COLUMBUS —
Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer has an initiation process for freshmen to become a true part of the team. He puts a piece of electrical tape on their helmets and then allows it to be peeled off only after they prove themselves as players, making them full-fledged members of the Buckeyes.
The rookies don’t take the ritual lightly. Right tackle Taylor Decker said he’s been hounding offensive line coach Ed Warinner about joining safety Devan Bogard and defensive end Noah Spence as the lone newcomers who have done enough so far to have those black stripes removed.
“It’s tough being an O-lineman,” Decker said. “I’ve been asking coach Warinner, ‘I thought I played well today, do I get my stripe off?’
“I think he’s probably more focused on getting us all ready to go more than, ‘Oh, is Taylor going to get his stripe off?’ But I can’t wait till I do so I can officially be a Buckeye.”
Continue Reading: Freshman in hunt for starting sport at OSU
