Ohio State Accepts an Invitation to the 2002 Outback Bowl – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 26, 2001
%^$
%^$
%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University has accepted an invitation to play in the 2002 Outback Bowl New Year’s Day in Tampa, Fla.%^$
%^$”We are very excited to have the opportunity to bring Ohio State back to Tampa,” said Outback Bowl Team Selection Chair Chuck Johnson. “We know the Buckeye fans are excited about the way the team finished the season and the direction Coach Tressel is taking the team, and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Tampa Bay area.”%^$
%^$”We are excited,” Andy Geiger, OSU director of athletics said. ” It’s a wonderful bowl and we were extremely well treated last year and look forward to going back. We know we will play a quality opponent and it’s great to be playing on January 1.”%^$
%^$”We’re excited about the opportunity to play in such a prestigious bowl game,” added Jim Tressel. “Our players have worked hard this year to overcome significant adversity and put themselves in position for this wonderful opportunity. I’m particularly pleased that our seniors will have the chance to close out their careers in such a great bowl game and in such a marvelous setting as Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.”%^$
%^$The 2002 Outback Bowl kicks-off the New Year’s Day bowl lineup and will be telecast internationally on ESPN at 11 a.m. Tickets to the Outback Bowl are $50 each and are available at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida, via phone at (813) 287-8844 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Information on the Outback Bowl game, bowl events, area hotels and the Tampa Bay area can be found on the bowl’s web site at www.outbackbowl.com.%^$
%^$
%^$
%^$OUTBACK BOWL 2002
%^$OHIO STATE NOTES
%^$BUCKEYES IN 2001: The Buckeyes finished the regular season with a 7-4 record and ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. OSU leads the Big Ten Conference in interceptions and time of possession and is ranked second in six other statistical categories including scoring defense, pass defense, turnover margin, pass defense efficiency, passing touchdowns allowed and punting. Ohio State averages 190 yards per game on the ground.%^$
%^$WELCOME BACK: This will be the Buckeyes fourth appearance in this bowl, the most of any team in the bowls 16 year history, and the first time a team has returned in consecutive years. Ohio State is 0-3 in Tampa dropping last year’s game 24-7 to South Carolina and losing to Syracuse 24-17 in the 1992 game and Auburn 31-14 in the 1990 bowl.%^$
%^$TRADITION: This is the 112th year of football at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have compiled a record of 732-291-53 and have notched six National Championships, 28 Big Ten Championships and 33 bowl appearances. Over the years OSU has produced six Heisman Trophy winners, 154 All-Americans and placed 17 players and seven coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.%^$
%^$BUCKEYES IN THE BOWLS: This is the 33rd bowl appearance for the Buckeyes and the 12th since 1989. OSU is 14-18 in bowls and played in their first postseason game in 1920.%^$
%^$FEATURE PLAYERS: Ohio State’s offense centers around it’s ground attack led by tailback Jonathan Wells who notched 1,257 yards on 232 carries and 15 touchdowns. Wells finished second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in rushing yards. Freshman tailback Lydell Ross contributed with 406 yards on 119 carries and added 6 touchdowns. The Buckeyes favorite receiver targets are split end Michael Jenkins who caught 41 passes for 836 yards and three touchdowns along with flanker Chris Vance (29 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns) and tight end Darnell Sanders (13 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. ).%^$
%^$The Buckeye defense is very impressive leading the conference in interceptions and ranking second in five other defensive categories. All American safety Mike Doss leads OSU with 77 tackles and has nine tackles -for-loss, two sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown). Linebacker Joe Cooper registered 74 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and one INT, linebacker Matt Wilhelm has six TFLs as part of 59 tackles and one sack, and defensive tackle Tim Anderson has nine TFLs and three sacks. Cornerback Derek Ross leads the Big Ten and is tied for second nationally with seven interceptions.%^$
%^$THE COACH: Head Coach Jim Tressel is in his first year at the helm of the Buckeyes. He returned to Ohio State after 15 successful years at Youngstown State where he led his teams to four Division 1-AA National Championships and was named National Coach of the Year four times. His teams had 10 appearances in the playoffs and a playoff record of 23-6. Tressel was an assistant with the Buckeyes from 1983-85 when he left for the Youngstown State job.%^$
%^$WELCOME HOME BOYS: A total of 11Buckeyes are from the Sunshine State and two are from Tampa. Leading receiver Michael Jenkins went to Leto High School and the team’s second leading rusher, freshman RB Lydell Ross attended Gaither High School. The team’s second leading receiver, Chris Vance is from Fort Myers.%^$
