The Drive Within – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
September 22, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – By Patrick Chun
Let’s go back a couple of months. To any hazy, humid, Columbus, Ohio summer day.
You know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the kind of day that makes you sweat just sitting in your car. The words “I’m miserable” come out of your mouth every hour because the air conditioner at work is broken and once you get home, it’s too darn hot to go outside and do anything.
Am I getting my point across yet? It’s hot and humid. These are the “dog days” of summer.
For young adults in college, this is summer vacation. A time to relax, get a summer job and unwind from a year of school.
But for young adults in the world of college football, these are the days that separate the men from the boys. These are the days that win games in November and most importantly, win championships in January.
Voluntary conditioning is in full swing at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and 99 percent of the Ohio State football team has to committed to bettering themselves and the team.
And then there is junior wide receiver David Boston.
He’s has a couple of things on his mind.
He’s hungry to prove that the team he plays for is the best team in the country.
He’s hungry to prove that he is one-half of the best receiving tandem in the country.
He’s hungry to prove that he is the best wide receiver in the country.
He’s hungry to prove to himself, that he can get better everyday through discipline and unprecedented hard work.
His summer vacation consisted of two-a-day workouts.
In the morning, he would roll out of bed and condition with the former Buckeyes who now play in the National Football League and still reside in Columbus. You may of heard of some of these guys – Joey Galloway, Shawn Springs, Chris Spielman, Bobby Hoying, Mike Vrabel. Get the picture?
Around 12:30 p.m., he began his second conditioning regimen. This one was done with his teammates.
All in a days work when your trying to prove that you are the best.
“I tried to spend as much time as I can with Joey and those guys,” Boston said. “They are some of the best athletes in the world. Just being around them and competing with them will only make me better. It’s such an big time advantage. I don’t know if any other receiver in the country has this type of advantage.”
Whatever Boston learned in the morning, he put it to use by 12:30 p.m.
Because at 12:30 p.m., all summer long, he put on a show for the ages. He didn’t win one sprint, he won nearly everyone. It didn’t matter if it was a long or a short run, Boston was leading the pack day in and day out.
“You have to realize that you’re competing not only with your team but against everyone in the country,” Boston said. “I see how hard work can benefit you in so many ways. Shawn Springs would do the same thing and you can see where it got him. All of the great ones, they can run and they can run forever. I’m just trying to pattern myself after those guys.
“A lot of the time, summer running is a big mental test. A lot of guys make up their minds before they begin to run if they ‘want it.’ By running hard every sprint, you reach your full potential and a lot of guys can sell themselves short before they even start.”
Don’t be mislead. Boston has always had this type of work ethic since he came to OSU.
“I had a high school basketball coach (Phil Eaton), that was very similar to Coach K (OSU strength and conditioning coach Dave Kennedy),” Boston said. “He believed in hard work, endurance and things like that. Coming into college, I was surrounded by Shawn Springs and guys like that so I watched and learned a lot.”
His dogged like preparation has led him to this point.
Boston enters 1998 as a preseason All-American on the No. 1 team in the country. His name is already being mentioned with some of the OSU receiving greats of all-time and he is on the threshold of breaking more school records. And here’s the kicker – he’s nowhere near satisfied.
Everyday presents new challenges for him.
He relishes the people that will only make him better.
People like senior wide receiver Dee Miller.
“It’s great when people consider us the best tandem in the country,” Boston said. “Dee is a great receiver. The better he gets, the better I get.”
People like the members of the OSU secondary.
“Everyday I’m going against Antoine Winfield and Ahmed Plummer,” Boston said. “I have no choice but to get better. They are going to make some plays just like I’m going to make some plays.”
People like Coach Dave Kennedy.
“Coach K pushes me like nobody else,” Boston said. “This past summer, he didn’t stay after me like he did my first two years because he expects me to be able to motivate myself. When I work out, I am competing against myself. I’m trying to better myself everyday. It is all up to me.”
People like the other members of the OSU receiving corps.
“When I got here, Buster Tillman and Dimitrious Stanley taught me all the little things,” Boston said. “I am going to keep that tradition going. I’m going to help young guys like Ken-Yon (Rambo) and Reggie (Germany) any time I can.”
People like Joey Galloway.
“Just listening to him talk and seeing him handle situations,” Boston said. “He walks with such a tremendous level of confidence.”
Boston is a competitor in every sense of the word. Regardless if its a game, sprint or drill, he does not like to lose. This is what make’s him a coach’s dream. He is a team player with goals revolving around the accomplishments of his team. He admits, he has no idea how good he can become. But he does know there is always room for improvement and he is confident about one thing.
“I’m sure there are six or seven guys around the country that are saying the same thing,” Boston said. “But yes, I am the best wide receiver in the country.”
Do you doubt him?
