Buckeyes Play Host to Aztecs Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 10, 2001
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Buckeyes, Aztecs in First Meeting
No. 21 Ohio State (1-0) hosts San Diego State (0-2) Saturday in Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is at 12:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Ohio State is coming off a 28-14 opening-game win over Akron. San Diego State dropped a 38-7 decision at Arizona State in its most recent outing. This will be the first meeting between the Buckeyes and Aztecs. The three-game series between the two schools continues next year in San Diego and concludes back in Columbus in 2005. This is Hall of Fame weekend at Ohio State. The newest members of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame will be inducted Friday night and will be introduced to the Ohio Stadium crowd at halftime of the game Saturday.
Buckeyes In National Televicion Debut
The ESPN game Saturday with San Diego State will be the Buckeyes’ first appearance of the year on national television. The Buckeyes also have national TV games with UCLA (Sept. 22) Northwestern (Oct. 6) and at Michigan (Nov. 24). Steve Levy, Todd Christensen and Dave Ryan will handle the play-by-play, analysis and sideline duties for ESPN on Saturday. WBNS Radio Feeds Statewide Network
WBNS Radio (1460 AM and 97.1 FM) is the flagship station for the 79-station Ohio State radio network. Network programming begins an hour before kickoff. Paul Keels calls the play-by-play, with former Buckeye standouts Jim Lachey and Jim Karsatos providing the analysis and sideline commentary, respectively.
Tickets Still Available
A limited number of tickets for the San Diego State game remain on sale. Tickets can be purchased for $45.50 each at the Ohio State ticket office at the Jerome Schottenstein Center or by phone at (614) 292-2624 or 1800-GO-BUCKS. There is a limit of four tickets per order.
Ohio State Downs Akron, 28-14, In Season Opener
The Buckeyes opened the 2001 campaign Saturday with a 28-14 win over Akron in front of an Ohio Stadium record crowd of 102,602. The game marked the debut of new Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and the unveiling of refurbished Ohio Stadium.
“I saw a lot of things I liked out there,” Tressel said. “We played hard, we competed, we played with class and we played through our fatigue. We made some mistakes, but I didn’t expect us to be perfect. We need to get to work now and get better. I tend to believe that a team does make the most improvement between the first and second games.”
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 9.5 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.
Buckeyes Move Up In The Polls
Ohio State occupies the No. 21 spot in both of the polls. That’s up two notches in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll and three spots in the Associated Press ranking.
Opening Day Success
The victory over Akron stretched the Buckeyes’ string of consecutive wins in home openers to 23 and gave them an all-time opening day slate of 96-12-4. The capacity crowd of 102,602 shattered the old Ohio Stadium single-game record of 98,568 set last year against Michigan. The Buckeyes, who are now in their 112th year of football have an all-time record of 726-287-53.
Big Ten Tabs Bellisari
Ohio State senior quarterback Steve Bellisari was named as this week’s Big Ten co-offensive player of the week. Bellisari completed 15-of-24 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Akron.
“I thought Steve had a pretty good game,” head coach Jim Tressel said. “He was in command of the huddle and he was in control of the offense. I thought his decision making was good and that is very important.”
Bellisari shared Big Ten honors with Iowa QB Kyle McCann, who threw four TD passes in a win over Miami (Ohio).
Tressel Gets His First Win As A Buckeye
Following the win over Akron many of the Ohio State coaches and players made it a special point to congratulate Jim Tressel on his first win as the Buckeyes’ head coach. “It was a very exciting day,” Tressel said. “The atmosphere out on the field was electrifying. There can’t be a better place to coach, or be, on a Saturday afternoon.”
With the victory, Tressel now has a lifetime record of 136-57-2. The 22nd head football coach in Ohio State history, the 48-year-old Tressel was named to his present position Jan. 18. Prior to coming to Ohio State, he spent 15 successful years at Youngstown State, guiding the Penguins to four National Championships and 10 appearances in the I-AA playoffs. He was National Coach of the Year in 1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97.
Born in Mentor, Ohio, Tressel grew up in Berea, Ohio, where his father, the late Lee Tressel, was the head football coach at Baldwin Wallace College and a legendary figure in Ohio college football circles.
The younger Tressel played for his father at B-W, winning all-conference honors at quarterback as a senior. After graduating cum laude in 1975, he embarked upon a coaching career that took him to Akron, 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 assistant at Ohio State, serving as quarterbacks and receivers coach the first year and taking on the added responsibility of the running backs his last two years. During that three-year stay, 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 at OSU include Cris Carter, Mike Tomczak and Keith Byars.
Tressel left Ohio State following the 1985 season to become the head coach at Youngstown State. He remained there until returning to Ohio State.
Bellisari Inches Closer
With 248 total yards this past Saturday, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari now has 4,718 yards in career total offense at Ohio State. That total ranks him eighth on the all-time OSU list. He needs 544 yards to move into seventh place ahead of Jim Karsatos (5,261 yards 1983-86). Bellisari also has thrown for 4,205 yards during his career. He stands seventh in Ohio State annals in that department and needs 885 yards to go around Karsatos (5,089).
Ohio State Career Total Offense Leaders 1.Art Schlichter 8,850 1,464 atts. 1978-81 2.Bobby Hoying 7,152 1,026 atts. 1992-95 3.Greg Frey 6,098 988 atts. 1987-90 4.Joe Germaine 6,094 852 atts. 1996-98 5.Mike Tomczak 6,015 858 atts. 1981-83 6.Archie Griffin 5,589 924 atts. 1972-75 7.Jim Karsatos 5,261 759 atts. 1983-86 8.Steve Bellisari 4,716 781 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 4,205 282-563 1998-01
Jenkins Had His Hands Full
Sophomore wide receiver Michael Jenkins made the most of his first start Saturday, hauling in six receptions for 106 yards. Jenkins, a second-year sophomore from Leto High School in Tampa, Fla., caught three passes in the first half for 64 yards, including a 25-yard grab that was his longest of the day. He added three more after intermission.
“Michael has had a great fall for us,” Jim Tressel said. “He is ‘sneaky’ fast.”
Martin Also On The Receiving End
Heading into the season Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said he wanted to get fullback Jamar Martin more involved in the passing game.
“If we can get him the ball in the flat, he is a load to bring down,” Tressel said of the 255-pound senior.
Martin, who had just one reception all of last year, had three catches against Akron, including a 10-yard TD catch in the first quarter that put Ohio State up 14-0. He later hauled in a 12-yarder.
Wells Tops The Century Mark
With 119 yards on 24 carries against Akron, senior tailback Jonathan Wells turned in the third 100-yard game of his collegiate career. The 6-1, 230-pounder topped the century mark twice last year, gaining 113 yards on 17 carries in a 27-16 win over Miami (Ohio) and plowing his way for 131 yards on 27 carries (both career highs) in a 24-21 victory at Illinois. Wells also scored a pair of touchdowns against Akron, the first on a 14-yard burst up the middle that gave the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead, and the second on a 1-yard dive after Ohio State recovered a fumbled punt on the Akron 1.
Cooper Leads Defense
Senior linebacker Joe Cooper had a career-high nine solo tackles in the win over Akron. Cooper also recorded an assist and finished the day with 9.5 total tackles to lead the team. His personal high in total tackles is 10 – against Toledo in 1998 and at Michigan last year. Cooper now has 96 career solo tackles.
Walter Rides Again
Senior offensive tackle Tyson Walter, who sat out all of last year with a back injury, did start the Akron game, although at left guard instead of left tackle. The switch was made necessary when starting left guard Alex Stepanovich was not able to start because of a sprained ankle. With Stepanovich out, sophomore Adrien Clarke moved in at tackle and Walter slid over to guard for his 38th-consecutive start as a Buckeye.
Carter Still Mending
Sophomore split end Drew Carter is expected to miss his second-consecutive game because of an ankle sprain suffered in fall camp.
OSU Freshmen Get Their Feet Wet
A number of true freshmen had their first taste of college football Saturday. Included in that group were running backs Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, split end Chris Gamble, defensive back Dustin Fox, defensive end Simon Fraser and kicker Mike Nugent.
Ross netted 16 yards on four carries, while Hall had 30 on three, including a 28-yard burst late in the game that was the longest run of the day by a Buckeye back.
Gamble chipped in with an 11-yard reception, hooking up with Steve Bellisari on a third-and-six on the Buckeyes’ initial possession of the second quarter.
Fox, the No. 2 strong safety, was credited with an assisted tackle, while Fraser recorded his first tackle-for-loss. Nugent booted a pair of extra points and shared the kickoff duties with Josh Huston.
Bond, Vance Lead Special Teams
The Buckeye coaching staff has been stressing the importance of special teams play since the beginning of spring practice. Jason Bond, a sophomore from Columbus, apparently took those words to heart Saturday, recovering a fumble on the Akron 1-yard line that led to Ohio State’s third touchdown. The Buckeyes also got a sure-handed performance from Chris Vance, whose four punt returns netted 52 yards. Vance, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College who was playing in his first game at Ohio State, also scored a touchdown, racing 61-yards with a deflected pass in the third quarter.
Ohio State’s All-America Candidates
The Buckeyes, the most decorated team in the 1990s in terms of major individual awards, always seem to have their share of All-America candidates and this year is no exception. On offense, center LeCharles Bentley is an All-America and Outland Trophy candidate. A veteran of 37 games and 20 consecutive starts, the 6-2, 300-pound senior will be the hub of the Buckeyes’ offensive front. Additionally, left tackle Tyson Walter was headed for stardom last year until being sidelined with an injury. When healthy, Walter is a very good football player. On defense, tackle Mike Collins and safety Mike Doss are on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi and Thorpe awards, respectively. Both are coming off exceptional years and are among the best in the country at their positions. Although fullbacks rarely make All-America teams in this day and age, Jamar Martin is an exceptional football player and team leader. And linebackers Joe Cooper (a third-team All-America by the Associated Press last year) and Matt Wilhelm are both capable of playing their way into contention for the Butkus Award.
OSU-SDSU Connections
Ken Conatser, Ohio State special teams coordinator, spent two seasons (1984-85) at San Diego State as the offensive line coach for the Aztecs. He then moved on to Youngstown State, where he spent the next 15 years before becoming a Buckeye when Jim Tressel took over the Ohio State program in January. Rick Bay, executive director of athletics and special assistant to the president at San Diego State, served as athletics director at Ohio State from 1984-88. Bay has been with the Aztecs since 1995. He began as athletics director but was promoted to his current position in January of 2000.
Aztecs Fall At Arizona State
San Diego State fell to 0-2 over the weekend, dropping a 38-7 decision to host Arizona State Saturday. It was the second consecutive loss to a Pac-10 team for Coach Ted Tollner’s Aztecs, who dropped a 23-10 decision to visiting Arizona in their season opener Aug. 30. San Diego State’s lone tally Saturday came on a 10-yard run by Garric Simmons with 2:51 left in the game.
Tollner Leads Aztecs Into Columbus
Ted Tollner is in his eighth year as the head coach at San Diego State. His record with the Aztecs now stands at 40-42, giving him a lifetime record of 66-62-1, including four seasons as head coach at the University of Southern California. At SDSU, Tollner took over a program that had enjoyed just four winning seasons in the previous 11 years. In the succeeding seven years, the Aztecs recorded three such seasons and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl in 1998. Tollner is 1-0 against Ohio State, guiding USC to a 20-17 decision over the Buckeyes in the 1985 Rose Bowl.
SDSU Return 20 Starters From 2000
The Aztecs return 20 starters (10 each on offense and defense) from last year. That list includes quarterback Lon Sheriff, who threw for 2,163 yards last year, and receiver J.R. Tolver, who had 62 receptions in 2000. Through the first two games, Sheriff has completed 16 of 37 passes for 145 yards (no touchdowns or interceptions). Gray McNeill leads the team in receptions with six, one more than Tolver. In the rushing department, Larry Ned has 131 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries. The Aztecs are averaging 131 yards per game passing and 64.5 on the ground. Defensively, they are giving up 328 yards per game, with the bulk of that (223.5) coming through the air. Safety Will Demps is the early season tackle leader with 20 stops to date.
Two Californians on OSU Roster
The Ohio State football team features players from 14 different states. Fullback Jack Tucker (Cypress, Calif.) and tailback JaJa Riley (San Diego, Calif.) are OSU’s representatives from California.
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 38 consecutive games and is in his fourth year as a starter for the Buckeyes. Over the years, Ohio State has had a Big Ten record 18 NFFHF scholarship winners.
The Coaching Assignments (who’s up and who’s down)
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.
Hall Of Fame Weekend
Fourteen 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 16 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, John Brockington 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.”
Bruins Up Next For The Buckeyes
Ohio State takes to the road for the first time in 2001 next week to face the 14th-ranked (AP) UCLA Bruins. The game, which will mark Ohio State’s first regular-season appearance in the Rose Bowl, but 14th overall, will be televised by ABC and will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EDT (12:30 PT).
Future Tickets Available
Tickets for road games at UCLA and Indiana are on sale at the Ohio State ticket office at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Tickets for the UCLA game are $47 each and for the Indiana game at $33 each. There is no limit on the number of tickets purchased per order. Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone at (614) 292-2624 or 1800-GO-BUCKS.
Media Information
This week’s player interviews will be after practice on Monday and Tuesday (approximately 5:30 p.m. both days) and at Coach Tressel’s Media Luncheon on Tuesday at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf. The latter starts at 11:30 a.m., with Coach Tressel addressing the media promptly at noon. 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 Tressel has spoken with the team.
