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Archdeacon: OSU's Pittman provides the spark
By Tom Archdeacon
Staff Writer
Sunday, September 17, 2006
COLUMBUS ? He was once the most lost Buckeye on the football team.
Antonio Pittman ? decked out in a gray suit, lavender shirt and matching tie, fancy cuff links, and diamond-like earrings ? didn't seem too thrilled when that incident was brought up Saturday.
Not after he'd just run for 155 yards and a 48-yard score in Ohio State's 37-7 romp over Cincinnati. But to understand how far he's come, you've got to know where he's been.
Actually, though, the Bucks' junior running back can't tell you where all he went that lost day at the start of his OSU career.
An All-Ohio running back at Akron's Buchtel High School, he'd graduated early and enrolled at Ohio State in the spring to jump-start a career he was sure would be spotlighted from the onset.
He brashly compared himself to Clinton Portis ? who'd just signed a $50 million contract with the Washington Redskins ? and figured he'd be just as valued for the Bucks.
Trouble was, he couldn't find the field that first day of spring practice.
Riding the bus to get to the Woody Hayes practice facility, he missed his stop, got mixed up and soon was totally lost. He kept trying to call Dick Tressel, but the Bucks' running backs coach was at practice and not answering his cell.
Pittman said he finally showed up with five minutes left in practice. The other players gave him a mocking round of applause. The coaches made him run.
The humbling process continued his freshman season, when ? although rushing for 403 yards, second best to Lydell Ross ? he found out he had a lot to learn about following blocks and not dancing out of bounds too quickly.
"I had to learn to be a grinder," Pittman said. "A grinder can do it all. He can run between tackles, outside the tackles, block, catch the ball ... and take a hit when he has to.
"If you do all that, you'll be OK."
More than OK last season, he finished with 1,331 yards ? something no OSU sophomore back except two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin had done.
Before this season, there was talk that freshman sensation Chris "Beanie" Wells, with his mix of power and speed, would eclipse the smaller Pittman, who missed spring drills with a hamstring injury.
"That didn't bother me. It gave me more motivation to get out here and get on my grind," Pittman said. "Whenever there's competition, it's better for the team."
Saturday, Pittman gave an uncharacteristically sputtering OSU offense the "spark" ? OSU head coach Jim Tressel's word ? it needed to steamroll the Bearcats, who had led the No. 1 team in the nation 7-6 until late in the first half.
After rushing for just 2 yards on two carries in the first quarter, Pittman had his 155 midway through the fourth quarter. He's now rushed for 100 yards 10 times in his career and twice this season.
Bucks quarterback Troy Smith ? noting that he and receiver Ted Ginn Jr. get most of the offensive recognition ? called Pittman an "unsung hero." A couple of years ago, such a slight would have eaten at Pittman, but not now:
"I don't need the big name out there. I feel if I do my part ? if I keep grinding ? I'll get enough attention and be recognized."
If that sounds like a guy who knows where he's going, the point was underscored when he finally emerged from the Ohio Stadium dressing room after interviews.
After signing autographs for a fawning mob, he stepped straight onto a waiting bus.
Archdeacon: OSU's Pittman provides the spark
By Tom Archdeacon
Staff Writer
Sunday, September 17, 2006
COLUMBUS ? He was once the most lost Buckeye on the football team.
Antonio Pittman ? decked out in a gray suit, lavender shirt and matching tie, fancy cuff links, and diamond-like earrings ? didn't seem too thrilled when that incident was brought up Saturday.
Not after he'd just run for 155 yards and a 48-yard score in Ohio State's 37-7 romp over Cincinnati. But to understand how far he's come, you've got to know where he's been.
Actually, though, the Bucks' junior running back can't tell you where all he went that lost day at the start of his OSU career.
An All-Ohio running back at Akron's Buchtel High School, he'd graduated early and enrolled at Ohio State in the spring to jump-start a career he was sure would be spotlighted from the onset.
He brashly compared himself to Clinton Portis ? who'd just signed a $50 million contract with the Washington Redskins ? and figured he'd be just as valued for the Bucks.
Trouble was, he couldn't find the field that first day of spring practice.
Riding the bus to get to the Woody Hayes practice facility, he missed his stop, got mixed up and soon was totally lost. He kept trying to call Dick Tressel, but the Bucks' running backs coach was at practice and not answering his cell.
Pittman said he finally showed up with five minutes left in practice. The other players gave him a mocking round of applause. The coaches made him run.
The humbling process continued his freshman season, when ? although rushing for 403 yards, second best to Lydell Ross ? he found out he had a lot to learn about following blocks and not dancing out of bounds too quickly.
"I had to learn to be a grinder," Pittman said. "A grinder can do it all. He can run between tackles, outside the tackles, block, catch the ball ... and take a hit when he has to.
"If you do all that, you'll be OK."
More than OK last season, he finished with 1,331 yards ? something no OSU sophomore back except two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin had done.
Before this season, there was talk that freshman sensation Chris "Beanie" Wells, with his mix of power and speed, would eclipse the smaller Pittman, who missed spring drills with a hamstring injury.
"That didn't bother me. It gave me more motivation to get out here and get on my grind," Pittman said. "Whenever there's competition, it's better for the team."
Saturday, Pittman gave an uncharacteristically sputtering OSU offense the "spark" ? OSU head coach Jim Tressel's word ? it needed to steamroll the Bearcats, who had led the No. 1 team in the nation 7-6 until late in the first half.
After rushing for just 2 yards on two carries in the first quarter, Pittman had his 155 midway through the fourth quarter. He's now rushed for 100 yards 10 times in his career and twice this season.
Bucks quarterback Troy Smith ? noting that he and receiver Ted Ginn Jr. get most of the offensive recognition ? called Pittman an "unsung hero." A couple of years ago, such a slight would have eaten at Pittman, but not now:
"I don't need the big name out there. I feel if I do my part ? if I keep grinding ? I'll get enough attention and be recognized."
If that sounds like a guy who knows where he's going, the point was underscored when he finally emerged from the Ohio Stadium dressing room after interviews.
After signing autographs for a fawning mob, he stepped straight onto a waiting bus.
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