Akron assistant replacing Miller?
April 14, 2009 by feed · Leave a Comment
Jeff Boals, an Ohio native and former Ohio University player who has been on the coaching staff at Akron the past three years, will replace Archie Miller on the Ohio State staff, Rivals.com is reporting. Neither Matta nor Boals immediately…
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DeShaun Thomas breakdown
March 30, 2009 by feed · Leave a Comment
Former Linden and Ohio University guard Reggie Rankin, a longtime Division I assistant who is now a recruiting analyst for Scouts Inc. and ESPN.com, was at the Indiana and Kentucky state tournaments last weekend and filed these observations on DeShaun…
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Maurice Clarett blogs from prison
March 3, 2009 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Last week, an Ohio University student alerted me of a blog entitled "The Mind of Maurice Clarett," which featured frequent posts from someone claiming to be the former Ohio State star running back, who is currently serving a prison sentence for robbery and carrying concealed weapons.
After reading several of the extremely well-written posts, I…
Continue reading at ESPN.com – Big Ten – Blog
Spencer: Nothing unique about OSU’s quarterback shuffle
October 2, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
By JON SPENCER
NNCO
Welcome, Jim Tressel, to Lee Owens’ world.
A college football team, carrying high expectations after losing just two games the previous season, benches its senior quarterback, a captain to boot.
This soap opera-ish plotline, playing out these days in Columbus, gives us heralded Ohio State freshman Terrelle Pryor in the lead role of “92008” — the date he wrested control of the Buckeyes’ attack from returning starter Todd Boeckman — and should sound more than vaguely familiar to Ashland University players and their fans.
That’s pretty much how things went down — the operative word, in Ashland’s case, being “down” — for Owens’ Eagles in 2006.
Owens, who spent time at Massillon and Lancaster before cutting his college coaching teeth as an OSU assistant, was coming off a 9-2 season, his first winning campaign in Ashland. He could stand pat or stir the pot. Turns out, he didn’t so much stir or shake as agitate.
In at quarterback was junior transfer John Ferguson. Out was three-year starter Nick Strance, a captain from Willard. Sounds cold, but Owens wrestled mightily with the decision.
“It was one of the most difficult moves I ever had to make,” Owens said. “Part of it was that Nick had gotten hurt in the preseason and our other guys moved ahead. Had he been healthy, there would have been more of a chance of him going back in.”
Injury didn’t cost Boeckman his job at Ohio State, unless you buy into the fractured psyche theory. His prolonged slump reached its nadir in the 35-3 loss at USC, prompting the move to Pryor. The Buckeyes are 2-0 since the switch.
Ashland, conversely, started 0-2 after its icky shuffle — no thanks to a murderous schedule — and finished 4-6. The switch eventually would bear fruit. Over the short term, nothing but rotten tomatoes.
“I don’t think I would have lost the seniors if we had success early,” Owens said, “but all of a sudden we’re 0-2 and you open yourself up to second-guessing. ‘Hey, we won with this guy (Strance) … what are you doing?’ Nick is sitting on the bench, healthy by that point and not playing. It wasn’t healthy for team chemistry.
“It was one of hardest seasons I ever went through. I laid awake at night wondering what I could have done differently.”
Owens’ quarterback quandaries weren’t over. Redshirt freshman Billy Cundiff, another transfer, started for an injured Ferguson in the season finale, a 45-14 rout of Gannon. When the ’07 season started, Cundiff still was No. 1, so Ferguson walked away from the program.
Owens talked him back, with Ferguson helping Ashland make the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
“When Billy got hurt, John started against Ferris State and played the game of his life,” Owens said. “That (37-35) win on the road against great competition basically got us in the playoffs. He came back to the team with a great attitude and was ready to play when needed.”
Owens’ decision to play Cundiff ultimately proved to be the right one. The transfer from UConn basically has rewritten AU’s record book and directs one of the nation’s most potent attacks, with another season still to go. But Owens takes no great delight in the way he and his quarterback arrived at this point. Just as Tressel’s “Winners Manual” won’t include a chapter on how to promote and demote with no muss or fuss.
“When to play a quarterback is one of the toughest decisions a coach ever has to make,” Owens said.
Like Tressel, he turned to a freshman — ironically, Strance’s predecessor at Willard — when he was head coach at Akron. Charlie Frye was forced into action by injury, coming off the bench to lead a season-opening win over Ohio University in 2001. The next week Frye made his first start, in Tressel’s debut at Ohio State, and threw enough of a scare in the Buckeyes to convince Owens there was no turning back to a veteran.
By Frye’s junior season, Owens’ last at Akron, the Zips ranked among the top 10 Division I schools in total offense. Two years later, Frye was starting for the Browns.
“My mind was made up after that Ohio State game,” Owens said. “Watching Charlie in that atmosphere, play as well and as tough as he did, left no question in my mind that he was our quarterback.
“It usually takes a year or two for a quarterback to get his feet wet, so by playing him as a freshman he was hitting his stride his junior year.”
That means that Pryor, already something, should be really, really something by 2010. Unless, of course, a better option comes along to shove him aside.
Big Ten Bloggers Pick’Em – Indiana blows it
September 21, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
The BBC may have gained a little ground by going 7-1 for the weekend, but we were so close to 8-0, and then Indiana remembered what it was like to play Hoosier football again.
Oh well, let’s take a look back;
Here’s what I saw for this weekend;
Ohio University at Northwestern – Ohio is still the best 0-win team, but they hurt themselves a LOT this weekend by not taking advantage of Wildcat misfortune. Tyrell Sutton had 9 carries before getting injured, and the Bobcats picked off four interceptions. Games like that should equal a Northwestern loss.
- The BBC’s pick – Northwestern
- Actual winner – Northwestern
Florida Atlantic at Minnesota – Is Minnesota better than Michigan State? Common opponents say yes, as the Gophers ran over FAU. It was never close, as Minny gained 441 total yards. Now they have their sights set on a perfect September, but a visit to Ohio State looms on Saturday. Gopher fans are saying “yes”. Gopher fans have forgotten that Montana State is not a good preparation for the college football team with the most wins over the last 4 seasons.
- The BBC’s pick – Minnesota
- Actual winner – Minnesota
Temple at Penn State – Same story, different week. Cupcake opponent, players arrested, coach poops pants.
- The BBC’s pick – Penn State
- Actual winner – Penn State
Troy at Ohio State -The Buckeyes do not lose to up-and-comers. Troy’s good, but not that good.
- The BBC’s pick – Ohio State
- Actual winner – Ohio State
Iowa at Pittsburgh – Neither team had faced a decent opponent yet (and still haven’t), and I thought the home field for Pitt would make the difference. Maybe it did.
- The BBC’s pick – Pittsburgh
- Actual winner – Pittsburgh
Central Michigan at Purdue – Joe Tiller looks like he could have a heart attack at any minute. After the last two games, so does every Purdue fan in the world.
- The BBC’s pick – Purdue
- Actual winner – Purdue
Notre Dame at Michigan State – Javon Ringer had 201 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Last week, the entire Michigan team had 159 yards rushing and 1 TD. Little Brother? Not any more.
- The BBC’s pick – Michigan State
- Actual winner – Michigan State
Ball State at Indiana – Sigh. Once again, the late games screw up my perfect day. Kellen Lewis couldn’t complete a pass to save his life, completing only 3 in the first half and going 11 of 25 on the day.
- The BBC’s pick – Indiana
- Actual Winner – Ball State
OSU-Troy notebook
September 20, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
By JON SPENCER
NNCO
COLUMBUS — Veteran Ohio State center Jim Cordle had a different perspective than usual on Ohio State’s quarterback play Saturday, and not just because the Buckeyes switched from Todd Boeckman to Terrelle Pryor as the starter.
With left guard Steve Rehring expected to be sidelined a few weeks by a sprained foot, Cordle shifted over one spot to replace Rehring with freshman Mike Brewster handling the snaps in the Buckeyes’ 28-10 victory over Troy.
“I helped Mike out with the calls,” said Cordle, a junior from Lancaster. “It’s nice to have two centers out there. He did fine physically, and he’ll keep getting better.”
Brewster is part of a heralded trio of linemen in the 2008 recruiting class, along with J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams. All have already worked their way into the rotation.
“It’s good that (Brewster) competed in the game because you really need (repetitions) to be good at center and see everything,” Cordle said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Cordle was even more impressed with the way Ohio State’s freshman quarterback handled himself in the huddle.
“Terrelle’s been composed and a leader from day one,” Cordle said. “In the huddle, he’s like, ‘Let’s go.’ His demeanor was very serious. He was very focused.”
SMALL ROLE: Junior wide receiver Ray Small has been seen and heard a lot this season, returning a punt 69 yards for a touchdown against Ohio University and then making inflammatory comments about USC before last week’s 35-3 loss in Los Angeles.
Saturday, hardly a peep was heard from Small — on or off the field. He didn’t make an appearance until he ran a reverse for a 1-yard loss with eight minutes left in the game.
When asked if Small had “lost his car keys” — Tressel’s pet phrase for someone being disciplined — he didn’t give a straight answer.
“He got in the game today,” Tressel said, adding that Small is fighting for playing time.
“When we have two receivers on the field, it’s usually been the two Brians (Robiskie and Hartline). When we have three, it’s been the two Brians and Dane (Sanzenbacher). Ray’s been our fourth guy. He wasn’t our fourth guy today. We opted to go with (DeVier) Posey and Taurian Washington.
“I think Dane has played very solid. You don’t have to look at statistics all the time to look at how solid a guy plays. He was where he was supposed to be.”
BIG FOOT: Stealing some of Pryor’s thunder with his right foot was senior punter A.J. Trapasso. He averaged 46.6 yards on seven kicks, including a 60-yarder that was downed on the 1 and a 35-yarder that he deadened at the 4. Both kicks indirectly set up the Buckeyes with a short field on their last two touchdowns.
“I think two of the big plays were A.J.’s punts in the second half,” Tressel said. “It’s different when you’re backed up inside the 5. Our defense swarmed. Troy’s a tough team, and we had to rise up and play tough.”
PLAYING FAST: Troy ran seven more plays (66 to 59) than OSU out of its hurry-up offense, finishing with a 315 to 309 edge in total yardage. But all the Trojans had to show for it was one second quarter touchdown, a 45-yard reception by Jerrel Jernigan on which he avoided tackles by four Buckeyes.
Troy scored 91 points in losses to Arkansas, Florida and Georgia last season and rang up 41 in a victory over Oklahoma State.
“The most important thing was trying to get our calls in,” said linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led the Buckeyes with 12 tackles, including a sack inside the 5 that forced Troy to settle for a field goal. “When teams try to hurry up like that, the worst thing that can happen is guys running around, not getting lined up.
“We figured they averaged a play every 22 seconds. They averaged 81 plays a game. You tend to get tired, but we made some plays. When you play a team with that kind of pace, they try to nickel and dime you. We did a good job of getting lined up and making things happen.”
Beanie Wells: No Hope for the Heisman
September 14, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Beanie Wells, Heisman No Hope
for Heisman Hopefuls
“I honestly (think about it) all the time, I’m not (going to sit here and) tell you (I) don’t,” he said. “I thought (about) the Heisman (in) my 10th-grade year. (Honestly), Me (and my father) were sitting in the living room (and I told him) I wanted (to be) the first (freshman to win the) Heisman. (That didn’t happen), (so), you know, I just want (to get it), honestly.” Beanie Wells, mumbling about winning the Heisman Trophy back in April. His college major is not English as a Second Language.
Well, so much for the most anticipated game of the week. So much for the Heisman Hopes of a little known or cared about Ohio State Running Back named Chris “Beanie” Wells. While speculation about his health had been rampant all week as Ohio State prepared for its game versus Southern California, at one point wavering from “on target to play” to “doubtful” within a short 15 hour span.
The long anticipated USC/OSU match up is possibly the most important game in the Jim Tressel era for the Buckeyes to win. After two consecutive BCS national championship game losses, the Buckeyes are losing all credibility with the national public. If there ever was a must-win game for the Buckeyes, this is it.
“What would Woody do?”
Monday: Beanie does not practice with the team, but does running drills the entire time. Several players are quoted after practice, all of them telling the press encouraging details about Wells’ progress.
Tuesday: Ohio State releases its depth chart for the USC game. Beanie Wells is listed as the No. 1 running back. Beanie tells offensive coordinator that he’s ready to carry the ball 45 times.
Wednesday: Beanie practices with the team, gets about 20 carries and the team lists him at 75 percent healthy. More positive details from fellow players.
Thursday: Tressel announces that Wells is listed as “doubtful” for USC moments before the Buckeyes board the plane for California. No other players are made available to the media.
Friday: Following a walk-through at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Tressel calls a press conference to announce that Wells will not play on Saturday. No players are made available to the media.
Saturday: ESPN reports that Ohio State’s team doctors have cleared Beanie Wells to play. Erin Andrews also reports that when attempting to discuss it with Buckeye players in their hotel lobby, they refuse to answer, only offering “the team is focused” statements.
Saturday: ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit expresses doubt about the reports and affirms his belief that Wells will play. No other members of the GameDay crew challenge his assertion. Kirk Herbstreit said he was “shocked by the announcement.”
Herbstreit, who watched Ohio State’s walk-through, said he “saw Beanie smiling and laughing, tossing a ball around” with other Ohio State players on the sidelines. Herbstreit also said, “I’m still not convinced he won’t play, by the way.”
Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Media Department has been overhyping Beanie Wells since last year’s win over (pathetic) rival Michigan. Sportswriters all over the country put his name higher on their list than any player out of the SEC, including Tim Tebow, last year’s winner and the first underclassmen ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Why?
Because it is necessary for the National Sports Media, and the school with the biggest booster coffers in the nation <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
—Ohio (Choke) State <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
—to maintain some sort of BCS relevance.
“I didn’t come here just to be a part of the team and just to say I played for Ohio State,” Wells also said in the preseason. “I want to leave a mark, and that’s something I work hard every day for…We have guys like Archie (Griffin), we have Eddie George, we have Keith Byars, Antonio Pittman. And those are great guys, don’t get me wrong, but I want my name to be at the top.”
“Spread Offense” has become a sort of player-evaluation dirty word in certain parts of the country, to the tune of <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
—”Oh, that’s not a real quarterback with those numbers. He’s a ’system’ guy.”
There go your Heisman Hopes, buddy. You’d be better off playing today until your wheels fell off but Jim Tressel is such a monumentally sized douche bag I can barely put it into words.
Here is the reality: Ohio State is ranked No. 5 in both polls. Why? Because they play their usual if not softer than usual Big 10 schedule, and their week 3 match-up with USC.
If you get a Top 5 ranking, it is because YOUR TEAM is assumed to be equal and within reach of anyone above you in the Top 5. You have a “tough” schedule and good players.
But, if on the other hand, going into a Top 5 match-up your “star player” is too injured to play, and you accept a blowout, then you are not a Top 5 team.
Football is a team sport, and a Top 5 team is not made by ONE PLAYER and a tough schedule.
If that was the case, the Arkansas Razorbacks with Darren McFadden in 2006 and 2007 should have been pre-season Top 5 teams. They were scheduled a tough SEC schedule, played USC, and had Darren McFadden.
Ironically, Darren McFadden missed both games against USC <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
—which is one of the reasons why he came in second in Heisman balloting two years in a row.
Wells rushed for over 1,600 yards last season, but suffered an injury to his right foot during the season opener against Youngstown State. Without Wells in the line-up, the Buckeyes barely defeated Ohio University in week two, needing a fourth quarter comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
So all Beanie Wells Heisman Talk ends now. He is useless. I don’t care if he runs up 2,500 yards this year playing against the pee-wee Big 10.
He got hurt playing the massively dangerous Youngstown State Penguins, playing in the third quarter while Coach Jim “Not Woody Hayes” Tressel attempted to help him pad his Heisman stats. Well, guess what doesn’t pad your Heisman stats? Not playing in the biggest game of your career.
Randy Latham, a football analyst, said, “If Beanie Wells does not play today with anything less than a broken leg, then he is completely off the Heisman Radar. Essentially, Beanie Wells is an overhyped Big 10 nobody. If he doesn’t play Saturday, he should be out of Heisman consideration completely, and Ohio State out of the Top 20.”
“The Game of The Century” has been a dud already, before kickoff. All you will hear from this game are excuses for the next three months.
As for those who were making the argument late Jan. 7-8, 2008, that LSU did not even deserve to be in the BCS National Title game and that the game should have been a match up between USC and Ohio State can keep dreaming. Today is going to be a showing of why the PAC 10 owns the Big 10.
“A bad showing, as expected, by Ohio State and Beanie Wells failing to pick up even 50 yards would essentially kill their season,” Said Dinky McConnell, a football analyst, “And for the Big 10, that would be devastating if Ohio State wins the conference.”
“I’m not sure he’ll ever speak to me again, but I think it’s the right thing to do,” Tressel said. Tressel said the decision to not play Wells was his alone after talking the matter over with medical personnel. The coach said he is concerned that letting Wells play might expose him to further risk of injury, limiting Ohio State against later opponents and possibly damaging Beanie Wells’ NFL stock.
Tressel: Wells is out for game with Trojans
September 12, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ohio State running back Chris “Beanie” Wells will not play for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes against No. 1 Southern California on Saturday night.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel made the announcement late Friday afternoon after the team went through a 40-minute walkthrough at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
“He’s been getting treatment 15 times a day,” Tressel told the assembled media just minutes after he told his team of the decision. “I guess if looks could kill he fought me. I just told the team because it’s important our guys know what we thought we should do.”
The Trojans (1-0) will be playing their first game since an impressive 52-7 victory Aug. 30 at Virginia. Ohio State (2-0) has beaten in-state opposition Youngstown State 43-0 and Ohio University 26-14.
Wells, who rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, injured his right foot in the opener and without him, the Buckeyes had to rally to beat the lightly regarded Bobcats last weekend.
Tressel said early in the week that Wells would play, but it was a different story Thursday, when he said the 6-foot-1, 237-pound junior was doubtful because of lingering soreness in his foot.
Redshirt freshman Dan Herron, sophomore Brandon Saine and senior Maurice Wells shared the carries for Ohio State against Ohio University.
Enough hype: Trojans, Buckeyes ready to go
September 12, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Can Ohio State hang with Southern Cal? Share your comments below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — USC safety Kevin Ellison has had enough of the hype. He’s ready for some action.
“I don’t really care. I’m tired of talking about it,” Ellison said after being asked — again — about injured Ohio State star Chris “Beanie” Wells. “If he’s in there, good for him. You want to play their full squad. We’re going to play whoever they bring.
“It’s time to play. It’s time to hone in and get down to it. It’s going to be rocking at the Coliseum.”
No doubt about that. On Saturday night, No. 5 Ohio State plays at No. 1 Southern California in the most highly anticipated September college football game in years.
That pretty much says it all.
A sellout crowd of 93,607 will be on hand at the Los Angeles Coliseum, with some paying big bucks to be there. According to ticket distributor StubHub, it’s selling tickets for an average of 5 a piece.
Trojans have won 38 of 39 at home and haven’t lost a nonconference game since 2001, when Kansas State beat them 10-6 in Pete Carroll’s first year as the USC coach.
USC went 6-6 in Carroll’s first season, but are 71-8 in the past six-plus years. Jim Tressel became the Ohio State in 2001 as well, guiding the Buckeyes to a 7-5 record in his first year. They’ve gone 69-11 since.
The Trojans (1-0) will be playing their first game since an impressive 52-7 victory Aug. 30 at Virginia. Ohio State (2-0) has beaten in-state opposition Youngstown State 43-0 and Ohio University 26-14.
Wells, who rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, injured his right foot in the opener and without him, the Buckeyes had to rally to beat the lightly regarded Bobcats last weekend.
Tressel said early in the week that Wells would play, but it was a different story Thursday, when he said the 6-foot-1, 237-pound junior was doubtful because of lingering soreness in his foot.
“Doubtful doesn’t mean he’s not playing,” Carroll said. “I’ll be surprised if he’s not out there.”
USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt said the Trojans face a difficult challenge whether Wells plays or not.
“They’ve got a veteran offensive line, four of the five starters are back,” Holt said. “They’re dangerous no matter what because they’re very experienced up front. If you don’t stop the run against these guys, they’ll get after you, they’ll make you pay.”
Perhaps that task would be a bit easier if Wells can’t go.
“The guy’s a Heisman Trophy candidate,” Holt said. “(But) I don’t want to belittle the other guys. They’re good, too.”
The other guys are redshirt freshman Dan Herron, sophomore Brandon Saine and senior Maurice Wells, who shared the carrys against Ohio University.
Todd Boeckman, in his second year as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, passed for 2,379 yards and 25 touchdowns with 14 interceptions last season, and 297 yards and two TDs with no interceptions so far this year. Freshman Terrelle Pryor, one of the most heavily recruited prep players in the country last year, has gained 89 yards on 14 carries and passed for another 35 yards.
Carroll said he expects to see both players.
“They present different situations and different problems,” Carroll said. “Terrelle Pryor is a great athlete. This guy is a really big-time player.”
Quarterback Mark Sanchez will be making his fifth career for USC. He passed for a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns at Virginia, where five different tailbacks scored touchdowns for the Trojans.
“We’d better be fast,” Tressel said. “I don’t care what they’re running, they are fast.”
Both teams appear loaded on defense, especially at the linebacker position, where Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing lead the way for USC and James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman star for the Buckeyes. All four are seniors.
“Those guys are everywhere,” Tressel said of the USC standouts. “It seems like you’ve been watching them forever. They have a real knowledge of what people are doing on offense. They’re obviously physical, and they run like crazy.”
Carroll called Ohio State’s defense “the best in America.”
“This is the ultimate challenge at this point,” he said. “How can you play anybody better than the best?”
Regarding the Buckeyes’ linebackers, Carroll said: “They’re quick agile, athletic. They pressure a lot. They put them in positions a lot to make things big happen, and they do it. We have great respect for what they do and how they play.”
Carroll also noted Ohio State’s experience, saying: “When you return 18 starters, that’s probably the max.”
USC is an 11-point favorite over the Buckeyes in the first game between the teams since 1990. USC has an 11-9-1 record in the series that dates back to the days of coaches John McKay and Woody Hayes, but has won the last five matchups since Ohio State prevailed 42-21 in the Rose Bowl following the 1973 season.
“Growing up in Ohio in the late ’60s, those were the years Ohio State and USC were playing in the Rose Bowl frequently,” Tressel said. “In my background, USC was the pinnacle. They have great talent. What I love about them is their discipline. They play the game the way it’s meant to be played. They go out there and have fun, they compete.”
Carroll knows all about Ohio State as well, in part because he served as an assistant coach under Earle Bruce in 1979.
“They’ve got a great history,” Carroll said. “They’ve got great leadership. They’ve got impact, extraordinary players in all phases of their team. It makes for an unbelievable opportunity.”
Earle Bruce on Carroll’s approach
September 12, 2008 by feed · Leave a Comment
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
Among the dozens of assistants Earle Bruce hired during a two-decade run as a college head coach were the two men whose teams will meet Saturday night at the L.A. Coliseum (ABC, 8 p.m. ET).
Bruce gave USC’s Pete Carroll his first full-time coaching job with Iowa State in 1978 before they both went to Ohio State the next season. Carroll departed after 1979 to apprentice for Monte Kiffin at N.C. State. Three years later, Bruce brought in Tressel from Syracuse to coach Ohio State’s quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Though Bruce has more history with Tressel and hired Carroll at the infancy of his career, he noticed Carroll’s trademark boyish enthusiasm that has restored USC as a national powerhoues.
“Pete was alert, he knew the game of football,” Bruce said this week. “He could relate well with kids. The Southern Cal kids, he could relate to better, but he relates to all kids. … He can teach the game of football. That’s what’s important, even then. But he’s grown.”
Tressel and Carroll have been contrasted all week: the conservative, sweater-vested football purist vs. the effervescent mastermind who has proven that you can have fun and win (a lot) at the same time.
Bruce acknowledged that Carroll is “a little loose” with his approach, which can be good and bad.
“That means that maybe sometimes you’re loose when you’re playing a great opponent, that’s OK,” Bruce said. “But when you’re playing Stanford and you’re loose, you lose to a team that’s never won a game yet. What the Hell are we talking about? You don’t want to do that. You want to be a little more steady than that.”
Bruce credited Ohio State’s businesslike approach for helping avoid a disastrous loss to Ohio University last Saturday.
“We were pretty serious about the game of football,” Bruce said of the Buckeyes. “I’m not mocking what approach [Carroll] takes because he’s a successful football coach and has done a great job. But regardless, he really fits the Southern Cal job very, very well.”