Game Thread Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 (final)

[notfadeaway]

As a HS coach in the area you are over looking the fact that each school has a groundskeeper that plants both summer and now winter grass. Have no fears about the field...it obviously had no effect seeing as they are 2-0 in the Fiesta while practicing at Pinnacle...I think the familiarity is a good thing...besides next year when they make it 4/5 no one will care they are working out at a HS that is every bit as nice as SCC..in fact Pinnacle is newer and nicer:osu:

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

Posted on Thu, Dec. 29, 2005
SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Quinn, an Ohio native, set to lead Irish against Buckeyes in Fiesta Bowl

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. - As a kid growing up in Dublin, Ohio, Brady Quinn usually went to three Ohio State football games a year.
His parents threw Ohio State-Michigan parties. He remembers Eddie George and the Buckeyes beating Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl with Joe Germaine.
He played against A.J. Hawk and Nick Mangold in the fifth grade, when he lost to their Wee Elks team from Centerville 13-7 in the peewee championship.
He attended camps and went on recruiting trips with Donte Whitner.
He could have joined them at Ohio State.
Quinn was a highly recruited quarterback coming out of Dublin Coffman High School, even though a broken foot suffered in the ninth game of his senior year spoiled his run at the state title.
His decision came down to Notre Dame, Ohio State or Michigan.
While Notre Dame's program was in a slump, Quinn took a chance on the Irish.
``The biggest thing for me was the feeling I had being at Notre Dame,'' Quinn said. ``I walked around campus and talked to the players and coaches. I thought, `Wow, I could definitely see myself being here the next four or five years.' ''
Even during 5-7 and 6-6 seasons and when coach Tyrone Willingham was fired last November, Quinn never wavered.
``Not once,'' he said. ``I was happy where I was. Playing at Notre Dame is an experience I can't describe to any of you unless you've been out there and run through the tunnel. Even being a student at the university is truly a special experience.''
It got even more special when Quinn learned the Irish would meet Ohio State Monday in the Fiesta Bowl.
``When I was making a decision people said, `That's fine, at least you didn't go to Michigan.' Then all of a sudden you have a chance to play Ohio State,'' Quinn said almost gleefully.
New coach Charlie Weis and Quinn have led a resurgence of the Irish.
Picking up the system Weis brought from the New England Patriots even faster than Weis expected, Quinn threw for 3,633 yards and 32 touchdowns, with just seven interceptions.
He set single-season Notre Dame marks for attempts (405), completions (263), yards, yards per game (330.3) and touchdown passes.
He's thrown a touchdown pass in a school-record 17 consecutive games, breaking the Irish record of 10 set by Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte in 1964.
``He's a very bright football player,'' Weis told the Chicago Tribune earlier this season. ``You usually only have to tell him something once. Even when he makes a mistake, he understands why as soon as you say it. I obviously have a lot of confidence in him because he really controls everything we do.''
Starting since the fourth game of his freshman season, the 6-foot-4, 232-pound junior is the only quarterback in Notre Dame history to throw for 8,000 career yards and is one of just two to surpass 7,000, joining Ron Powlus. Now Quinn can call Joe Montana and not have butterflies.
``The first time of course you do, it's Joe Montana, the greatest quarterback ever. Who am I to call Joe Montana?'' Quinn said.
``He's done worlds for me as far as talking with me about the game and helping me understand things and getting me through a lot of rough spots with how our season was going, with the coaching change. He's somebody who really inspired me to keep working hard and not to allow yourself to plateau. You want to keep getting better.''
Quinn's success this season hasn't surprised Dublin Coffman football coach Mark Crabtree, who had Quinn for two years.
``The only thing that surprised me was how quickly he was able to play as a freshman,'' Crabtree said. ``The way he's playing now is the same way he played as a senior in high school.
``He has unbelievable physical strength, particularly for a quarterback. You saw how abused he got the first couple years, especially as a freshman, and I don't think the kid missed a play. He has courage hanging onto the ball. His decision-making, he's very football smart. He studies the opponents and the game. He was probably a once-in-a-lifetime kid for me to coach.''
But where Quinn really excels is his leadership ability.
``It's hard to describe how he affects people,'' Crabtree said. ``It's not just people believing in him and wanting to play hard for him. I think his teammates want to please him because of the effort he puts out.''
Receiver Jeff Samardzija, a 6-foot-5 junior, caught 71 of Quinn's passes for 1,190 yards and 15 touchdowns in his breakout season.
``There's no way to measure,'' Samardzija said of co-captain Quinn's leadership. ``It's an unspoken, untalked about trait. You kind of follow people like Brady (for what he) does on the field.''
Samardzija is one who is happy Quinn took a look at the situation at Ohio State and chose Notre Dame. Crabtree said OSU coach Jim Tressel basically chose St. Henry's Todd Boeckman, a late enrollee who is now a redshirt freshman, over Quinn.
``They offered Todd Boeckman before they ever heard of Brady Quinn,'' Crabtree said. ``The year before they got Justin Zwick and Troy Smith. Brady wasn't running from competition. In his mind he said, `Maybe Ohio State isn't the place for me.' ''
Quinn holds no grudges.
``Growing up in Dublin you're kind of an Ohio State alum,'' he said. ``I was a fan, I still am. Just not when they play Notre Dame in anything.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BRIEFS: Carpenter is closer to playing in Fiesta

Thursday, December 29, 2005

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The Associated Press[/FONT]



Ohio State outside linebacker Bobby Carpenter will find out later this week whether his broken right leg has mended enough to allow him to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.

Carpenter, who led No. 4 Ohio State with eight sacks this season, did some jogging and light cutting Tuesday and said he felt better than expected.

“I’m not where I need to be by any means,” he said. “There’s been greater things accomplished in four days than what I need to do, so that’s kind of the way I look at it.”

Carpenter, a senior, broke his leg on the Buckeyes’ first defensive play against Michigan nearly six weeks ago. The injury normally takes at least that long to heal. Freshman James Laurinaitis will start against No. 5 Notre Dame on Monday if Carpenter can’t play.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

<H1 class=red>When it all comes into focus

</H1>Prolific Irish latest test for Buckeye D'


Thursday, December 29, 2005

Doug Lesmerises


Plain Dealer Reporter

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Mike Haywood left the University of Texas, where he had been the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach, to return to his alma mater this season as the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame.

After watching the offense stumble through the first day of spring practice under new coach Charlie Weis, Haywood had one thought.

"Oh God, did I really leave Texas?"

From that point to this one, as one of the country's top 10 offenses five days before the Fiesta Bowl, it has been a season of progress for the Fighting Irish in a system the players still don't completely have down.

It's never been that way for the Ohio State defense. From the moment defensive line coach Jim Heacock took over as defensive coordinator in April, the Buckeyes have hammered home what they believed an attainable goal: to be the best defense in the country.

"I knew we'd be great," senior defensive back Tyler Everett said. "The expectations were high for us. I knew we could play this well with the guys we have on defense."

At this point, Ohio State isn't quite on top, ranked fourth in total defense.

But that's a significant leap from 30th, the final ranking from a year ago that still sticks in the minds of the Buckeyes. After the Michigan game, when Heacock in a defensive meeting put up a slide listing the defense's ranking at the top of nearly every category in the Big Ten and first in the nation in rushing defense, satisfaction filled the room.

That the Buckeyes are in Arizona and not at the Rose Bowl playing for the national championship is the only evidence needed to show this season wasn't all Ohio State hoped it would be. But a senior-laden side of the ball preparing to face a top-10 offense for the fifth time this season can also acknowledge how near they came to their sky-high goals.

"Looking back, I'm very proud and honored to be on this defense," senior linebacker Anthony Schlegel said. "It's one of the best, I think, in Ohio State history."

"The coaches said at the beginning of the year, our goal was to have commentators on television say this is one of the best defenses in the nation, and I believe we earned that title as one of the best," said senior safety Nate Salley.

As Weis stamped his name on the Notre Dame offense, so too did Heacock with Ohio State's defense, employing a more aggressive attack that successfully harried quarterbacks. Scoffing at attempts to create a Heacock-Weis matchup, he laid the success at the trust he put in seniors.

Coach Jim Tressel said one of Heacock's greatest qualities was his ability to lean on his seniors and gather their input for his game plan.

"I think the seniors were interested in trying to be the best there was, and we talked about trying to get to that point," Heacock said. "I think their leadership grew this year. We wanted those guys to come through and have their best years, and they all seemed like they played their best football this year. Every single guy played his best football. They were unselfish, they played together as a team, they set goals for themselves.

You see that dedication, and as a coach you just stay out of their way."
The Notre Dame coaches couldn't quite take that approach, but by the end of spring ball it was apparent to Haywood and Weis what was possible for the Irish.

"We met and said, 'We'll be a whole lot better than people think we are,' " Haywood said.

They were, though the best defense they faced was No. 12 Tennessee, and only four opposing defenses finished ranked in the top 50. Now following Texas, Minnesota, Michigan State and Northwestern as top 10 offenses to test Ohio State, the Irish set up as ideal foils for the Buckeyes to emphasize what they've known all along.

"To go out and have a lot of pressure on us as a defense is how we want it," senior defensive end Mike Kudla said, "because that's the way it's been all year. To face a great offense is a challenge but a great opportunity to go out and play the way we want to play and realize how special it was to be part of this defense."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4748

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

Forget his buttoned-down look, 'the game' is Tressel's strong suit


Thursday, December 29, 2005 Bill Livingston

Plain Dealer Columnist

An eavesdropping microphone let satellite television viewers hear Maryland coach Ralph Friegen exchange pregame pleasantries with Florida State coach Bobby Bowden this season. Asked how he was doing, Bowden, who has more football victories in Division 1-A than anyone in NCAA history, said: "I'm doing fine except for the games. I wish we could practice every day."

Jim Tressel doesn't understand that kind of talk.

Asked his favorite part of the week, the Ohio State coach said: "The game."

Bowden's weariness certainly isn't a lack of competitive juice. FSU beat Maryland that day. Bowden and Penn State's Joe Paterno will face off in the Orange Bowl in the 2006, the Year of the Geezer.

Maybe Bowden has been in the spotlight a long time. Maybe he enjoys the teaching part of the game more than the violent chess matches on game day. Maybe that's why he gave a network television interview with his back to the playing field during the 1999 BCS Championship Game between FSU and Virginia Tech.

Meanwhile, what fires must burn inside the buttoned-down Tressel?
He looks like a store clerk in a sweater-vest. He is calm, confident, and doesn't attack the sideline markers. On Monday, he takes the Buckeyes to their third BCS bowl game in four years in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame and the Flavor of the Month, coach Charlie Weis.

Tressel is supposed to be overmatched by the former New England Patriots offensive guru. Wasn't that the plot line when Tressel was promoted from Division 1-AA, too?

Critics underestimate how game day is in Technicolor for Tressel. Everything else is just Kansas.

"Once the game starts, it's fun," Tressel said. "There are 24 hours in a game day, but there's only three hours that are any fun. I like games better than practice."

Tressel calls Michigan's Big House a "fun" place. He said he hears the derision at Penn State or Michigan and "you close your eyes and think they're rooting for you." Big games provide "fun pressure, memorable pressure."

His predecessor, John Cooper, started grinding his teeth as soon as the game before Michigan ended. Cooper, like Michigan's Lloyd Carr, who is 1-4 against Tressel, seemed afflicted by serious body chafing in the build-up to the big game.

Tressel is a conservative coach, so it is easy to typecast him as a slave to the kicking game and field position, a man who keeps the other team in the game by being predictable.

But the Buckeyes haven't won a national championship and shared two Big Ten titles under him by playing scared. In his career, Tressel has won with running teams, passing teams, and, like this year's Buckeyes, balanced teams.

It was once easy to say Tressel was a coach who favored benign neglect when it came to misdeeds by his players. "When a player thinks he's bigger than the program, Maurice Clarett happens," said OSU kicker Josh Huston.

This year, surprisingly severe punishment happened to quarterback Troy Smith for what amounted to a procedural slip-up involving a football camp. Smith was a serial offender, however, and the clerk in the sweater vest brought the hammer down.

After Indiana's Terry Hoeppner got a call reversed with a Woody Hayes-like rant, Tressel, who made mild objections to other calls to no avail, said: "I'm too nice a guy. I'm killing us."

More often, the Nice Warrior winds up killing the other guys. Softly.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:

[email protected], 216-999-5754

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

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12/29/05

FIESTA BOWL | NOTEBOOK

Heacock concerned about players’ focus

Thursday, December 29, 2005
Ken Gordon

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said yesterday that he was concerned several of his players could be distracted by thoughts of declaring early for the NFL draft.

Two junior defenders, safety Donte Whitner and cornerback Ashton Youboty, are considering leaving after the season.

"We can’t have our minds on things outside the program or individual things," Heacock said. "Whether anybody decides to come out early or doesn’t, that’s down the road. Hopefully, for this week coming up, we can lock into what we need to do as a team and remember what’s gotten us to a bowl game and get our minds back on the same page."

Maybe Heacock is mindful of former Buckeyes cornerback Chris Gamble, who left for the NFL in the spring of 2004 after his junior season.

At the NFL combine that February, Gamble said his thoughts wandered toward the end of OSU’s 35-28 Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State.

The Wildcats trailed 35-14 before scoring 14 fourth-quarter points.

"In the fourth quarter, that’s when I really started thinking about (going pro) and thinking about not getting hurt," Gamble said.

Heacock said he thought his unit’s strength this season was, "they played together and gave each other credit. We didn’t have a bunch of individuals out there trying to draw attention to themselves."

He hopes that continues for one more game.
Poor practice ?



Cornerback Tyler Everett said the coaches were not thrilled with the Buckeyes’ first bowl practice Tuesday and were determined to have a better session yesterday.

"We had a mediocre practice (Tuesday)," Everett said. "The coaches said they didn’t feel we could’ve won against Notre Dame (based on Tuesday’s effort), so today, we came out with the mentality that we’ve got to get better, because we can’t go in next week playing flat.

"It was an emphasis on turnovers today, and we got a lot of turnovers and everybody played hard. We’re used to the heat now, so let’s just hope it’s smooth sailing from here."
Carpenter update



Coach Jim Tressel said X-rays were to be taken of linebacker Bobby Carpenter’s broken lower right leg last night.

After that, "I think you’ll have an indication of whether it’s possible or not (that he plays)," Tressel said.

If Carpenter is cleared to practice, Tressel said it still could be a game-time decision whether he plays.

"Yeah, because once they let him back in to run around a little bit, then how does he feel after running around?" he said. "So absolutely."
Knock on wood ?



Tressel is 2-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and was asked whether he had any superstitions or rituals he planned to repeat this year for good luck.

"I ate a lot the times we’ve been here," he said. "So I’ve continued to do that. I don’t know if that’s superstitious."
[email protected]

 

[VprHis]

"I ate a lot the times we’ve been here," he said. "So I’ve continued to do that. I don’t know if that’s superstitious."

I just spit coffee all over my monitor. It's a new monitor, too. I'm sending a bill to JT... then again, knowing him, he just might pay it, so I'd better not.

 

[barlow1802]

Okay...here's some info I got off of the official Fiesta Bowl webpage:

Headquarters:

Ohio State-Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort

Notre Dame-Scottsdale Plaza Resort

Which one is more manly?

Practice facilities:

Ohio State-Pinnacle High School

Notre Dame-Scottsdale Community College

Seriously,they got us at a HIGH SCHOOL????You mean there isn't more than 1 community college in the area?

I feel this shows real biased towards ND.Seriously,a college football field has to be in better shape than a HS field.

UM fans are already jumping ship for next year and drinking our kool-aide?

 

[NOTREDAMECHIEF]

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<!-- date -->December 29. 2005 6:59AM
<!--START Headline-->Weis gives ND touch of Insight

<!--END Headline--><!--ArticleByline-->
JASON KELLY

<!-- STORY BODY -->
"I'm taking them to the Insight Bowl," Charlie Weis said, which sounded better as diversionary entertainment for a football team than a destination in itself.

Notre Dame, party of 150, watched Tuesday's gratuitous football game in a baseball stadium over dinner in a Chase Field restaurant.

That sure beat playing in it.

<!--START Inline Ad--><TABLE style="WIDTH: 321px; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"><SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--OAS_AD('Middle');//--></SCRIPT> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--END Inline Ad-->What a scene it must have been for the Irish, watching Rutgers in the spot they occupied last year, like a view of Pottersville from the safe distance of Bedford Falls.

As they probably didn't need to be reminded, that was what their football life looked like without Weis in it.

A year ago, Notre Dame had left Phoenix by now after its Insight nightmare, passing Utah and its coaching deity, Urban Meyer, in the night.

He was there for the Fiesta Bowl, his last order of business before taking his offense to Florida, the program that looked more promising -- or at least made more promises -- than Notre Dame.

Only Weis, it seemed, saw the promise in the Irish, then the washed-up headliner reduced to performing at the Insight Bowl dinner theater.

Even then Weis seemed confident they just needed the right script.

Eleven critically acclaimed games later, his intuition about
the Irish turned out to be correct.

Now Notre Dame will play Sun Devil Stadium, a giant leap from the off-, off-Broadway obscurity of the former Bank One Ballpark.

Despite an extended hiatus from the glare of these brighter Fiesta Bowl footlights, the Irish seem comfortable as stars instead of understudies.

Their sense of belonging, their new swagger, comes from the coach who believed in them even when nobody else did.

Weis uses variations of the word "humiliation" interchangeably with "motivation" -- an interpretive quirk of the Jersey-to-English dictionary -- but whatever his methods, he restored Notre Dame's pride.

It took some tearing down, and no doubt a few players felt gutted along the way, but the rebuilt program brought out the romantics among them.

"It's something that's going to put this program back on top," offensive lineman Dan Stevenson said, working up a rhetorical fever. "It's Notre Dame football, it's America's pastime, it's the team of all teams."

Those hyperbolic labels are a function of Irish football history more than its present because, as even they will tell you, it's about winning championships.

No chance of that this year, although the conversation about Notre Dame's future now involves titles -- plural -- as a realistic possibility.

As for more immediate matters, even the buildup to the Fiesta Bowl reflected the new personality and potential of the Irish.

An understandable underdog against No. 4 Ohio State (down to 4 1/2 points after opening at 5 1/2), fifth-ranked Notre Dame nevertheless figures to put up a fight.

Call that the Weis effect -- a line of credibility, to stretch the gambling reference -- an attitude that comes naturally now. From the coach on down, the Irish ooze it.

"Let's not lessen the fact that Ohio State is good," Weis said, "but I think one thing you can count on is this team showing up and playing for 60 minutes with every intent of winning the game."

That much nobody doubts about Notre Dame anymore, a faded legend before the season began, now revived after a series of performances worthy of its tradition.

From the last working Insight Bowl trip to this one for their dining pleasure, Weis could see the difference on the Irish faces.

"I can tell you there's a bunch of people that have a lot better feeling about themselves personally right now because of how things have gone," Weis said, "and that makes you feel good for them that they feel proud of their accomplishments."

Starting Monday in the Fiesta Bowl, and continuing into next season, they will have much more to accomplish to appease the uber-ambitious Weis.

But leading Notre Dame this far, this fast, he validated his insight into a battered program nobody else seemed inclined to touch.

And after this year, the Irish would follow him anywhere -- even back to the Insight Bowl, as long as it's just for dinner and a show.


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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#720c0c><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Related articles:[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f6f6f6><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/29/2005 - Quinn puts faith in ND for 2006
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/28/2005 - When ND beat OSU
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/27/2005 - Hoyte goes from verse to better
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/27/2005 - OSU ready for a Fiesta
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/26/2005 - Fiesta Bowl special for Stevenson
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[NOTREDAMECHIEF]

<TABLE borderColor=aqua cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 466px" vAlign=top>December 29. 2005 6:59AM
<!--START Headline-->Quinn puts faith in ND for 2006

<!--END Headline--><!--ArticleByline-->
ERIC HANSEN
Tribune Staff Writer

<!-- STORY BODY -->
TEMPE, Ariz. -- In the end, Brady Quinn didn't need any feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Council to finalize his plans for the 2006 football season.

He turned to a higher power.

No, not Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, although the Irish junior quarterback and his parents have met with the ND first-year head coach on the subject of possibly jumping into the 2006 draft twice since the end of the regular season.

<!--START Inline Ad--><TABLE style="WIDTH: 321px; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top"><SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--OAS_AD('Middle');//--></SCRIPT> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--END Inline Ad-->"When you look at the situation, I'm a big believer in my faith," Quinn said Wednesday during a press gathering in advance of Monday's Fiesta Bowl. "And I actually believe God helped me make the decision to come to Notre Dame, and I feel the same way about Him giving me a feeling that it's in my best interests to come back for another year and it's in my best interests to finish out school and be prepared for the real world whenever football ends."

Actually, Quinn has some unfinished business to address -- Monday's matchup with Ohio State at Sun Devil Stadium. But for most of the season, including this week, he has been verbally poked and prodded about where he might spend the 2006 season. And the Irish career and single-season record-holder for virtually every statistic of significance has pretty convincingly stated his desire to return to ND for his senior season.

But there was always a crack in his declarations: Unless something astronomical happens ... We'll I'm 99 percent sure.

Wednesday he left no doubt.

"I see a lot of guys not finishing their degrees," Quinn said. "It just takes them so long when they try to come back. And I have so many goals and ambitions outside of football.

"It really is best for me to come back for an extra year, get the tutelage from coach Weis that you can't receive in the NFL. He's not there anymore. He's here now. So why not utilize that as long as you can and go for every goal that you want? I want to win a national championship, and I think our team has the ability, without a doubt, to win it (in 2006), especially with the people we have coming back on offense and defense."

Weis was elated to hear Quinn's words, but not surprised.

"All I know is Brady and I have had extensive conversations," Weis said. "Like everyone, he's going to get squeezed by a lot of people, because he had such a prolific year. Why wouldn't those agents try to sniff around to try and get a part of him?

"He wants to set his sights at the top. Let's hope that people respect his wishes. He's one of my favorite guys, because of how he handles himself, not because of how he plays. And I think when he says it, you can believe it, because that's the way he is."

But what if Quinn throws for 500 yards and seven touchdowns Monday and is projected as a top three pick in April?

"Well," Quinn said, "it starts out 2006 pretty well, I guess."

Carpenter update

Ohio State will make a determination today on the availability of starting linebacker Bobby Carpenter, who suffered a broken right ankle Nov. 19 against Michigan on the very first play of the game from scrimmage.

"I saw him out there running," Ohio State defensive coordinator Joe Heacock said of the 6-foot-3, 255-pound senior and team leader in sacks, with eight.

"Did he look full-go?" one reporter asked.

"Well, he jogged full-go," Heacock said. "He was a lot better than he was a week ago."

Squibs

Notre Dame got down to business at practice Wednesday after Tuesday's transitional session that consisted mainly of sprints, lifting weights and stretching.

"We got through a bunch of plays today with minimal mistakes, (and) for the first day, I was happy the way it turned out," Weis said. "I'm glad we decided to practice the way we did last week, right up until Friday. You could see they were not rusty. That was a good first day."

ND offensive coordinator Mike Haywood has had a chance to get up close and personal with both participants in this year's Rose Bowl. He was running backs coach for Texas prior to coming back to his alma mater this season and coached against USC back in October.

So who does he think will emerge victorious in Wednesday's No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup?
"Texas," Haywood said with very little hesitation
.
Haywood, in fact, plans to fly to Pasadena, Calif., after Monday's Fiesta Bowl to take in the game in person.

Running back Darius Walker said Weis told the Irish players not to think about football during the team's 72 hours away from the sport over Christmas. For the sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga., it was relatively easy. His family spent Christmas in Las Vegas, at his aunt's house.

"I think anyone who goes to Vegas has to walk the strip," he said. "But I'm not 21 yet, so I couldn't go into any of the places."

Well, except perhaps to see Wayne Newton?

"No!" Walker said. "Not in a million years."


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<TABLE class=factsborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width=240 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=ten><CENTER></CENTER>Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn throws against Washington earlier this season. <HR height="1">Tribune file photo/JIM RIDER
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#720c0c><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Related articles:[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f6f6f6><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/29/2005 - Weis gives ND touch of Insight
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/28/2005 - When ND beat OSU
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/27/2005 - Hoyte goes from verse to better
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/27/2005 - OSU ready for a Fiesta
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=15>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]» [/FONT]</TD><TD>12/26/2005 - Fiesta Bowl special for Stevenson
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>More related articles »</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=factsborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width=240 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=content><HR height="1">Irish vs. Buckeyes


Who: No. 5 Notre Dame (9-2) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (9-2)
What: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
When: Monday, 5 p.m. EST
Where: Sun Devil Stadium (73,752)
TV: WBND-TV (ABC)
Radio: WNDV-FM (U-93), WNDV-AM (1490), WDND-AM (1580)
Quotable: "It's a big thrill, because not too long ago he was coaching in the Super Bowl. He was coaching the Patriots. And the offense he had there was great. He brought a lot of those principles to Notre Dame. It's going to be fun to go out there and see what it feels to play against an NFL-type offense."
Ohio State safety Donte Whitner on facing ND coach Charlie Weis.
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[OSUBucks22]

link

12/29

Football​

Surprise Definitely a Key Component to Irish Offense
By John Porentas
When Charlie Weis replaced Ty Willingham at Notre Dame as the school's head football coach expectations were that Weis would bring the same offensive magic to the Irish offense that he helped supply for the NFL New England Patriots.
Weis has delivered, working his magic to turn the Irish into a high-scoring offensive dynamo and guiding them to a Number 5 ranking heading into the Fiesta Bowl against No. 4 Ohio State.
Weis' magic does not involve magic wands, prestidigitation, or levitation, but in the tradition of the magician, Weis relies on slight of hand and unpredictability to keep defenses mystified and his offense rolling.
Defensive coordinators love to find offensive tendencies in the opposition, then game plan to stop those tendencies. The Irish under Weis, it turns out, simply don't have any tendencies., a fact that makes it very difficult to prepare them.
"That's what happens when you are a game-plan oriented coordinator or play caller," said Weis explaining how his tendency-free offense comes about.
Weis does not hang his offensive hat on any single skill, scheme, or concept. Rather, he changes up from week to week, depending on what he thinks his team can do against the specific defense his team will face, and depending on the game plan for that defense, plays are called accordingly.
"When you're a game plan oriented play caller tendencies usually you can throw out the window," said Weis.
What makes a Weis-led offense even more difficult to contend with is his willingness to actually abandon a game plan mid-game if the situation warrants.
"It's Wednesday, and I can't tell you what I'm calling on second-and-ten right now," Weis said.
"I could have a pretty good feel for how the game is going to start, but then the game is going change, things are going to happen.
"They're going to dictate some things, we're going to dictate some things, but the game is going to change.
"I think the good play callers are the guys who have flexibility where they can set up a plan and envision it, but be willing to deviate from the plan when things don't go the way you thought they were going to go," Weis said.
Weis said that he and his Irish offensive staff are constantly looking at their own offense in an effort to remain unpredictable from game to game.
"Self scouting is a critical thing. I know that people look at us and see us doing one thing, and the next week they don't even see that, so it's pick your poison. What are you going to get ready for?
"It's a really unique approach, the one I've been brought up in, because you don't really know where to spend your practice time because you don't really know what you're going to get."
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said that trying to find tendencies of any kind in Weis' offense has been a futile search.
"When you look at personnel groupings or formations, it's very balanced," said Heacock.
"He does a great job of self-scouting and not letting you zero in on what he's doing. He's very good at what he does plus they've got some very talented players.
"I think they are complex. They give you a lot of problems when you try to come up with a game plan against them.
"They do so many different things and give you so many different wrinkles, plus from game to game you're not really sure what you're going to get. You can get a different approach to each game.
"We're just going to have to adjust to what they're trying to do and hopefully our kids can be strong. It still comes down to blocking, tackling and making plays," said Heacock.
According to Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood, the Weis formula calls for his offense to be totally unpredictable, but prepared for everything a defense could possibly throw at it. That, said Haywood, requires a playbook that provides options for every situation.
"It's huge," said Haywood of the Notre Dame playbook.
"When you have intelligent guys like we do here at Notre Dame you can run more in your package, your package can be more extensive because you have such intelligent players. We run a lot of stuff, but we have very few mental errors because of the intelligence level of our players.
"When I talk to other coaches around the country, they're always amazed at how much we do on offense," Haywood said.
"Whatever they come out and play, we'll answer the call. They can play a 4-3, they can play a 4-2, they can play 3-3, we're going to prepare for it all," Haywood added.
Though quarterback Brady Quinn and the tall Notre Dame wide receiver corps get much of the media attention, Haywood says there is a lot more to the Irish offense than the forward pass.
"We have to be able to run the football to win the football game," said Haywood.
"As coaches it's your responsibility to put your guys in position in which they can have success, so you have to develop schemes in which you can run the football. That's what we plan on doing, being able to run the football."
That's one area in which Heacock will be surprised. He expects the Irish to run the ball, and is very familiar with their running back, Darius Walker, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards this season.
"I think Darius Walker is an outstanding tailback," said Heacock.
"We tried to recruit him out of Atlanta and we know he's a good football player. He's a great player.
"I think they scheme you up, they get you thinking about the passing game and getting coverage and dropping eight or seven, then you get them back there and they come at you with the run. They do a good job blocking. They've got a great blocking tailback and they have three tight ends. Most people don't have three tight ends, but their third tight is awfully good. They can run the ball."
Despite the Notre Dame's reputatoin and ability to throw the ball, Weis says his team will definitely try to attack the Buckeyes on the ground.
"When your running back gets into a groove, you have to find a way to feed him. When a running back gets it going and you can see that they feel it, you have to give him the ball. That's what's happened here down the stretch. Darius has not only wanted more carries, but he's earned more carries even though he's never asked for them, because of the production we've got out of him down the stretch."

 

[OSUBucks22]

DDN

12/29

Heacock ready to take on Irish's offensive 'genius'

Ohio State D-coordinator knows Notre Dame's Weis won't make things easy

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
PHOENIX | Matching wits with Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis in the Fiesta Bowl won't tempt first-year Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock to turn their sideline duel into a personal crusade.
<!--endtext-->Weis won three Super Bowl rings as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator, and the Irish are racking up points at a school-record rate in his first season in South Bend.
But while Heacock knows his professional reputation may be on the line, the 35-year coaching veteran hasn't spent any time worrying about his ego.
"I have no ego," he said, laughing. "I lost that a long time ago."
ND is sixth nationally in scoring (38.2 points) and 10th in total yardage (489.1), and Weis is being hailed as an offensive savant.
But Heacock studied film from all 11 ND games this year and doesn't believe the Buckeyes will encounter anything they haven't already seen.
"They do a great job with offense, there's no question," Heacock said. "He's been around the game. He's very intelligent. They are complex. They give you so many different wrinkles, and you're not sure from game to game what you're going to get.
"(But) I don't know if this will be any different than any other game. We've gone against a lot of offenses that were nationally ranked when we played them — probably more this year than we ever have."
Although he inherited nine returning starters, Heacock has worked wonders since being promoted from defensive line coach. After finishing near the middle of the herd in the Big Ten last year, the OSU defense is first in every statistical category (see box).
They also lead the nation in stopping the run, allowing just 74.5 yards per game. But Heacock takes little credit.
"I think the seniors weren't happy with their productivity last year and decided to step it up," he said. "When your seniors are playing their best football, you have a chance to be successful."
The Buckeyes, though, might be short-handed against the Irish. Versatile senior linebacker Bobby Carpenter, who has a team-high eight sacks, hasn't practiced since the Michigan game because of a broken fibula and is considered questionable.
"We have to plan for not having him. And if we do, it's a bonus," Heacock said.
True freshman James Laurinaitis subbed for Carpenter against the Wolverines. But with Irish QB Brady Quinn averaging about 37 passes per game, the Buckeyes probably will spend much of the day in a 4-2-5 alignment.
Among OSU's most impressive feats this year was holding Rose Bowl-bound Texas to 25 points, about half its average. But Heacock is concerned about the focus of a couple of his defenders this week.
Cornerback Ashton Youboty and safety Donte Whitner have said they are considering a jump to the pros after the game. And when ex-OSU cornerback Chris Gamble was straddling the fence in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago, he admitted afterward he played tentatively for fear of being hurt.
"As I look back on the year at our defense, they played together as a unit," Heacock said. "We didn't have a bunch of individuals trying to draw attention to themselves. And we've got to get back this week into that same mentality.
"We can't have our minds on things outside the program or individual things. Whether anybody decides to come out early or not, that's down the road. Hopefully, we can lock into what we need to do as a team and remember what got us into this bowl game."
Contact Doug Harris at (937) 225-2125.

 

[OSUBucks22]

DDN

12/29


FIESTA BOWL NOTES
Schlegel happy to be starting family

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
PHOENIX | Anthony Schlegel has always looked at his Ohio State teammates as family, and now the senior linebacker is ready to start one of his own.
<!--endtext-->Schlegel found out on the Monday before the Michigan game that his wife, Stephanie, was pregnant. The baby is due in July.
"This is a really crazy time," he said. "You don't know what's going to happen (with the NFL) in the next couple months. We don't know where we'll be living. But this is fun. We're very organized people, but we can't be organized now."
Schlegel, who is second on the team in tackles with 75, doesn't plan to wait until the delivery to find out whether the couple is having a boy or girl.
"We're going to find out (early)," he said. "Parents want to buy stuff. You've got to find out what it is."

Frosh climbs chart


OSU true freshman Lawrence Wilson has made such rapid progress during bowl preparations that he's moved into the starting rotation at defensive end. After registering only two tackles while appearing in 10 regular-season games, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Akron native is suddenly reminding teammates of 2003 Big Ten defensive player of the year Will Smith.
"He has a lot of characteristics Will had," junior safety Donte Whitner said. "His stance looks like Will's. His burst off the ball looks like Will's. Once he learns the game, he's going to be a great player."
Although OSU coach Jim Tressel believes comparisons with Smith are premature, he didn't consider Whitner's reviews entirely farfetched.
"(Wilson) might look a little more imposing than Will did at that age," Tressel said. "He's a little taller and heavier. And he works like Will. If he ends up that good, we'll be excited.

Carpenter to be X-rayed


OSU's Bobby Carpenter was scheduled to have an X-ray taken of his right fibula Wednesday night to determine whether he can play in the Fiesta Bowl. The senior linebacker broke the bone near his ankle in the Michigan game Nov. 19, and the injury usually takes at least six weeks to heal.
"We'll have an idea whether (a comeback) is possible or not," Tressel said. "And then after that, we'll know how much — whether it's 10 plays, 20 plays or 50."

Hitting the books


Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis boasted at a public function that his team's combined grade-point average is a robust 3.0, but the Buckeyes have their share of model students, too. They had 18 academic All-Big Ten selections for the 2005 fall quarter, tying for first in the conference with three other schools. And 55 of 122 players (counting walk-ons) had GPA's of 3.0 or higher, according to associate director of football operations Stan Jefferson.
Sophomore receiver Anthony Gonzalez led all scholarship players with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.

 

[LoudBuckeyeGirl]

Things to do in Tempe

Compiled from various sources ...

Saturday Dec. 31, 2005

11 a.m.: Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade: (free, reserved seating $25)

Fiesta Bowl Parade - Central Avenue, Downtown Phoenix featuring TBDBITL and The Ohio State Cheerleaders !!​

11a.m. OSU Men's Basketball: (free)

Ohio State vs. LSU live at McDuffy's. Join BUCKNUTS at our Buckeye Basketball HQ!! Live TV Broadcast from McDuffy's by Fox Sports Ohio. McDuffy's sports bar in Tempe (230 W. 5th St., corner of 5th and Ash) in connection with Fiesta Bowl preview shows that will air on Fox Sports Net Ohio, FSN Chicago and FSN Midwest.​

Those familiar with McDuffy's are aware there is a huge bar area and stage in the back portion of the building. FSN Ohio will televise live preview shows there on Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 1. BUCKNUTS will also be attending those events. www.mcduffys.com/​

~2p.m. Post Parade party (Phoenix Alumni Club): (free)

HB Hanratty's: 537 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012-1615 (602) 274-3067 located on the parade route! Hanratty's has hosted the club for Buckeye Football games for over 25 years!​

4p.m. - 12:30a.m - Fiesta Bowl Block Party - Mill Ave, Tempe ($20 at gate)

http://www.tostitosfiestabowl.com//images/generic/BubbleMapFINAL.pdf​

6:45p.m. Hometown Parade and Pep Rally, 6:45 p.m., Mill Avenue to Tempe Beach Park

7:15p.m. TBDBITL and Cheerleaders perform - Main Stage​

The Mill Avenue downtown area of Tempe is blocked off for this annual event, which will include live entertainment and fireworks. This is regarded as one of the nation’s best New Years’ Eve celebrations. Named one of the top 10 places in the nation to ring in the New Year by USA Today, and “The Place to Party” by The Sporting News, this year’s Tempe Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party is packed with excitement and fun for the entire family. More than 150,000 people are expected to be on hand as national entertainment, spectacular fireworks, carnival rides, interactive games and many more surprises are unveiled.

This year's Block Party will pack its usual punch with two fireworks shows at 10 p.m. and midnight. More than 40 bands are scheduled to play on 10 different stages throughout the event from 4 p.m. to midnight when headline national act Blues Traveler rings in the New Year at Tempe Beach Park. Other exciting features at this year’s Block Party are freestyle motorcross jumping, dueling pianos and the Fiesta Bowl sunburst drop that will countdown the New Year at the Tostitos Main Stage. Tickets are $15 in advance at any Fry’s Food and Drug Store with a VIP card, or $20 at the gate. For more information call 480-350-0911 or go to www.tostitosfiestabowl.com.​

Sunday Jan. 1, 2006

9:30 a.m. to noon: TBDBITL rehearses their Fiesta Bowl show (free)

Tempe High School - 1730 S. Mill Ave. The band welcomes the public and OSU Alumni to its final rehearsal before the game. Former band members are welcome to bring instruments and play along at the end of the session.​

11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.: Buckeye Brunch, Scottsdale Princess ($65)

Join Ohio State President Karen Holbrook, Vice President for Development James Schroeder, and Director of Athletics Gene Smith for a Buckeye Brunch
prior to the Ohio State Buckeyes’ matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. This is an outdoor event—Buckeye Attire. We are now close to capacity for this event. To register, please call (614) 688-3249.​

10 a.m. to closing - New Years Day Party at Acme Roadhouse (Phoenix Alumni Club, free)

Watch the NFL games before and after the Buckeye Bash! 13 TVs and 3 big screens; outdoor grill and DJ.​

2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: The Buckeye Bash Pep Rally (free)

The Ohio State University Alumni Association (OSUAA), Inc., is set to renew one of its most popular bowl game traditions. The Buckeye Bash Pep Rally at the 2006 Fiesta Bowl will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST Sunday at Tempe Beach Park near the intersection of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.​

This free pep rally will feature The Ohio State Marching Band and cheerleaders, plus Coach Jim Tressel and OSU President, Dr. Karen Holbrook. The Buckeye Bash has been a tradition of the Alumni Association since 1969. It is the only Alumni Association sponsored Fiesta Bowl event. Archie Griffin will be master of ceremonies and the Mayor of Tempe is scheduled to say a few words to the Buckeye fans. Food and beverage vendors will be on site selling refreshments during the gathering. More than 30,000 OSU fans attended the Bash prior to the national championship game in 2003.​

5 - 6 p.m.: Live TV Broadcast from McDuffy's by Fox Sports Ohio (free)

McDuffy's sports bar in Tempe (230 W. 5th St., corner of 5th and Ash)​

6 p.m. Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship - Chase Field, Phoenix ($11-24)

TBDBITL and Notre Dame band will make guest appearances at ~ 9PM TBDBITL performs at the Fiesta Bowl National (H.S.) Band Championship,., Chase Field Ballpark, Phoenix​

Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 – GAMEDAY! GO BUCKS!

9AM to closing - Buckeye Blowout at Acme Roadhouse – Phoenix Alumni club (free) Tailgate atmosphere, live band, outdoor grill!

10:30 a.m. – kickoff: College Football’s Biggest Party – ($20)

Beginning at, the Fiesta Bowl will host College Football's Biggest Party. With the anticipation pumping up just hours before the game, this party packs a wallop of festivity complete with pep rallies, food and beverage booths, and music performed by the universities' marching bands. It is located just north of Sun Devil Stadium at the ASU Festival Grounds. Admission is $20 per person and includes meal, beverage and plenty of fun pregame events.​

11:00 am- STADIUM CLUB ($100) A pre-game meal including the tailgate norms of bratwursts, sausages and chicken sandwiches, the Stadium Club also provides guests with Fiesta Bowl beverages(Pepsi, margaritas, Coors/Coors Light), big screen televisions and musical entertainment. Just steps from Sun Devil Stadium, the Stadium Club creates a game day atmosphere with team spirited decor and an entertaining and enjoyable ambiance. The Stadium Club pass also allows access to College Football's Biggest Party.​

12:30 p.m.: TBDBITL performs at the Fiesta Bowl Pre-game Party,
Arizona State Festival Grounds/North Stadium Lot​

1:30-2:30 p.m. Fox Sports Net Live at the Fiesta Bowl -- The scene for this show moves to the area of College Football’s Biggest Party, just north of Sun Devil Stadium. The show will be produced live from Mountain time and will air from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on FSN Ohio, 2:30-3:30 p.m. on FSN Chicago and like times on FSN Midwest.​

2:35 p.m., TBDBITL Pre-game Performance, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

3 p.m. The Ohio State University Buckeyes v. ND: Kickoff of the 2006 Fiesta Bowl

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl -- Ohio State and Notre Dame meet for just the fifth time ever in the final Fiesta Bowl game played at Sun Devil Stadium. The game is set for a 3:08 p.m. kickoff Mountain time (5:08 p.m. Eastern) and will be televised nationally by ABC.​

 

[barlow1802]

^^ Thanks for the info, I will definatly be hitting McDuffy's up for the basketball game