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Couple of good interviews with JT that many of us may not have seen before....you can also vote for Coach Tressel if you'd like on the main page.
http://www.coachoftheyear.com/coach-jimtressel.aspx
http://www.coachoftheyear.com/coach-jimtressel.aspx
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Well received
JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
10/12/2006
COLUMBUS -- Listen closely enough and every once in a while Jim Tressel will admit what he's really thinking. Before this season began, Tressel was concerned about his receivers.
While all the preseason questions centered on how Ohio State would replace nine starters on defense, Tressel kept slipping in hints that he was worried about how the loss of Santonio Holmes would affect the offense.
''We lost a pretty good one in No. 4,'' he said more than once this summer.
Holmes led all receivers with 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He made every big catch while teaming with Ted Ginn to form the deadliest punt and kick return combination in the country.
Now halfway through the season, to the surprise of most everyone, Holmes' numbers haven't been missed.
Ginn had a career-high 10 catches last week and is averaging a touchdown every 5.5 receptions. Of Anthony Gonzalez's 27 catches, 24 have gone for either first downs or touchdowns.
Even when senior Roy Hall was slowed by a sprained ankle late in camp, freshmen Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline found ways to contribute -- Robiskie by catching 12 passes and two touchdowns, while Hartline has a handful of catches and threw a jarring block that sprung Gonzalez for a big touchdown at Iowa.
''It's good to see the depth that we hoped to have at receiver come true,'' Tressel said. ''Everyone talked about our depth, but all I could think about was Santonio Holmes was a first-round draft choice and I hoped that we could approach the type of productivity that we had while Santonio is here.''
As it turns out, they've surpassed it.
Through six games last year, the offense averaged 26.5 points a game. Then like most Tressel teams, the numbers improved dramatically over the second half of the season. During one stretch last year, Ohio State scored at least 40 points in four straight games.
This year the Buckeyes are averaging 32.8 points a game and have scored less than four touchdowns in a game only once, and that happened at Texas.
Still, the Buckeyes scored a season-low 24 points against the Longhorns, who rank fifth in the country in scoring defense.
Aside from Ohio State, Texas hasn't surrendered more than 14 points in a game this year.
And to think, Holmes left with a year of eligibility remaining. Imagine what Ohio State's offense might look like had he decided to return for another year.
''We miss him. We would be that much better if he was still here,'' Troy Smith said. ''But when you're at a prestigious school like this, whatever it may be you have to reload and you have to keep going.''
That hasn't been a problem this year. The Buckeyes don't have a clear No. 1 receiver like Holmes was last year. Instead, they've scorched defenses that focus too much on either Gonzalez or Ginn. When Ginn grabbed all of the attention early in the year, Gonzalez caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown against Texas.
As teams began believing Gonzalez was a legitimate threat, Ginn has found more room to move. Over the last two games, Ginn has caught 17 passes for 191 yards.
''Everybody has one more year of experience, from the offensive line to the running backs to the quarterbacks to the receivers. That makes a big difference,'' Gonzalez said. ''On top of that, we're just playing really well. We've played well these first few weeks, so that always helps. Hopefully now we can keep it going.''
Well received
JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
10/12/2006
COLUMBUS -- Listen closely enough and every once in a while Jim Tressel will admit what he's really thinking. Before this season began, Tressel was concerned about his receivers.
While all the preseason questions centered on how Ohio State would replace nine starters on defense, Tressel kept slipping in hints that he was worried about how the loss of Santonio Holmes would affect the offense.
''We lost a pretty good one in No. 4,'' he said more than once this summer.
Holmes led all receivers with 53 catches for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He made every big catch while teaming with Ted Ginn to form the deadliest punt and kick return combination in the country.
Now halfway through the season, to the surprise of most everyone, Holmes' numbers haven't been missed.
Ginn had a career-high 10 catches last week and is averaging a touchdown every 5.5 receptions. Of Anthony Gonzalez's 27 catches, 24 have gone for either first downs or touchdowns.
Even when senior Roy Hall was slowed by a sprained ankle late in camp, freshmen Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline found ways to contribute -- Robiskie by catching 12 passes and two touchdowns, while Hartline has a handful of catches and threw a jarring block that sprung Gonzalez for a big touchdown at Iowa.
''It's good to see the depth that we hoped to have at receiver come true,'' Tressel said. ''Everyone talked about our depth, but all I could think about was Santonio Holmes was a first-round draft choice and I hoped that we could approach the type of productivity that we had while Santonio is here.''
As it turns out, they've surpassed it.
Through six games last year, the offense averaged 26.5 points a game. Then like most Tressel teams, the numbers improved dramatically over the second half of the season. During one stretch last year, Ohio State scored at least 40 points in four straight games.
This year the Buckeyes are averaging 32.8 points a game and have scored less than four touchdowns in a game only once, and that happened at Texas.
Still, the Buckeyes scored a season-low 24 points against the Longhorns, who rank fifth in the country in scoring defense.
Aside from Ohio State, Texas hasn't surrendered more than 14 points in a game this year.
And to think, Holmes left with a year of eligibility remaining. Imagine what Ohio State's offense might look like had he decided to return for another year.
''We miss him. We would be that much better if he was still here,'' Troy Smith said. ''But when you're at a prestigious school like this, whatever it may be you have to reload and you have to keep going.''
That hasn't been a problem this year. The Buckeyes don't have a clear No. 1 receiver like Holmes was last year. Instead, they've scorched defenses that focus too much on either Gonzalez or Ginn. When Ginn grabbed all of the attention early in the year, Gonzalez caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown against Texas.
As teams began believing Gonzalez was a legitimate threat, Ginn has found more room to move. Over the last two games, Ginn has caught 17 passes for 191 yards.
''Everybody has one more year of experience, from the offensive line to the running backs to the quarterbacks to the receivers. That makes a big difference,'' Gonzalez said. ''On top of that, we're just playing really well. We've played well these first few weeks, so that always helps. Hopefully now we can keep it going.''
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Dascenzo: Devils looked at Tressel
Frank Dascenzo : The Herald-Sun
[email protected]
Oct 20, 2006 : 12:57 am ET
Thirteen years ago Duke was finishing up another dreadful football season in what would be Barry Wilson's last as the Blue Devils coach.
It was 1993 and Wilson would bolt with 13-30-1 record. If you think things are bad today, believe me, they weren't much better back then.
Of the numerous mistakes Duke has made in choosing its football coaches, one can build a decent case that hiring this Wilson -- not to be confused with Shirley "Red" Wilson, who coached the Devils from 1979-82 and won nine of his final 15 games before being fired after a win over North Carolina -- was the worst of them all.
Relax, I'll get to Carl Franks later.
Duke's football program hasn't come close to a winning season since 1994, which brings me to the point about Barry Wilson.
The arrival of Wilson as Duke's head coach in late December, 1989 was done in ridiculous haste by then athletics director Tom Butters, who was replacing Steve Spurrier, who couldn't get to Florida fast enough.
If it's possible to put a gleam in a Duke football fan's eyes, assuming you can find a Duke football fan, all you've got to do is mention the old ball coach's name.
Spurrier, unemployed when Butters lured him to become head coach at Duke for the 1987 season, stayed around Durham long enough to win 20 games and share an ACC title with Virginia in 1989. He never lost to Georgia Tech or North Carolina. Duke football fans adored Spurrier, who used to refer to then-UNC coach Mack Brown as "Mr. Football."
Obviously, Butters had no idea Wilson would nearly mirror Steve Sloan's record.
Sloan, lured from Ole Miss by Butters to replace Red Wilson after a 6-5 season in 1982, stayed four years (1983-86) and managed the same number of wins as Barry Wilson's team -- unlucky 13. Sloan avoided a fifth year at Duke and his parachute was landing the AD job at Alabama.
Sloan's offense in a word? Boring.
When Barry Wilson's era finally ended, Butters was back it, trying to find somebody to ignite a Duke football flame. Surely, there are easier tasks in college sports.
The search had some intrigue to it, if for no other reason than to wonder who'd want to take the job?
A name that surfaced, in speculation, was Jim Tressel of Youngstown State -- honest.
Butters, an Ohio native and big fan of Bob Knight, ended up with Rice's Fred Goldsmith while Tressel remained at Youngstown State and, ultimately, landed the Ohio State position.
Today Tressel has 57 wins, 13 losses and one national title as coach of the Buckeyes. His team is 7-0 and ranked No. 1 and -- unless elephants learn to fly between now and Nov. 18 -- will be 11-0 when Michigan visits hallowed Ohio Stadium or, as the native call it, the big horseshoe.
Tressel became the first coach to win national titles in I-AA and I-A and he did it at two Ohio schools.
Now, had Tressel -- and not Goldsmith -- been named Duke's coach, would the Blue Devils program be any different today?
Who can answer that? Goldsmith, with the help of some veteran players, running back Robert Baldwin among them, and a couple assistans, Mike Heimerdinger and Craig Bohl, looked like the perfect hire by Butters in 1994. Duke won its first seven games, finished 8-4 and Goldsmith was ACC coach of the year and Bobby Dodd national coach of the year.
But Goldsmith was fired after a 4-7 finish in 1998. Spurrier recommended Franks to Duke athletics director Joe Alleva, a hire that still haunts Duke today.
Since that '94 season, Goldsmith won nine games; Franks 7 and current coach Ted Roof 5 -- a total of 21 wins and 108 losses. Goldsmith lost 35 times his final four seasons; Franks 45 times; Roof has 28 losses and his team takes an 0-6 record into Saturday's home game with Miami.
By the way, you think Tressel is happy at Ohio State?
Dascenzo: Devils looked at Tressel
Frank Dascenzo : The Herald-Sun
[email protected]
Oct 20, 2006 : 12:57 am ET
Thirteen years ago Duke was finishing up another dreadful football season in what would be Barry Wilson's last as the Blue Devils coach.
It was 1993 and Wilson would bolt with 13-30-1 record. If you think things are bad today, believe me, they weren't much better back then.
Of the numerous mistakes Duke has made in choosing its football coaches, one can build a decent case that hiring this Wilson -- not to be confused with Shirley "Red" Wilson, who coached the Devils from 1979-82 and won nine of his final 15 games before being fired after a win over North Carolina -- was the worst of them all.
Relax, I'll get to Carl Franks later.
Duke's football program hasn't come close to a winning season since 1994, which brings me to the point about Barry Wilson.
The arrival of Wilson as Duke's head coach in late December, 1989 was done in ridiculous haste by then athletics director Tom Butters, who was replacing Steve Spurrier, who couldn't get to Florida fast enough.
If it's possible to put a gleam in a Duke football fan's eyes, assuming you can find a Duke football fan, all you've got to do is mention the old ball coach's name.
Spurrier, unemployed when Butters lured him to become head coach at Duke for the 1987 season, stayed around Durham long enough to win 20 games and share an ACC title with Virginia in 1989. He never lost to Georgia Tech or North Carolina. Duke football fans adored Spurrier, who used to refer to then-UNC coach Mack Brown as "Mr. Football."
Obviously, Butters had no idea Wilson would nearly mirror Steve Sloan's record.
Sloan, lured from Ole Miss by Butters to replace Red Wilson after a 6-5 season in 1982, stayed four years (1983-86) and managed the same number of wins as Barry Wilson's team -- unlucky 13. Sloan avoided a fifth year at Duke and his parachute was landing the AD job at Alabama.
Sloan's offense in a word? Boring.
When Barry Wilson's era finally ended, Butters was back it, trying to find somebody to ignite a Duke football flame. Surely, there are easier tasks in college sports.
The search had some intrigue to it, if for no other reason than to wonder who'd want to take the job?
A name that surfaced, in speculation, was Jim Tressel of Youngstown State -- honest.
Butters, an Ohio native and big fan of Bob Knight, ended up with Rice's Fred Goldsmith while Tressel remained at Youngstown State and, ultimately, landed the Ohio State position.
Today Tressel has 57 wins, 13 losses and one national title as coach of the Buckeyes. His team is 7-0 and ranked No. 1 and -- unless elephants learn to fly between now and Nov. 18 -- will be 11-0 when Michigan visits hallowed Ohio Stadium or, as the native call it, the big horseshoe.
Tressel became the first coach to win national titles in I-AA and I-A and he did it at two Ohio schools.
Now, had Tressel -- and not Goldsmith -- been named Duke's coach, would the Blue Devils program be any different today?
Who can answer that? Goldsmith, with the help of some veteran players, running back Robert Baldwin among them, and a couple assistans, Mike Heimerdinger and Craig Bohl, looked like the perfect hire by Butters in 1994. Duke won its first seven games, finished 8-4 and Goldsmith was ACC coach of the year and Bobby Dodd national coach of the year.
But Goldsmith was fired after a 4-7 finish in 1998. Spurrier recommended Franks to Duke athletics director Joe Alleva, a hire that still haunts Duke today.
Since that '94 season, Goldsmith won nine games; Franks 7 and current coach Ted Roof 5 -- a total of 21 wins and 108 losses. Goldsmith lost 35 times his final four seasons; Franks 45 times; Roof has 28 losses and his team takes an 0-6 record into Saturday's home game with Miami.
By the way, you think Tressel is happy at Ohio State?
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DDN
OSU's Tressel downplays Browns rumor
Coach says he 'can't think of a thing' that would make him leave Ohio State.
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
COLUMBUS ? Some rolled their eyes and some leaned in for a listen when Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel was asked during his weekly news conference Tuesday for his reaction to a newspaper story that said he could feasibly be the next coach of the Cleveland Browns.
"I've not spent one day playing in the NFL or coaching in the NFL, and I've got my hands full doing what I'm doing, so that's my reaction," Tressel said.
Tressel then faced a few more questions on the topic, which will happen when you're 58-13 in five-plus seasons at one of college football's premier programs. He answered politely, saying he couldn't "think of a thing" that would make him leave Columbus. At one point, he was eager to move the media's attention to defensive back Antonio Smith, who was scheduled to appear.
"Antonio, are you here yet?" Tressel said, drawing laughs. "He was there every time I needed him Saturday, and now he's not here."
The story, which appeared Sunday in the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, cited an anonymous source who said the Browns might be the only NFL job that would interest Tressel. He grew up near Cleveland while his father, Lee, coached at Baldwin-Wallace College.
The headline said, "Tressel in a brown sweater vest?"
"I think anything pretty much goes in the NFL, doesn't it?" OSU center Doug Datish said of the NFL coach wardrobe. "Coach (Bill) Belichick wears a hooded sweatshirt. I'd like for somebody to bring back the suit, though."
Told the NFL doesn't allow suits on the sidelines, Datish seemed puzzled.
"You can wear a hoodie, but you can't wear a suit?" Datish said. "Really?"
OSU's Tressel downplays Browns rumor
Coach says he 'can't think of a thing' that would make him leave Ohio State.
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
COLUMBUS ? Some rolled their eyes and some leaned in for a listen when Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel was asked during his weekly news conference Tuesday for his reaction to a newspaper story that said he could feasibly be the next coach of the Cleveland Browns.
"I've not spent one day playing in the NFL or coaching in the NFL, and I've got my hands full doing what I'm doing, so that's my reaction," Tressel said.
Tressel then faced a few more questions on the topic, which will happen when you're 58-13 in five-plus seasons at one of college football's premier programs. He answered politely, saying he couldn't "think of a thing" that would make him leave Columbus. At one point, he was eager to move the media's attention to defensive back Antonio Smith, who was scheduled to appear.
"Antonio, are you here yet?" Tressel said, drawing laughs. "He was there every time I needed him Saturday, and now he's not here."
The story, which appeared Sunday in the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, cited an anonymous source who said the Browns might be the only NFL job that would interest Tressel. He grew up near Cleveland while his father, Lee, coached at Baldwin-Wallace College.
The headline said, "Tressel in a brown sweater vest?"
"I think anything pretty much goes in the NFL, doesn't it?" OSU center Doug Datish said of the NFL coach wardrobe. "Coach (Bill) Belichick wears a hooded sweatshirt. I'd like for somebody to bring back the suit, though."
Told the NFL doesn't allow suits on the sidelines, Datish seemed puzzled.
"You can wear a hoodie, but you can't wear a suit?" Datish said. "Really?"
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Canton
Tressel not going anywhere
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS Being the head coach of the No. 1 team in the country suits Jim Tressel just fine. The sixth-year Ohio State head coach didn't seem to have any interest in being part of the worst franchise in the NFL the last eight years. The Cleveland Plain Dealer speculated that Tressel would be a natural fit to become the next head coach of the Browns. While Tressel has never said never about the NFL, he has made it clear coaching at Ohio State is his dream job. Aside from that, he isn't sure his style would play in an NFL locker room, where a coach's job is as much managing contracts and egos as it is X's and O's.
One more thing. Tressel said he would be satisfied staying at Ohio State for the rest of his career.
"My initial thought is I've never spent a day in the NFL as a player or a coach," Tressel said, responding for the first time since the report. "Whoever thinks I'm a natural fit for that must not have studied too hard. I've always prided myself on being a guy who loves to be a teacher and loves being in the collegiate environment.
"As you know, we've got our hands full now."
The Buckeyes play Minnesota at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium. It is another game to fill the weeks before Nov. 18 against Michigan.
But Tressel's status in Columbus got attention.
The issue didn't go away Tuesday. Never mind that Tressel has never spent a Sunday afternoon on an NFL field. Never mind that all his 31 years of coaching have been on Saturday afternoons - from Akron, to Miami (Ohio) to Syracuse to Ohio State to Youngstown State and back to Columbus.
Never mind that if the rest of this season pans out the way it started, they may rename Columbus after Tressel.
Does every college coach have a burning desire to coach in the NFL? Could Randy Lerner's bottomless pockets lure him?
"I've got money, and I've got a contract," Tressel said.
What would it take for Tressel to give the NFL a shot?
"I don't know. I can't think of a thing," he said.
Tressel's sweatervest and "Oh shucks" approach appeal to younger players. It may not work in the NFL.
"I don't know anything about fitting at a different level," Tressel said. "I don't know how I'd do coaching high school, teaching math five periods and then coaching them. I don't know how I'd do coaching in the pros where it's a whole different world.
"So I hope I fit well in this environment. ... I've been in it virtually my whole life. We moved to Baldwin-Wallace when I was 5, so nearly 50 years I've been in this environment and happen to like it."
Case close?
For now or at least until the Browns are looking for another head coach.
Tressel not going anywhere
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS Being the head coach of the No. 1 team in the country suits Jim Tressel just fine. The sixth-year Ohio State head coach didn't seem to have any interest in being part of the worst franchise in the NFL the last eight years. The Cleveland Plain Dealer speculated that Tressel would be a natural fit to become the next head coach of the Browns. While Tressel has never said never about the NFL, he has made it clear coaching at Ohio State is his dream job. Aside from that, he isn't sure his style would play in an NFL locker room, where a coach's job is as much managing contracts and egos as it is X's and O's.
One more thing. Tressel said he would be satisfied staying at Ohio State for the rest of his career.
"My initial thought is I've never spent a day in the NFL as a player or a coach," Tressel said, responding for the first time since the report. "Whoever thinks I'm a natural fit for that must not have studied too hard. I've always prided myself on being a guy who loves to be a teacher and loves being in the collegiate environment.
"As you know, we've got our hands full now."
The Buckeyes play Minnesota at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium. It is another game to fill the weeks before Nov. 18 against Michigan.
But Tressel's status in Columbus got attention.
The issue didn't go away Tuesday. Never mind that Tressel has never spent a Sunday afternoon on an NFL field. Never mind that all his 31 years of coaching have been on Saturday afternoons - from Akron, to Miami (Ohio) to Syracuse to Ohio State to Youngstown State and back to Columbus.
Never mind that if the rest of this season pans out the way it started, they may rename Columbus after Tressel.
Does every college coach have a burning desire to coach in the NFL? Could Randy Lerner's bottomless pockets lure him?
"I've got money, and I've got a contract," Tressel said.
What would it take for Tressel to give the NFL a shot?
"I don't know. I can't think of a thing," he said.
Tressel's sweatervest and "Oh shucks" approach appeal to younger players. It may not work in the NFL.
"I don't know anything about fitting at a different level," Tressel said. "I don't know how I'd do coaching high school, teaching math five periods and then coaching them. I don't know how I'd do coaching in the pros where it's a whole different world.
"So I hope I fit well in this environment. ... I've been in it virtually my whole life. We moved to Baldwin-Wallace when I was 5, so nearly 50 years I've been in this environment and happen to like it."
Case close?
For now or at least until the Browns are looking for another head coach.
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Tressel more comfortable as college coach
October 25, 2006
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A rah-rah college coach if there ever was one, Ohio State's Jim Tressel would seem to be an unlikely hire as an NFL coach. Yet speculation that Tressel might be interested if the pros -- specifically the Cleveland Browns -- were to pursue him has been bandied about since Tressel and the Buckeyes won the 2002 national championship.
Tressel, who has always coached in college, did not directly rule out a jump to the NFL in his weekly news conference dominated by questions about whether he would leave Ohio State, but said, "I've got my hands full doing what I'm doing."
The Browns are 1-5 this season and 7-15 in two years under head coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns have not said they are unhappy with Crennel's performance, but it is clear that fans are discouraged over the team's play since coming back in 1999.
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, citing a source close to Ohio State, said in Sunday's editions that the Browns might be the only NFL job that would interest Tressel. Tressel grew up in the area and his father, Lee, was a legendary coach at Baldwin-Wallace College in suburban Berea.
Asked if he might be lured to the NFL by money and a long-term contract, Tressel -- who will make about $2.4 million this year in the first year of a new seven-year contract -- said, "I've got money and I've got a contract."
Tressel more comfortable as college coach
October 25, 2006
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A rah-rah college coach if there ever was one, Ohio State's Jim Tressel would seem to be an unlikely hire as an NFL coach. Yet speculation that Tressel might be interested if the pros -- specifically the Cleveland Browns -- were to pursue him has been bandied about since Tressel and the Buckeyes won the 2002 national championship.
Tressel, who has always coached in college, did not directly rule out a jump to the NFL in his weekly news conference dominated by questions about whether he would leave Ohio State, but said, "I've got my hands full doing what I'm doing."
The Browns are 1-5 this season and 7-15 in two years under head coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns have not said they are unhappy with Crennel's performance, but it is clear that fans are discouraged over the team's play since coming back in 1999.
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, citing a source close to Ohio State, said in Sunday's editions that the Browns might be the only NFL job that would interest Tressel. Tressel grew up in the area and his father, Lee, was a legendary coach at Baldwin-Wallace College in suburban Berea.
Asked if he might be lured to the NFL by money and a long-term contract, Tressel -- who will make about $2.4 million this year in the first year of a new seven-year contract -- said, "I've got money and I've got a contract."
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FOOTBALL INSIDER
Tressel scores points on call
Thursday, October 26, 2006Tim Rogers
Plain Dealer Reporter
Here is another example of how Jim Tressel continues to endear himself to Ohio's high school football coaches.
Unbeknownst to head coach Jim France, Manchester officials planned a community celebration to honor the veteran coach for the 300th victory of his career, which came on Oct. 6.
So, minutes after the Panthers defeated Canton Timken on Friday for France's 301st win, the celebration began. Approximately 50 former Manchester players lined up to shake hands with their former coach. Roger Thomas, an impersonator of the late Woody Hayes - a longtime France favorite - emerged from the press box and extended his best wishes.
Then, an announcement was made over the public address system that France had a phone call. It was Tressel calling from Columbus.
"Coach France, you have been a credit to the game of football," Tressel said. "You have been a credit to all your high school coaching colleagues. You have made a difference in your community.
"You've been a leader among Ohio high school football coaches and you've been a great role model for everyone around you. You've been a champion. You've been a teacher. You've been a mentor. You've respected the game of football. We are better here at OSU because you have set the stage for football in the state of Ohio."
France, in his 35th season, was moved.
"It was fantastic," he said. "I don't see how it could have been any better. Woody Hayes standing next to me and coach Tressel on the phone? Coach Tressel could have taped that phone call, but he said he wanted to do it live."
The celebration was the result of countless hours of work by Barb Betz, France's former secretary, and members of the Panther Paws booster club.
FOOTBALL INSIDER
Tressel scores points on call
Thursday, October 26, 2006Tim Rogers
Plain Dealer Reporter
Here is another example of how Jim Tressel continues to endear himself to Ohio's high school football coaches.
Unbeknownst to head coach Jim France, Manchester officials planned a community celebration to honor the veteran coach for the 300th victory of his career, which came on Oct. 6.
So, minutes after the Panthers defeated Canton Timken on Friday for France's 301st win, the celebration began. Approximately 50 former Manchester players lined up to shake hands with their former coach. Roger Thomas, an impersonator of the late Woody Hayes - a longtime France favorite - emerged from the press box and extended his best wishes.
Then, an announcement was made over the public address system that France had a phone call. It was Tressel calling from Columbus.
"Coach France, you have been a credit to the game of football," Tressel said. "You have been a credit to all your high school coaching colleagues. You have made a difference in your community.
"You've been a leader among Ohio high school football coaches and you've been a great role model for everyone around you. You've been a champion. You've been a teacher. You've been a mentor. You've respected the game of football. We are better here at OSU because you have set the stage for football in the state of Ohio."
France, in his 35th season, was moved.
"It was fantastic," he said. "I don't see how it could have been any better. Woody Hayes standing next to me and coach Tressel on the phone? Coach Tressel could have taped that phone call, but he said he wanted to do it live."
The celebration was the result of countless hours of work by Barb Betz, France's former secretary, and members of the Panther Paws booster club.
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CookyPuss
Screw Blue
'Iron' Jim Tressel and the Bucks look for a little competition
'Iron' Jim Tressel and the Bucks look for a little competitionBy Dustin Ensinger, The Lantern
October 25, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mike Tyson, once dubbed "the baddest man on the planet," kicked off his world tour Friday in Youngstown in a four-round exhibition against former sparring partner Cory "T-Rex" Sanders.
The former heavyweight champ's next opponent? A woman, perhaps?
He says he wants a shot at professional boxer Anne Wolfe, from Waco, Texas, who is 21-1 with 15 knockouts, and also happens to be female. "She's such a prominent, dominant woman in the boxing field," Tyson said. When asked if he was serious he replied "I'm very serious."
This is really not at all shocking coming from the man who took to cannibalism in the ring against Evander Holyfield and later expressed his desire to eat the children of Lennox Lewis during a pre-fight press conference.
And while this hypothetical bout raises a slew of questions about Tyson's mental health - which is an oxymoron, I think - it got me pondering the idea: Could a Tyson/Wolfe bout be more competitive than recent Buckeye football games?
I would have to think so, seeing as how OSU has dismantled each and every opponent it has faced on the gridiron this year. Through eight games OSU is beating opponents by an average of 27 points-per-game. The only team to even enter the fourth quarter with a remote chance of pulling out a victory against OSU was Penn State, which trailed 7-3 going into the closing frame before surrendering 21 points en route to a 28-6 OSU victory.
The 2006 version of the Buckeyes have resembled the old "Iron Mike" in the way they have come out swinging, dismantling and demoralizing adversaries from the opening bell on, leaving no doubt about who the real champ is.
In years past, during the Tressel era, OSU had a tendency to play down to the level of its opponents, giving them a glimmer of hope and chance of an upset. Too many times in the last five years OSU has allowed lowly teams like Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Northwestern to hang around and occasionally steal one in the end, but no more.
Tresselball has given way to a new and exciting form of football in Buckeyeland, one that finishes drives and doesn't rely on the leg of a specialist, but rather the arm of Troy, the legs of Antonio and the hands of Teddy and Gonzo. The offense, when clicking, has been scarier than seeing disgraced former congressman Mark Foley advertising his services as a boy scout leader on jobs.com.
Past OSU teams might have lacked the killer instinct required to finish off teams early and often, but according to OSU offensive tackle Kirk Barton, the coaching staff will not allow this group to falter because of the same lack of focus and intensity.
"Our coaching is a big part of it. It has to be a clean kill, it can't be a little straggler kind of kill," Barton said in describing the mentality the coaching staff has tried to instill in the players each and every week, whether it is No. 2 Texas or lowly Northwestern on the horizon.
"They do a great job of reminding us that we don't want to mess around," he said. "We don't want to go to overtime against a team that we shouldn't go to overtime against doing the stuff that used to happen. We want to get on them early and hopefully take away their hope."
And taking away hope is exactly what OSU has done this season, outscoring opponents in the first half by a combined margin of 149-36.
Now here's to hoping OSU can continue to play with the same focus and intensity for the next two weeks to set up a possible No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up Nov. 18 against that school up north, a showdown that could be nearly as epic as a possible Tyson-Wolfe bout.
Dustin Ensinger is a senior in journalism and political science. He can be reached by Mike Tyson at [email protected].
http://www.thelantern.com/media/sto...e200610260835&sourcedomain=www.thelantern.com
Here's hoping Minnesota doesn't turn into Buster Douglas. (Yeah, right)
'Iron' Jim Tressel and the Bucks look for a little competitionBy Dustin Ensinger, The Lantern
October 25, 2006
(CSTV U-WIRE) COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mike Tyson, once dubbed "the baddest man on the planet," kicked off his world tour Friday in Youngstown in a four-round exhibition against former sparring partner Cory "T-Rex" Sanders.
The former heavyweight champ's next opponent? A woman, perhaps?
He says he wants a shot at professional boxer Anne Wolfe, from Waco, Texas, who is 21-1 with 15 knockouts, and also happens to be female. "She's such a prominent, dominant woman in the boxing field," Tyson said. When asked if he was serious he replied "I'm very serious."
This is really not at all shocking coming from the man who took to cannibalism in the ring against Evander Holyfield and later expressed his desire to eat the children of Lennox Lewis during a pre-fight press conference.
And while this hypothetical bout raises a slew of questions about Tyson's mental health - which is an oxymoron, I think - it got me pondering the idea: Could a Tyson/Wolfe bout be more competitive than recent Buckeye football games?
I would have to think so, seeing as how OSU has dismantled each and every opponent it has faced on the gridiron this year. Through eight games OSU is beating opponents by an average of 27 points-per-game. The only team to even enter the fourth quarter with a remote chance of pulling out a victory against OSU was Penn State, which trailed 7-3 going into the closing frame before surrendering 21 points en route to a 28-6 OSU victory.
The 2006 version of the Buckeyes have resembled the old "Iron Mike" in the way they have come out swinging, dismantling and demoralizing adversaries from the opening bell on, leaving no doubt about who the real champ is.
In years past, during the Tressel era, OSU had a tendency to play down to the level of its opponents, giving them a glimmer of hope and chance of an upset. Too many times in the last five years OSU has allowed lowly teams like Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Northwestern to hang around and occasionally steal one in the end, but no more.
Tresselball has given way to a new and exciting form of football in Buckeyeland, one that finishes drives and doesn't rely on the leg of a specialist, but rather the arm of Troy, the legs of Antonio and the hands of Teddy and Gonzo. The offense, when clicking, has been scarier than seeing disgraced former congressman Mark Foley advertising his services as a boy scout leader on jobs.com.
Past OSU teams might have lacked the killer instinct required to finish off teams early and often, but according to OSU offensive tackle Kirk Barton, the coaching staff will not allow this group to falter because of the same lack of focus and intensity.
"Our coaching is a big part of it. It has to be a clean kill, it can't be a little straggler kind of kill," Barton said in describing the mentality the coaching staff has tried to instill in the players each and every week, whether it is No. 2 Texas or lowly Northwestern on the horizon.
"They do a great job of reminding us that we don't want to mess around," he said. "We don't want to go to overtime against a team that we shouldn't go to overtime against doing the stuff that used to happen. We want to get on them early and hopefully take away their hope."
And taking away hope is exactly what OSU has done this season, outscoring opponents in the first half by a combined margin of 149-36.
Now here's to hoping OSU can continue to play with the same focus and intensity for the next two weeks to set up a possible No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up Nov. 18 against that school up north, a showdown that could be nearly as epic as a possible Tyson-Wolfe bout.
Dustin Ensinger is a senior in journalism and political science. He can be reached by Mike Tyson at [email protected].
Updated on Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006 9:00 pm EDT
http://www.thelantern.com/media/sto...e200610260835&sourcedomain=www.thelantern.com
Here's hoping Minnesota doesn't turn into Buster Douglas. (Yeah, right)
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The coach comes around Jim Tressel was slow to jump on Troy Smith?s bandwagon By Dan Williamson / OCTOBER 26, 2006
File/Dan Trittschuh ?My thinking has just been enhanced, not changed?: Tressel is quicker to praise Smith now than he was after the quarterback?s ?04 heroics against Michigan
Two years ago, Jim Tressel was a little bit like George Bush. He was bogged down in a seemingly unwinnable situation and yet unwilling to change course or even admit his mistakes.
Tressel?s Buckeyes had started the Big Ten season 0-3, with losses to Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa. The OSU offense, led by sophomore quarterback Justin Zwick?a prize recruit from Massillon, where he had been a high school superstar?wasn?t working.
Another sophomore, Cleveland product Troy Smith, was waiting not very patiently on the bench. After being informed in summer camp that he would get a fair amount of playing time at QB, Smith hadn?t yet taken a snap in a close game. Earlier in the season, Smith had expressed his unhappiness about this, which only made his chances of getting in a game more remote.
Zwick?s troubles had sparked a quarterback controversy, but Tressel would hear none of it. After that third straight Big Ten loss?a 33-7 drubbing in Iowa City?Tressel stuck up for Zwick by reminding the media that Brett Favre has bad games, too.
This week, Tressel wasn?t talking about Zwick or even Favre. He was raving about yet another outstanding performance by Smith, the best player on the best team in the country and the undisputed frontrunner for the 2006 Heisman Trophy.
To no one?s surprise, the coach declared Smith the Buckeyes? offensive player of the week?an honor he shared with Michigan State?s Drew Stanton in the Big Ten?for his four-touchdown, 220-yard display Saturday against Indiana.
?The thing that impressed me most about Troy?s performance is he misfired on his first three balls,? Tressel said. ?They weren?t great throws, and he didn?t get shook. He didn?t get rattled.?
Clearly, sometime in the past two years, Tressel quit thinking about Smith as a No. 2 quarterback, though he refused to acknowledge that this week.
?I always thought he had a lot of ability,? Tressel said. ?That?s why we recruited him. You know, always had lot of arm and knew that he had to come along in learning the system, which is what everyone has to do.?
?So my thinking has just been enhanced, not changed.?
That?s a little hard to believe.
In fact, you could argue that Smith might still be riding the pine if not for a shoulder injury that forced Zwick from the Iowa game early in the second half. After Smith came in and threw a 28-yard touchdown pass, Tressel made it clear he was not impressed, saying the inconsequential TD had more to do with Iowa?s second-string ?vanilla defense? than Smith?s arm.
But Zwick was hurt, which meant Smith finally had the opportunity he?d been hoping for. He didn?t disappoint, going 5-1 down the stretch, including an upset victory over Michigan in which Smith turned in 241 passing yards and 145 rushing yards.
It was the third best offensive performance in Buckeye history, and yet after the game, Tressel gushed about receiver Ted Ginn, kicker Mike Nugent and fullback Brandon Joe.
But when he was asked about the dazzling performance of his quarterback, the coach said, ?There were some great things he did, and some things he needed to improve upon.?
As it turned out, there was one thing Smith needed to improve on: saying ?no thank you,? when offered $500 by an OSU athletics booster. That infraction, revealed shortly after the Michigan triumph, got him suspended for the Alamo Bowl and the 2005 home opener.
Though his team won both games, Smith was back to being the No. 2 quarterback for the team?s second game of 2005, against the University of Texas. Smith got to play in that one, but he turned in an uneven performance against the victorious Longhorns.
Despite that, Tressel did the following week what he now surely wishes he had done in the summer of ?04: He officially named Smith his starting quarterback.
After a slow start?briefly inspiring fans to wonder whether No. 3 Todd Boeckman should get a shot?Smith turned in an excellent ?05 season, capped by his magical come-from-behind feat in Ann Arbor and his dominance of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
This year, as he punctuates even average games with one or two Heisman-reel moments, fans don?t wonder whether Smith is this team?s best quarterback. They ask if he?s Ohio State?s best quarterback ever. (See story below.)
And Smith?s biggest fan is none other than Tressel, who now compliments his QB the way he complimented everybody else on the team after the ?04 Michigan game.
Perhaps Tressel?s change of heart had less to do with Smith?s passing and running abilities than with how quickly he changed his public personality. Since that early complaint about playing time, Smith has made a reputation for himself as one of the dullest quotes in college football.
He always credits his teammates?the defense especially?and doesn?t admit to any satisfaction over beating the other team. Smith?s metamorphosis from hothead to robot actually began after his first start, the ?04 Indiana game, when he declined to speculate about his standing with the coach.
?The starting job is in Coach Tressel?s hands,? he said back then.
That prompted an exasperated reply from Bruce Hooley, then of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who asked, ?So you?re going to be boring now??
Yes, he is. Jim Tressel loves boring.
The coach comes around Jim Tressel was slow to jump on Troy Smith?s bandwagon By Dan Williamson / OCTOBER 26, 2006
Two years ago, Jim Tressel was a little bit like George Bush. He was bogged down in a seemingly unwinnable situation and yet unwilling to change course or even admit his mistakes.
Tressel?s Buckeyes had started the Big Ten season 0-3, with losses to Northwestern, Wisconsin and Iowa. The OSU offense, led by sophomore quarterback Justin Zwick?a prize recruit from Massillon, where he had been a high school superstar?wasn?t working.
Another sophomore, Cleveland product Troy Smith, was waiting not very patiently on the bench. After being informed in summer camp that he would get a fair amount of playing time at QB, Smith hadn?t yet taken a snap in a close game. Earlier in the season, Smith had expressed his unhappiness about this, which only made his chances of getting in a game more remote.
Zwick?s troubles had sparked a quarterback controversy, but Tressel would hear none of it. After that third straight Big Ten loss?a 33-7 drubbing in Iowa City?Tressel stuck up for Zwick by reminding the media that Brett Favre has bad games, too.
This week, Tressel wasn?t talking about Zwick or even Favre. He was raving about yet another outstanding performance by Smith, the best player on the best team in the country and the undisputed frontrunner for the 2006 Heisman Trophy.
To no one?s surprise, the coach declared Smith the Buckeyes? offensive player of the week?an honor he shared with Michigan State?s Drew Stanton in the Big Ten?for his four-touchdown, 220-yard display Saturday against Indiana.
?The thing that impressed me most about Troy?s performance is he misfired on his first three balls,? Tressel said. ?They weren?t great throws, and he didn?t get shook. He didn?t get rattled.?
Clearly, sometime in the past two years, Tressel quit thinking about Smith as a No. 2 quarterback, though he refused to acknowledge that this week.
?I always thought he had a lot of ability,? Tressel said. ?That?s why we recruited him. You know, always had lot of arm and knew that he had to come along in learning the system, which is what everyone has to do.?
?So my thinking has just been enhanced, not changed.?
That?s a little hard to believe.
In fact, you could argue that Smith might still be riding the pine if not for a shoulder injury that forced Zwick from the Iowa game early in the second half. After Smith came in and threw a 28-yard touchdown pass, Tressel made it clear he was not impressed, saying the inconsequential TD had more to do with Iowa?s second-string ?vanilla defense? than Smith?s arm.
But Zwick was hurt, which meant Smith finally had the opportunity he?d been hoping for. He didn?t disappoint, going 5-1 down the stretch, including an upset victory over Michigan in which Smith turned in 241 passing yards and 145 rushing yards.
It was the third best offensive performance in Buckeye history, and yet after the game, Tressel gushed about receiver Ted Ginn, kicker Mike Nugent and fullback Brandon Joe.
But when he was asked about the dazzling performance of his quarterback, the coach said, ?There were some great things he did, and some things he needed to improve upon.?
As it turned out, there was one thing Smith needed to improve on: saying ?no thank you,? when offered $500 by an OSU athletics booster. That infraction, revealed shortly after the Michigan triumph, got him suspended for the Alamo Bowl and the 2005 home opener.
Though his team won both games, Smith was back to being the No. 2 quarterback for the team?s second game of 2005, against the University of Texas. Smith got to play in that one, but he turned in an uneven performance against the victorious Longhorns.
Despite that, Tressel did the following week what he now surely wishes he had done in the summer of ?04: He officially named Smith his starting quarterback.
After a slow start?briefly inspiring fans to wonder whether No. 3 Todd Boeckman should get a shot?Smith turned in an excellent ?05 season, capped by his magical come-from-behind feat in Ann Arbor and his dominance of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
This year, as he punctuates even average games with one or two Heisman-reel moments, fans don?t wonder whether Smith is this team?s best quarterback. They ask if he?s Ohio State?s best quarterback ever. (See story below.)
And Smith?s biggest fan is none other than Tressel, who now compliments his QB the way he complimented everybody else on the team after the ?04 Michigan game.
Perhaps Tressel?s change of heart had less to do with Smith?s passing and running abilities than with how quickly he changed his public personality. Since that early complaint about playing time, Smith has made a reputation for himself as one of the dullest quotes in college football.
He always credits his teammates?the defense especially?and doesn?t admit to any satisfaction over beating the other team. Smith?s metamorphosis from hothead to robot actually began after his first start, the ?04 Indiana game, when he declined to speculate about his standing with the coach.
?The starting job is in Coach Tressel?s hands,? he said back then.
That prompted an exasperated reply from Bruce Hooley, then of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who asked, ?So you?re going to be boring now??
Yes, he is. Jim Tressel loves boring.
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Jim Tressel Quotes, Oct. 26
Ohio State head coach speaks to the media after practice Thursday
On OSU's first-team offense playing vs. the first-team defense in practice
"It's fast. It's at the same speed at which we compete. The guys really get into it."
On what impresses him about Minnesota's offense
"The balance they bring. They have evolved over the last four to five years into a very well balanced team."
On playing against Minnesota
"Minnesota will come out flying around like crazy. They'll be playing full-speed ahead."
On Minnesota's struggles this season
"The ball seems to have just bounced the other way a bit this year. They are a play or two away in many games from being in charge of the game. Minnesota is good."
On junior running back Antonio Pittman's goal of winning the Heisman trophy next season
"It wouldn't shock me if he said that on his goals sheet. He has a lot of confidence in himself and the team to help him accomplish that."
On senior quarterback Troy Smith's focus
"He has a lot of beliefs in how he could perform. We've had discussions in the offseason about the big picture and the team's goals. He needs and wants to know it all."
Jim Tressel Quotes, Oct. 26
Ohio State head coach speaks to the media after practice Thursday
On OSU's first-team offense playing vs. the first-team defense in practice
"It's fast. It's at the same speed at which we compete. The guys really get into it."
On what impresses him about Minnesota's offense
"The balance they bring. They have evolved over the last four to five years into a very well balanced team."
On playing against Minnesota
"Minnesota will come out flying around like crazy. They'll be playing full-speed ahead."
On Minnesota's struggles this season
"The ball seems to have just bounced the other way a bit this year. They are a play or two away in many games from being in charge of the game. Minnesota is good."
On junior running back Antonio Pittman's goal of winning the Heisman trophy next season
"It wouldn't shock me if he said that on his goals sheet. He has a lot of confidence in himself and the team to help him accomplish that."
On senior quarterback Troy Smith's focus
"He has a lot of beliefs in how he could perform. We've had discussions in the offseason about the big picture and the team's goals. He needs and wants to know it all."
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