Training Camp Notes and Quotes – Day Four – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
August 12, 1999
Columbus, Ohio – It was the calm before the storm. The nation’s ninth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes worked out in Buckeye gear again Thursday morning in almost surreal surroundings…calm, moderate weather and a relative peacefulness that was only broken by the sounds of whistles and coaches’ barking orders. But then came the pads for the afternoon and early evening workouts and the calm of the morning was quickly turned into intense, physical aggression as the Buckeyes hit for the first time this year. Football is back. The Buckeyes are back and they are ready to roll.
Buckeye FYI and Good Stuff
* In Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preview it lists Steve Bellisari as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. That was an editorial decision by the magazine. Any and all information that came from Ohio State listed Bellisari and Austin Moherman absolutely even in the quarterback battle. “Our quarterback will be either Steve Bellisari or Austin Moherman but I won’t venture a guess as to one starting over the other,” John Cooper said on Thursday’s Kickoff Classic conference call. * Marlon Kerner enjoyed the first day in pads. The former Buffalo Bills defensive back is currently in Columbus rehabilitating a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. He expects to be out six to eight weeks and then hopes to sign a free agent contract soon thereafter.
John Cooper “Quotes” From the Kickoff Classic Conference Call
“We are looking forward to playing Miami and to be playing in another Kickoff Classic. I like these early games because it gives us more practice time and it gives our young players a chance to get their feet wet. Plus it allows us to regroup based upon the fact we lost a lot of fine football players [eight] to the NFL Draft last year.
“I am friends with Butch Davis and I’ve known him for a long time. When I was coaching at Tulsa he was at Oklahoma State. He is a fine young coach who has professional experience and who has a good staff.” Cooper Quotes On Practice
“We’re still looking at everyone. There have been some missed assignments, but that can be expected. We are giving everyone a chance to play.”
“There is not much difference between our Buckeye Gear (helmets and shoulder pads) and full pads. Our guys practice at a high level regardless.”
Sports Illustrated Sneek Peek
Sports Illustrated’s annual College Football Issue will hit the stands tomorrow. Penn State’s LaVar Arrington is on the cover and his Nittany Lions, in Joe Paterno’s 50th season as head coach, are ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Buckeyes are ranked fifth by SI, after Penn State, Florida State, Arizona and Tennessee, respectively.
Parker, Tatum and Pace on “Team of the Century”
Three Buckeyes – offensive guard Jim Parker (1954-56) offensive tackle Orlando Pace (1994-96) and safety Jack Tatum (1968-70) are included in Sports Illustrated’s “Team of the Century.” Ohio State and Pittsburgh are the only schools with three players on the team. Linebacker Chris Spielman (1984-87) and tailback Archie Griffin (1972-75) were each honorable mention selections to the team. The head coach is Paul “Bear” Bryant and he is assisted by Woody Hayes, Red Blaik (Army), Frank Leahy (Notre Dame), Robert Neyland (Tennessee), Joe Paterno (Penn State), Eddie Robinson (Grambling), Knute Rockne (Notre Dame), Pop Warner (Stanford) and Bud Wilkinson (Oklahoma).
Sports Illustrated’s “Team of the Century”
Offense
Receiver – Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State) & Don Hutson (Alabama)
Tackle – Orlando Pace (Ohio State) & Bill Fralic (Pittsburgh)
Guard – Jim Parker (Ohio State) & John Hannah (Alabama)
Center – Dave Rimington (Nebraska)
Quarterback – Sammy Baugh (TCU)
Running Back – Red Grange (Illinois), O.J. Simpson (USC) & Tony Dorsett (Pitt)
Defense
End – Bubba Smith (Michigan State) & Hugh Green (Pittsburgh)
Tackle – Bronko Nagurski (Minnesota) & Rich Glover (Nebraska)
Linebacker – Tommy Nobis (Texas), Dick Butkus (Illinois) & Lee Roy Jordan (Alabama)
Cornerback – Deion Sanders (Florida State) & Nile Kinnick (Iowa)
Safety – Jack Tatum (Ohio State) & George Webster (Michigan State)
Punter – Ray Guy (Southern Mississippi)
Kicker – Kevin Butler (Georgia)
Coach – Paul Bryant (Alabama)
