Strength coach Mickey Marotti, right, wants Ohio State to have wolf mentality in 2016. Says QB J.T. Barrett: “As a wolf, every day you wake up and youre just trying to find your next meal and youre always attacking. Thats how our program runs.” 12:57 PM ET COLUMBUS, Ohio — A theme was already in place for Ohio State when it reported last week for an early morning session of strength coach Mickey Marotti’s winter workouts, a practical, straight-to-the-point motto that summed up the current state of the roster. But what the “Year of Development” might have going for it in terms of factual accuracy, it was sorely lacking in motivational appeal to help energize the Buckeyes before heading out for mat drills. So along with the video staff, Marotti cooked up something a little flashier and tacked it on at the end of a highlight film, unsure exactly how well it would be received by Ohio State’s young roster. But by the time the lights went up, the Buckeyes had themselves a new mission statement — and a new identity. “Welcome to the Land of the Wolves,” quarterback J.T. Barrett said after wrapping up another rugged workout on Wednesday morning. “The [original] mindset is that this is the ‘Year of Development,’ but also coach Mick’s thing was the wolves — you’re going to eat or you’re going to be eaten. “The mindset of that is, as a wolf, every day you wake up and you’re just trying to find your next meal and you’re always attacking. That’s how our program runs.” Already a captain again for the program, Barrett has embraced the fresh approach and the chance to become a lead dog for such a youthful roster as the Buckeyes work to replace a decorated senior class and nine players who left early for the NFL draft. …
Continue Reading: Pack mentality: Ohio State becoming ‘Land of the Wolves’ to regain hunger
