Why bang a drum for Boeckman?

Nine OSU seniors and only seniors — no Beanie Wells, no Terrelle Pryor — were trotted out to meet with the media on Monday, including three of the four senior captains. Conspicuous by his absence was the fourth captain, quarterback Todd Boeckman.

He hasn’t played much since getting benched after the third game, so his appearance would have been, at best, uncomfortable for him. Without him there, some of his teammates were put in a ticklish position instead. They were asked if Boeckman should be given playing time against Michigan since it’s the seniors’ last home game.

I know how I feel. As much as everyone respects Todd and the job he did helping the Buckeyes reach the national championship game last season, the quarterbackof this team, barring injury or a decided outcome, is Terrelle Pryor. And that should be the only mindset going into Saturday’s game.

While playing Todd, maybe even starting him, would be a noble gesture, the Buckeyes can’t afford to give any series away, even against lowly Michigan. There’s a Big Ten title at stake, maybe even a Rose Bowl berth. You’ve gotta go with the quarterback who’s getting all the practice reps with the No.1 offense.

I sort of felt sorry for the players who were put on the spot Monday when asked about Boeckman. But I’m really in no position to talk. Back when Stan Jackson was the starting quarterback and repeatedly getting bailed out by backup Joe Germaine, I remember asking members of the receiving corps if they wouldn’t rather have Germaine playing pitch-and-catch with them.

How are they supposed to answer that kind of question? Easy. By dancing around it, the way the Buckeyes did Monday.

“I don’t know what you do in (Boeckman’s) situation,” tight end Rory Nicol said. “I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision. I do feel for Todd. He’s one of my best friends on the team. I’m sure this week will probably be more emotional for him than it is for a lot of other guys. A year ago he was an All-Big Ten quarterback and he’s struggled and he’s had some adversity. But the whole time he’s been a leader and he’s remained part of the team. He’s worked hard. He’s helped Terrelle learn. He’s fullfilled his role as a captain. I think everybody still looks up to Todd and the way he’s handled himself.

“He never asked that he not be a captain. He gets up and speaks in front of the team every Thursday just like any other captain. He continues to work hard. He does everything he can to continue to be a role model, to set an example for everybody.

“After that first game (started by Pryor), just as a friend and teammate, I said, ‘Todd, keep your head up and hang in there.’ It was probably everything he didn’t want to hear. All I said was to work hard and control what you can control. That’s kind of a theme around this whole building. There’s really no reason to worry about things you don’t have control over as an individual or a person in society or as a player on this team. I think he’s done a good job with that.”

If anything, respect for Boeckman among his teammates has grown this season.

“Just talking to Todd and seeing him, it’s got to be tough,” linebacker Marcus Freeman said. “He’s a competitor. Any true competitor wants to be on that football field. At the same time, he’s a great teammate because you see him on the sidelines or in practice saying, ‘Terrelle, do this. Terrelle, look, this might be open. Make this adjustment.’ A lot of times if you see a guy get his spot taken, he’ll be like, ‘I ain’t helpin’ nobody out. It’s about me.’ And Todd isn’t that guy.”

Asked if Boeckman should play Saturday, fellow captain James Laurinaitis said, “I’m not sure. That’s not really my decision and I don’t really have an opinion on it. I’ve learned in my career here that I really don’t have opinions on things I can’t control.

“I have so much respect for Todd. And he has handled the whole situation the whole season with unbelievable class, and I think he’ll handle this week the same way. You don’t expect anything less from him. He’s a guy that truly loves this university, loves this team, and has tried to make every opportunity to help Terrelle with anything he’s needed and he’ll do the same this week. And for him and the wrapping up of his career I’m sure he’ll want to get in the game, obviously your last game in the ‘Shoe, and we’ll see if it happens.”

Many of coach Jim Tressel’s traditions have a rah-rah, high school feel to them, but he would not commit to playing Boeckman on Senior Day just because he’s a senior.

“One time I remember I had so many seniors on offense in particular, I started 11 seniors on the first play and then on play two, it was back to the rest of the group,” Tressel said. “I’m not sure that’s in the cards here.”

Does anybody really think Todd wants to make that kind of token appearance? Personally, I would take that as a sign of pity, not respect.

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