Ohio State vs. San Diego State – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2001
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Buckeyes (3-2) Hope to Rebound Against Aztecs (2-4)
Ohio State closes out a three-game home stand Saturday by hosting San Diego State at 12:10 p.m., EDT, in Ohio Stadium (101,568). The game, originally scheduled for Sept. 15, was postponed until this weekend following the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. The Buckeyes, who are 3-2 on the year, are coming off a 20-17 loss to Wisconsin this past Saturday. The Aztecs dropped a 31-3 decision at UNLV and are now 2-4 on the year and 1-2 on the road. The game Saturday, which will be televised by ESPN Plus, is the first meeting between the two schools.
Hall of Fame Weekend
This is Hall of Fame Weekend at Ohio State. This year’s class will be inducted Friday night and will be introduced at half time of the game Saturday. One member of this class, football player John Brockington, will not be in attendance because of health issues and will instead be inducted in 2002. Inductees this year will be available for interviews at 5 p.m. Friday in the atrium of the Woody Hayes Athletics Center.
Record Crowds See Buckeyes Play
With Ohio Stadium capacity increased this year from 95,000 to 101,568, the Buckeyes are well on their way to an all-time home attendance record. In the first three games in their newly renovated facility, the Buckeyes have drawn a total of 310,164 spectators, including a record 104,042 against Northwestern. The OSU single-season attendance mark of 654,500 was set in seven games in 1991. The six-game record of 586,542 was established last year.
WBNS Radio Feeds Statewide Network
Buckeye fans not in attendance at the game Saturday can hear all the action on WBNS Radio (1460 AM and 97.1 FM), the flagship station for the 79-station Ohio State radio network. Paul Keels calls the play-by-play and former Buckeye All-America Jim Lachey serves as the color analyst for the broadcast. Another ex-Buckeye, Jim Karsatos, provides the expert sideline commentary. Network programming begins one hour before kickoff. Following the game, WBNS Radio carries Coach Jim Tressel’s press conference live. WBNS also broadcasts the Buckeye Roundtable Monday nights and the Jim Tressel Call-In Show at 7 p.m. Tuesdays.
ESPN Plus Will Televise The Game
ESPN Plus will televise the game this week with WBNS-TV (channel 10) carrying the game in Columbus. This is Ohio State’s third appearance of the season on ESPN Plus, which also televised the Akron and Indiana games. Jim Barbar and Al Harris will call the action.
Buckeyes And Aztecs Begin Three-Game Series
The game Saturday is the first game of a three-game series between San Diego State and Ohio State. The two teams also play in San Diego in 2003 and back in Columbus in 2005. Ohio State has a California school on its schedule each of the next four years, playing home games with San Jose State in 2002 and 2004.
Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel
With a 3-2 mark in his first year as head coach at Ohio State, Jim Tressel now sports a lifetime record of 138-59-2. 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 San Diego State.
A Look At The Buckeyes
Ohio State is 3-2 on the year and 1-1 in the Big Ten, tied with four other schools for second place in the league race, a game behind current leader Michigan. The Buckeyes are 2-1 at home this year and 1-1 against ranked teams. Offensively, the Buckeyes are averaging 346.2 yards and 23.2 points a game. OSU is rushing for 192.4 yards per game and passing for 153.8. Defensively, the Buckeyes are giving up 308.6 yards and 16.2 points a game. Ohio State’s first five opponents have rushed for an average of 125.6 yards per game and thrown for an average of 183. The Buckeyes rank second in the Big Ten in scoring defense and are fourth in rushing, passing and total defense. They rank first in time of possession (32:53) and fourth in rushing offense. Individually, tailback Jonathan Wells leads the team in rushing (96 yards a game) and scoring (36 points). Wells is the Big Ten’s fifth leading rusher and also ranks among the Big Ten leaders in scoring and all-purpose yardage. In the punting department, junior Andy Groom is fourth with a 44.4 average. Sophomore Michael Jenkins leads the team in receiving with 16 catches for 320 yards. Fullback Jamar Martin is second with eight grabs for 67 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, All-America safety Mike Doss has 36 tackles, one more than linebacker Joe Cooper. Doss also is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (5/ -21) and sacks (3/ -17), has two blocked punts to his credit and has two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Recapping Last Week
After jumping off to a 17-0 lead, the Buckeyes dropped a 20-17 decision to the visiting Badgers, marking the third-consecutive year the visiting team had gone home with a win. The Buckeyes had a 189 to 112 edge in total offense at the half, but wound up on the short end of a 329 to 253 deficit in that department. Wisconsin tied the game at 17-all on a 42-yard field goal with 14:10 to play in the fourth quarter and then won it on a 33-yarder with 2:10 to play. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells led the OSU rushing attack with 66 yards and freshman Lydell Ross chipped in with 59, including his fourth touchdown of the season. Chris Vance and Michael Jenkins each had four receptions and Andy Groom was once again stellar in the punting department, averaging 46.3 yards on his three kicks. Safety Michael Doss and linebacker Courtland Bullard paced the defense with seven tackles each.
Tressel On Wisconsin
“We are very disappointed in the loss. It is especially tough when you have the lead like we did and then don’t finish the job. We made some mistakes and gave them (the Badgers) too many opportunities. To their credit, they made plays when they needed to. We have plenty of things we need to look at in order to get better,” the Ohio State coach said.
Buckeye Playmaker
All-America safety Michael Doss was credited with seven tackles against Wisconsin and now has a team-leading 36 stops. The Buckeye playmaker also has two blocked punts on the year, has scored the defense’s lone touchdown on a 30-yard fumble runback and is tied for the team lead in sacks and tackles-for-loss. The 5-11, 203-pound junior was a consensus All-Big Ten pick last year and also was named to a first-team berth on the Sporting News All-America team.
Bentley Making The Grade Week After Week
Senior center LeCharles Bentley continues to excel up front for the Buckeyes. Bentley, who graded out to a winning performance in each of the first five games, has been the Buckeyes’ Offensive Lineman of the Week two of the past three weeks and was the Offensive Player of the Game following the UCLA game. The 6-2, 300-pound Bentley, who is in his second full year as a starter, has drawn continuous praise from head coach Jim Tressel. “He is smart, he is tough and he is physical,” Tressel said. “And he just gets better every week.” Bentley graded out to 92 percent against Wisconsin.
Ross Extends TD Streak
Backup tailback Lydell Ross rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown against Wisconsin and now has 233 yards and four TDs on the year. The 17-year-old Ross, who has scored a touchdown in each of the last three games, made Ohio State history earlier this season by becoming the youngest Ohio State player ever to rush for 100 yards in a game. Ross, who turns 18 Dec. 14, rushed for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ win over Indiana Sept. 29. He is the first Ohio State freshman to top the century mark since Robert Smith in 1990. The only other Buckeye freshman to do so is two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, who accomplished the feat in 1972. “Ross gives us a great change of pace,” said OSU coach Jim Tressel. “He has a chance to be a very good football player.”
Buckeyes Player Notes
Junior cornerback Derek Ross picked off his second interception of the year Saturday, returning it 16 yards. Ross has two of the Buckeyes’ three picks to date … Fullback Jamar Martin has eight receptions on the year, seven more than he had all of last year. Martin has been used sparingly as a runner, but when he does get the call he averages 6.9 yards per carry … Freshman Maurice Hall recorded the Buckeyes’ longest kick return of the season against Wisconsin, returning the opening kickoff 34 yards to set up an Ohio State field goal – a career best 44-yard shot by redshirt freshman Josh Huston … Linebacker Fred Pagac Jr. started the Wisconsin game in place of injured middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm. It was Pagac’s first start since 1999, when he suffered a broken leg against Wisconsin. Pagac had four tackles Saturday … Sophomore offensive tackle Ivan Douglas has been given the OK to play and is in the two-deep this week at right tackle. Diagnosed in spring practice with a blood clot in his lung, the 6-6, 295-pound Douglas returned to practice last week.
Jenkins OSU’s Leading Receiver
Sophomore split end Michael Jenkins continues to lead the Buckeyes in receptions. The 6-4, 200-pound Jenkins had four receptions against Wisconsin and now has 16 on the year. Jenkins is averaging 64 yards per game and 20 yards per reception. In addition to Jenkins, nine other Buckeyes have at least one reception to their credit. Junior Chris Vance has the longest reception of the year – a 61-yard TD catch-and-run in the season opener against Akron. Vance also had four catches against Wisconsin, including two sensational grabs, and now has six receptions on the year. “Chris was slowed early when he missed some time after having four teeth pulled, but he is really coming on lately,” said OSU coach Jim Tressel.
Figures Don’t Always Tell The Whole Story
Junior Andy Groom ranks fourth in the Big Ten punting statistics this week with an average of 44.4 yards per punt on 18 punts. But Groom, a former walk-on who was converted to scholarship earlier this year, has dropped 10 punts inside the 20, time and again pinning opponents deep in their own territory.
Bellisari Eighth In Total Offense
With 618 yards this year, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari has 5,213 yards in career total offense at Ohio State. That total ranks him eighth on the all-time OSU list, 48 yards behind seventh-place Jim Karsatos (5,261 yards between 1983 and 1986). Bellisari also has thrown for 4,685 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 5,213 897 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 4,685 316-638 1998-01
Walter Streak Now at 42
Senior Tyson Walter, who sat out all of last year with a back injury, has returned to action this season and has started the first five games, giving the 6-5, 300-pound senior a string of 42-consecutive starts as the Buckeyes head into the game with San Diego State. The versatile Walter has started two games a left guard (Akron and Indiana) and the other three at left tackle this season. Assuming he starts the remaining six regular-season games, and possibly a bowl game, Walter will establish an 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 is out indefinitely. Prior to being hurt in fall camp, Carter was penciled in as a starter. He had six receptions last year. Junior middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm, who missed the Wisconsin game after spraining an ankle against Northwestern, is expected back this week.
OSU Freshmen in The Thick of Things
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. Ross is the Buckeyes’ second leading rusher with 233 yards and is also the second leading scorer with 24 points. Fox is the only freshman to start, getting the call at nickel against Northwestern and responding with six tackles. Additionally, offensive tackle Ryan Cook is on the two deep, but has not recorded any playing time thus far.
Ohio State’s Awards Candidates
The Buckeyes, the most decorated team in the 1990s in terms of major individual awards, always seem to have their share of all-star candidates and this year is no exception. On offense, center LeCharles Bentley is an All-America and Outland Trophy candidate. A veteran of 41 games and 25-consecutive starts, the 6-2, 300-pound senior is the wheel horse of the Buckeyes’ offensive front. He has played brilliantly through the first five games. On defense, tackle Mike Collins and safety Mike Doss are on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi and Thorpe awards, respectively. Both are among the best in the country at their positions. In the first five games, Doss already has two blocked punts and has returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Although fullbacks rarely make all-conference or All-America teams in this day and age, Jamar Martin is an exceptional football player and one of the keys to the Ohio State offense. Renowned for his fierce blocking, Martin is averaging 6.9 yards per carry and 8.4 yards per reception. Linebacker Joe Cooper (a third-team All-America by the Associated Press last year) is a candidate 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 41-consecutive games and is in his fourth year as a starter for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has had a Big Ten-best 18 NFFHF scholarship winners.
Six Walk-Ons Receive Scholarships
Six members of the Ohio State football team have been converted to scholarship this season. 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 was honored between the first and second quarters of the Wisconsin game and will be officially inducted in New York in December. Hicks won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award as a senior in 1973. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.
Buckeyes Three Shy of Big Ten Milestone
Following the Wisconsin game, Ohio State’s all-time Big Ten record now stands at 397-153-24. The Buckeyes need three more Big Ten wins to become the second team in league annals to reach the 400 mark.
Buckeyes Now At 728 All-Time Wins
One of the most successful programs in college football, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 728-288-53 in this, its 112th year of varsity competition. The Buckeyes are one of just seven Division 1A schools to top the 700 figure.
Decals and Flags Added to OSU Uniform
The Ohio State football team is wearing three 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. The team also is wearing an American flag on its jerseys. The latter was added prior to the Northwestern game.
Buckeyes Against Ranked Teams
Ohio State is 1-1 against teams in the Top 25 this year, losing 13-6 to still unbeaten UCLA (ranked 12th at the time) and defeating No. 14 Northwestern, 38-20.
A Look At The Aztecs
San Diego State opened the season with back-to-back losses to Arizona (23-10) and Arizona State (38-7), the latter coming on the road. After the Ohio State game was postponed Sept. 12, the Aztecs picked up their first win of the year at Colorado State (14-7) Sept. 22. They then lost a home game to Air Force (45-21) before defeating visiting Eastern Illinois (40-7) in their highest offensive output of the year. The 31-3 loss at UNLV leaves Ted Tollner’s team with a 1-2 record in the Mountain West Conference. Through six games, SDSU is averaging 325.5 yards a game and giving up 324.7. The Aztecs are rushing for 149.7 yards a game and giving up 151.7. In the passing department, they are throwing for 175.8 yards per outing and allowing 173. SDSU has been outscored 151 to 95. The Aztecs have allowed 20 sacks and have turned the ball over 14 times. They have six takeaways of their own. Running back Larry Ned has 817 yards and eight touchdowns and is averaging 136 yards per game. Quarterback Lon Sheriff has completed 51.8 percent of his passes and has thrown for 656 yards and 1 TD. Wide receiver J.R. Tolver has 33 receptions and both of San Diego State’s passing touchdowns. Defensive back Will Demps leads the defense with 58 tackles including seven TFL. In the game last week with UNLV, Adam Hall started at quarterback and completed 7-of-15 passes for 51 yards before Sheriff came in to throw for 70 yards. The Aztecs trailed 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but UNLV scored 21 points in the second period to conclude the scoring for both teams.
SDSU Coach Ted Tollner
Ted Tollner is in his eighth year at the helm of the Aztecs, where his record now stands at 42-44. Tollner, who also has coached at the University of Southern California, has a lifetime mark of 68-64 in 12 as he completes his 12th season. He is 1-0 against Ohio State, guiding USC to a 20-17 win in the 1985 Rose Bowl, a game in which current Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was an assistant for the Buckeyes.
Some School Ties
Current San Diego State Director of Athletics Rick Bay served in the same capacity at Ohio State between 1984 and 1987. Ohio State special teams coordinator Ken Conatser spent two seasons (1984-85) as the offensive line coach at San Diego State. Buckeye freshman tailback JaJa Riley is from Mission Bay High School in San Diego. He and special teams standout Jack Tucker (Cypress) are the only two players from California on the Ohio State roster.
Game 1: Akron
The Buckeyes opened the 2001 campaign Sept. 8 with a 28-14 win over Akron in front of a then-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.
Game 3: At Indiana
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 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 five 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.
Game 4: Northwestern
The Buckeyes ran their Big Ten record to 2-0 and chalked up their first win of the season over a ranked opponent, Oct. 6, downing visiting Northwestern by a final score of 38-20. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells got the Buckeyes off on the right foot, bolting 71 yards off left tackle on the second play from scrimmage to stake OSU to a 7-0 lead. Wells would go on to score two more touchdowns and rush for a career-high 179 yards on 22 carries. The 14th ranked Wildcats tied the game at 7-all on their first possession, but the Buckeyes took a 14-7 lead when Will Smith forced a fumble that junior All-America Mike Doss, scooped up and returned 30 yards for a score. OSU led 21-7 at the half on Wells’ 1-yard run. The Buckeyes put the game out of reach by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half and taking control 38-7. Northwestern, which entered the game averaging 490 yards a game, finished with just 306 yards (216 of that coming on the Wildcats last three possessions). The fast-striking Wildcats, who had been averaging nearly 90 plays a game, managed a season-low 79 against an aggressive, well-prepared Ohio State defense, which forced two turnovers and recorded 10 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. The Wildcats dangerous duo of quarterback Zak Kustok and running back Damien Anderson was held to a combined total of 221 yards. Wells got plenty of support in the running department from sophomore Sammy Maldonado and freshman Lydell Ross. Maldonado banged his way through and around the Wildcat defense for 60 yards on 13 carries. Ross added 33 yards on 11 attempts, including a dazzling 9-yard touchdown run at the start of the third quarter that gave OSU a 28-7 bulge. Ohio State finished with a season-high 287-yards rushing on 53 attempts. The 38 points also was a season high for the Buckeyes who downed the Wildcats for the 22nd-consecutive time.
Horvath’s No. 22 Retired
The jersey number of Ohio State’s first Heisman Trophy winner, the late Les Horvath, was officially retired at halftime of the Oct. 6 Northwestern game. His No. 22 will now hang in the north end of Ohio Stadium and will never again be worn by an Ohio State football player. Horvath, who died in 1995, won the Heisman in 1944, leading Ohio State to a 9-0 record and the Big Ten championship. His widow, Ruby Horvath, represented him at the halftime ceremony. Horvath is the fourth Ohio State football player to have his number retired, joining Archie Griffin (1999), Vic Janowicz (2000) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (2000). Eddie George’s No. 27 will be retired at halftime of the Nov. 10 Purdue game.
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 Tuesday following practice (about 6:15 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.
The Hall Of Fame Class Of 2001
Thirteen new members of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame and two Honorary Varsity “O” honorees will be inducted Friday and then recognized at halftime of the football game Saturday. The men’s class will be inducted at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center and the women’s class at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf. All 13 men and women will be available for interviews Friday at 5 p.m. in the atrium of the WHAC. The class this year includes football players Pepper Johnson, and Steve Tovar. Clark Kellogg also will be inducted, as will Katie Smith and Alice “Lefty” Hohlmayer, whose life helped inspire the movie “A League of Their Own.” Other inductees include Chuck Brinkman (baseball), Mike Finneran (diving), Bill McKenzie (hockey), Pete Perini (baseball, football), Jude Skove (wrestling), Cheryl Stacy (golf), Marc Waldie and Leisa Wissler (volleyball). Mike Dolan and Steve Snapp will each recieve an Honorary Varsity “O.”
Buckeyes Take To The Road Next Week
Ohio State plays the first of two-consecutive road games next week, traveling to State College, Pa., to take on Coach Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions. Game time in Beaver Stadium is TBA. The Buckeyes also are on the road the following week, playing at Minnesota.
Tickets Available For San Diego State
Approximately 1,500 tickets still remain for the San Diego State game. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jerome Schottenstein Center or by calling (614) 292-2624 or at 1-800-GO BUCKS.
