Ohio State vs. Michigan! – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2001
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Buckeyes Travel to Ann Arbor For Regular-Season Finale
Ohio State closes out its regular season Saturday at Michigan – the 98th meeting in the storied rivalry between the two Big Ten gridiron giants. The game, which once again will be televised nationally by ABC-TV, will get underway at 1:10 p.m. EST in sold out Michigan Stadium (107,501). After a 34-22 loss at the hands of visiting Illinois this past weekend, the Buckeyes are 6-4 on the year and 4-3 in the Big Ten. They are tied with Purdue (at Indiana this week) for third place in the league standings. Ohio State, already bowl eligible, would certainly enhance its bowl status with a victory this week over the 11th-ranked Wolverines. Michigan enters the game with an 8-2 record for all games and is tied with Illinois for the Big Ten lead at 6-1. The Wolverines, who are coming off a last second 20-17 win at Wisconsin Saturday, can clinch a BCS berth with a win over the Buckeyes. A loss this week could knock Michigan out of the Big Ten title picture, depending on the results of Thursday’s Northwestern at Illinois game.
The Buckeyes’ Holiday and Travel Plans
Ohio State will practice Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and again Thursday morning. The squad will then have Thursday off to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. The team will re-assemble Friday morning and bus to Ann Arbor in the early afternoon. After a brief walkthrough at Michigan Stadium, the team will check in at the Marriott Eagle Crest Resort in Ypsilanti. The squad will bus home following the game.
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 lineman Jim Lachey serves as the color analyst for the broadcast. Another ex-Buckeye, quarterback 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.
ABC Will Televise The Game Nationally
ABC will once again televise this game to a national audience. Terry Gannon and David Norrie (former UCLA quarterback) will call the play-by-play. This is Ohio State’s third appearance of the year on ABC and its seventh appearance nationally.
Ohio State Last Week
The Buckeyes fell out of Big Ten title contention with a 34-22 loss to Illinois. The visiting Illini jumped off to a 7-0 start on a blocked punt, but Ohio State came back to take a 10-7 lead at the end of the first period. Illinois scored a pair of touchdowns just before the half to take a 21-10 lead, but the Buckeyes, behind the running of senior tailback Jonathan Wells, battled back to build a 22-21 lead with one second left in the third quarter. Illinois, however, scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to put the game away. Wells turned in his best overall performance as a Buckeye, running for a personal-best 192 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Quarterbacks Scott McMullen (who made his first career start) and Craig Krenzel (who made his first appearance of the year) combined to throw for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns as replacements for suspended starter Steve Bellisari. Split end Michael Jenkins was on the receiving end of 10 of those tosses, good for 155 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown. Linebacker Joe Cooper had a game-high seven solos and 10 tackles.
Tressel on the Buckeyes
“That (Illinois) was a very tough loss. Give (Illinois quarterback) Kurt Kittner credit, he made some big plays. I thought our two young quarterbacks (Craig Krenzel and Scott McMullen) did some very good things and I was proud of their effort. The most disappointing aspect of the loss was that our seniors did not get to enjoy a win in their last game at home. We have another chance for them this week, but we know we face a very talented opponent. Our goal all along has been to get better each week and play our best football on the final week of the regular season. That is our challenge this week.”
Krenzel Gets The Starting Nod at Quarterback
Sophomore quarterback Craig Krenzel will make his first collegiate start Saturday in Ann Arbor. The 6-4, 215-pound native of Utica, Michigan, came off the bench against Illinois this past Saturday to complete 11-of-23 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Prior to Saturday’s game, Krenzel had completed 5-of-9 passes, all of those in 2000. He was redshirted as a true freshman in 1999. Krenzel entered Saturday’s game late in the first half as a replacement for Scott McMullen and completed two of his five passes for 48 yards. He replaced McMullen again on the second series of the second half and finished the game.
Wells Piling Up All-Conference Numbers
Senior tailback Jonathan Wells turned in his fourth-consecutive 100-yard rushing game Saturday, ripping through a good Illinois defense for a career-high 192 yards on 23 carries. Wells now has 1,128 yards and 12 touchdowns on 207 carries. He is just the 16th Ohio State back to top the 1,000-yard mark in a season. In his last four games, Wells has rolled up 588 yards and scored five touchdowns on 87 carries, an average of 6.7 yards per carry. His rushing total this year is currently the 17th best in Ohio State history. He is the Buckeyes’ first 1,000-yard runner since Michael Wiley (1,235 yards) in 1998. His 207 attempts are the most by an Ohio State back since Pepe Pearson (299 for 1,484 yards) in 1996. Wells is currently third in the Big Ten with an average of 112.8 yards per game rushing. He is 19th nationally. The 6-1, 230-pound senior now has 2,215 career rushing yards, a total that places him 13th in school annals. He has topped the 100-yard mark six times this year and eight times during his career. Ohio State is 6-2 when he tops the century figure.
Jenkins Adds to Reception and Yardage Totals
Split end Michael Jenkins had a season-high 10 receptions for 155 yards against Illinois last week, including his third touchdown of the year. The 6-4 sophomore, who is in his first year as a starter, leads the Buckeyes in receiving with 40 receptions and is averaging 20.5 yards per catch. Jenkins has had five receptions of 40 or more yards, including grabs of 66 and 68 yards at Penn State where his four receptions netted 172 yards. He also topped the 100-yard mark in the season opener against Akron, hauling in six passes for 106 yards. His 822 yards through the first 10 games is the most by an Ohio State receiver since David Boston had 1,435 in 1998. It is also the 13th best in Ohio State history.
Series Notes
As noted earlier, this is the 98th meeting between Ohio State and Michigan in a series that began in 1897 and has become regarded as arguably the best rivalry in college football. The two teams have met continuously since 1918 and have closed out the conference season against one another every year since 1935. Between 1969 and 1978, when Woody Hayes coached the Buckeyes and Bo Schembechler tutored the Wolverines, there was no more intense rivalry in all of sports. Michigan leads the series 56-35-6 and has a 29-15-4 edge in games played in Ann Arbor. The difference in the series is in the early years, with Michigan gaining a 19-3-2 edge in the first 23 meetings. Since that time, the series has been relatively even with Michigan holding a slight edge at 37-32-4. Michigan has a 10-2-1 lead in the last 13 games, including six-consecutive wins in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes last road victory in the series was a 23-20 triumph in 1987.
Last Year
Michigan prevailed 38-26 withstanding a furious Ohio State comeback that saw the Buckeyes overcome a 31-12 deficit and cut the Wolverines’ lead to 31-26 with 7:03 to play. The loss cost the Buckeyes a four-way share of the Big Ten title. After Ohio State had drawn to within five points, the Michigan defense stiffened and shut down the OSU running game on a fourth-and-one at the Buckeyes’ own 18-yard line. Michigan quarterback Drew Henson put the game out of reach by scoring on a 1-yard keeper with 1:18 to play. All-America safety Mike Doss led the Buckeyes with a career-high 16 tackles. Henson threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns.
Tressel on The Rivalry
“To my way of thinking this is one of the great contests in all of sports. As a child, I used to watch the game with my dad, so it has very special meaning. And I was an assistant here for three years on Earle Bruce’s staff, so I have an appreciation of what this game means. Both schools view this one as the ‘Big One,'” said the Ohio State coach.
About The Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are 4-2 at home and 2-2 on the road thus far in 2001. By recording their sixth triumph of the season two weeks ago, Ohio State is “bowl eligible” for the second consecutive-year and for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. A win Saturday would assure the Buckeyes of at least a tie for third in the final Big Ten standings and could very possibly still vault them into a New Year’s Day bowl game.
Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel
With a 6-4 mark in his first year as head coach at Ohio State, Jim Tressel now sports a lifetime record of 141-61-2. 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 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 Michigan.
Doss Named Thorpe Award Semi-Finalist
Ohio State All-America safety Michael Doss has been named as one of 12 semi-finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s best college defensive back. The list of 12 will be cut to three later this month and the winner will be announced at the College Football Awards Show in Orlando in December. The hard-hitting Doss leads the Buckeyes in tackles with 75 stops on the year. The 5-11, 203-pound junior also has two blocked punts, has scored a touchdown on a 30-yard fumble runback, leads the team in tackles-for-loss, is second in sacks and has an interception. 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 10 games, has been the Buckeyes’ Offensive Lineman of the Week on four occasions, including the past two 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 has graded out to 90 percent or better in eight of the 10 games.
“The Catch”
For years to come, when fans and pundits talk about the best catch ever in Ohio Stadium, Chris Vance’s spectacular 7-yard touchdown grab against Purdue two weeks ago will figure into the conversation. With the Buckeyes facing third-and-goal on the Purdue 7, quarterback Steve Bellisari launched a pass toward the 6-2 Vance in the right corner of the end zone. Most of the 104,189 fans on hand in the Horseshoe thought the ball was overthrown, but Vance somehow elevated to the ball and speared it with one hand. Then, maybe even more amazingly, the glue-fingered junior got a foot down in the back of the end zone. “I practice one-hand catches all the time,” said Vance. “I was just lucky enough to get this one.”
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel can’t remember ever seeing a better catch in Ohio Stadium, but he did see one that was very similar in the 1986 Citrus Bowl.
“Our quarterback (Jim Karsatos) was being chased down and threw the ball toward the sideline. I thought it was going out of bounds, but somehow Cris Carter went up and caught it and got a foot down. It was one of the best catches I have ever seen. Chris Vance’s catch was the same type of play,” said Tressel.
Vance had career highs in receptions (7) and yardage (138) against Purdue. It was the second straight 100-yard game for the first-year transfer from Fort Scott Community College, who had five receptions for 101 yards against Minnesota the previous week.
Both games came after Vance learned (Wednesday of Minnesota week) that his father had passed away.
“I think he would be proud of me, and I know he is looking down on me,” said Vance, who has 28 catches for 534 yards and a team-best four touchdowns on the year.
Ross Big Ten Interception Leader
Cornerback Derek Ross has seven interceptions on the year and leads the Big Ten with an average of 0.70 picks per game, a figure that ranks him fourth nationally. The 6-1 junior also leads the conference in interception return yardage with 194. Ross has interceptions in five of the Buckeyes’ 10 games, including two against San Diego State and two against Penn State. He scored the first touchdown of his college career at Penn State, returning his second pick of the day 45 yards to pay dirt. The Ohio State record for interceptions in a season is nine by Mike Sensibaugh in 1969
Groom Second in Big Ten Punting
Junior punter Andy Groom is averaging 46.1 yards per kick and is second in the Big Ten behind Purdue’s Travis Dorsch whose 50.4 average leads the nation. Groom, a former walk-on from Columbus who was converted to scholarship earlier this year, has dropped 14 punts inside the 20, time and again pinning opponents deep in their own territory. The Ohio State single-season record for best punting average (47.1) belongs to Tom Tupa and was set in 1984. Groom does not have enough kicks to qualify nationally.
Martin The Complete Package at Fullback
Fullback Jamar Martin is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 8.7 yards per reception on nine catches. The 6-1, 255-pound senior, who is best known for his devastating blocking, has carried the ball 16 times for 81 yards this year. He had eight carries for 6 yards and one reception all of last year.
Ross provides Solid Backup at Tailback
Freshman tailback Lydell Ross is the team’s second leading rusher (397 yards) and scorer (36 points on 6 TDs). The 17-year-old Ross made Ohio State history earlier this season by becoming the youngest Ohio State player ever to rush for 100 yards in a game, when he rambled for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over Indiana on Sept. 29. Ross, whose 18th birthday is Dec. 14, 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
Freshman Maurice Hall continues to lead the Buckeyes in return yardage with 447 on 21 attempts, an average of 21.3 yards per kick return. The Ohio State season-record for kick return yardage is 653 yards on 31 attempts, set by Ken-Yon Rambo in 1999. Hall had seven kick returns at Penn State, tying the Ohio State single-game record held by Vince Workman (at Wisconsin, 1987). Ohio State has 15 interceptions on the year, seven of those by junior cornerback Derek Ross. Only three Ohio State players have ever had more in a season. Mike Sensibaugh had nine in 1969 and eight in 1970. Craig Cassady had nine in 1975 and Neil Colzie had eight in 1974. And speaking of interceptions, free safety Donnie Nickey had his first theft of the year against Purdue, returning it 42 yards. It was his fourth career INT. He added No. 5 this past week against Illinois. Cornerback Richard McNutt and linebacker Robert Reynolds, both sophomores, made their first career starts against Purdue. Redshirt freshman Brandon “Bam” Childress, who had his first two kick returns of the year against Purdue, hauled in his first career reception against Illinois (good for 7 yards).
Walter Streak Now Stands at 47
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 nine games, giving the 6-5, 300-pound senior a string of 47-consecutive starts as the Buckeyes head into this week’s home finale against Illinois. The versatile Walter has started two games a left guard (Akron and Indiana) and the other eight at left tackle this season. Assuming he starts the remaining regular-season games, and possibly the bowl game, Walter will establish an Ohio State record for starts with 49. Walter has been the Buckeyes’ offensive lineman of the week on three occasions this year – Akron, UCLA and Wisconsin.
Bellisari Third in Career Total Offense
With 1,603 yards this year, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari has 6,166 yards in career total offense at Ohio State, a total that ranks him third on the all-time OSU list behind only Art Schlichter and Bobby Hoying. The 6-3 senior has thrown for 5,558 yards during his career and stands sixth 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. Steve Bellisari 6,166 1,019 atts. 1998-01 4. Greg Frey 6,098 988 atts. 1987-90 5. Joe Germaine 6,094 852 atts. 1996-98 6. Mike Tomczak 6,015 858 atts. 1981-83 7. Archie Griffin 5,589 924 atts. 1972-75 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. Steve Bellisari 5,558 365-724 1998-01 7. Jim Karsatos 5,089 359-629 1983-86
Buckeye Injury Report
Sophomore split end Drew Carter, who missed the first two games of the year with a foot injury, suffered a knee injury prior to the Indiana game. He underwent surgery following the latter and has subsequently been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Prior to being hurt in fall camp, Carter was penciled in as a starter. He had six receptions last year.
OSU Freshman Contributing
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 384 yards and also is the second leading scorer with 36 points. Fox was the first freshman to start, getting the call at nickel back against Northwestern and recording six tackles in his debut. Gamble started against Illinois The quicksilver Hall has been the Buckeyes top kick return specialist, averaging 21.3 yards per return on 21 attempts.
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.
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 are in the press box during the game, assisted by offensive graduate assistant Jim Bridge. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and running backs coach Tim Spencer are on the sidelines. Defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio, defensive backs mentor Mel Tucker and grad assistant Brandon Blaney are in the press box, while linebackers coach Mark Snyder, defensive line coach Jim Heacock and special teams coordinator Ken Conatser are 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 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.
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 One Victory Shy of Big Ten Milestone
Ohio State’s all-time Big Ten record stands at 399-155-24. The Buckeyes need one more Big Ten victory to become the second team in league annals to reach the 400 mark.
Buckeyes Member of Elite 700 Club
One of the most successful programs in college football, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 731-291-53 in this, its 112th year of varsity competition. The Buckeyes are one of just seven Division I-A schools to top the 700 figure.
Buckeyes Against Ranked Teams
Michigan will be the fifth nationally ranked team that Ohio State has faced this year. The Buckeyes are 2-2 thus far, with losses to UCLA (12th) and Illinois (12th) sandwiched around wins over Northwestern (14th) and Purdue (24th).
Scouting Michigan
By winning this Saturday, the Wolverines would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title and would also receive the automatic bid as the conference representative to a BCS bowl. Sophomore quarterback John Navarre pilots the Michigan offense. The 6-6, 242-pound signal caller has thrown for 1,989 yards and 15 touchdowns this year. He has been intercepted eight times. Senior Marquise Walker has a team-best 66 receptions for 883 yards and nine TDs. Running back B.J. Askew is Michigan’s top rusher with 785 yards and has nine scores on 173 carries. The Wolverines are averaging 28.3 points and 364.5 yards per game. They are passing for 214.9 yards per game and rushing for 149.6. Defensively, senior linebacker Larry Foote has a team-high 65 tackles, including 24 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. The Wolverines have 107 tackles-for-loss and have not allowed an opponent to score more than 26 points (Iowa and Michigan State). They are giving up an average of 16.6 points and 306.3 yards per game. Michigan has been particularly effective against the run, allowing an average of 83.5 yards per game. They are allowing 222.8 yards per game passing. They are dead even in the turnover department, with 17 takeaways and the same number of giveaways.
Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr
Now in his seventh year as the head coach at Michigan, Lloyd Carr has been a member of the Wolverines staff since 1980, when he was hired by Bo Schembechler to coach the Michigan secondary. Carr succeeded Gary Moeller as head coach in 1995 and has put together a string of seven consecutive winning seasons and an overall record of 66-18. His record against Ohio State is 5-1.
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.
Game 6: 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.
Game 7: at Penn State
Ohio State led 13-9 at the half and scored two quick touchdowns early in the third quarter to take a 27-9 lead. But Penn State scored 20-unanswered points to forge ahead 29-27 with 14:47 to play. Ohio State’s bid for the go-ahead field goal was blocked with 2:55 to play and the Nittany Lions were able to run out the clock and present Coach Joe Paterno with his record setting 324th career win. The game was filled with big plays, including passes of 66 and 68 yards from Steve Bellisari to Michael Jenkins and a 65-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Wells. Additionally, freshman Maurice Hall returned seven kicks for 167 yards. Defensively, the Buckeyes recorded a season-high 18 tackles-for-loss and had three interceptions. Two of the latter were by cornerback Derek Ross. All-America safety Mike Doss had a game-high 13 tackles and linebacker Joe Cooper was credited with three tackles-for-loss. The 18 tackles-for-loss were one shy of the school record of 19 set against Penn State in 1999.
Game 8: at Minnesota
Quarterback Steve Bellisari threw for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns and tailback Jonathan Wells rushed for 152 yards and two scores as the Buckeyes downed Minnesota 31-28. With the offensive line playing its best overall game of the year (no sacks allowed and gaping holes for the running backs), the Buckeyes amassed 468 yards in total offense, including 265 on the ground.
The Buckeyes led 14-13 at the half, then fell behind 20-14 before scoring 17-unanswered points, the last three of which came on a 35-yard field goal by freshman kicker Mike Nugent. After Minnesota cut the deficit to 31-28, Ohio State recovered an on-side kick and ran out the clock behind the ball-control running of Wells. Flanker Chris Vance had his best game as a Buckeye, hauling in five receptions for 101 yards. In addition to 203 yards passing, Bellisari rushed for 66 yards. Linebacker Joe Cooper led the Ohio State defense with eight tackles, one more than defensive linemen Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott and Will Smith. Anderson, who forced two fumbles and had a pair of sacks, was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week. All-America safety Mike Doss added an interception.
Game 9: Purdue
The Buckeyes had an overall solid performance against Purdue. Before a then Ohio Stadium record crowd of 104,189, Ohio State routed the visiting Boilermakers by a final count of 35-9. The win was the second straight for the Buckeyes, who a week earlier edged Minnesota, 31-28, in Minneapolis. The Buckeyes never trailed against the Boilers, jumping out to 12-0 lead on a 36-yard Mike Nugent field goal, a safety and then a 15-yard run by tailback Jonathan Wells. Purdue closed to within six at the half, at 12-6, but the Buckeyes scored 23-unanswered points (including a second safety) after intermission to salt the game away. Wells finished with 101 yards on 21 carries for his third-consecutive 100-yard game. Quarterback Steve Bellisari turned in his second straight impressive performance, completing 14-of-20 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns, in the process tying his career high for TD passes. And flanker Chris Vance was a one-man highlight show, catching seven passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Defensive end Kenny Peterson led a balanced effort with five tackles, including two tackles-for-loss. The Buckeyes also had three interceptions, including the seventh of the year by cornerback Derek Ross. The Buckeyes rolled up 429 yards in total offense and held Purdue to just 211, a season low by an opponent.
George Joins Select Circle
Former Ohio State All-America and 1995 Heisman Trophy recipient Eddie George had his number (27) retired at the Nov. 10 Purdue-Ohio State game. George is the fifth Ohio State football player to have his jersey number retired, joining Archie Griffin (45), Vic Janowicz (31), Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (40) and Les Horvath (22). Griffin was honored in 1999, Janowicz and Cassady in 2000, and Horvath earlier this year at the Northwestern game on Oct. 6. The numbers of all five players are on permanent display on the faade below “C” Deck in the north end of Ohio Stadium.
Media Information
All practices this week are closed and player interviews will be limited to Monday only. Coach Tressel will meet with the media following Thursday morning’s practice (approximately 11:30 a.m.). 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.
