Training Camp Notes and Quotes – Day Three – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/11/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
August 11, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeyes are nine practices into their fall camp…a little leg weary and tired from the three-a-day grind, but ready to strap on the full pads Thursday. The Wednesday weather? Bright sunshine and hot, with more heat on the way.
%^$%^$Buckeye FYI and Good Stuff
%^$%^$* A correction: First-year tackle Ivan Douglas is indeed a true freshman and will have five years to complete four seasons of eligibility. He was incorrectly listed as a sophomore in all previous rosters.
%^$%^$* The hot weather finally came and that prompted the hair to come off for at least two Buckeyes. Defensive end Julius Yeast lost about four inches of growth when he went to the shaved look and end Rodney Bailey lost about three inches off the top of his head when he had his hair cropped to the skin. Both are feeling much cooler.
%^$%^$* True freshman offensive tackle Matt Zahn, called “the heaviest player I’ve ever coached,” by John Cooper, entered fall camp at 6-7 and 407 pounds.
%^$%^$* Two Ohio State greats were reunited at the evening practice Wednesday when Pete Johnson dropped by and visited with two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. It was Johnson, a tank-like fullback, that paved the way for Griffin in the mid 1970’s, laying punishing blocks on his way to all-Big Ten honors.
%^$%^$* The Ohio State ticket office sold approximately 20,000 Kickoff Classic tickets. Giants Stadium personnel are reporting that over 56,000 tickets have now been sold for the game.
%^$%^$* There are 18 days left until the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.
%^$%^$Wednesday’s “Quotes”
%^$%^$Head Coach John Cooper
%^$%^$”We are just plugging along with three-a-day practices, today. Tomorrow, we will be ready to put the pads on. There is not too much of a difference, when we go to practices with pads. I think we practice with the same tempo without pads then when we do with pads.
%^$%^$”So far, nothing sticks out. Pretty much everything is the same from last season. Guys are looking good and we will be ready for Miami in three weeks.”
%^$%^$So. QB Austin Moherman
%^$%^$”Practice is going well. We’re a little tired with three-days, but still good.
%^$%^$”Nothing has changed from Monday. Steve (Bellisari) and I are working hard. A few practices won’t decide who is going to start. That’s not going to determine it.
%^$%^$”I want to continue to be aware of everything that is going on out there. I want to recognize a certain press or a certain alignment. These are the things that I want to keep improving on throughout these practices.”
%^$%^$Sr. CB Ahmed Plummer
%^$%^$”I think there will be a big difference going to pads for us. Bumping heads three times a day wears on you more than just running drills.
%^$%^$”We always have had a great defense and keeping up the tradition is always a goal coming into camp. We want to keep it at the level.
%^$%^$”Players will be looked upon to step up in the games, but I still think we will have a great offense.”
%^$%^$So. QB Steve Bellisari
%^$%^$”I feel good. I am getting into the flow of things. Everything is rolling along now.
%^$%^$”Figuring out who will play at quarterback will best be decided in a game situation. It is not controlled, so there are many things that can happen in a game that can decide who will react and do a better job. Our goal as quarterbacks is just making the right decision, getting the ball to the right people and not turning it over.”
%^$%^$”I definitely think by having that experience and playing last year helped me. I definitely know how it feels to play at Ohio Stadium and to be able to react well.”
%^$%^$Jr. LB Na’il Diggs
%^$%^$”I see a lot of guys coming around, picking up things a little faster. Guys are flying around, getting ready to hit tomorrow.”%^$
