Unbeaten Buckeyes Travel to Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2002
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Buckeyes Begin Two-Game Road Swing With Trip To Purdue
Ohio State continues its quest for a Big Ten and possible national championship this week at Purdue. The Buckeyes are a perfect 10-0 on the year and 5-0 in conference play. Coach Jim Tressel’s team is coming off a 34-3 dismantling of Minnesota this past weekend in Columbus. That victory, coupled with the loss of previously undefeated contenders Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Georgia, has catapulted the Buckeyes into the No. 3 spot in both national polls and keeps them very much in the thick of the BCS picture.
Purdue is 4-5 for all games and 2-3 in the Big Ten. Coach Joe Tiller’s Boilermakers, who are 3-2 at home this year, were idle this past weekend following a 42-13 triumph at Northwestern two weeks ago.
Saturday’s game will kickoff at 12:09 p.m. EST in Ross Ade Stadium (cap. 66,295) and will be televised by ABC to over 50 percent of the country. This will be Ohio State’s fourth-consecutive and sixth overall appearance of the year on ABC. WBNS Radio, the flagship station for the Ohio State radio network, will provide wire-to-wire coverage of the game beginning an hour before kickoff.
The Buckeyes, who are seeking the fourth 11-0 start in school history (1975, 1979, 1995), are 3-0 on the road this year. Following the Purdue game, Ohio State travels to Illinois and then returns home Nov. 23 to play host to Michigan in the regular-season finale.
This Week’s Story Line
The Buckeyes have been stellar of late defensively, allowing just 17 points in the last three games, NONE in the second half. That run started with a 19-14 win at Wisconsin in which the Badgers were held to ZERO yards rushing in the fourth quarter. The following week in a 13-7 win over visiting Penn State, the Nittany Lions managed just 58 yards in total offense after intermission. This past weekend, Minnesota, which entered the game averaging 441 yards a game in total offense, was held to 112 yards, just 7 in the second half.
With three games to play, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in total defense, allowing an average of 305.6 yards per game. They also top the charts in scoring defense at 12.8 points a game and are second in rushing defense, allowing 79.3 yards per game. The Buckeyes are sixth in the Big Ten in passing defense at 226.3 yards per game.
Purdue counters with the top offense in the league. The Boilers are averaging 449.3 yards per game. They also rank third in passing offense (251.7), fourth in rushing offense (197.7) and fifth in scoring offense (29.7).
In addition to ranking first in total offense, Purdue is third in total defense, allowing an average of 333 yards per game. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, rank fifth in total offense at 398.4 yards per game and are second in both scoring offense (33.2) and rushing offense (215.4).
A Quick Glance At The Coaches
Jim Tressel is in his second year at Ohio State, where his record of 17-5 for all games includes a 10-3 mark in Big Ten play. Tressel, now in his 17th season as a head coach, has a career record of 152-62-2. Prior to Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 highly-successful years as head coach at Youngstown State, where he was a four-time pick as the Division 1-AA National Coach of the Year. Tressel is 1-0 against Purdue (35-7 last year).
Joe Tiller is in his sixth year at Purdue and his 12th season as a head coach. Tiller’s record of 43-27 at Purdue, includes a 1-2 mark against Ohio State. His career record is 82-57-1.
Vance Plays Through Personal Loss
Senior wide receiver Chris Vance learned early Saturday his younger brother, Percy Burton, had been shot and killed in his hometown of Fort Myers, Fla. Vance chose to play in Saturday’s game against Minnesota. “I know he would have wanted me to play and I wanted to be with my teammates and the people I am used to being around,” said Vance, who caught a 30-yard touchdown pass against the Gophers. “It is good to be around your friends when something like this happens. Percy was my best friend.”
Buckeyes Move Up In The Polls
Ohio State is third in both polls this week, up one notch in the coaches’ voting and three spots in the writers’ balloting. The Buckeyes, who began the season ranked 12th by ESPN/USA Today and 13th by the Associated Press, have been in the Top 10 for nine-consecutive weeks. The Buckeyes’ current ranking is their highest since the 1998 season. Saturday’s win over Minnesota was Ohio State’s third of the year over a Top 25 team (Washington State and Penn State previously).
Coach Tressel On The Buckeyes
“We want to keep improving every week. We still have a long way to go to get where we want to be. We have had to deal with some injuries the past two weeks, but our coaches and players have done an outstanding job of preparing and staying focused. But we know we face another very good team this week in Purdue, so we need to stay focused on what we have to do to get better.”
| Chris Gamble |
Big Ten Honors Buckeyes’ Gamble
Ohio State sophomore Chris Gamble has started the past two games atflanker AND cornerback – the first Buckeye in nearly 40 years toget the call on both sides of the ball. In Saturday’s win overMinnesota, Gamble caught three passes and was credited with acareer-best six tackles. Additionally, he returned four punts andtwo kickoffs for a total of 83 yards. Following the game, the 6-2,180-pound Gamble was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week- the third-consecutive week that an Ohio State player has beenselected for that honor.
Recapping Last Week’s Game With Minnesota
The Buckeyes trailed 3-0 after the first quarter, but then scored 34-unanswered points on the way to their 10th victory of the year.
The Ohio State defense again played superbly, limiting the Minnesota offense to 112 total yards, including just 7 in the second half. The Gophers, who had entered the game averaging 271 yards rushing (sixth nationally), managed just 53 yards against the Buckeyes. Tailback Terry Jackson, the Big Ten’s leading rusher at 128 yards a game, finished a long afternoon with 49 yards on 16 carries. Minnesota’s longest play of the day was 11 yards.
The OSU defense recorded nine tackles-for-loss and kept constant pressure on Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who managed just 44 yards in total offense and was sacked four times.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm had a team-leading seven tackles, one more than cornerback Chris Gamble and All-America safety Mike Doss. Tackle Darrion Scott had four tackles and two sacks.
The OSU offense, bolstered by the return of right tackle Shane Olivea, finished with 322 yards on the day, including 178 rushing against the Big Ten’s top statistical defense.
With freshman tailback Maurice Clarett sidelined with a shoulder injury, sophomore Lydell Ross ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Maurice Hall, another sophomore, added 93 yards off the bench, including his second touchdown of the year.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw for 128 yards and his 10th touchdown of the year. Krenzel’s scoring strike was a 30-yard pass to flanker Chris Vance. Krenzel also hooked up with split end Michael Jenkins on a 49-yard pass to set up OSU’s first score – the longest pass play of the year for the Buckeyes.
Mike Nugent added a pair of field goals for Ohio State.
A Look At Ohio State
Dating back to last year’s Michigan game, Ohio State has won 11-consecutive regular-season games, including six Big Ten tilts. With 10 wins this year, the Buckeyes are trying for their first 11-0 start since 1998. The school record for victories in a year is 11, accomplished previously in 1975, 1979, 1995, 1996 and ’98.
Junior quarterback Craig Krenzel, freshman tailback Maurice Clarett, split end Michael Jenkins, place-kicker Mike Nugent and flanker-turned-cornerback Chris Gamble have all taken their turn in the spotlight for the Buckeyes who are averaging 33.2 points and 398.4 yards per game. Give credit, too, to a patched up offensive line that despite a lack of depth and a rash of injuries has somehow gotten the job done. Tackle Shane Olivea, center Alex Stepanovich and tight end Ben Hartsock have been the mainstays up front.
The bottom line: With Krenzel at the controls, the Buckeyes have found a way to score when they have to.
The Ohio State defense, meanwhile is allowing 12.8 points and 305 yards per game. The Buckeyes have given up just 14 second-half points in Big Ten play. No one has been able to run the ball against the Buckeyes, who are giving up 79.3 yards per game on the ground. In their last two games, the Buckeyes have given up 179 yards and 112 yards, respectively, to Penn State and Minnesota. Both teams came to Columbus averaging more than 440 yards per game. Penn State passed for 98 yards against Ohio State. Minnesota rushed for 51. Penn State tailback, Larry Johnson, netted 66 yards on 16 carries against the Buckeyes, with 35 of those coming on one carry.
The defensive front of ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott, tackles Kenny Peterson and Tim Anderson, and reserves David Thompson and Simon Fraser is one of the best in the Big Ten, if not the country. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm is having his best year, as are the safety tandem of Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey. The addition of Chris Gamble at field corner and the continued improvement of Dustin Fox at the other corner has made this one of the top all-around defensive units in college football.
Nugent Still Perfect (He’s Nug-a-matic)
| Mike Nugent |
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent set yet another record inSaturday’s win over Minnesota. Nugent booted field goals of 37 and33 yards against the Gophers, giving him 20 on the year andbreaking the previous school record of 19 set in 2000 by DanStultz.
Nugent has now made 21 field goals in a row dating back to last year’s Michigan game. With 20-consecutive makes this year, he is zeroing in on the NCAA single-season mark of 25 set by Chuck Nelson (University of Washington) in 1982. The all-time record for consecutive makes is 30 (also held by Nelson).
Nugent, a strong candidate for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best collegiate place-kicker, has set six school records this year: most field goals in a season (20), most consecutive field goals made (21), most consecutive field goals made in a season (20), most consecutive field goals in Ohio Stadium (15), most consecutive games with at least one field goal (10), and most field goals of 40 or more yards in a season (8). He also tied the school mark for 40-yard field goals in a game (3 vs. Washington State).
The Centerville, Ohio, product is second in the Big Ten in kick scoring with an average of 9.6 points a game, a figure that ranks third overall scoring. He also leads in field goal percentage.
Mike Nugent’s 2002 Records
Most Field Goals in a Season – 20
Consecutive Field Goals Made – 21
Consecutive Field Goals/Season – 20
Consecutive FG Made At Home – 15
Consecutive Games with a FG – 10
40-yard Field Goals in a Season – 8
40-yard Field Goals in a Game – 3*
*Ties record (Washington State)
Clarett Over 1,000
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett, who played in just the first series against Penn State two weeks ago and did not play at all this past Saturday against Minnesota, is just the second true freshman in Ohio State history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season. The 6-0, 230-pound Clarett now has 1,019 yards on the year, an average of 127.4 yards per game and an average of 6.2 yards per carry on 165 attempts. He is the eighth freshman in NCAA Division I history to top the 1,000 mark. Robert Smith is the only other OSU frosh to do so, finishing the 1990 campaign with 1,126 yards, meaning Clarett needs 108 yards to set the OSU freshman rushing record.
Clarett is second in the Big Ten in rushing and even though he has not scored a touchdown the last three games, still leads the conference in scoring with an average of 11.2 points a game. He also is third in all-purpose running with an average of 136.2 yards per game.
Ohio State’s Top Five Freshmen Rushers Name Yards Year Games Robert Smith 1,126 1990 12 Maurice Clarett 1,019 2002 8 Archie Griffin 872 1972 11 Jaymes Bryant 656 1986 13 Dean Sensanbaugher 633 1943 9
Doss Hopes to Join Elite Circle
Senior safety Michael Doss is already a two-time All-American. Should he garner All-America honors again this year, he would become just the seventh three-time All-American in Ohio State history, joining Chic Harley (1916, ’17, ’19), Wes Fesler (1928-30), Lou Hinchman (1930-32), Merle Wendt (1934-36), Archie Griffin (1973-75) and Tom Skladany (1974-76) in a very select group of athletes.
Doss is the Buckeyes’ second leading tackler with 69 total stops, including a season-high 14 at Wisconsin. The 5-11, 204-pound Doss also has a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown to his credit this year.
Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel
Ohio State is under the second-year direction of 49-year-old Jim Tressel, who almost certainly will be a strong candidate for Big Ten and National Coach of the Year honors in 2002. Now in his 17th year as a head coach, Tressel’s impressive resume includes an all-time record of 152-62-2, including a 17-5 mark with the Buckeyes. Prior to coming to Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 years at Youngstown State, where he guided the Penguins to four Division I-AA national championships (1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97) and 10 appearances in the playoffs. He was a four-time pick as the national coach of the year, winning that honor in each of his championship seasons. Prior to taking over at YSU in 1986, Tressel spent three years as an assistant to Earle Bruce at Ohio State. In that role, he coached the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs and went to three bowl games, including the Rose Bowl. His list of star pupils during that time includes Mike Tomczak, Cris Carter and Keith Byars. Prior to Ohio State, Tressel also served apprenticeships at Akron, Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse. Tressel, the 22nd head coach in Ohio State annals, was named to his present position Jan. 18, 2001. Jim’s father, the late Lee Tressel, enjoyed a very successful coaching career at Baldwin Wallace College, where he won the 1978 Division III National Championship. His brother, Dick Tressel, is a former head football coach at Hamline University in Minnesota and currently serves as assistant director of football operations at Ohio State. As a family, the Tressels have won 431 games.
Wilhelm Is Butkus Award Semifinalist
| Matt Wilhelm |
Ohio State senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm has been named asone of 11 semifinalists for the 2002 Butkus Award, which ispresented annually to the top linebacker in college football. Thesemifinalists were selected from a list of 67 preliminarycandidates. Three finalists will be named Nov. 14 and the winnerwill be announced Dec. 13.
Ohio State’s Andy Katzenmoyer won the Butkus in 1997 as a sophomore.
The 6-5, 245-pound Wilhelm leads the Buckeyes in total tackles with a career-high 76, including a team-best 49 solo stops. He also has a team-high 12.5 tackles-for-loss.
M.J. Elevates Offense, Climbs OSU Chart
Whenever the Ohio State offense needs a lift, it seems junior split end Michael Jenkins is there to provide it. Jenkins did so again Saturday against Minnesota, hauling in a pass from quarterback Craig Krenzel and then cutting back against the grain and racing 49 yards to the Gophers’ 5-yard line to set up the Buckeyes’ first touchdown. As it turned out, that was all the scoring the Buckeyes needed in a 34-3 win. The 6-5 Jenkins, who has now caught passes in 22-consecutive games, leads the Buckeyes in receiving with 42 receptions and has a team leading four touchdown grabs. Jenkins is averaging 74.6 yards per game and 17.8 yards per catch, had 49 receptions all of last year. With 92 career receptions, he is 12th on the all-time OSU list.
Buckeye Captains
Strong safety Michael Doss and free safety Donnie Nickey, both seniors, have been selected by their teammates as captains for the 2002 campaign. Doss, a two-time All-American, is in his third year as a starter, while Nickey is in his fourth. Offensive captains are chosen on a game-by-game basis. Junior center Alex Stepanovich will serve in that capacity at Purdue. Offensive captains to date have been: Krenzel (Texas Tech and Penn State), Mike Stafford (Kent State), Ben Hartsock (Washington State), Ivan Douglas (Cincinnati), Chris Vance (Indiana), Alex Stepanovich (Northwestern), Michael Jenkins (San Jose State), Shane Olivea (Wisconsin) and Andy Groom and Bryce Bishop (Minnesota).
Buckeye Signal Caller Just Keeps on Winning
With the win over Minnesota, junior quarterback Craig Krenzel is now 11-1 as a starter, with that one loss coming in the Outback Bowl, where he played just two series. With the 6-4, 225-pound Krenzel at the controls, the Buckeyes have jumped out to a 10-0 start this year, including a 5-0 record in the Big Ten, and are third in both wire service polls.
The heady redhead, who is majoring in molecular genetics and will one day attend medical school, has completed 62.4 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has been intercepted just four times (twice each against Cincinnati and Penn State) and ranks second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 150.8 rating. He also has rushed for 222 yards and a touchdown and has a pair of 29-yard runs to his credit. Earlier this year, Krenzel tied an Ohio State record by completing 12 consecutive passes (his last one against Texas Tech and his first 11 against Kent State).
Not to be overlooked, backup Scott McMullen has completed an impressive 81 percent of his passes. McMullen is 25-of-31 for 315 yards and a pair of TDs coming off the bench. Those figures include a 7-for-7 showing against Indiana and an 8-of-9 performance against San Jose State.
A Special Season For This Buckeye
Senior Mike Stafford experienced the thrill of his Ohio State career against Texas Tech. Stafford, a fifth-year senior and former walk-on who was converted to scholarship at the beginning of the 2001 season, started at left guard against the Red Raiders. It was his first start since his senior year in high school.
Stafford served as the offensive captain against Kent State and was named OSU Offensive Lineman of the Week after that game. An ankle injury has since limited his playing time, but he did log significant minutes this past week against Minnesota and appears ready to help the Buckeyes as they head into November.
Ohio State All-Time
With the win over Minnesota, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 742-292-53 in this, its 113th season of football. The Buckeyes’ first football team posted a 3-1 record in 1890. Ohio State also has an all-time Big Ten ledger of 405-155-24 since beginning league play in 1913. Since 1960, the Buckeyes have experienced just three losing seasons in Big Ten play (1966, 1988, 1999).
Second Largest Crowd Sees OSU Down Minnesota
A near record throng of 104, 897 was on hand in Ohio Stadium Saturday to see the Buckeyes upend Minnesota. Saturday’s crowd was the second largest in Stadium history, surpassed only by the 105,103 two weeks ago against Penn State. Through seven home games, the Buckeyes have drawn a total of 722,365 fans, for an average of 103,195 per game.
Freshman Class Has Early Impact
Ten members of Ohio State’s highly regarded freshman class have seen game action in 2002. Maurice Clarett, Tyler Everett, Mike D’Andrea, Nate Salley, Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk, E.J. Underwood and Mike Kudla all played against Texas Tech in the season opener. Offensive linemen Robbie Sims and Nick Mangold debuted in the Kent State game.
All are in the two deep and have played at crunch time. Clarett, of course, is the starting tailback. Sims has started three times at left tackle and Underwood twice at corner. Hawk started the Penn State game and had five tackles and an interception (his second of the year) against the Nittany Lions.
Clarett Eighth OSU Frosh To Top The Century Mark
Freshman Maurice Clarett, last year’s USA Today high school offensive player of the year, rushed for 230 yards in OSU’s win over Washington State. That is the sixth best single-game showing in Ohio State annals. Other notable rushing performances by freshman running backs at Ohio State include:
1943 Dean Sensenbaugher 33 att./170 yds. vs. Illinois 1972 Archie Griffin 27 att./239 yds. vs. UNC 1972 Archie Griffin 27 att./192 yds. vs. Illinois 1985 Vince Workman 15 att./100 yds. at Illinois 1986 Jaymes Bryant 19 att./145 yds. vs. Utah 1989 Dante Lee 24 att./157 yds. at Northwestern 1990 Robert Smith 23 att./171 yds. at Wisconsin 2001 Lydell Ross 25 att./124 yds. at Indiana
Charting OSU’s Assistant Coaches
Mark Dantonio (defensive coordinator), Mel Tucker (defensive secondary), Joe Daniels (quarterbacks and receivers) and Bill Conley (tight ends) are in the press box for the Buckeyes. Jim Bollman (offensive coordinator), Tim Spencer (running backs), Jim Heacock (defensive line), Mark Snyder (linebackers) and Luke Fickell (special teams) are on the sidelines.
The Ohio State-Purdue Series
Ohio State, a 35-9 victor last year in Columbus, leads the all-time series 33-11-2 and has won 10 of the 15 games played in West Lafayette. Purdue snapped a seven-game losing streak at the hands of the Buckeyes in 2000, upending OSU 31-27 in West Lafayette behind the brilliant play of All-American quarterback Drew Brees who threw for 455 yards and three touchdowns. All three of Brees’ scoring tosses came in the fourth quarter, including a 64-yard strike with 1:55 to play that sealed the win. Prior to that loss, the Buckeyes had won five straight in West Lafayette dating back to a 28-23 reversal in 1984.
Top performances by the Buckeyes include 191 yards rushing and two touchdowns by tailback Keith Byars in the 1984 game. Quarterback Art Schlichter threw for 336 yards and three scores against Purdue in 1981, a game won by the Buckeyes, 45-33, despite 516 yards passing by Purdue signal caller Scott Campbell.
Purdue totaled 553 yards in total offense against the Buckeyes in 1981. Ohio State had 575 yards against the Boilers in a 38-6 win the following year.
The Buckeyes largest margin of victory was a 42-2 decision in 1990 in West Lafayette. Purdue pounded Ohio State 41-6 in 1967 in Columbus. Ohio State upset the top-ranked Boilers, 13-0, the following year on the way to a 10-0 record and the Big Ten’s last consensus national championship.
Recapping Last Year’s Game
Ohio State jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter, but led just 12-9 at the half. The Buckeyes scored 23-unanswered points after intermission, however, with quarterback Steve Bellisari tossing touchdown passes to Michael Jenkins (53 yards), Ben Hartsock (13 yards) and Chris Vance (7 yards). Bellisari threw for 263 yards and Vance caught seven passes for 138 yards. His spectacular one-handed TD grab is considered one of the best in Ohio State history. Tailback Jonathan Wells rushed for 101 yards for the Buckeyes who rolled up 429 yards. Purdue had 211 yards in total offense. The Ohio State defense picked off three interceptions and limited the Boilers to 71 yards on the ground. Ohio State scored four points on a pair of safeties.
Scouting the Boilermakers
Purdue is 4-5 overall in 2-3 in the Big Ten after snapping a three-game conference losing skid against Northwestern its last time out Oct. 26. The Boilermakers had dropped decisions to Iowa, Illinois (in overtime) and Michigan after opening conference play with a victory over Minnesota. Purdue had early wins over Illinois State and Western Michigan, but suffered losses to Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
John Standeford highlights the offense with 104.1 receiving yards per game. He has caught 48 passes for 937 yards and nine touchdowns. Taylor Stubblefield is averaging 82 yards per game and has 492 yards on 49 catches. Purdue has nine receivers that have played in all nine games this season. The quarterback has varied this season for the Boilermakers. Kyle Orton started the season and threw 10 touchdown passes while completing 56.5 percent of his passes for an average of 176.9 yards per game. In the last two games, Brandon Kirsch has started, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for five scores and an average of 134.6 yards per game. Through the air, Purdue is averaging 251.7 yards, while getting 197.7 yards on the ground. The leading ground gainer is Joey Harris, who is averaging 90 yards per game and six touchdowns. In total, the Boilermakers are averaging 449 yards and nearly 30 points per game.
Defensively, Purdue is giving up 333 yards and 22 points per game and is fueled by 10 interceptions and seven fumbles. The Boilermakers are giving up 142 yards on the ground and 191 in the air. The defense has 23 sacks for a loss of 146 yards. Niko Koutouvides is the leading tackler on the team with 92, including 62 solo tackles. He has 10 tackles-for-loss of 17 yards and has broken up five passes.
Brent Slaton is averaging 39.2 yards on punts and has had two blocked. Berin Lecevic is 3-of-10 on field goals and has had one blocked. Anthony Chambers returns punts. He has 23 returns for 221 yards, an average of 9.6 yards per return. Eight different Boilermakers have returned kickoffs this season, led by Deaunte Ferrell, who has eight returns for 127 yards or an average of 15.9 per return.
Purdue’s Last Game
Purdue beat Northwestern, 42-13 in Evanston Oct. 26 on the strength of its running attack to control the game, as both running backs Brandon Jones and Joey Harris rushed for more than 100 yards. Purdue’s offense totaled 407 yards on the ground as Jones ran for a career-best 165 yards on 20 carries and Harris rolled up 132 yards on 27 attempts with one touchdown. Fullback Jerod Void represented the other touchdowns from the backfield, scoring from 2 and 4 yards out.Quarterback Brandon Kirsch, making just his second career-start, attempted 10 passes, connecting on eight for 144 total yards and two touchdowns. Receivers John Standeford and Taylor Stubblefield hauled in a team-high three passes, with Standeford gaining 62 yards and Stubblefield totaling 41 yards. Standeford caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kirsch. The other touchdown pass went to Joey Harris on a 38-yard pass connection.Safety Stuart Schweigert intercepted his 13th pass as a Boilermaker, setting a new school record.
Coach Joe Tiller
Joe Tiller, a 1965 graduate of Montana State, is in his sixth year as the head coach at Purdue, where his teams are 43-27. Prior to arriving in West Lafayette, the 59-year-old, spent six years at Wyoming, where he was 39-30-1. Now in his 12th season as a head coach, the Toledo, Ohio-native is 82-57-1. He has guided the Boilermakers to five straight winning seasons and five straight bowl bids. His tenure at Purdue is highlighted by the 2000 Big Ten Championship and appearance in the Rose Bowl. Tiller’s coaching stops along the way include assistant positions at Purdue (1983-86), Wyoming (1987-88), Washington State (1971-73 and 1989-90) and Montana State (1965-70). He spent nine season with the Calgary Stampede of the Canadian Football League from 1974-82.
Opening Day Streak Extended
The opening-day victory over Texas Tech Aug. 24 extended Ohio State’s streak in home openers to 24-consecutive wins, dating back to a 19-0 loss in 1978 at the hands of then-independent Penn State. The Buckeyes have an all-time opening day record of 97-12-4.
Earle Bruce Honored
Former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Bruce, who coached the Buckeyes from 1979 to 1987 and posted a career record of 81-26-1, will be inducted in December in ceremonies in New York City. He will be recognized in an on-campus salute at the Michigan-Ohio State game Nov. 23.
Zwick Honored By NFFCHF
Ohio State freshman quarterback Justin Zwick has been selected as the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s Midwest Region High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2002. He is one of four regional representatives that will be recognized Dec. 10 at the NFFCHF’s annual banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The award “seeks to honor the nation’s top high school scholar-athletes (from the previous year) who have demonstrated outstanding academic application and performance, superior football performance, and exemplary school leadership and citizenship.” Ohio State’s Maurice Hall was recognized with the same award a year ago.
Media Luncheons
Coach Jim Tressel’s weekly media lunches are held Tuesdays at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf, located at 1421 Olentangy River Rd. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. Coach Tressel will begin his portion of the interview session at 12:15 p.m. Selected Ohio State players will be available for interviews following Coach Tressel’s question-and-answer session.
Weekly Interview Schedule
Ohio State players will be available for interviews following the conclusion of practice and meetings on Tuesdays throughout the season. The first 30 minutes of each Tuesday’s practice are open to the media and photographers are permitted to shoot practice during that time. Coach Tressel and two designated assistant coaches are available for interviews after Thursday practices. This week’s assistants are Tim Spencer and Mel Tucker.
Tressel Radio Show Every Thursday
The weekly Jim Tressel call-in show airs from noon-1 p.m. Thursdays on WBNS AM (1460) Radio. The show is replayed on Thursday nights around the state.
Ohio State At Illinois Next Week
The Buckeyes conclude their four-game Big Ten road schedule next week at Illinois. Kickoff time Saturday in Memorial Stadium (cap. 69,249) has not yet been announced. Ohio State returns home the following week to host Michigan in Ohio Stadium (101,568). That game is sold out.
Game 1 Recap – Texas Tech (W 45-21)
| Maurice Clarett |
Ohio State opened the 2002 campaign Aug. 24 with aconvincing 45-21 victory over Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic. Itwas the earliest season debut for the Buckeyes.
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett started the game and rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Clarett, who scored on runs of 59, 45 and 1 yards, was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Clarett had plenty of help from sophomore sidekicks Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross. Hall finished with 74 yards on 13 carries and Ross had 40 yards and two touchdowns to show for his 16 carries.
As a team, the Buckeyes rolled up 317 yards on the ground and finished with 477 yards in total offense. OSU averaged 6.4 yards per carry, did not have a turnover and had just two offensive penalties.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 11 of 14 passes for 118 yards before giving way to backup Scott McMullen, who scored OSU’s sixth rushing touchdown of the day.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, threw up a curtain around Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury finished with 341 yards and three touchdown passes, but much of the yardage and two of the scoring tosses came in the fourth quarter, long after the outcome had been decided.
Led by defensive end Will Smith, the Buckeyes recorded seven sacks and generally harassed Kingsbury all afternoon. Smith had four tackles-for-loss and two of the sacks.
Linebacker Cie Grant was credited with five tackles, including two sacks of his own, and was selected by the OSU coaching staff as the Buckeyes’ defensive player of the game.
The Buckeyes also fared well in the kicking department. Ray Guy Award candidate Andy Groom averaged 48 yards per punt on four kicks and place-kicker Mike Nugent converted all six PATs and hit a career-best 45-yard field goal.
Ohio State had just five penalties on the day, converted 10-of-15 third-down attempts and had the ball for 36 minutes. The Buckeyes were four-of-four in the red zone, while Texas Tech was 0-for-2.
Game 2 Recap – Kent State (W 51-17)
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and were ahead 38-0 with 7:31 to play in the first half on the way to a 51-17 thrashing of Kent State.
Two of OSU’s first four touchdowns came courtesy of the defense, strong safety Michael Doss and freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk each returning interceptions for scores. Doss made it 14-0 with his 45-yard return and Hawk upped the ante to 38-0 with his 34-yard scamper. Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett tallied the other two OSU scores, the first on a 2-yard run and the latter on a 7-yard pass from Craig Krenzel. It was OSU’s first TD pass of the year.
The Buckeyes rolled up 412 yards in total offense and averaged 8.8 yards per play on the way to topping the 50-point mark for the first time in 73 games. Krenzel completed 12 of 14 passes for 190 yards and backup Scott McMullen hit 7 of 11 for 78 yards and a TD. Sophomore flanker Chris Gamble was on the receiving end of six of those passes and finished with 87 yards receiving. Split end Michael Jenkins had four catches for 89 yards. Eight different receivers had receptions for the Buckeyes, thanks in large part to another stellar effort by the offensive line, which did not allow a sack.
Clarett led the Buckeye ground game with 66 yards on 11 carries. Maurice Hall added 36 yards on just three totes, the first of which was a 28-yard TD, and Lydell Ross had 28 yards on four tries as Ohio State’s posse of running backs again proved to be too much for the opposing defense.
Defensively, tackle Tim Anderson was credited with seven tackles, while ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott and linebacker Robert Reynolds each had five. Scott had two tackles-for-loss and a sack.
Kicker Mike Nugent was again perfect, hitting all three of his field goal attempts and all six of his PAT efforts.
Game 3 Recap – Washington State (W 25-7)
The Buckeyes trailed 7-6 at the half, but responded with 19-unanswered points after intermission to down visiting Washington State, 25-7. The victory over the 10th-ranked Cougars was the Buckeyes first win over a Top-10 team since the 1999 Sugar Bowl
Freshman running back Maurice Clarett led the OSU offense by rushing for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Clarett, who carried the ball 31 times, had 194 of his yards in the second half. It was the sixth best rushing effort in OSU history and came despite a first-quarter knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery three days later. The Buckeyes powered through the WSU defense for 292 yards on the ground and finished with 363 yards in total offense.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, pressured Jason Gesser, the Cougars’ talented senior quarterback, into two second-half interceptions and any number of hurried throws. Washington State, which had come into the game averaging more than 440 yards per game (and 40 points), settled for just 280 against Ohio State – 263 passing and 17 on the ground. The Cougars managed just 74 total yards after intermission.
Linebackers Cie Grant (8 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss) and Matt Wilhelm (5 tackles and a momentum shifting interception) led the OSU defense.
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent continued his brilliant play by drilling field goals of 43, 43 and 45 yards. Those three kicks of more than 40 yards gave Nugent six on the year, an Ohio State single-season record just three games into the season. Additionally, he is just the second Ohio State kicker to kick three field goals of 40 or more yards in a game. The only other was Tom Klaban in 1974 against Michigan. Game 4 Recap – at Cincinnati (W 23-19)
Ohio State ran its record to 4-0 with a 23-19 win over Cincinnati in a game that was even closer than the final score would indicate. Cincinnati led most of the day and was on top 19-17 late in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes took the lead for good at 23-19 on a 6-yard scamper by quarterback Craig Krenzel at the 3:44 mark and then held off a final charge by the Bearcats that ended with Will Allen’s interception in the end zone with 26 seconds to play.
The Buckeyes played the game without starting tailback Maurice Clarett who had undergone knee surgery four days earlier. In OSU’s first three games, Clarett, a true freshman, had rushed for 471 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
With Clarett unavailable, sophomore Lydell Ross made his first collegiate start and responded with a career-high 130 yards on 23 carries.
Krenzel also threw for a pair of touchdowns, finding tight end Ben Hartsock from 20 yards out for the Buckeyes’ first score, and later flipping a 5-yard toss to flanker Chris Vance that gave OSU a short-lived 14-12 advantage.
With the Bearcats on top 19-14 – and driving – the game turned around when defensive end Darrion Scott’s jarring hit forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate David Thompson. Ten plays later, Krenzel scored on a roll out that was designed to go to split end Micheal Jenkins.
Senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm led the Buckeyes in tackles with nine, including four tackles-for-loss. The OSU defense stiffened in the late stages of the game, forcing three turnovers (two picks and a fumble recovery) on the Bearcats’ last three possessions. Wilhelm deflected the fourth-down pass that was then picked off by Allen. The Buckeyes had eight tackles-for-loss against the Bearcats.
The game marked the Buckeyes’ first road appearance against an Ohio team since 1934.
Game 5 Recap – Indiana (W 45-17)
The Buckeye opened their Big Ten season with a 45-17 win over visiting Indiana. Ohio State took control early, jumping out to a 21-10 lead at the half, and then put the game away by scoring 24-unanswered points after intermission on the way to a 45-10 advantage that was just too much for the Hoosiers to overcome.
OSU freshman tailback Maurice Clarett, who sat out the previous week’s game at Cincinnati after undergoing knee surgery, was in top form against the Hoosiers, rushing for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. All three of his TDs came in the first half.
The Buckeyes rushed for 244 yards and passed for 217 more. Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 11 of his 16 passes, including his final six, for 152 yards and a touchdown, before exiting midway through the third period. Backup signal caller Scott McMullen followed Krenzel’s lead by completing all seven of his tosses for 65 yards and a TD.
Michael Jenkins led the receiving corps with seven receptions for 93 yards and both touchdown catches. The Buckeyes also scored on a beautifully executed 43-yard reverse by Chris Gamble and a career-long 51-yard field goal by Mike Nugent. It was Nugent’s 10th-consecutive make.
The OSU defense limited the Hoosiers to 56 yards rushing and 339 yards in total offense. End Darrion Scott paced the defense with three solos and six assists and had one of the Buckeyes’ three sacks. All-America safety Mike Doss had four solos and two assists and also was credited with a tackle-for-loss. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm continued his stellar play with two tackles-for-loss.
The Buckeyes played the game with a makeshift offensive line necessitated by the loss of injured starters Ivan Douglas and Michael Stafford. With those two sidelined, true freshman Rob Sims started at left tackle for Douglas, while Adrien Clarke took over for Stafford a left guard.
Defensive tackle Tim Anderson also missed the game due to injury.
Game 6 Recap – at N’western (W 27-16)
Ohio State fell behind 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, but led 14-9 at intermission. The Buckeyes then scored on their first two possessions of the second half to take a 24-9 lead. But it wasn’t until OSU safety Donnie Nickey recovered a Northwestern fumble in the final minute of play that the Buckeyes could celebrate a 27-16 victory.
Ohio State finished the game with 455 yards in total offense, including 285 on the ground, but turned the ball over three times – all on fumbles. The OSU defense gave up 396 yards, including 283 through the air, but came up with a pair of crucial fourth-quarter takeaways.
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett again paced the Ohio State ground attack, this time gaining 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns on 29 carries. Lydell Ross added 83 yards and scored the first OSU TD on a 3-yard run.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw for 170 yards and also rushed for a career-high 62. Krenzel hit 11 of his 22 passes, four of which were caught by split end Michael Jenkins.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm recorded a season-high 15 tackles and All-America safety Michael Doss chipped in with 13.
The Buckeye defense came up with a pair of takeaways on Northwestern’s final two possessions. Linebacker Cie Grant accounted for the first with his first interception of the year. Nickey put the icing on the cake by scooping up a fumble caused by Wilhelm and cornerback Dustin Fox.
Kicker Mike Nugent completed the OSU scoring with a pair of field goals, extending his streak of consecutive makes to 12, the second longest in school history.
Game 7 Recap – San Jose St. (W 50-7)
Riding the hot hand of junior quarterback Craig Krenzel and buoyed by four defensive takeaways, Ohio State celebrated homecoming with a 50-7 win over visiting San Jose State.
Krenzel turned in the best performance of his still young career, hitting 11 of 14 passes for a career-high 241 yards and three touchdowns (also a career best) before exiting midway through the third quarter.
Split end Michael Jenkins was on the receiving end of seven of those passes, including a 40-yard touchdown strike at the 8:36 mark of the third period. Krenzel also connected with flanker Chris Vance from 37 yards out and had a 7-yard scoring toss to tailback Maurice Clarett.
Clarett, who also rushed for two touchdowns, had 132 yards on 18 carries to pace the OSU ground game.
On the day, the Buckeyes rolled up a season high 567 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per play. OSU was 7-for-8 in the red zone. Already ahead 24-7 at intermission, the Buckeyes scored on their first three possessions of the second half to put the game on ice.
The Ohio State defense showed its muscle by forcing four fumbles and holding the Spartans to zero rushing yards. SJSU finished with 265 yards passing, but 257 of those yards came in the first half. OSU allowed the Spartans 15 total yards in the second half – 8 passing and 7 rushing.
Dustin Fox had nine tackles for the Buckeyes, along with a fumble recovery and two passes broken up. Matt Wilhelm added six tackles and a forced fumble and Cie Grant two tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble.
Kicker Mike Nugent nailed three field goals to extend his streak of consecutive makes to 15, tying the Ohio State record.
Game 8 Recap – at Wisconsin (W 19-14)
The Buckeyes survived what could best be described as a 10-round slugfest with the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium. Flanker-turned-cornerback Chris Gamble delivered the knockout punch for OSU, picking off an interception in the corner of the endzone midway through the fourth quarter to blunt the Badgers’ final scoring threat. OSU then held on for a 19-14 victory.
Trailing 14-13 at the half, Ohio State scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Craig Krenzel to tight end Ben Hartsock with 9:59 left to play in the game (the try for two failed). The scoring drive, which covered 88 yards in nine plays, was kept alive by a 45-yard pass from Krenzel to a leaping Michael Jenkins who somehow wrestled the ball away from two defenders and then held on to it as he slammed to the turf.
Krenzel, who also completed a 47-yard scoring pass Jenkins on the Buckeyes’ opening possession, threw for 204 yards on the afternoon.
Mike Nugent accounted for the remainder of the OSU scoring with a pair of field goals, stretching his string of consecutive makes to a school record 17.
Freshman workhorse Maurice Clarett led the OSU ground attack with 133 yards on 30 carries. Twenty-eight of those yards came as the Buckeyes ran out the clock on a tension-filled final drive that began on their own 38 with 4:29 to play.
The Ohio State defense, which forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks, had 11 tackles- for-loss and held Wisconsin to zero rushing yards in the fourth period.
Game 9 Recap – Penn State (W 13-7)
With sophomore Chris Gamble starting both at flanker and cornerback – the first Ohio State player to start both ways in nearly 40 years – the Buckeyes downed visiting Penn State in a titanic defensive struggle 13-7.
The 6-2, 180-pound Gamble recorded the Buckeyes’ only touchdown of the day, returning an interception 40 yards to pay dirt at the start of the third period. That score put OSU on top 10-7, a lead the Buckeyes would never relinquish. It was the third interception of the year for Gamble, who also had a reception on offense and logged a total of 95 plays.
The Buckeyes played the game without starting right tackle Shane Olivea, who underwent an emergency appendectomy. Additionally, starting linebacker Cie Grant missed the game because of an ankle sprain suffered at Wisconsin. To make matters worse, starting tailback Maurice Clarett suffered a stinger on the Buckeyes’ first series and missed the rest of the game.
Freshmen Rob Sims and A. J. Hawk filled in more than adequately for Olivea and Grant, respectively. Sims played the entire game at left tackle (allowing Ivan Douglas to move to the right side in place of Olivea) and Hawk had five tackles and an interception as Grant’s replacement.
With Clarett out of the lineup, sophomores Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall combined for 60 yards at the tailback position and quarterback Craig Krenzel ran for 39.
Buckeye punter Andy Groom played a vital part in the victory with punts of 59 and 55 yards late in the game. A pair of 37-yard field goals by Mike Nugent accounted for the remainder of Ohio State’s scoring.
The OSU defense, which for the third-consecutive week blanked its opponent in the second half, was led by Matt Wilhelm with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Penn State had just 58 yards in the second half and finished the day with 179 yards, well below its season average of 440 per game.
BUCKEYES ALL-AMERICA WATCH…
Maurice Clarett (Freshman Tailback)
Did not play against Minnesota because of a stinger that has bothered him the past three weeks (played just one series against Penn State). Sensational freshman, who has taken the college football world by storm. Leads the Big Ten in scoring and is second in rushing average. Has recorded six 100-yard games to date, including 230 vs. Washington State. Has set frosh records for TDs (15) and scoring (90 points) and is closing in on OSU frosh rushing record of 1,126. Currently has 1,019 yards and is just the 8th freshman to top the 1,000-yard mark.
Mike Doss (Senior Strong Safety)
Two-time All-American and the leader of the OSU defense. Picked as the Big Ten preseason defensive player of the year. Recorded a season-high 14 tackles at Wisconsin and also had a fumble recovery. Team’s second leading tackler. Forty-five-yard pick for score against Kent State was his fourth collegiate touchdown. Team captain and leader. Thorpe Award candidate.
Chris Gamble (Sophomore Flanker/Cornerback)
Starts at flanker and cornerback. Team’s second leading receiver with 24 for 351 yards and an average of 14.6 yards per catch. Leads the team in interceptions with three, including a 40-yard TD return against Penn State that was the key play in the Buckeyes’ 13-7 victory. All three of his interceptions have been game savers. Also had a 43-yard reverse for a touchdown against Indiana. Averages 23.0 yards per kick return and 8.0 per punt return. This week’s Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Andy Groom (Senior Punter)
Averages 46.0 yards per punt and leads the Big Ten by a wide margin. Put on a brilliant performance at Wisconsin, averaging 50.2 yards per punt on six kicks, including a career best 74-yard boot (the third best single-game effort in OSU annals). Averaged 48.6 yards on five punts against Penn State and had kicks of 59 and 55 yards in the waning stages of the game. Is a former walk-on, who has since been converted to scholarship. Also holds on placements. Selected as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after the Wisconsin and Penn State games.
Craig Krenzel (Junior Quarterback)
Has helped lead the Buckeyes to their best start since 1996 and has engineered come-from-behind wins against Washington State, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Penn State. Is 11-1 as a starter dating back to last year (that one loss was against South Carolina in the bowl game when he played sparingly). Makes few mistakes, has a strong arm and also is a surprisingly effective runner. Has completed 62.4 percent of his passes. Ran for a career-high 62 yards at Northwestern and has a pair of 29-yard runs to his credit this year. Hit 11 of 14 for 241 yards and 3 TDs against San Jose. Both of the latter were career highs. Heady competitor who keeps his team on the left side of the ledger.
Mike Jenkins (Junior Split End)
The Buckeyes leading receiver with 42 receptions and four of the team’s 12 touchdown catches. Has caught at least one pass in 22-consecutive games. Topped the 100-yard mark in receiving against San Jose State and Wisconsin. Had a touchdown catch of 47 yards at Wisconsin and another grab of 45 yards that kept the game-winning scoring drive alive. Has speed, great hands and, at 6-5, is able to go up and get the ball. Is also surprisingly physical and able to fight for extra yards after being hit by a defender.
Mike Nugent (Sophomore Kicker)
Has to be considered the most pleasant surprise of the season for the Buckeyes. Has set numerous records this year, including the mark for most 40-yard field goals in a season with eight. Hit three from 40 or more against Washington State to tie a school record. Hit a career long 51-yard shot against Indiana. Has made his last 21 field goals dating back to last year to break the old school mark of 15 (Vlade Janakievski in 1979-80). Has set a record for consecutive makes in Ohio Stadium this year with 15. School record 20 field goals this year.
Shane Olivea (Junior Offensive Tackle)
Ohio State’s top offensive lineman. Big, strong and quick. Has unbelievable power and is playing his best football this season. Is a superb pass blocker. Sat out the San Jose State game with an injury, but returned to the lineup at Wisconsin. Missed the Penn State game after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, but started the Minnesota game and played the entire game.
Darrion Scott (Junior Defensive End)
Has great strength and quickness and has demonstrated a penchant for being able to make big plays. His hits on Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser, Cincinnati’s Gino Guidugli and most recently Minnesota’s Asad Abdul- Khaliq, are the stuff that highlight films are made of. Has 38 tackles, including a team-high 6.5 sacks.
Will Smith (Junior Defensive End)
Sensational football player who is almost impossible to block because of his combination of size, power, quickness and savvy. Has 35 tackles on the year, including 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. Is capable of wreaking havoc once he gets into the other team’s backfield. Did not expect to play at Wisconsin because of an injury, but toughed it out to the tune of four tackles and a sack.
Matt Wilhelm (Senior Linebacker)
Named in October as one of 11 semifinalists for the Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker. Is in his third year as the starter in the middle. Leads the team in total tackles with 76 and in solos with 49, both career highs. Also has a team-best 12.5 tackles for loss. Recorded a season-high 15 tackles in the win at Northwestern. Forced a fumble against Penn State and was the Buckeyes’ leading tackler with eight total stops. Had a team-high seven tackles in the win over Minnesota. Having a terrific season.
