Mike Doss to Remain at Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 9, 2002
%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior cornerback Mike Doss (Canton, Ohio/McKinley) said today he will remain at The Ohio State University for his senior season. The two-time All-America pick made the announcement at an afternoon press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center. The 5-10, 203-pound Doss has started each of the past two years and has led the team in tackles in both of those seasons, including 87 this past year. A two-time All-Big Ten choice, Doss was named to a first-team berth on this year’s Walter Camp All-America team. He was a first-team pick by the Sporting News as a sophomore.%^$
%^$An emotional Doss said he had been contemplating his decision since the Buckeyes’ 26-20 win over Michigan in late November, but only just made up his mind today as he was walking to the podium to make his announcement.%^$
%^$”After the Michigan game, I thought, that’s it, my career is over here,” he said. “But it turned out to be a much more difficult decision.%^$
%^$”I took a lot of time to think about my career and to think about myself as a man. I thought very hard and I had only one confidant that I knew would be there to listen, and that is the lord Jesus Christ. I sat there contemplating both sides – one way and the other way. And the lord Jesus gave me the answer.%^$
%^$”I talked to my mother about an hour ago and I asked her what she would like her son to do? I love my mother to death and I have always wanted to be able to buy her a nice house to live in. She told me, living in a two-bedroom apartment with nothing to survive on but her son, to get my education – and I will be returning to Ohio State.%^$
%^$”It was a hard decision, but standing here now, I finally feel relieved. My education won out as far as my goals in life.%^$
%^$”I want to thank the coaches for their support. They urged me to do what was best for me and my family and told me they would support my decision whatever it was.%^$
%^$”Now that this is over, I can get on with my life, get my education and try to be the best football player I can be.”%^$
%^$Follow-up Questions:
%^$Did you literally decide this an hour ago?
%^$”I made my mind up when I got to the podium (to announce his decision). My mother told me to do what was best for me and I think I did that.”%^$
%^$What was it about the education that swayed you?
%^$”(My education) won out as far as my goals in life. Twenty years from now I won’t be playing football. I just felt that I should go ahead and stick it through. Education is the key to success. For any kids who are out there listening, just stick it through and just try to finish up and your future will surely show what you want to be.”%^$
%^$Do you feel you will be considered somewhat of a hero or a role model in the community?
%^$”I feel that I can try to be a leader in the community. I’m only 20 years old, but there is a lot of pressure on athletes in general – professional and collegiate. And with that they are role models and that kind of figured into the decision since I am kind of a stand-up type of guy. Ohio State has given me the opportunity to go to college. I think that those young kids need role models and hopefully I can help out and provide that.”
