Coach Cooper Address The Media At The Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 26, 2000
CHICAGO-John Cooper, Ohio State head football coach, was the final coach to address the media Wednesday as the Big Ten football season officially began with festivities leading up to the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon Thursday..
Cooper along with junior quarterback Steve Bellisari (Boca Raton, Fla.) and senior defensive end Rodney Bailey (Cleveland, Ohio) made the trip to Chicago for two days of interviews with local, regional and national media. Following an autograph session Thursday morning, the 29th annual Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon will be held to conclude the event.
During his address Wednesday morning, Cooper said the Buckeyes will look to the middle of its offense in 2000 to help rebound the Ohio State from a 6-6 1999 campaign.
“Steve Bellisari will be our No. 1 quarterback heading in the fall and we don’t have any reservation about his abilities,” Cooper said. “Add to that LeCharles Bentley (Jr., Cleveland/St. Ignatius) at center, Jamar Martin (Jr., Canton, Ohio/McKinley) at fullback and Derek Combs (Sr., Urbancrest, Ohio/Grove City), Jonathan Wells (Jr., River Ridge, La./John Curtis Christian) and Jerry Westbrooks (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla./Pope John Paul II) at tailback and we fell pretty good about that part of our offense.”
Cooper was quick to recognize his outstanding tandem of receivers as well.
“Ken-Yon Rambo (Sr., Cerritos, Calif./Long Beach Poly) is probably the second fastest (behind Joey Galloway) to ever play for us at Ohio State,” Cooper said. “Ken-Yon has a chance to be in the same league as David Boston and Terry Glenn when it comes to outstanding receivers in Ohio State history.
“Reggie Germany (Sr., Hazelwood, Mo./East) also has a great deal of talent,” Cooper said. “He just needs to play a little bit better in big games.”
There will be no shortage of those sorts of games for the Buckeyes to face in 2000. Road games at Arizona (Sept. 9), Wisconsin (Oct. 7), Purdue (Oct. 28) and Illinois (Nov. 11) along with home games with Penn State (Sept. 23), Minnesota (Oct. 14), Michigan State (Nov. 4) and Michigan (Nov. 18) give the Buckeyes plenty of opportunities to perform on a national stage.
The offense is expected to improve with a few wrinkles installed by new offensive coordinator Chuck Stobart but the defense still will play a major role in the fate of the Buckeyes this year.
Cooper said the front four of Bailey, Ryan Pickett (Jr., Zephyrhills, Fla./Zephyrhills), Mike Collins (Jr., Newark, Ohio/Newark) and Brent Johnson (Sr., Kingston, Ontario/Holy Cross) give the Buckeyes a solid base. Questions about the linebacking corps are still unanswered heading in the fall camp. But little questions arise in the secondary where Nate Clements (Jr., Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights), Donnie Nickey (So., Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and Mike Doss (So., Canton Ohio/McKinley) reside.
With another year of experience and another stellar incoming crop of talent, Cooper does not foresee another season like last year in the near future.
“We don’t want another season like last year,” Cooper said. “We have had a competitive spring and we can’t work any harder than we do.”
Michigan tabbed as preseason favorite
The Big Ten media have selected Michigan, Wisconsin and Purdue as the top three contenders for the 2000 Big Ten Football crown. Purdue senior quarterback Drew Brees was chosen as the preseason offensive player of the year while Jamar Fletcher, a junior cornerback from Wisconsin, was the preseason defensive player of the year selection.
