Ohio State Returns Home To Face Northwestern – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2001
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BUCKEYES (2-1) TAKE ON WILDCATS (3-0) IN RARE NIGHT GAME
After two consecutive weeks on the road, Ohio State returns home Saturday to face Big Ten preseason favorite Northwestern. Game time is 7:50 p.m., EDT, in Ohio Stadium (101,568). The game will be nationally televised by ESPN. This will be the first Big Ten night game in Ohio Stadium and just the fifth overall since the stadium was opened in 1922. The Buckeyes are 4-0 in their previous after-dark outings, the last of which was a 42-20 thrashing of UCLA in 1999. Ohio State enters the game with a 1-0 mark in Big Ten action. The Buckeyes opened conference play Saturday by downing host Indiana 27-14. Northwestern edged by Michigan State, 27-26, Saturday in its conference debut. This will be the first meeting between the Buckeyes and Wildcats since 1998 in Evanston. It is also the first of three consecutive home games for Coach Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes who host Wisconsin Oct. 13 and San Diego State Oct. 20. The latter game was rescheduled from Sept. 15. Because of the events of Sept. 11, the Northwestern game is the Buckeyes’ first home game since Sept. 8.
HORVATH’S NO. 22 TO BE RETIRED
The late Les Horvath will have his Ohio State number retired at halftime of the game Saturday with Northwestern. Horvath, who wore No. 22 while a Buckeye, was Ohio State’s first Heisman Trophy winner, winning the coveted bronze statue as a senior in 1944. Horvath is the only Heisman winner who did not play football the season prior to receiving the award. After leading the Buckeyes to the 1942 National Championship, he enrolled in dental school in 1943 and did not play that season. He returned with a vengeance, however, quarterbacking the Buckeyes to a perfect 9-0 record in 1944. Horvath, who died in November of 1995, will be represented Saturday by his widow, Ruby Horvath.
WBNS RADIO FEEDS STATEWIDE NETWORK
WBNS Radio (1460 AM and 97.1 FM) is the flagship station for the 79-station Ohio State radio network. Paul Keels calls the play-by-play with former Buckeyes Jim Lachey and Jim Karsatos providing the color commentary and sideline expertise, respectively. Network programming begins one hour before kickoff. Following the game, WBNS Radio also carries Coach Jim Tressel’s press conference.
NATIONAL TELEVISION AUDIENCE LOOKING IN
The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Veteran broadcaster Ron Franklin will call the play-by-play, with former coach Mike Gottfried providing the expert analysis and ex-Northwestern player Adrian Karsten contributing updates and insight from the sidelines.
BUCKEYES HURRY PAST THE HOOSIERS
Behind the running of true freshman Lydell Ross, the passing of Steve Bellisari, and a third-consecutive impressive defensive showing, Ohio State opened its Big Ten season Saturday with a 27-14 road win over Indiana. Ross, a 6-0, 210-pound tailback, slashed and dashed his way through the Hoosiers for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells added 69 yards and a third rushing TD as the Buckeyes netted 197 yards on the ground. With the OSU running game in high gear, Bellisari enjoyed the best percentage day of his career, completing 15 of 21 passes for 194 yards. Nine different players caught passes for the Buckeyes, including split end Michael Jenkins and fullback Jamar Martin who led the way with three each. The Buckeyes scored all six times they were in the red zone and when they did bog down, junior punter Andy Groom gave them great field position by averaging 42.3 yards per kick on three punts. The Ohio State defense, meanwhile, limited the Hoosiers to 337 yards and held ever-dangerous quarterback Antwaan Randle El to 70 yards rushing and 181 yards passing. The Buckeyes won the turnover battle, 2-0, recovering a fumble and picking off an interception. Linebackers Matt Wilhelm and Joe Cooper led a balanced defensive effort with nine and eight tackles, respectively. Ohio State’s special teams also came up big with All-America Michael Doss blocking a punt for the second-consecutive week.
TRESSEL ON THE BUCKEYES AT INDIANA
“We wanted to get better, especially on offense, and I think we did. The offense had good poise and moved the ball down the field. But we need to keep improving in the area of consistency, especially at quarterback. Defensively, we kept a very good player (Randle El) in check and played well, except for that one long (44 yards) touchdown pass. The special teams made a big play again and gave us good field position. It was a team victory. I think we are getting a little better in everything we do. Lydell (Ross) has been getting better and has earned more playing time. That is why you saw him more. He gives us a nice change of pace to go along with the power running of Jonathan (Wells). Those two give us a nice combination of power and speed,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
A LOOK AT THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes are 1-0 at home this year, that one victory coming over Akron, 28-14, in the season opener Sept. 8. After the Sept. 15 game with San Diego State was postponed, the Buckeyes split road games at UCLA (13-6 loss) and Indiana (27-14 win). Ohio State is averaging 360.7 yards and 20.3 points per game on offense. Tailback Jonathan Wells leads the rushing attack with an average of 78.3 yards per game. He also has rushed for three touchdowns and leads the team in scoring. As a team, the Buckeyes are averaging 184 yards per game rushing. In the passing department, Ohio State is throwing for 176 yards per game. Quarterback Steve Bellisari has completed 35-of-68 passes, for 485 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore split end Michael Jenkins has a team leading 10 receptions for 177 yards. Fullback Jamar Martin, who had just one reception all of last year, has seven this year, including three this past week at Indiana. Defensively, Ohio State is giving up 302.7 yards (110.3 rushing and 192.4 passing) and 13.6 points per game. Linebackers Matt Wilhelm and Joe Cooper each have 23 tackles. All-America safety Mike Doss has 14, including a team best four TFL.
OHIO STATE COACH JIM TRESSEL
With a 2-1 mark in the early stages of his first year as head coach at Ohio State, Jim Tressel now sports a lifetime record of 137-58-2. Prior to coming to Ohio State, the 48-year-old Tressel spent 15 highly successful years at Youngstown State, where he led the Penguins to four Division 1-AA National Championships, six trips to the title game (including an unprecedented four in a row) and 10 appearances in the playoffs. Tressel was a four-time choice as the Division 1-AA National Coach of the Year at Youngstown, winning that honor in 1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97. He also was a six-time pick as Ohio Coach of the Year.
Born in Mentor, Ohio, Tressel grew up in Berea, Ohio, where his father, the late Lee Tressel, was the head coach at Baldwin Wallace College and a legendary figure in Ohio college coaching circles. The elder Tressel led B-W to the 1978 Division III National Championship and was National Coach of the Year that season.
Tressel played for his father at Baldwin Wallace, winning all-conference honors at quarterback as a senior. He graduated cum laude in 1975 with a degree in education and embarked upon his coaching career in 1975 as a graduate assistant at Akron, where he spent four seasons (the last three in a full-time capacity) and earned his master’s degree in education. Tressel’s coaching career then took him to Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse before coming to Ohio State in 1983 as a member of Earle Bruce’s staff. He spent three years as an Ohio State assistant, serving as quarterbacks and receivers coach the first year and taking on the added responsibility of the running backs his last two years. While Tressel was at Ohio State, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 27-9, played in the Fiesta, Rose and Citrus Bowls and captured the 1984 Big Ten title. Some of his more notable pupils during that time included Cris Carter, Mike Tomczak and Keith Byars.
Tressel left Ohio State following the 1985 season to become head coach at Youngstown State. He remained there until returning to Ohio State this past January as the 22nd head football coach in Ohio State history. This will be Tressel’s first meeting with Northwestern.
BUCKEYES HAVE UPPER HAND IN NU SERIES
This will be the 67th meeting between the two schools in a series that began in 1913. The Buckeyes hold a decisive 52-13-1 lead in the rivalry, including a 28-8 advantage in the 36 games played in Columbus. Ohio State has won 21 in a row from the Wildcats dating back to a 14-10 loss in 1971 in Columbus. Since that game, OSU has won the last 10 games played in Columbus, including a 49-6 verdict in 1997 in the last game played between the two teams in Ohio Stadium.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats, who are 3-0 for the first time since 1962, needed a last-second 47-yard field goal to defeat the visiting Spartans Saturday. After Michigan State had taken a 26-24 lead with 16 seconds to play, Northwestern took over at its own 13-yard line. Kicker David Wasielewski’s game winner followed a 54-yard “Hail Mary” that was tipped and a 3-yard run that put the ball on the MSU 30-yard line with five ticks left on the clock. The Wildcats rolled up 422 yards against the Spartans who finished with 385. The two teams ran a total of 163 plays – 84 by Northwestern and 79 by Michigan State. Quarterback Zak Kustok completed 23 of 40 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 105 yards and a score on 15 carries. Tailback Damien Anderson finished with 75 yards on 28 carries and receivers Kunle Patrick and Jon Schweighardt combined for 13 receptions and 155 yards. On the season, Northwestern is averaging 490.3 yards (263.3 passing and 227 rushing) and 36 points a game. The Wildcats are giving up 382 yards (249.6 passing and 132 rushing) and 20.3 points per outing. They have turned the ball over just three times and have eight takeaways. Kustok has thrown for 773 yards and five touchdowns, while Anderson has rushed for 377 yards. Each has four touchdowns rushing. Kustok leads the Big Ten in total offense and Anderson is second in rushing and all-purpose yardage. Four different receivers, led by Patrick’s 15, have 10 or more receptions. In the field goal department, Wasielewski has hit on six of his nine attempts. Northwestern’s first three opponents are 0-3 in the field goal department. The Wildcat’s defense is led by linebackers Kevin Bentley and Billy Silva, who have 39 and 30 tackles, respectively. Bentley leads the Big Ten in average tackles per game at 13. Prior to Michigan State, Norhtwestern defeated UNLV (37-28) and Duke (44-7). Both games were on the road. The Wildcats’ Sept. 15 game with Navy was cancelled and replaced with a Nov. 17 game against Bowling Green in Evanston.
WILDCATS WERE MEDIA FAVORITES IN CHICAGO
Members of the media attending the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon this past July in Chicago tabbed Northwestern as the team to beat in the conference race this year. The writers and broadcasters picked Ohio State third, behind the Wildcats and Michigan.
WALKER IN THIRD SEASON WITH CATS
Troy, Ohio native and former Miami (Ohio) head coach Randy Walker is now in his third season as the head football coach at Northwestern. Walker’s first team finished with a 3-8 record, but his squad last year shared the Big Ten title and compiled an 8-4 mark, giving him a career mark of 72-47-5 as he enters his 12th season. Walker, a 1976 graduate of Miami, took over at his alma mater in 1990 and remained there until moving to Northwestern in 1999. This will be the first time he has faced Ohio State.
TRESSEL ON NORTHWESTERN
“They are a veteran team (10 offensive and six defensive starters returning) with outstanding skill players and a great scheme. I don’t think anyone was surprised when they were picked to win the Big Ten this year. Kustok and Anderson give them two very dangerous weapons. We will have to play very well this week. I’m glad we are back home and playing in front of what I know will be a very enthusiastic Ohio Stadium crowd,” Tressel said.
BUCKEYE DEFENSE FACES YET ANOTHER HEISMAN HOPEFUL
Northwestern running back Damien Anderson is the third Heisman Trophy candidate that the Buckeyes have faced in three weeks. So far, at least, the “Silver Bullets” have been up to the task, holding UCLA tailback DeShaun Foster to 66 yards on 29 carries and containing Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El (70 yards rushing and 181 yards throwing). In addition to Anderson, NU quarterback Zak Kustok is mounting a Heisman campaign of his own by leading the Big Ten in total offense.
OHIO STATE AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Northwestern is ranked 16th in this week’s ESPN/USA Today poll, up two spots from last week. The Wildcats are 14th in the Associated Press rankings, also a jump of two spots. Ohio State is not ranked in either poll. The Buckeyes are 0-1 against ranked teams this year, that setback a 13-6 reversal at now No.9-rated UCLA. Ohio State is 8-7 in its last 15 games against Top-25 teams.
BENTLEY THE CENTER OF ATTENTION
Senior center LeCharles Bentley continues to draw high praise from first-year Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. “LeCharles is playing just about as well as any center I have ever been around,” said Tressel, whose previous stops include assistant’s stints at Syracuse and Ohio State. “He is smart, clever, competitive and rarely makes a mistake. If he continues to play the way he has, I can’t imagine a better center in college football.” Bentley, 6-2 and 300, is in his second full year as a starter. The Cleveland, Ohio product, who when he isn’t playing football enjoys gourmet cooking, was the Buckeyes’ Offensive Player of the Game following UCLA.
ROSS RUNS WITH ELITE COMPANY
A year ago, Lydell Ross was setting records at Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla. Saturday, he ran his way into the Ohio State records book by becoming the youngest Buckeye ever to rush for 100 yards in a game. Playing in just his third collegiate game, the 17-year-old tailback who doesn’t turn 18 until Dec. 4, ripped through the Indiana defense for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 25 carries. In doing so, he became the first Ohio State freshman since Robert Smith in 1990 to top the century mark. The only other Buckeye freshman to do so is two-time Heisman Trophy winner and three-time All-America Archie Griffin.
BUCKEYE PLAYMAKER
Junior strong safety Mike Doss has blocked two punts this year (UCLA and Indiana) and leads the team in tackles-for-loss with four. A consensus All-Big Ten choice and a first-team Sporting News All-America as a sophomore, Doss also has a sack, a pass broken up and a recovered fumble.
BUCKEYES PLAYER NOTES
Will Allen, a sophomore from Dayton (Wayne High School) and the Buckeyes’ nickel back picked off the OSU’s first interception of the year at Indiana, taking a Randle El pass back 32 yards. Allen also recovered a blocked Indiana punt… Redshirt freshman Josh Huston hit two of three field goal attempts at Indiana, the Buckeyes first three pointers of the year. Huston hit from 20 yards out in the first and third quarters… Lydell Ross’s 100-yard game at Indiana gives the Buckeyes two such games so far this year. Jonathan Wells had 119 yards and two touchdowns against Akron… Linebacker Joe Cooper has led the Buckeyes in tackles in two of the first three games with 10 against Akron and nine vs. Indiana… Matt Wilhelm was the pacesetter at UCLA with 10… Defensive end Darrion Scott had eight tackles all of last year. He has 10, including three TFL, so far this year… Cornerback Derek Ross has 14 tackles to date – all solos.
BUCKEYE RECEIVERS CATCHING ON
Ten Ohio State players, led by Michael Jenkins’ 10, have pass receptions this year. Jenkins played 22 minutes last year as a true freshman with most of that time coming with the special teams. He did not have any receptions a year ago.
GROOM SECOND IN THE BIG TEN
Junior Andy Groom is second in the Big Ten in punting with an average of 46.2 on 11 punts. Groom, a walk-on from Columbus Bishop Hartley who was placed on scholarship prior to the UCLA game, trails Michigan State’s Craig Jarret by seven-tenths of a point.
GETTING THE JOB DONE UP FRONT
The loss of senior defensive ends Rodney Bailey and Brent Johnson, along with the somewhat unexpected departure of tackle Ryan Pickett for the NFL last year, left the Buckeyes with only one returning starter – tackle Mike Collins – on the defensive line. But the OSU defensive front – with Collins and Tim Anderson at tackles and Will Smith and Darrion Scott at ends – has played exceptionally well through the first three games. Additionally, senior Tim Cheatwood, junior Kenny Peterson and freshman Simon Fraser give defensive line coach Jim Heacock seven talented players to rotate.
Through the first three games, that group has 11 of the Buckeyes’ 23 tackles-for-loss. They also have three of the team’s five sacks.
BELLISARI EIGHTH IN TOTAL OFFENSE
With 508 yards this year, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari has 4,978 yards in career total offense at Ohio State. That total ranks him eighth on the all-time OSU list. Bellisari also has thrown for 4,444 yards during his career and stands seventh in Ohio State annals.
Ohio State Career Total Offense Leaders 1. Art Schlichter 8,850 1,464 atts. 1978-81 2. Bobby Hoying 7,152 1,026 atts. 1992-95 3. Greg Frey 6,098 988 atts. 1987-90 4. Joe Germaine 6,094 852 atts. 1996-98 5. Mike Tomczak 6,015 858 atts. 1981-83 6. Archie Griffin 5,589 924 atts. 1972-75 7. Jim Karsatos 5,261 759 atts. 1983-86 8. Steve Bellisari 4,978 853 atts. 1998-01
Ohio State Career Passing Yards Leaders 1. Art Schlichter 7,547 497-951 1978-81 2. Bobby Hoying 7,232 498-858 1992-95 3. Joe Germaine 6,370 439-741 1996-98 4. Greg Frey 6,316 443-835 1987-90 5. Mike Tomczak 5,569 376-675 1981-84 6. Jim Karsatos 5,089 359-629 1983-86 7. Steve Bellisari 4,444 302-607 1998-01
BUCKEYE IRONMAN
Senior Tyson Walter, who sat out all of last year with a back injury, has returned to action and has started the first three games, giving the 6-5, 300-pound senior a string of 40-consecutive starts as the Buckeyes heading into the game this week with Northwestern. A tackle his first three years, Walter has started at guard in two of the Buckeyes’ first three games (Akron and Indiana). Assuming he starts the remaining eight regular-season games, and possibly a bowl game, Walter will hold the Ohio State record for starts.
BUCKEYE INJURY REPORT
Sophomore split end Drew Carter, who missed the first two games with a foot injury, suffered a knee injury prior to the Indiana game and did not make the trip to Bloomington. Carter is out indefinitely. Prior to being hurt in fall camp, Carter was penciled in as a starter. He had six receptions last year.
OSU FRESHMEN MAKING A CONTRIBUTION
Seven true freshmen have seen action to date for the Buckeyes: running backs Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, split end Chris Gamble, flanker Angelo Chattams, defensive tackle Simon Fraser, safety Dustin Fox and kicker Mike Nugent. Additionally, offensive tackle Ryan Cook is on the two deep, but has not recorded any playing time in the first two games. In one series at Indiana, Ross, Chattams and Gamble were in the lineup at the same time.
OHIO STATE’S ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATES
The Buckeyes, the most decorated team in the 1990s in terms of major individual awards, always seem to have their share of All-America candidates and this year is no exception. On offense, center LeCharles Bentley is an All-America and Outland Trophy candidate. A veteran of 39 games and 23-consecutive starts, the 6-2, 300-pound senior is the wheelhorse of the Buckeyes’ offensive front. Additionally, left tackle Tyson Walter was headed for stardom last year until being sidelined with an injury. Healthy this year, Walter has started all three games – two at left guard and one at left tackle. On defense, tackle Mike Collins and safety Mike Doss are on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi and Thorpe awards, respectively. Both are coming off exceptional years and are among the best in the country at their positions. Although fullbacks rarely make All-America teams in this day and age, Jamar Martin is an exceptional football player. Linebackers Joe Cooper (a third-team All-America by the Associated Press last year) and Matt Wilhelm are both capable of playing their way into contention for the Butkus Award.
BUCKEYE CAPTAINS
Seniors Steve Bellisari, Jamar Martin, Joe Cooper and Mike Collins are the 2001 Ohio State captains. Bellisari and Cooper also were captains last season and are the first repeat captains at OSU since Pepper Johnson in 1984 and ’85.
WALTER NOMINATED FOR NFFHF SCHOLARSHIP
Offensive tackle Tyson Walter has been nominated for a 2001 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship. Walter, from Bainbridge, Ohio, graduated from Ohio State in the winter of 2000 with a degree in finance and is currently completing work on degrees in economics, risk management and information services. In addition to being an honors student, he has started 40-consecutive games and is in his fourth year as a starter for the Buckeyes. Over the years, Ohio State has had a Big Ten-best 18 NFFHF scholarship winners.
SIX WALKONS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
Six members of the Ohio State football team have been converted to scholarship. They are seniors Ben Steele (Marysville, Ohio) and Jim Kortovich (Euclid, Ohio), juniors Andy Groom (Columbus), Michael Stafford (Upper Arlington, Ohio) and Andrew Schabo (Worthington, Ohio) and sophomore Jason Bond (Worthington, Ohio)
MAURICE HALL HONORED BY THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Ohio State freshman running back Maurice Hall has been selected by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as that organization’s Midwest Region High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2001. The award honors high school scholar-athletes who demonstrated outstanding academic application and performance, superior football performance, and exemplary leadership and citizenship. Hall, who was nominated by the Columbus Chapter of the NFFCHF, graduated with a 4.6 GPA, was a First-Team All-Ohio pick and was president of his senior class at Columbus Brookhaven High School.
GAME DAY COACHING ASSIGNMENTS
On offense, quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels and tight ends coach Bill Conley will be in the press box during the game, assisted by offensive graduate assistant Jim Bridge. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and running backs coach Tim Spencer will be on the sidelines. On defense, linebackers coach Mark Snyder, defensive backs mentor Mel Tucker and grad assistant Brandon Blaney will be upstairs, while defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio, defensive line coach Jim Heacock and special teams coordinator Ken Conatser will be on the field.
HICKS OSU’S LATEST HALL OF FAME SELECTION
Former All-American offensive tackle John Hicks is the latest Ohio State player to be selected for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Hicks, who won first-team All-America honors in 1972 and ’73, is the 18th Ohio State player to be selected. He will be recognized at halftime of the Ohio State-Wisconsin game Oct. 13 and will be officially inducted in New York in December. Hicks won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award as a senior. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1973.
BUCKEYES EDGE CLOSER TO BIG TEN MILESTONE
With Saturday’s triumph at Indiana, the Buckeyes are 9-2 in their last 11 Big Ten openers, including a 3-1 mark when opening conference play on the road. The victory Saturday improved Ohio State’s all-time Big Ten ledger to 396-152-24 and leaves the Buckeyes needing four more Big Ten wins to become the second team in league annals to reach the 400 mark.
BUCKEYES NOW AT 727
One of the most successful programs in college football, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 727-287-53 in this, its 112th year of varsity competition. The Buckeyes are one of just seven Division 1A schools to top the 700 figure.
HELMET DECALS
The Ohio State football team is wearing three very special helmet decals this season. The Buckeyes have a “KS” sticker on their helmets in honor of former All-America lineman Korey Stringer, who died in July while at training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. Following the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. and the plane crash in Pennsylvania Sept. 11, an American flag decal was added to the helmets. A third decal, the number 22, was affixed to the head gear prior to the Indiana game in memory of Ohio State soccer player Connor Senn who died Sept. 26 while playing for the Buckeyes.
GAME 1: AKRON
The Buckeyes opened the 2001 campaign Sept. 8 with a 28-14 win over Akron in front of an Ohio Stadium record crowd of 102,602. The game marked the debut of new Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and the unveiling of refurbished Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes rolled up 525 yards in total offense and ran 85 plays (20 more than Akron) on a hot, humid day.
Quarterbacks Steve Bellisari and Scott McMullen threw for 289 yards, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. Bellisari had a pair of touchdown passes and sophomore split end Michael Jenkins had six receptions for 106 yards in his first career start.
Senior tailback Jonathan Wells ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. The Buckeyes netted 236 yards rushing.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State defense limited the Zips to 248 yards (114 rushing and 134 passing) and one touchdown. Senior linebacker Joe Cooper had a team-high 10 tackles.
The Buckeyes led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and were ahead 21-0 before Akron got on the board with just over two minutes to play in the first half. The two teams traded long touchdowns in the second half, the Buckeyes scoring on a 61-yard pass in the third quarter, and the Zips on an 87-yard interception return in the fourth.
GAME 2: AT UCLA
In a titanic defensive struggle, the Ohio State defense forced seven fumbles, recovering four of those, and held the Bruins’ offense to 323 total yards, including just 105 yards in the second half. After converting four third-down plays on their first drive, which led to their only touchdown of the day, the Bruins converted just two of 11 the rest of the afternoon.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm led Ohio State with 10 total tackles, including eight solos and two tackles-for-loss. He also forced a fumble. Strong safety Mike Doss had seven tackles, recovered a fumble and blocked a UCLA punt that Ohio State recovered for a touchdown. And defensive end Tim Cheatwood was credited with five tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. It was a superb defensive effort by the Buckeyes against a veteran and talented offensive team.
UCLA tailback and Heisman Trophy hopeful DeShaun Foster, who had been averaging 149 yards a game, could manage just 66 on 29 carries against the Buckeyes.
Punter Andy Groom had his best day as a Buckeye against UCLA, averaging 46.8 yards per punt on six kicks, including a career-best 61-yard boot. Offensively, the Buckeyes could manage just 166 yards against a solid UCLA defense. In spite of a missed PAT and two missed field goals, Ohio State was a touchdown away from winning the game.
Jonathan Wells led the Buckeyes in rushing with 47 yards.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Coach Jim Tressel’s weekly Media Luncheon is held each Tuesday at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf©, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Selected Ohio State players will be available for interviews at the luncheon and on Tuesday following practice (about 5:30 p.m.) Coach Tressel and two assistants also are available following Thursday practices. A reminder, too, that ALL requests for player, assistant coach and head coach interviews must be directed to either Steve Snapp, Pat Chun or Dan Wallenberg in the Ohio State Athletics Communications Office (614/292-3103 or 292-6861). Also, television stations are asked not to interview players coming off the field following the completion of the game. The first opportunity to interview players after a game will be in the interview room after Coach Tressel has spoken with the team.
WISCONSIN UP NEXT FOR THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State stays home next week to take on visiting Wisconsin in the traditional Homecoming Game. The game will be televised nationally by ABC Sports and will kick off at 3:36 p.m. EDT.
