BARTON JOINS SELECT GROUP
When Ohio State players voted senior right tackle Kirk Barton a captain last week, it came as no surprise. Barton's easygoing but straightforward personality is respected in the Buckeye locker room.
He is the 11th player from Stark County to be voted an OSU captain, and the third since Jim Tressel has been the Buckeyes' head coach.
The other 10 Stark County players who were OSU captains were Dustin Fox, Mike Doss, Chris Spielman, Ken Kuhn, Dave Whitfield, Tim Fox, Jim Houston, Ray Ellis, Jeff Logan and John Borton.
"When you think about it in those terms, it's an honor to be mentioned with guys like that," said Barton, a Perry High graduate. "There is a sense of accomplishment that my teammates have faith in me. I'm happy to lead such a good group. In terms of issues, we haven't had any. We've got a good character group."
HONORING HIS FATHER
When the scoreboard at Ohio Stadium flashes a picture of Barton on the big screen this season, you're going to wonder why Barton is making an "X" with his arms. During the team's media day, still and television images are taken of each player for network use and game-day operations.
Barton said the "X" is a Roman numeral. It has been 10 years since Kirk Barton Sr. died. Barton's father, a Canton South graduate, died in 1997 from complications of trachea surgery while he battled throat cancer.
"When my dad died, no one thought I'd be in this position," said Barton, a spitting image of his father. "I wanted to do something to salute him and the Roman numeral came to mind. ... I'm not a tattoo guy, and my mom would hate that, so the video on the scoreboard is just a quick salute."
Barton credits his mother as the most influential person in his life. Along with Brigette Barton, cousins Bryan and John Gliba and Jon Perdue helped keep him in line when the family returned to Stark County from Florida after his dad's death.
"My family ... has been a great role model," he said. "When you're new to the area and changing schools in the seventh grade, it's not easy to make friends. They made sure I fit in."
NEW, CLEANER ROOMMATE
For the last four years, Barton and GlenOak graduate T.J. Downing were roommates in Columbus. Downing, however, graduated, so Barton looked for a new roommate.
He didn't have to look far.
He and serious girlfriend Brittany Jordan are sharing an apartment. Jordan has already graduated from OSU.
"She is considerably cleaner than T.J.," Barton said. "T.J. ... he was kind of an animal. The apartment is immaculate compared to the last few years. She does it all. She's like a cleaning machine."
Living with a female, Barton said, has changed him a little, too. He is cleaner.
"I try my best, but some times I slip and leave a dirty pair of shorts on the floor and she gets a little fired up," Barton said. "That's OK. I like it when she gets a little a mad."
