First-year starter Boeckman keeps Ohio State steady
By Andy Gardiner, USA TODAY
Todd Boeckman will step inside the maelstrom of Penn State's Beaver Stadium for the second time Saturday night, but on this occasion the Ohio State quarterback will have a much different vantage point.
Two years ago Boeckman did little more than hold a clipboard on the sideline as future Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith led the Buckeyes in what turned out to be a 17-10 loss. Now Boeckman will be the man behind center, looking to keep Ohio State's 8-0 season rolling while surrounded by 107,000 passionate Nittany Lions fans.
"That is probably one of the loudest places I've ever been. Their fans get really jacked up," Boeckman says. "It's definitely going to be a hostile environment, but it's kind of nice going into a place where everyone is against you."
Boeckman, a redshirt junior, says this with a measured reflection that hints at his demeanor on the field. In less than a year he has gone from an unproven candidate to replace a Heisman Trophy winner to the offensive general of the No. 1 team in the country.
For two years Boeckman stood and watched as Smith and Justin Zwick took almost every snap for Buckeyes teams that were a combined 22-3 and played for the national championship last season. Coming into this year he had 10 career pass attempts, completing seven for 86 yards and a touchdown.
"Todd did a great job of paying attention the years he was a backup," OSU coach Jim Tressel says. "Two other guys got as many reps as he did during the spring. It wasn't until this preseason that Todd distanced himself and began getting the reps."
Boeckman is a Ohio native, the son of a high school football coach at powerful St. Henry, a program that sent quarterback Bobby Hoying to Columbus.
"My family, my town are huge Ohio State fans," Boeckman says. "I always dreamed of playing quarterback there."
Watching from the sideline ate at Boeckman, who had been a starter and major contributor all his life.
"Anytime you sit that long and don't have an opportunity to play, it's tough," he says. "But Ohio State had success, and that made it easier. I knew my opportunity would come, and then I had to be ready for it."
Going with an unproven quarterback was the biggest question mark hanging over the Buckeyes, who were ranked 10th in the coaches' preseason poll. Week by week Boeckman has produced.
Boeckman's statistics are modest: 73rd in Division I-A in completions a game (14.9), 65th in yards a game (193.2) and 55th in passing yards (1,539).
But he is seventh in passing efficiency and leads the Big Ten, completing 65.6% of his passes for 18 touchdowns.
"Todd is a guy who's been around the game and yearned to be in it. Then when his chance came, he responded," Tressel says. "He's managed the games well; he's got us in the right play and made good decisions. I think he's been a steady leader and that will continue to grow."
