Ohio State Travels to Take on Penn State – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2001
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BUCKEYES OPEN TWO-GAME ROAD SWING AT PENN STATE
Ohio State resumes Big Ten play Saturday, traveling to Penn State for a 12:10 p.m. EDT showdown with the Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium (106,537). The Buckeyes are 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Coach Jim Tressel’s squad is coming off a 27-12 victory over visiting San Diego State. The Buckeyes are 1-1 on the road this year, falling at UCLA (13-6) and downing Indiana (27-14) in the conference opener for both schools. Ohio State won its first two Big Ten games, including a 38-20 upset of Northwestern at home, but then dropped a 20-17 verdict to Wisconsin two weeks ago. The Buckeyes got back on the winning track against San Diego State thanks in large part to the play of the defense, which came up with five-consecutive turnovers in the second half to help erase a 12-6 halftime deficit. Penn State also is coming off a come-from-behind victory. The Nittany Lions rallied five times Saturday to defeat Northwestern, 38-35, in Evanston, scoring the winning touchdown with 22 seconds left in the game. The win, the first of the year for the Nittany Lions, enabled Coach Joe Paterno to tie Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most wins by a Division I coach with 323. Penn State is now 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in the Big Ten. Following Penn State, the Buckeyes are at Minnesota Nov. 3.
BUCKEYE TRAVEL PLANS
The team and official party will depart Port Columbus (Lane Aviation) at 4 p.m. Friday and will fly via private charter to State College, Pa. The team will stay at the Ramada Inn and will return to Columbus immediately after the game. The Buckeyes do not have a workout scheduled for Friday afternoon in State College.
WBNS RADIO FEEDS STATEWIDE NETWORK
Buckeye fans can hear all of Saturday’s 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 WILL TELEVISE THE GAME NATIONALLY
This will be the Buckeyes’ second appearance of the year on ESPN. The network also televised the Northwestern game Oct. 6. Steve Levy and Todd Christiensen will be in the broadcast booth for this week’s tilt and Dave Ryan will be on the sidelines.
OHIO STATE COACH JIM TRESSEL
With a 4-2 mark in his first year as head coach at Ohio State, Jim Tressel now sports a lifetime record of 139-59-2. 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 I-AA National Champion ears at Youngstown State, where he led the Penguins to four Division I-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 I-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 the following fall, 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 Columbus this past January as the 22nd head football coach in Ohio State history. This will be Tressel’s first meeting with Penn State.
A LOOK AT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State is 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes currently are tied with Purdue for third place in the conference race, behind league leader Michigan (3-0) and second place Illinois (3-1). The Buckeyes are averaging 344.2 yards – 183 rushing and 161.2 passing – and 23.8 points per game. Defensively, they are giving up 310.3 yards (186.2 passing and 124.1 rushing) and 15.5 points per contest. The Buckeyes have rushed for 15 touchdowns and thrown for two. Their first six opponents have rushed for five and thrown for the same number. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in time of possession (32:20) and are second in turnover margin (1.17 per game), net punting (39.1) and scoring defense (15.5). In the last four games, Ohio State is 14-of-15 in the red zone, including a 3-for-4 performance against San Diego State in which the Buckeyes scored three rushing touchdowns and missed a field goal attempt.
RECAPPING SAN DIEGO STATE
Ohio State rallied from its 12-6 halftime deficit by forcing five turnovers in a span of 12:44. Linebacker Joe Cooper started things off with an interception on the Aztecs second possession of the third quarter. That opened the floodgates for the Buckeyes who then came up with a fumble recovery and three more interceptions on the Aztecs next four possessions. With the defense providing the momentum, the offense responded with three touchdowns, including a dazzling 51-yard gallop by freshman tailback Lydell Ross that capped off the scoring. It was the second TD of the day for Ross, who scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter. Quarterback Steve Bellisari and starting tailback Jonathan Wells accounted for the other two second-half touchdowns, Bellisari darting into the corner of the end zone from 4-yards out when his receivers were covered, and Wells bulling his way in from the 1. Bellisari completed 15-of-28 passes for 198 yards, while Wells and Ross each finished with 60 yards rushing. Flanker Chris Vance was on the receiving end of five Bellisari passes and tight end Darnell Sanders had a season-high four. Strong safety Mike Doss led the defense with 12 tackles including a tackle-for-loss. Defensive end Darrion Scott was next in line with seven stops, followed by Cooper and Donnie Nickey with six each. Linebacker Robert Reynolds had a sack, forced a fumble and picked off his first interception of the year. Cornerback Derek Ross had two interceptions and blocked a PAT attempt.
TRESSEL ON SAN DIEGO STATE
“We needed to play this week and put the Wisconsin game behind us. I wasn’t pleased with our play in the first half, but when we play like we did the second half, we can be a good football team. I thought we took a little bit of a step forward today, but I don’t think there is any misconception in the locker room that all of a sudden we are wonderful,” the Ohio State coach said.
BUCKEYES WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
With five more takeaways against San Diego State (four interceptions and a fumble recovery), Ohio State is now at a +7 in the all-important turnover department. The Buckeye defense has picked off seven interceptions and recovered eight fumbles. The offense has lost the ball eight times – six on interceptions and two on fumbles.
WELLS LEADS OSU GROUND GAME
Tailback Jonathan Wells continues to pace the Ohio State rushing attack. Wells carried the ball 17 times for 60 yards and a touchdown against San Diego State, giving him 540 yards and seven TDs on the year. Both totals lead the team. The 6-1, 230-pound senior had 598 yards and six touchdowns all of last year. His career total is 1,627 yards, leaving him 373 yards shy of the 2,000 mark. Should he top that figure, he would become the 18th Ohio State running back to do so.
MARTIN CARRYING ON THE TRADITION
Fullback Jamar Martin carried the ball a season-high five times against San Diego State, powering his way for 23 yards. On the season, the 6-0, 260-pound senior is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, tops among the running backs who are in the regular rotation. He also is averaging 8.4 yards per reception. Martin has carried the ball 12 times this year. He had eight carries and one reception all of last year. Over the years, Ohio State has been known for its stellar fullback play. Martin certainly fits into that mold.
THE BUCKEYES AND NITTANY LIONS
This will be just the 17th meeting between the two schools, but the ninth-consecutive since 1993. The Nittany Lions lead the series, 9-7, including a 3-2 edge in State College. But the Buckeyes are 5-3 since Penn State began Big Ten play in 1993. Ohio State’s last win in State College came in 1995 (28-25). Penn State has won the last two meetings in Beaver Stadium (31-27 in 1997 and 23-10 in 1999). Ohio State won last year in Columbus, 45-6, jumping out to a 17-0 lead at the half and then scoring 21 unanswered points in the third quarter after Penn State had cut the deficit to 17-6.
DOSS PLAYING LIKE THORPE AWARD CANDIDATE
All-America safety Michael Doss had 12 more tackles against San Diego State and continues to pace the Buckeyes in that department with 48 stops on the year. Doss brought the Ohio Stadium crowd of 102,432 to its feet Saturday with his jarring third quarter hit on San Diego State running back Larry Ned. Doss had led the Buckeyes in tackles each of the last three games and has 32 total tackles in that span. The 5-11, 203-pound junior also has two blocked punts on the year, has scored the defense’s lone touchdown on a 30-yard fumble runback and leads the team in tackles-for-loss with six. Doss 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 six 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 91 percent against San Diego State, the fifth-consecutive game in which he has topped the 90th percentile.
BOTH ROSS’S EXTEND STREAKS
Tailback Lydell Ross and cornerback Derek Ross (no relation) each have streaks going. Lydell, a 6-0, 210-pound freshman from Tampa, Fla., has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the Buckeyes last four games. He scored twice against San Diego State, giving him six TDs on the year, all in the last four games. Derek, a 6-1, 197-pound junior from Rock Hill, S.C., has an interception in three-consecutive games. He picked off two against San Diego State, giving him a team-best four on the year. The team has seven.
MORE ON LYDELL ROSS
Freshman tailback Lydell Ross rushed for 60 yards and a pair of touchdowns against San Diego State and now has 293 yards and six TDs on the year. The 17-year-old Ross, who has scored a touchdown in each of the last four 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, whose birthday is 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.
BUCKEYES PLAYER NOTES
Junior linebacker Fred Pagac has started the past two games in place of injured regular Matt Wilhelm. Pagac had four tackles against Wisconsin and five against San Diego State. He also recovered a fumble in the latter game … Tight end Darnell Sanders had four receptions for 39 yards against San Diego State. That is his best game of the year, but not of his career. He had five receptions for 47 yards against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl … Sophomore offensive tackle Ivan Douglas has been given the OK to play and is in the two-deep for the second straight week at right tackle. The 6-6, 295-pound Douglas was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung last April and sat out of spring practice and fall camp. He returned to practice prior to the Wisconsin game … Freshman Chris Gamble came within a shoestring of scoring his first collegiate touchdown against San Diego State. Gamble, a wide receiver by trade who also dabbles in returning punts, hauled in a San Diego State punt on his own 29 early in the fourth quarter and returned it 36 yards to the SDS 35 before being tripped up by one of the two remaining defenders. Even though he failed to score, it was the longest punt return of the year by the Buckeyes.
THE SUNSHINE GUYS
Sophomore split end Michael Jenkins (Tampa, Fla.) continues to lead the Buckeyes in receptions. The 6-4, 200-pound Jenkins had three receptions against San Diego State and now has 19 on the year. Jenkins is averaging 60.2 yards per game and 19 yards per reception. In addition to Jenkins, nine other Buckeyes have at least one reception to their credit. Junior Chris Vance (Fort Myers, Fla.) has the longest reception of the year – a 61-yard TD catch-and-run in the season opener against Akron. The glue-fingered Vance had a season-high five receptions against San Diego State and is averaging 20.6 yards per catch, tops on the team.
GROOM MOVES UP
Junior Andy Groom has jumped up two spots to second in this week’s Big Ten punting derby with an average of 45.6, fifth nationally, on 22 kicks. The former walk-on from Columbus, who was converted to scholarship earlier this year, has dropped 11 punts inside the 20, time and again pinning opponents deep in their own territory.
BELLISARI MOVES PAST KARSATOS IN TOTAL OFFENSE
With 838 yards this year, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari has 5,403 yards in career total offense at Ohio State, a total ranks him seventh on the all-time OSU list, 186 yards behind sixth-place Archie Griffin (5,589 yards between 1972-75). Bellisari has thrown for 4,883 yards during his career and also stands seventh in that category.
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. Steve Bellisari 5,403 933 atts. 1998-01 8. Jim Karsatos 5,261 759 atts. 1983-86
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 4,883 331-666 1998-01
WALTER STREAK NOW STANDS AT 43
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 six games, giving the 6-5, 300-pound senior a string of 43-consecutive starts as the Buckeyes head into this week’s game at Penn State. The versatile Walter has started two games a left guard (Akron and Indiana) and the other four at left tackle this season. Assuming he starts the remaining 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, did see limited action against San Diego State.
OSU FRESHMEN IN THE THICK OF THINGS
Seven true freshmen have seen action to date for OSU: running backs Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, split end Chris Gamble, flanker Angelo Chattams, defensive end Simon Fraser, safety Dustin Fox and kicker Mike Nugent. Ross is the Buckeyes’ second leading rusher with 293 yards and also is the second leading scorer with 36 points. Fox is the only freshman to start, getting the call at nickel against Northwestern and recording six tackles.
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.
HARTSOCK NOMINATED FOR ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
Sophomore tight end Ben Hartsock has been nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America team. Hartsock has a 3.65 grade-point average in biology. In order to be eligible for the team, which is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, a student-athlete must have a GPA of 3.2 or better and be a starter or significant player. Hartsock, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, is the Buckeyes’ No. 2 tight end and has started two games this year. Since 1952, Ohio State has had 30 players selected to the first team, including cornerback Ahmed Plummer in 1999. Hartsock was the Buckeyes’ offensive lineman of the week against San Diego State.
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 43-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 feted between the first and second quarters of the Oct. 13 Wisconsin game and will be officially inducted this December in New York. 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, coming within an eyelash of one of the most remarkable hat tricks in college football history.
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 729 ALL-TIME WINS
One of the most successful programs in college football, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 729-288-53 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.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions dropped their first four games by a combined score of 95-31, including losses to Miami of Florida (33-7), Wisconsin (18-6) and Michigan (20-0), all of which were ranked at the time. Their other loss was a 24-18 setback at Iowa. But PSU got back on track last week, outscoring Northwestern, 38-35, in Evanston. Freshman quarterback Zack Mills came off the bench in place of injured Matt Seneca with 1:39 to play and engineered the winning score, hitting Eric McCoo on a 4-yard strike with 22 seconds to play. Seneca was having a career day before being hurt, completing 20-of-39 passes for 234 yards. Mills wound up 5-of-8 for 54 yards. The Nittany Lions rolled up 501 yards in total offense. Northwestern had 527 in a losing cause. McCoo, who had 43 yards against the Wildcats, has 154 on the year and leads the team in rushing. He has one of their three rushing touchdowns. Seneca has the other two. Mills has thrown for 700 yards and three touchdowns this year. Seneca has 342 yards and a pair of TD tosses. Bryant Johnson leads the team in receptions with 24 and two TDs. John Gilmore has 14 receptions and McCoo has been on the receiving end of two TD passes. Defensively, Shamar Finney (43), Shawn Mayer (42), Bryan Scott (39) and Yaacov Yisrael (36) lead the team in tackles. Finney has seven tackles-for-loss, two sacks and one of the team’s two interceptions. As a team, Penn State is averaging 283.6 yards per game (75.2 rushing) and giving up 460.4 (248 passing and 211 rushing). The Nittany Lions have turned the ball over nine times and have six takeaways.
PENN STATE COACH JOE PATERNO
Coaching legend Joe Paterno is now in his 36th year at the helm of the Nittany Lions. With the win Saturday, Paterno tied Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most career victories by a Division IA coach with 323. Paterno’s all-time record now stands at 323-94-1. He is 5-7 in 12 previous meeting with Ohio State, including a 3-2 mark in State College.
TRESSEL ON COACH PATERNO AND PENN STATE
“I have tremendous respect for Coach Paterno and the Penn State program. I interviewed for a graduate assistant’s position with Penn State in 1974 before taking the job at Akron. I have stayed in touch with Coach Paterno in the years since and have made a number of trips to Penn State to pick his brain. He and my dad (the late Lee Tressel) were both national coaches of the year in 1978 and I still have a picture of the two of them together.
“As I look at their team this year, the thing that strikes me is their schedule. They have played some very good teams. I think last week shows what they are capable of doing. This is going to be a very tough game for us,” Tressel said.
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.
GAME 5: WISCONSIN
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but couldn’t hold on, dropping a 20-17 decision to the visiting Badgers. Ohio State played nearly flawless football the first 30 minutes, scoring on its first three possessions. But Wisconsin got on the board with 46 seconds to play in the first half following a bad punt snap that gave the Badgers the ball at the Ohio State 23. From there, it took Wisconsin just one play to score and snatch away the momentum from their hosts. The Badgers scored a touchdown and two field goals after halftime for the win. With the score tied at 17, the Buckeyes missed a 48-yard field goal try with 5:04 to play. On its next possession, Wisconsin converted from 33 yards out for the game winner. 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 the yardage department. Quarterback Steve Bellisari and freshman tailback Lydell Ross each rushed for touchdowns. Jonathan Wells rushed for a team-high 66 yards and Chris Vance had four receptions, including two spectacular grabs. Safety Mike Doss and linebacker Courtland Bullard each had six tackles. Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis finished with 103 yards on 26 carries, 23 of those yards coming on the momentum shifting TD run just before the half. The victory by the Badgers marked the third straight win by the visiting team.
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, which now hangs in the north end of Ohio Stadium, 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. 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 following practice later that afternoon (about 6:15 p.m.). Tuesday practices are open to the media, but photographers are permitted to film only the first four periods. Coach Tressel and two designated assistants also are available following Thursday practices. A reminder 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.
BUCKEYES STAY ON THE ROAD NEXT WEEK
Ohio State is at Minnesota next week (Nov. 3). The game will kickoff at 7:45 p.m. EST and will be televised by ESPN.
