Deer hunter has game
Outdoorsman Bauserman takes aim at winning backup quarterback job
Sunday, April 20, 2008 3:52 AM
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The quarterback for the winning team in Ohio State's spring football game was the man who will start this fall, which should comfort coaches and fans.
Todd Boeckman looked like Todd Boeckman, mostly steady with some big plays and a few forced throws. He led the Scarlet to a 20-7 victory yesterday in Ohio Stadium on a cool, drizzly day in front of an announced crowd of 76,346 -- including Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes' top-rated quarterback prospect.
But the biggest buzz might have been created by yet another QB. He's a 22-year-old redshirt freshman who spent three years as a professional pitcher and loves to hunt in his spare time.
Meet Joe Bauserman, who walked away from an OSU scholarship offer in 2004, pitched in class-A ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization then walked back onto the Buckeyes roster last fall.
"Joe's an animal, I'm telling you right now," receiver Brian Hartline said. "This guy is a jack of all trades, and he'll beat you at anything. He can play basketball, baseball, ping-pong, pool. ? He brings us deer meat."
Apparently, Bauserman had quite the fall in the Licking County woods.
"I think he led the team in number of deer shot this year," coach Jim Tressel said. "He's got good aim."