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Bowling Green coach seeing Buckeyes in sleep
By JON SPENCER
For The Marion Star
MANSFIELD - This is one of those weeks when Bowling Green defensive line coach Mike Ward can't break down enough video, study enough formations and schemes or spend enough time in his office.
It's Ohio State week, which means he's even seeing Buckeyes in his dreams.
"I wake up in the middle of the night and all I see is that big No. 75," said Ward, referring to Alex Boone, Ohio State's 6-foot-8, 325-pound offensive tackle.
"We played Oklahoma a few years ago and they had three NFL draft picks on their (offensive) line, but this line is better. You don't see them on the ground. They're so athletic."
Ward, a Mansfield native and Lexington High School graduate, was an NAIA All-America offensive guard for Georgetown (Ky.) College in 1983. But he'll be the first to tell you these Buckeye linemen - besides interfering with air traffic signals at 6-8, 6-8, 6-5, 6-4 and 6-6 - are a breed apart.
"They're big, athletic and well-coached and we've got to hit 'em low," Ward said. "We've got to be about perfect on every play. If not, we have to hope that somebody on their line, or a fullback, makes a mistake."
Even though Ohio State is a five-touchdown favorite over its mid-major foe Saturday, there have been plenty of anxious moments for the Buckeyes in all three previous meetings with Bowling Green.
Ward not only knows the history, he's lived it.
He was in his first year on the staff (1992) when the Falcons outgained the Buckeyes only to be done in by six turnovers and an OSU goal-line stand in a 17-6 loss. In 1997, the Falcons forced four fumbles and were within 17-13 late in the first half before falling 44-13
The biggest scare for the Buckeyes came in 2003 when the defending national champions were taken down to the final play by BG before prevailing 24-17.
"That Ohio State team was nowhere near as dominate as they are now," Ward said. "Some of the characteristics are the same, in the way they run the football, but at a drop of a hat they can go the distance."
The timing of this game for Ward's defensive line is good and bad. It's good because his unit is coming off its best performance in a 21-9 win over Ohio University. Four linemen combined for eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass deflections and nine quarterback hits.
However, a couple more years of seasoning could have helped before taking on the Buckeyes. Ward uses an eight-man rotation up front that includes four redshirt freshmen, a true freshman and a sophomore. The only seniors are end Devon Parks and tackle Brad Williams.
"My two seniors played in that (2003) game, so they know what it takes and they've got to help get the young guys locked in," Ward said.
"We have enough film on Ohio State that we don't have to look at 2003. They're coming off an emotional win on the road (over Iowa) and got home late and will have to pull out all the emotional stops to get locked in. We don't."
Ward's father, Al, a Hall of Fame athletic official and former coach in Mansfield, played for Woody Hayes at Miami of Ohio and has always been an Ohio State fan. But there will be no divided loyalties Saturday.
"Except for a couple of neighbors who are Michigan fans - and we don't count them - it's just natural being in Ohio to have Buckeye fever," Al Ward said. "But there's no question who I'm rooting for - I'm rooting for my son. It's his bread and butter. I'm proud of him."
The nice thing about this week for Mike Ward is that he can spend all of his time on X's and O's. He doesn't have to play amateur psychologist, thinking of ways to fire up his players.
"We're playing the No. 1 team in the country," he said. "Our kids have goals and dreams, too, of playing in the NFL, and they'll turn on the TV in a couple of years and see seven or eight of these (Buckeyes) playing in the pros.
"Our kids might be a little more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this week. They know the highlights of this game are going to be the first thing people see on SportsCenter."
