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OSU FOOTBALL: BIG THINGS EXPECTED OF BUCKS IN '05
By RICH GIBSON Times Leader Sports Writer
High expectations? Buckeye coaches Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell can live with them. They'll have to this fall.
Heacock and Fickell were part of Ohio State's four-man defensive contingent who attended Tuesday's Belmont County Buckeye Boosters' bash at Belmont Hills. Not once did the word "rebuilding" surface and why would it? Instead, Heacock and co-coordinator Fickell were touting the return of the likes of Buckeye starters named Hawk, Schlegel, Carpenter, Salley, Whiter, Pitcock, Green, etc....
"There isn't much doubt, the talent's in place," Heacock reasoned. "The idea is getting players to play for Ohio State...not just for themselves."
Not that Heacock indicated such problems exist, though various egos, however large or small, have been known to create occasional disarray.
"We have some guys here who've already exhibited maturity and leadership. That's where you want to start," Heacock noted.
The addition of Mike D'Andrea to the linebacking corps rates OSU among the nation's elite at the position.
"In A.J. Hawk, you're looking at a player as good as any in the country," Fickell remarked. "And in Anthony Schlegel, you're looking at a player as good a leader as any in the country. Throw well-schooled guys like Bobby Carpenter and Mike D'Andrea in there....we'll take our chances against anyone."
Heacock, meanwhile, heaped praise on the athleticism of defensive backs Whitner and Sally. "Likely as fine a combo as you'll find in the Big Ten," their coach raved. "Obviously, it'll be difficult replacing (cornerback) Dustin Fox but we have some guys competing."
Naturally, if Heacock had his way Ted Ginn, Jr., by all accounts the country's top returning sophomore, would find a place in the secondary.
Jim Tressel, however, indicated Ginn's defensive minutes figure to be minimal. "We may use Teddy in the red zone, but he'll see a majority of minutes with the offense," Tressel indicated.
Nevertheless, Heacock relishes the idea most pieces of the puzzle are already in place. "It's a matter of our players coming together and playing as a unit," he suggested. "I realize every coach in America says that same thing. In our case, though, it's especially true."
As Heacock indicated, the Buckeyes' schedule, while favorable with seven games on the homefront, remains challenging.
"You can't take any days off," he related. "Miami (Oh) is a great in-state rival and you know San Diego State will come in with something to prove. They took Michigan to the wire last season at Ann Arbor. Iowa, Michigan State, Illinois will all be tough...then we go to Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan. That's why you never look ahead."
Fickell, who started a school record 50 straight games in a Buckeye uniform between 1993-96, like Tressel, is in his fourth season at OSU.
"They got me working the office, mostly, manning the phones," Fickell laughed. "I'm still learning the ropes from a coaching standpoint, but I recognize talent when I see it, and this season, we shouldn't be short on talent."
EXTRA POINTS
TRESSEL says playing a two-year, home-and-home series against Texas is a no-lose situation. "We're two of the most high profile programs out there," he explained. "Not only athletically, but academically as well. I imagine a Ohio State-Texas ticket will be a little hard to come by..."
The first game of the series is Sept. 10 in Ohio Stadium, a nationally televised night game by ABC.....
TRESSEL briefly addressed various incidents involving Buckeye players. "We believe in second chances. At the same time, there's punishment to be distributed," he indicated....
JOINING Heacock and Fickell Tuesday were two recent staff additions -- Paul Haynes and Tim Beckman.
Haynes was at Michigan State the past two years as Spartans' defensive backs' coach. Haynes, 35, is a Columbus native who played prep football at DeSales High before walking on at Kent State where he went on to play four years.
Other stops on Haynes' resume include Northern Iowa, Kent State, Louisville, and a one season stint with the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars...
Beckman, a native of Berea, Oh., joins the Bucks after serving as defensive coordinator at Bowling Green where he coached since 1998. Beckman replaces Mark Snyder who is now head coach at Marshall....
LONG TIME Buckeyes' golf coach Jim Brown returned to his "home course" at Belmont Hills. The Martins Ferry native just completed his 32nd season as Buckeyes' coach.
Brown indicated Jack Nicklaus has returned to his alma mater, helping re-design and makeover OSU's legendary Scarlet Course.
"The way kids hit (it) today is really incredible," Brown smiled. "It's nothing to see many of them drive 300 yards."
Thus, Brown pointed out the Scarlet Course will be expanded to a 7,500-yard, Par 71. "That will be a good challenging test for collegiate players," he observed....
BUCKEYE Booster organizers Manny Mehallis and Mike Maistros presented OSU great Dick Smith a check for $7,800 to be turned over to the Ohio State athletic department.....
OSU FOOTBALL: BIG THINGS EXPECTED OF BUCKS IN '05
By RICH GIBSON Times Leader Sports Writer
High expectations? Buckeye coaches Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell can live with them. They'll have to this fall.
Heacock and Fickell were part of Ohio State's four-man defensive contingent who attended Tuesday's Belmont County Buckeye Boosters' bash at Belmont Hills. Not once did the word "rebuilding" surface and why would it? Instead, Heacock and co-coordinator Fickell were touting the return of the likes of Buckeye starters named Hawk, Schlegel, Carpenter, Salley, Whiter, Pitcock, Green, etc....
"There isn't much doubt, the talent's in place," Heacock reasoned. "The idea is getting players to play for Ohio State...not just for themselves."
Not that Heacock indicated such problems exist, though various egos, however large or small, have been known to create occasional disarray.
"We have some guys here who've already exhibited maturity and leadership. That's where you want to start," Heacock noted.
The addition of Mike D'Andrea to the linebacking corps rates OSU among the nation's elite at the position.
"In A.J. Hawk, you're looking at a player as good as any in the country," Fickell remarked. "And in Anthony Schlegel, you're looking at a player as good a leader as any in the country. Throw well-schooled guys like Bobby Carpenter and Mike D'Andrea in there....we'll take our chances against anyone."
Heacock, meanwhile, heaped praise on the athleticism of defensive backs Whitner and Sally. "Likely as fine a combo as you'll find in the Big Ten," their coach raved. "Obviously, it'll be difficult replacing (cornerback) Dustin Fox but we have some guys competing."
Naturally, if Heacock had his way Ted Ginn, Jr., by all accounts the country's top returning sophomore, would find a place in the secondary.
Jim Tressel, however, indicated Ginn's defensive minutes figure to be minimal. "We may use Teddy in the red zone, but he'll see a majority of minutes with the offense," Tressel indicated.
Nevertheless, Heacock relishes the idea most pieces of the puzzle are already in place. "It's a matter of our players coming together and playing as a unit," he suggested. "I realize every coach in America says that same thing. In our case, though, it's especially true."
As Heacock indicated, the Buckeyes' schedule, while favorable with seven games on the homefront, remains challenging.
"You can't take any days off," he related. "Miami (Oh) is a great in-state rival and you know San Diego State will come in with something to prove. They took Michigan to the wire last season at Ann Arbor. Iowa, Michigan State, Illinois will all be tough...then we go to Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan. That's why you never look ahead."
Fickell, who started a school record 50 straight games in a Buckeye uniform between 1993-96, like Tressel, is in his fourth season at OSU.
"They got me working the office, mostly, manning the phones," Fickell laughed. "I'm still learning the ropes from a coaching standpoint, but I recognize talent when I see it, and this season, we shouldn't be short on talent."
EXTRA POINTS
TRESSEL says playing a two-year, home-and-home series against Texas is a no-lose situation. "We're two of the most high profile programs out there," he explained. "Not only athletically, but academically as well. I imagine a Ohio State-Texas ticket will be a little hard to come by..."
The first game of the series is Sept. 10 in Ohio Stadium, a nationally televised night game by ABC.....
TRESSEL briefly addressed various incidents involving Buckeye players. "We believe in second chances. At the same time, there's punishment to be distributed," he indicated....
JOINING Heacock and Fickell Tuesday were two recent staff additions -- Paul Haynes and Tim Beckman.
Haynes was at Michigan State the past two years as Spartans' defensive backs' coach. Haynes, 35, is a Columbus native who played prep football at DeSales High before walking on at Kent State where he went on to play four years.
Other stops on Haynes' resume include Northern Iowa, Kent State, Louisville, and a one season stint with the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars...
Beckman, a native of Berea, Oh., joins the Bucks after serving as defensive coordinator at Bowling Green where he coached since 1998. Beckman replaces Mark Snyder who is now head coach at Marshall....
LONG TIME Buckeyes' golf coach Jim Brown returned to his "home course" at Belmont Hills. The Martins Ferry native just completed his 32nd season as Buckeyes' coach.
Brown indicated Jack Nicklaus has returned to his alma mater, helping re-design and makeover OSU's legendary Scarlet Course.
"The way kids hit (it) today is really incredible," Brown smiled. "It's nothing to see many of them drive 300 yards."
Thus, Brown pointed out the Scarlet Course will be expanded to a 7,500-yard, Par 71. "That will be a good challenging test for collegiate players," he observed....
BUCKEYE Booster organizers Manny Mehallis and Mike Maistros presented OSU great Dick Smith a check for $7,800 to be turned over to the Ohio State athletic department.....
