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

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DDN

Quinn's commitment leads to breakthrough season

Notre Dame QB a product of resourceful nature

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
PHOENIX | Absorbing the playbook of renowned offensive mastermind and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis may have been daunting for Brady Quinn, but the star quarterback has never been one to back down from a cerebral challenge.
<!--endtext--> <!-- inset --><!--begintext--> When his interest in spiritual matters was first piqued as a student at Dublin Coffman High School, Quinn went to extreme measures to digest all he could.
He and about a half-dozen friends met regularly on Friday mornings before school at 6:15 to study the Bible with Dublin resident Rob Crocker, a director for an interdenominational Christian outreach ministry called Young Life.
They pored through the Book of James over donuts at a local Tim Horton's during Quinn's entire senior year. Aptly enough, the group christened itself the James Gang.
"Getting up at 6 a.m. was tough — especially on game days," Quinn said. "It was a sacrifice to get up and read the Bible. But the guys enjoyed it, and we had a lot of camaraderie."
Crocker, 45, remembers Quinn as one of the leaders of the bunch.
"He was a sponge, just soaking up as much as he could about God," Crocker said. "He was just real interested in how to make God more a part of his life."
Quinn's resolve was tested on frigid winter mornings, but he figured out a way to withstand the bitter cold. Taking two sets of keys to their hangout, he kept his car locked and running while the group met.
The Irish may need Quinn to tap into some of that resourcefulness when they put their 9-2 record and national prestige on the line against Ohio State (9-2) in the Fiesta Bowl at 5 p.m. today.
Much pressure will be put on Quinn to dissect the Buckeye defense and keep the high-powered Irish offense humming, but the 6-foot-4, 232-pound junior has been unflinching all season.
He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards and 32 TDs with just seven interceptions. And although he already owns nearly every season and career passing record at the school, he plans to bypass the NFL draft and return for his senior year.
"I'm a big believer in my faith," he said, "and I actually believe God helped me make the decision to come to Notre Dame for a reason. I feel the same way about Him giving me the feeling it's in my best interest to come back for another year and finish up school and be ready for the real world when football ends."
Weis, who was the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator during three Super Bowl wins, is running an NFL-style offense. And he's convinced Quinn will benefit by staying put.
"He'll be more ready for the NFL walking in the door a year from now," Weis said. "That's one thing the NFL guys will know.
"He knows the philosophy we're putting in and the offense we're putting in. If he went to the Patriots right now, he'd be able to run the plays without one day of practice — because he'd know what they were."
Quinn struggled mightily while trying to grasp previous coach Ty Willingham's West Coast offense. Playing behind porous offensive lines, Quinn had just 26 TDs with 25 interceptions in his first two years while barely completing 50 percent of his tosses.
Crocker rode with the player's parents to South Bend for the Michigan game last year and ached for Quinn as fans moaned on every incompletion.
Although he has strong family support, Quinn often leaned on Crocker during stressful times.
"He helped me through all the responsibilities of having the quarterback role at Notre Dame," Quinn said. "There were tough times. And it was great to be able to have somebody like that to talk to."
The author of the Book of James reminds his readers to joyfully accept trials, which can lead to character and maturity if handled properly.
Crocker has seen Quinn exhibit plenty of both since his high school days.
"You knew he was a good football player," Crocker said. "And he just has a good head on his shoulders.
"He's handled the tough times well and handled the success well. I'm very proud of how he's handled both."
 
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DDN

140 Buckeyes fans stuck at home

By the Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | A tour group canceled its game-day flight to the Fiesta Bowl, leaving about 140 people looking for other ways to get to today's game between Ohio State and Notre Dame or stuck home watching it on TV.
<!--endtext-->

<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Tour Management Group of Oklahoma City, Okla., told customers by e-mail Friday that the $845 trip was canceled because the charter company it contracted with for the flight failed to supply a crew.
Michael Baehr, 48, of Blacklick, said the package gave him a way to watch the Buckeyes without missing work. He planned to use two bowl tickets that he won from the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
"I was very disappointed, a little angry," Baehr said Saturday.
Notre Dame fans expected to dominate Sun Devil Stadium

Notre Dame didn't drop a road game this year, and coach Charlie Weis is trying to tap into some of that karma on this excursion.
"I've been telling my players they never lose when they leave the building," he quipped.
But throngs of Irish fans are expected to converge in Tempe for the Fiesta Bowl today, giving it a home-game feel — much like the Buckeye faithful did for the 2002 national championship.
Sun Devil Stadium was a sea of scarlet that night. OSU followers showed up in such force that they managed to perform group O-H-I-O cheers with no resistance from the meager Miami crowd.
Irish fans aren't going to have the place to themselves tonight — not by a long shot. But they've waited 12 years for the program to regain its luster, and money probably won't be an obstacle for many now that the glory days are here.
 
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DDN

1/2

Bruton shines with the Irish

Miamisburg grad plays for Notre Dame

By Tom Archdeacon
Dayton Daily News
TEMPE, ARIZ . | It's not quite a win-one-for-the-Gipper story, but as Notre Dame tales go, it's pretty good.
<!--endtext-->

<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> "When Notre Dame first contacted me, I didn't know. I just took it as another letter, another school," said David Bruton, the former Miamisburg High star. "Coach Lewis (Vikings' coach Tim Lewis) tried to explain it and told me I should take a visit, but I still didn't quite get it.
"The day we drove up there, it was a bad ride. We went through a big storm. It rained the whole way. And I'm thinking, 'This isn't so great. I'll just look at the place, then go back home and weigh my options.'
"And then it happens. As soon as I step on campus, the sun comes out and just hits the Gold Dome and lights up the whole place. I took that as a sign. Took it that my heart was telling me, 'This is it.' "
It was a bright, beautiful morning at Sun Devil Stadium the other day — Fiesta Bowl media day — when Bruton sat there in his No. 27 Notre Dame jersey and told his story. That spring visit when the campus had turned golden right before his eyes had pretty much knocked the other schools recruiting him — places like Michigan, Wisconsin, several from the Mid-American Conference — right out of the running.
And what the Dome didn't do, the diamonds did.
When Bruton and his dad walked into the office of Charlie Weis — just a few months removed from yet another Super Bowl title as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots — the new coach sealed the deal.
He handed them one of his Super Bowl rings — the one that's golf ball-sized and has over 100 diamonds — and said:
"Go ahead, both of you, try it on."
Bruton went back home after that and waited for the Irish to send him the paperwork.
"To me the whole thing was like a fairy tale," he said. "It still is."
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound freshmen played in 10 of Notre Dame's games this season, mostly as a special teams player, but also as an extra defensive back. He deflected a pass in the season opener against Pitt that teammate Tom Zbikowski intercepted. He had a big day on kick-off coverage at Purdue, getting five solo tackles and three times dumping Boilermaker return men behind their own 20-yard line. He made 17 special teams appearances against BYU alone.
Now comes Monday's dream matchup against Ohio State.
He said the Buckeyes had shown lukewarm interest in him, but told him they had their sights set on someone else at his position (the guy ended up at Tennessee) and never formally made an offer.
He said he does have several friends playing for OSU — including Austin Spitler, the linebacker out of Bellbrook, Jamario O'Neal, a safety from Cleveland and Andre Amos, a cornerback from Middletown — and he said he knows everybody back at his high school is pulling for the Bucks.
"My mom and my uncle work at the GM plant in Moraine and I know they brag about me there and hear all kinds of stuff back," he laughed. "The other workers are all telling my mom, 'Ohio State's gonna beat 'em 'cause Notre Dame doesn't have any defense.' Well, we'll see 'bout that."
If the Truck and Bus folks aren't on the Irish bandwagon, plenty of other folks are, Bruton said: "I didn't realize how big a deal Notre Dame football is around the country. I go visit my family in Kentucky and there's alumni there. The alumni in Dayton invited me to their breakfast.
"But it was Coach Lewis who really got me to understand. He gave me books to read — Lou Holtz's (A) Championship Season (at Notre Dame) and Ara Parseghian's book, too. And I read 'em all."
Now that he's brushed up on past coaches, what about the current one? Does he still stop by the office and try on the ring?
Defensive back Ray Herring, who was sitting next to Bruton, couldn't hold back a snort when he heard that one.
"Hey, there's no playing around with Coach Weis," Bruton said with a shrug. "Try it and you'd hear some of his New Jersey sarcasm. He's a good man though, it's just ... aaah ... 'You can have fun after you get out of college!' "
He was smiling now: "Look, I don't think he's ever gonna soften up, but I don't want him to. We're making humongous strides with him. I love it. Look where it's gotten us."
It's gotten them to the Fiesta Bowl, so how would Bruton like to wrap up the season?
"Well, I want us to win," he said with a grin. "And I wouldn't mind getting a pick, taking it to the house and doing a flip into the end zone."
Hey, the sun was shining bright, so why not the fairy tale going?
 
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AP

1/1

Big-Time Programs Hook Up at Fiesta Bowl

<!-- END HEADLINE --> <!-- BEGIN STORY BODY --> By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer Sun Jan 1,10:37 PM ET

TEMPE, Ariz. - Think college football, and these two storied programs are sure to come to mind: The Big Ten brutes of Ohio State and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
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Just a couple of hundred miles apart, they have met only four times — twice in the 1930s and twice in the '90s — and never in a bowl game. Against that backdrop, the fourth-ranked Buckeyes face the fifth-ranked Irish on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl.
"I think it adds a lot to this game," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Sunday. "We've only played four times before in our history and the two great programs, here we are in one of the great settings in college football. I think it adds a little something to the intrigue."
Charlie Weis has the Irish back among the elite in one year and he's already dodging questions about a possible national title run next season. The perfectionist that he is, though, makes a 9-2 season not good enough.
"I'm content with the progress the team has made. I'm content and I'm happy for my staff and I'm happy for the players," Weis said. "I'm happy for our administration and I'm happy for the university. But to be honest with you, I think I blew the two games we lost. So I'm not happy personally."
The Irish losses were 44-41 to Michigan State in overtime and 34-31 to No. 1 USC on Matt Leinart's 1-yard run with three seconds left.
"When you play two games that you lose by three points, when you're the head coach you better take that responsibility," Weis said. "So if you're looking for me to do cartwheels, you'll be waiting a long time."
Each team will get about $14.5 million for appearing in this BCS game. Ohio State must share its money with the rest of its conference. Notre Dame, as an independent, keeps it all.
Rev. John I. Jenkins, the university's president, said it will be spent on student financial aid, library acquisitions and scientific instruments for the new Jordan Hall of Science. The football program is very good to the university.
As for the game itself, on the surface it would seem the big matchup would be Notre Dame's strong offense, directed by junior quarterback Brady Quinn, against Ohio State's powerful defense, anchored by A.J. Hawk, winner of the Lombardi Award as the nation's top defensive lineman or linebacker.
Interestingly, Quinn's sister Laura is dating Hawk, a relationship serious enough that Hawk spent the Christmas holiday at the Quinns' family home.
"Laura has given us all sorts of information on what Ohio State has done," Weis joked. "She's done a great job of feeding us information."
Seriously, though, the Buckeyes' defense is the best Notre Dame has faced, Weis said.
"We have gone against some good defenses," he said. "It's no secret that the University of Tennessee's defense was very, very good this year. Ohio State is good on all three levels. Sometimes you have a dynamic front four, or a rock solid secondary, but they're good on all levels."
While little has been said of Notre Dame's defense versus Ohio State's offense, Weis singled out Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith for concern.
"He worried me most of anybody on their team," Weis said. "What scares me is anytime you have a quarterback, and especially a quarterback who started out with a reputation of being a runner first, and a thrower second, and now has reversed those roles, you have a problem."
Smith, suspended from the Alamo Bowl last year and the opener this season for accepting $500 from a booster, has come back to lead his team with improved production as this year progressed. In the regular-season finale, a 25-21 victory at Michigan, Ohio State trailed 21-12 with 7:49 to play, but Smith engineered touchdown drives of 69 and 88 yards.
He completed 7 of 8 passes on the winning drive and finished with a career-high 300 yards passing.
"He knows he's a passer first and runner second, and that's the toughest thing to teach a quarterback that has athleticism to realize that," Weis said. "I think he's learned that, and you can see him evolve from the beginning of the year to the end of the year where he now understands that he'll run when he has to, not when he wants to."
Tressel said Smith has that undefinable something that makes him a natural leader.
"He's got something about him that people enjoy following," the Ohio State coach said. "I don't think you can be followed if you don't produce, and he produces. He's got a certain confidence and aura about himself that, hey, if you guys will follow me, we have a chance, and I think he's grown a lot."
The quarterbacks are both from Ohio, Smith from Cleveland and Quinn from Dublin, a short drive from the Ohio State campus. Smith is sixth nationally in passing efficiency, Quinn fourth.
Quinn emerged from two years of struggle under Tyrone Willingham to thrive in the Patriots' complicated offense installed by Weis.
"This system has allowed us to play to a lot of the strengths of our players," Quinn said. "Coach Weis has brought a lot of guys along. I think you've seen so much more productivity out of Maurice Stovall than in past years, and Jeff Samardzija and different players like that."
Ohio State is a 4 1/2-point favorite.
Weis said that's baloney.
"We're no underdog," he said. "We got two great football teams. I don't worry about underdog, point spread, those things are irrelevant to me. You have two teams that both have an equal chance of winning."
 
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MSNBC

1/1

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032883/ Irish defense overlooked in Fiesta Bowl hype

Notre Dame defenders have poor stats compared to other BCS teams

Updated: 7:02 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Notre Dame defense isn’t getting much respect.
Ever since the Fiesta Bowl matchup was announced last month, the focus has been on Notre Dame’s offense vs. Ohio State’s defense.
Much of the talk has centered on Irish quarterback Brady Quinn going up against his sister’s boyfriend, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk. Some has dealt with Notre Dame receivers Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall facing Ohio State’s vaunted secondary. While other discussions have focused on whether Darius Walker will be able to run against a Buckeyes rush defense ranked No. 1 in the nation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10675235/#storyContinued<!--NOAD-->
<hr noshade="noshade" size="1">

Irish coach Charlie Weis isn’t sure any of those will prove to be the main story line on Monday.
“This is probably going to come down to their offense against our defense because everyone is talking about it being just the opposite,” Weis said.
There has been some mention about the danger Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith poses for the Irish defense. But little has been mentioned about the problems the Notre Dame defense presents for the Buckeyes.
The Irish defenders say it’s nothing new.
“I think this whole year we’ve been trying to prove something, that Notre Dame is not just an offensive ballclub, that we can bang some helmets, too,” defensive tackle Trevor Laws said. “I definitely think people are overlooking our defense. We want to go out and show them.”
The Irish have been a bend-but-don’t-break defense most of this season. They are ranked 62nd nationally, by far the worst rated defense in a Bowl Championship Series game. The next worst is USC, which is 35th, followed by Penn State, which is 16th.
The Irish defense gives up 377 yards a game — 102 more than the Buckeyes, who are fourth in the nation in total defense. Notre Dame is 45th in scoring defense giving up 23.6 points a game, compared to 14.8 by Ohio State.
Weis, the former New England offensive coordinator, said the game reminds him a little of the 2004 Super Bowl. Back then, the Patriots faced Carolina and much of the focus was on Panthers coach John Fox against Patriots coach Bill Belichick, two defensive masterminds. Weis said he hammered the message home daily to the Patriots offense, telling his players they must not be worth anything because no one was paying attention to them.
He has taken the same approach this week.
“Basically, I try to play to that,” he said. “I say, ’We may only take two buses. Just leave that defensive bus back at the ranch and you guys can go sit by the pool.’ I think they get my rhetoric by this time. I think it helps me when I’m trying to work on the psyche of the team.”
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said it’s easy to understand why the Irish offense against the Buckeyes defense is getting so much attention.
“You have to be honest, their offensive football team has put up some extraordinary numbers that need to be talked about and our defense does some extraordinary things that I’m sure need to be talked about,” he said.
But Tressel said he knows there’s so much more involved.
“All the other plays are just as important,” he said. “When our offense is on the field it’s huge. When our punt team is on the field it’s huge. That’s what’s fun about football, there are a lot of different things to talk about.”
Defensive end Victor Abiamiri wants people to start talk about the Irish defense.
“I think all year our defense has taken a back seat to our offense. I think given the national stage it will be a great opportunity for us to go out and show how good a defense we are,” he said. “We have good players, we have players who can make plays.”
 
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CBSSportsline

Ohio State's Hawk wants to beat up girlfriend's brother (kind of)
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</td> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Jan. 1, 2006
By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

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<!-- T9133185 --><!-- Sesame Modified: 01/01/2006 15:05:17 --> <!-- sversion: 5 $Updated: rbrunner$ --> [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] A.J. Hawk is dating Brady Quinn's sister. Shouldn't someone be a little uncomfortable? [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] "It's not awkward," said Hawk, Ohio State's All-American linebacker. "It's ... whatever." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] What about the sanctity of the playbook? Quinn is Notre Dame's quarterback. Hawk will be trying to take his head off in Monday's Fiesta Bowl. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr> <td width="200">
img9133239.jpg
</td> <td width="15"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="200"> Notre Dame's Brady Quinn hails from the Columbus, Ohio, suburb of Dublin, which is how his sister met A.J. Hawk. (AP) </td> <td width="15"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] If she wanted, Laura Quinn theoretically could have access to the game plans of both teams. Shouldn't someone be worried? [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] "No, no, not at all," said former Buckeyes coach John Cooper. "I think that's just one of those things that happen. It won't have any affect on the football field." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] We raise these issues because you know the thought has at least flashed through the minds of Jim Tressel and Charlie Weis. Part of their job is to be paranoid. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Just win, baby, but make sure there isn't a double agent behind the scenes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] A normally cute story has a bit of an edge with Ohio State playing Notre Dame for only the fifth time. Two superpowers set against the backdrop of a love triangle. Hawk for Laura and Laura for her bro. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Hawk and Laura Quinn met through mutual friends. The Quinns are from Dublin, Ohio, a Columbus suburb. Brady was courted by the local school but decided on Notre Dame, where he got beat up a lot for two seasons before blossoming in 2005. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Meanwhile, Hawk has long been the toast of Columbus, helping lead the Bucks to their best season (9-2) since the 2002 championship year. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] "Brady needs to sit me down?" Hawk asked playfully. "You guys (media) like to make a big deal out of it, which is fine. It's not going to change the way I play or he plays. I'll be playing just like I always do." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Which is why the story is so juicy. The two players will be staring each other down for most of the game. Hawk is arguably the most intimidating force in the game. The Lombardi Award winner was also Ohio State's MVP and Big Ten defensive player of the year. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Under Charlie Weis, Quinn played himself to the brink of superstar status. The school single-season passing record was smashed by Quinn, who threw for 3,633 yards. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] While Quinn has all but committed to returning for his senior season, he told CBS SportsLine.com that he could be swayed. If he was projected in the top half of the first round, Quinn might think twice. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] "You could say something like that," Quinn said. "But when people ask that question, I'm not exactly sure." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] It's better to call the Fiesta Bowl Quinn's first 2006 Heisman statement. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] "It's one reason I want to come back," he said, "to have another year going through this offense." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] And to find out what love -- or maybe the Ohio State playbook -- really means. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
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This from the toledo blade:

Enjoy!

Article published January 2, 2006

Fiesta Bowl notes: ND really wanted Buckeyes' Wilson

By RON MUSSELMAN
and MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITERS

<CENTER></CENTER>
TEMPE, Ariz. - Shortly after he was hired as Notre Dame's coach, Charlie Weis sent seven assistant coaches to Lawrence Wilson's house in Akron - on the same day.



Weis wanted to try to keep the defensive end from switching allegiances to his home state.
Wilson, who comes from St. Vincent-St. Mary, the same high school where LeBron James was a basketball star, originally made an oral commitment to Notre Dame, but changed his mind and opted for Ohio State after the Irish fired coach Tyrone Willingham.
Tonight, Wilson will get a chance to square off against the coach and school he snubbed.
"It's really weird to be facing them," the 6-foot-6, 225-pound freshman said. "It's such a coincidence. I knew they were having a good year, and I was happy for them, but I'm on the other side now."
With linebacker/rush end Bobby Carpenter, who was injured in the season finale at Michigan, yet to practice with the defensive unit, Wilson's repetitions picked up considerably here in the desert.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Wilson "will play significantly."
Wilson is one of a group of players who will replace Carpenter, including freshman linebacker James Laurinaitis in base formations, senior end Mike Kudla in coverage situations, and junior end Jay Richardson.
INJURY UPDATE: Ohio State senior end Ryan Hamby, who missed the final four games with a torn knee ligament, is expected to play against the Irish. Hamby, whose father is a former Notre Dame walk-on, is still reeling from his dropped touchdown pass against Texas, which attracted several hate e-mails.
"It's been a real tough year," he said. "It's something I had to deal with. It's a struggle, but I finally feel like I'm back and I can be myself and go out and play football the way I know how to play.
"It means a lot to me. I'm going to play like I played the national championship year, play like a little kid."
OHIO GROWN: The eight teams playing in the BCS games this season have a distinct Buckeye flavor. There are 26 starters from Ohio playing in those four bowls, more than from any other state.
"That's not surprising," Tressel said, "because absolutely we're built with Ohio kids first."
POSH SURROUNDINGS: The Buckeyes are staying at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort, and the players find the plush accommodations much to their liking.
"It's beautiful," safety Nate Salley said. "Everything is so nice, the rooms are huge, and it's first class all the way. It's the nicest place I've ever stayed at. I think they come in and change the bed two or three times a day."
WEIS RULE: When Weis arrived on campus last spring, a number of the Fighting Irish players were still in mourning over departed coach Willingham. Weis had zero tolerance for the moping around.
"I told them that instead of whining about a coaching change, why don't you look in the mirror and realize the last two years you've gone 5-7 and 6-6. And if you want to get rid of me, just go 5-7 and 6-6 the next two years and you'll get another coach in here."
BEER RUN: Former Notre Dame star and NFL player Bob Golic, who works in sports broadcasting in the Cleveland and Akron markets, was reunited with a former classmate from his days in South Bend - Weis. Golic and Weis lived in the same dorm, and Weis was loosely connected with the football team.
"Well, he wasn't a manager, and he wasn't an equipment guy," Golic said. "I guess Charlie was just the guy we sent out on beer runs."
:osu: :oh: :io:
 
Upvote 0
Again from the Toledo Blade, could have left the last line out RE: Clarett!

Article published January 2, 2006

Buckeye seniors to leave quite a legacy

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

<CENTER></CENTER>
TEMPE, Ariz. - The seniors on the Ohio State football team, normally a jocular and fun-loving bunch, have grown surprisingly philosophical and reflective on their final trip to the desert.



The Buckeyes, who face Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl tonight, talk a lot about legacy.
"This is it for this group of guys," senior Nick Mangold said. "We have been through a lot together, and kind of grown up together. It kind of hits you like a cold slap in the face when you say we're playing our final game in scarlet and gray, but that's where we are.
"We want it to end on a real positive note."
Ohio State has never won four straight bowl games, and this senior class has the opportunity to accomplish that in four consecutive seasons. The Buckeyes' seniors can also join the 1998 class by winning 43 games in their careers, the most in any four-year stretch in school history.
"I think every one of us is aware of all that, and we've known about it for some time," offensive lineman Rob Sims said. "It is not something we've dwelled on, because the focus has to be on beating a very good Notre Dame team. If we do that, the legacy stuff will all be taken care of."
The 16 seniors playing their final game for Ohio State were part of the program when the Buckeyes went 14-0 in the national championship season of 2002, and they have also won a pair of Big Ten titles, including this year. The seniors won three out of four meetings with rival Michigan.
"I think of us as winners," Sims said, "and I guess the numbers support that. We'll look back on all of that with a lot of pride, but we want to add one more victory before we're through."
Sims and Mangold were wide-eyed freshmen on Jan. 3, 2003, when Ohio State beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl to win that national championship at Sun Devil Stadium. The irony of closing their college careers in the same setting is not lost on them.
"Ever since we arrived here right after Christmas we've had time to remember that game, what it meant to us, and to Ohio State," Mangold said. "That kind of thing doesn't fade from your memory. As you get further and further away from it, it gets more and more special."
Ohio State upset top-ranked Miami 31-24 in double overtime that night, and the game immediately took its place in college football folklore. Miami's 34-game winning streak ended, and the Buckeyes took home their first national title in 34 years.
"I've seen that game on ESPN a few times, and it's still hard to believe it's me out there," Sims said. "It's indescribable now that I'm older and things are moving on. Things aren't so much of a guarantee anymore, and it's great to have those memories."
Mangold said there could be no better place to close the book on his four years as a Buckeye than back here in Tempe. Ohio State also was here two years ago, when the Buckeyes beat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl following the 2003 season.
"There was something magical about that Miami game, so I guess that makes this a magical place for us," Mangold said. "A win over Notre Dame would be the perfect ending."
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said his seniors have an unprecedented opportunity in front of them.
"They can certainly leave quite a legacy if they are successful in this bowl game," Tressel said. "But that is a tall order and that is why they are practicing so hard. They are going about their business with a real sense of purpose, like they always have done. That's a great group of leaders."
The Ohio State senior class would have included troubled running back Maurice Clarett, had he remained with the Buckeyes. :osu: :oh: :io:
 
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Call me paranoid, but there's one program I dread more than Michigan, USC, or the Florida schools; Notre Dame.

It's the same ol' song out of me: We've GOT to beat ND... and the reasons just keep mounting. With Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern taking big hits, with the Irish grabbing all the headlines... you folks who live in Columbus Dispatch land have NO idea how bad it is, how slanted all the stories coming out of Tempe are. Sunday's Enquirer featured Weiss and how he makes a point of rubbing his eyes with his Super Bowl ring hand to impress recruits, how ND has 26 verbals to Ohio State's 10... That plant south of the Grove City exit and next to I-71 wouldn't be able to treat all the pro Irish sewage being printed.

This game is crucial for the Big 10, crucial for recruiting, crucial for Ohio State. A win with a comeback 4th quarter, or a game snatched with a last second field goal won't get it. Ohio State needs to dominate.

Go Bucks!
 
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cincibuck said:
Call me paranoid, but there's one program I dread more than Michigan, USC, or the Florida schools; Notre Dame.

It's the same ol' song out of me: We've GOT to beat ND... and the reasons just keep mounting. With Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern taking big hits, with the Irish grabbing all the headlines... you folks who live in Columbus Dispatch land have NO idea how bad it is, how slanted all the stories coming out of Tempe are. Sunday's Enquirer featured Weiss and how he makes a point of rubbing his eyes with his Super Bowl ring hand to impress recruits, how ND has 26 verbals to Ohio State's 10... That plant south of the Grove City exit and next to I-71 wouldn't be able to treat all the pro Irish sewage being printed.

This game is crucial for the Big 10, crucial for recruiting, crucial for Ohio State. A win with a comeback 4th quarter, or a game snatched with a last second field goal won't get it. Ohio State needs to dominate.

Go Bucks!
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I imagine it's like living here in Indiana (God plants Buckeyes everywhere) The Bucks get no respect...that's why this victory is sooo important for recruiting!

:oh: :osu2: :io:
 
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1/2/06

OSU, Notre Dame ready for BCS battle at Fiesta

Monday, January 2, 2006

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]


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AP Paul Connors
HONORED COACH Fiesta Bowl Executive Director John Junker (left) presents Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis with the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award prior to a news conference Sunday in preparation for today’s Fiesta Bowl meeting with Ohio State in Tempe, Ariz.
AP Paul Connors GETTING READY Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel on today’s Fiesta Bowl meeting with Notre Dame: “We’re getting ready to play a great Notre Dame team, and our guys are going to relish that. ...”
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Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
5 p.m., today
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Ariz.
TV ABC (Channel 5)
RADIO WHBC-AM 1480,
WQKT-FM 104.5, WAKR-AM 1590, WNIR-FM 100.1, WKNR-AM 850,
WJER-FM 101.7


TEMPE, Ariz. - A season that started with hope and lofty goals of a Rose Bowl bid, ends today in a familiar place.
Ohio State won’t play for what it wanted to when 2005 began, but the Buckeyes don’t exactly have to settle for nothing — a sold-out game with nationwide interest against Notre Dame tonight in the Fiesta Bowl.
The two college football giants will play for just the fifth time in history when the Buckeyes and Irish get together inside Sun Devil Stadium.
It’s a high-powered Notre Dame offense against one of the best defenses in the country. It’s Troy Smith and Brady Quinn, two quarterbacks with turnaround seasons, trying to outduel each another. It’s Lombardi Award winner A.J. Hawk trying to stop sophomore running back Darius Walker.
It’s regional Ohio State vs. nationwide Notre Dame.
“Our seniors have done a wonderful job. When you looked at 2005, we had a tough schedule,” OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel said. “There were moments when things went as we hoped, and there were times when it didn’t.
“But our captains, and all the seniors and fourth-year juniors, didn’t allow us to do anything but move to the next day. It didn’t matter the score, or the situation. They moved us to excel.”
Close losses to No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Penn State sealed Ohio State’s fourth-ranked fate of the Fiesta Bowl.
But this isn’t just another game. Fiesta Bowl officials are interested to see the early returns on TV ratings. Clearly, outside the Rose Bowl’s national championship game, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame has attracted most of the bowl attention.
The Irish, at 9-2, have much to prove. They’ve finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak against no one in particular. Four of the five teams had losing records.
“If you beat a team like Ohio State and end up 10-2, I think you at least leave the season with a very good taste in your mouth,” Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis said. “But if you lose and you end up 9-3, everyone will say, ‘Well, you made some nice progress in a year, but you’re not quite there yet.’ That’s not how you want to go into the offseason.
“So to me, this is a very clear case of black and white. There’s no subjectivity here.”
The interest in this game is large with two of the country’s largest fan bases and program traditions.
Weis enjoys that aspect of the game.
“Geographically, this is a natural matchup,” Weis said. “For us to go against one another is kind of exciting.
“We’re independent. Any time you’re affiliated with a conference, you are considered regional. We’re national, and I think that’s a great resource for us. We have Notre Dame alums all over the world; trust me, I know because they all are asking me if I can come and speak.”
The one thing Ohio State shouldn’t expect is Ohio Stadium West tonight. There will be plenty of Notre Dame fans in attendance. The last two Fiesta Bowls, scarlet and gray ruled the stadium, and the Butte Mountains next door.
It won’t be that way this time.
“The Buckeye nation has an incredible love for their football team, and they love to be there, both home and away,” Tressel said. “It’s a part of what their Ohio State experience is all about. And it’s not just those who had the good fortune to go to Ohio State.”
One person who is unsure if he’ll be on the field is Buckeye linebacker Bobby Carpenter. Tressel said it would be a game-time decision whether to play Carpenter. Indications are it will be a longshot for him to be on the field.
That means true freshman James Lauranitis will start. This could be a key personnel switch. Carpenter has been influential in OSU being the No. 1 run defense in the country.
If Notre Dame is able to keep the Buckeyes off balance with Walker on the ground, that will give Quinn more openings and ease the Buckeye pass rush. “The reality is we’re getting ready to play a great Notre Dame team, and our guys are going to relish that,” Tressel said. “... The hard part about this ballgame is we won’t be able to line up any more with A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold and Bobby Carpenter, and the rest of those seniors.” Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]
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1/2/06

FIESTA BOWL
Position-by-position analysis for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News

PHOENIX | Quarterback

Give Brady Quinn a slight nod for steadiness, but OSU's Troy Smith is more apt to turn a smothered pass play into a 20-yard gain. EDGE: Even.

Running back



Although he isn't known as a home-run threat, ND's Darius Walker has rushed for 1,106 yards and has caught 36 passes. OSU's Antonio Pittman (1,195) does have breakaway speed and a beefier rushing average (5.4-4.7), but the Buckeyes still haven't refined the art of dumping passes to their backs. EDGE: Even.

Receivers



ND's Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall have combined for 2,213 yards and 26 TDs, while OSU's Santonio Homes, Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez have a collective 1,847 yards and 16 scores. But don't be fooled. Quinn has an easier time finding his targets, but the Buckeyes' trio are the masters of the YAC (yards after catch). EDGE: Even.

Offensive line



Both units are big, agile, nasty and experienced — just what you'd expect from prolific offenses. EDGE: Even.

Defensive line



ND's Victor Abiamiri (eight sacks) leads an underrated unit. But the Buckeyes have been able to get pressure with a four-man rush, although that often was with linebacker Bobby Carpenter taking a three-point stance. EDGE: Even.

Linebacker



ND's Brandon Hoyte and Corey Mays are premier run-stuffers, but they're lost in pass coverage. The 6-3, 260-pound Carpenter is that hybrid defender the NFL craves, and his expected absence leaves the Buckeyes groping for answers. EDGE: Even.

Defensive back



After flirting of late with a leap to the NFL, OSU juniors Donte Whitner and Ashton Youboty have the stage to prove they're worthy. EDGE: OSU.

Special teams



ND'S D.J. Fitzpatrick made just 11 of 17 field goals and had a pedestrian 40-yard average on punts. But he no longer has a tender knee and has shed that bulky brace.
OSU's Josh Huston, though, is a touchback machine. And those hidden yards he provides often make a difference. EDGE: OSU.

Prediction



Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 21
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.
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