and how do you do that at a place like Ohio State where there have been so many great teams?" coach Jim Tressel said. "He threw out the challenge to us ... there is a way to distinguish yourself."
Quarterback Troy Smith, on the receiving end for once, fielded the AD's challenge and vowed not to fumble away this opportunity. The quest for unprecedented success begins today at home against Northern Illinois and, if all goes according to plan, will end with a BCS championship Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz."Who says we can't write our own ticket and make our place in history and do something no one else has done?" Troy Smith said. "That's a huge thing and takes a tremendous amount of focus, but I believe with our 18 seniors and great group of guys that we'll be able to do it."
This marks the sixth time the Buckeyes have opened the season ranked No. 1, but first since 1998. Not once in those other five seasons did they end up No. 1. The 1998 team, stunned at home by Michigan State after an 8-0 start, rebounded to finish No. 2.
Oh, how Ohio State would love to start a new trend. To win a title, the Buckeyes will have to run a gauntlet that includes three top 20 teams in the first five weeks: No. 2 Texas on Sept. 9, No. 19 Penn State on Sept. 23 and No. 17 Iowa on Sept. 30.
Waiting at the back end of the schedule is No. 15 Michigan on Nov. 18.
But the Buckeyes can't afford to get ahead of themselves. Mid-American Conference favorite Northern Illinois is a worthy tuneup for Texas, featuring the nation's top returning rusher in 5-7 dynamo Garrett Wolfe. The Huskies have beaten four BCS conference schools since 2001, upsetting nationally-ranked Maryland in the 2003 opener. That same season NIU went to Alabama and knocked off the nationally ranked Tide.
"With our young guys, (overlooking the Huskies) will not be an issue," Tressel said. "Some of our older guys -- we've got 17 fifth-year seniors -- have more seniority than ... our coaches. So I'm hoping their maturity can handle that."
While nine new starters have put a strange face on the defense, a veteran offense with explosive capabilities might have an identity crisis of its own. Is this a wide-open attack that will revolve around the two Heisman candidates, Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., or is it a power attack that will lean on tailbacks Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells to move the chains, eat the clock and relieve pressure on the defense?
"We would like people to be nervous about us running by them," Tressel said. "We would like people to be nervous about us pounding them. We would like people to be nervous that we might run the option at them, or misdirection, or a control passing game. There's not much we don't want to be, but I don't know that we know for sure who we are right now.
"Everybody talks about all those defensive guys we lost, but (NFL draftees) Santonio Holmes and Nick Mangold and Robbie Sims -- they were part of our offense, so we have a lot to prove over there as well."
Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak is not so sure about that.
"If we start backpedaling (on defense) right now, hopefully by game time our guys will be 40 yards deep," he joked about the futile attempt to simulate OSU's speed in practice. "We don't have anyone as fast as Ginn, let alone a scout player. We've tried to watch a lot of film, emphasizing the Notre Dame game (a 34-20 OSU win in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl). We've tried to make our guys as aware as we can. Hopefully we'll keep the ball in front of us and not let them get behind us."
Five new starters on OSU's defense are sophomores: end Vernon Gholston, a converted linebacker; outside linebacker-turned middle linebacker James Laurinaitis; outside linebacker Marcus Freeman, sidelined all last year by a knee injury; cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and free safety Nick Patterson.
"A lot of these guys were top recruits, so that will help a lot," defensive tackle David Patterson, a senior captain, said. "The young guys watched Nate (Salley) and his swagger last year and that kind of thing rubs off. There's going to be time when you face adversity, times when somebody is going to have to make a big play. Experience being around older guys will help the young guys hang in and keep fighting."
Debuting on national TV should be powerful incentive to play well. Of course, Novak is counting on the same being true for his Huskies.
"We're going to be on ABC," said Novak, a Mentor, Ohio, native. "That's great for our program and great for our school. That's advertising you can't put a price tag on."
[email protected] 419-521-7239
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First Game
Would it be too mean to say "it's opening day" so
I WANT THE BUCKS TO WIN 52- 0!!
I HOPE IT'S A GREAT GAME.
GOOD LUCK NIU
Would it be too mean to say "it's opening day" so
I WANT THE BUCKS TO WIN 52- 0!!
I HOPE IT'S A GREAT GAME.
GOOD LUCK NIU
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Just to be accurate, the first 1942 AP poll did rank the Buckeyes #1, but it was after the team had won 3 games, there were no preseason polls until 1950.
Ohio State was also the AP preseason #1 in 1962, and finished unranked, when only 10 teams were ranked.
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NIU
I must be the only one on this site. Is that because I'm the only one who isn't at the game?
Thats not fair! I couldnt get off work.
SIGH!
I must be the only one on this site. Is that because I'm the only one who isn't at the game?
Thats not fair! I couldnt get off work.
SIGH!
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