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Pittman anonymity has run its course
Jason Lloyd, Morning Journal Writer
09/26/2006
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1699&dept_id=46370&newsid=17245878
THERE comes a time when those who are anonymous get so much attention for being anonymous that they are no longer anonymous.
We have reached that point with Antonio Pittman.
It's no longer hip to say he goes unnoticed. That has been written and said so often, Pittman now gets too much publicity for not getting enough publicity.
He's good -- 1,300 yards good last year and he's on pace to finish with 1,400 this year. That would put his career total right around 3,100 yards, giving him the opportunity to crack Ohio State's top five on the career list. That's the real Mount Rush More -- where Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Tim Spencer and Keith Byars roam.
That is hardly unnoticed.
And that, of course, is with a year of eligibility remaining. Pittman could easily surpass George's career total of 3,768 yards and rank second all-time in school history behind Griffin, but really, if Pittman rushed for 1,400 yards this year and double-digit touchdowns, does anyone actually expect him to be back on campus next year?
That's the point. Tailbacks who go to Ohio State, run for 3,000 yards in their careers and leave with eligibility remaining become first-round picks in the NFL.
That is hardly unnoticed.
Still, Pittman has his own press agent in Troy Smith.
''I speak for Antonio,'' Smith said. ''Antonio has never been that kind of guy to say ?they don't have the camera on me' or ?they're not writing about me.' He just keeps playing. If everybody keeps voicing the opinion about how much love they've got for him, hopefully the love will come to him.''
If Pittman gets anymore love, he'll wind up on American Idol.
A few players are upset Pittman wasn't named All-Big Ten last year by either the coaches or the media. Minnesota's Laurence Maroney was named to the first team by both votes and the second team slot was split between Northwestern's Tyrell Sutton (coaches) and Iowa's Albert Young (media).
Was it a slight? Perhaps. But Young also rushed for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns and Sutton had more yards and 16 touchdowns for the Wildcats. So it's not as if Pittman was passed over in favor of Lydell Ross.
A.J. Hawk wasn't named the best linebacker in the country last year. Does that mean he was anonymous?
Part of what hurt Pittman last year was the fact he didn't score a touchdown until the eighth game of the season. If you want to blame someone for that, blame Jim Tressel. He's the one who called for Smith to keep the ball anytime it was near the goal line.
It was clear Tressel wanted the ball in Smith's hands inside the 10. It's why Smith finished last year with a team-leading 11 rushing touchdowns. But that doesn't mean the snub from last year carries over until now.
Tressel -- like the rest of the country -- spent last year learning what Pittman can do. Now we're all fully aware of it. When Ohio State's offense was grinding its gears the last two weeks, Pittman replaced the clutch and made it all hum again.
His touchdown run Saturday against Penn State was brilliant, given all he observed and the decisions he made in a moment. The play, he said, was originally designed to go outside. But a safety shot through the line, forcing fullback Stan White to pick him up. That left Pittman without a lead blocker outside, so he freelanced and cut back behind White.
The result was a 12-yard touchdown.
It may not be as flashy as Smith reversing direction and running backwards 15 yards before heaving a touchdown pass, but it was every bit as effective. And just because Pittman isn't the lead clip on SportsCenter doesn't mean he's anonymous.
To continue beating this hollow drum that he doesn't get the credit he deserves is a disservice to his talent. It's like trying to set up your best friend with the prom queen.
Pittman can get his own date to the dance.
All he needs from his teammates now is the football.
