Ohio State Hosts Texas Tech in Pigskin Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 2002
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BUCKEYES OPEN SEASON SATURDAY (Where Did the Summer Go?)
Led by the veteran safety tandem of All-America Michael Doss and Donnie Nickey, two of the premiere players on what is expected to be an extremely talented, aggressive and stingy defensive unit; and buoyed by the emergence of a heralded freshman class that appears to be every bit as good as advertised, the Ohio State Buckeyes open their 2002 season Saturday by hosting Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic.
Kickoff is set for 2:38 p.m., EDT in Ohio Stadium (cap. 101,568). A limited number of tickets remain on sale and are available at the Athletics Ticket Office in the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Fans also can order tickets either by phone at (614) 292-2624 or 1-800 GO BUCKS, or by going on-line at www.hangonsloopy.com.
ABC will televise the game Saturday. Brad Nessler, Bob Griese and Lynn Swann will describe the action. All Ohio State games are broadcast on the statewide Ohio State radio network, with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Jim Karsatos behind the microphone for WBNS AM (1460) and FM (97.1).
The Texas Tech game kicks off a 13-game season for the Buckeyes, the longest regular season in Ohio State annals. The Buckeyes have played 13 games on numerous occasions, but those totals include bowl appearances. Should the Buckeyes play in a bowl game this year, it would be their first 14-game card.
There are eight home games on the schedule this year, the most since 1910, when the Buckeyes played nine home games. Only the 1905 Buckeyes played more home tilts with 11.
Coach Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes currently are ranked 12th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll and 13th in the Associated Press preseason poll. A year ago, Ohio State was ranked 22nd and 23rd, respectively, in those two polls.
Texas Tech, under the third-year guidance of Mike Leach, is not ranked in the Top 25 in either poll, but did receive votes in both polls.
RECORDS FROM 2001
Both teams are coming off 7-5 records. Ohio State finished third in the Big Ten with a 5-3 record and played in the Outback Bowl Jan. 1. Texas Tech notched a 4-4 record in Big 12 competition and played Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.
HOW IT SHAPES UP ON PAPER
The Buckeyes feature one of the nation’s top defensive units. In addition to Mike Doss, already a two-time All-American, and Donnie Nickey, who is now in his fourth year as a starter, OSU’s front four of ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott and tackles Tim Anderson and Kenny Peterson, is one of the best in the school’s history. In all, there are seven returning holdovers from a unit that led the Big Ten in passing efficiency defense (107.6) and finished second in scoring defense (20.3 ppg.) in 2001.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, boasts a high-powered offense that is led by one of the country’s top quarterbacks in Kliff Kingsbury. The 6-4 senior gunslinger has thrown for nearly 7,000 yards the past two years, including 3,502 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago. With Kingsbury calling the shots, the Red Raiders averaged 35.1 points and 418.5 yards per game last year. Eight starters return from that offense. In a recent poll of Big 12 media, Kingsbury was tabbed as the preseason conference offensive player of the year.
BUCKEYES HOPE TO KEEP PIGSKIN RECORD INTACT
This will be the Buckeyes’ second appearance in the Pigskin Classic, which is sponsored by NACDA (National Association of College Directors of Athletics). The Buckeyes defeated Fresno State (34-10) in 1994 game in Anaheim, Calif. This is the last year for the Pigskin Classic, which no longer will be sanctioned by the NCAA.
SERIES INFORMATION
Ohio State and Texas Tech are hooking up for just the second time on the gridiron. The only other meeting was in 1990 in Columbus. The Buckeyes won a closely-contested 17-10 decision, scoring the winning touchdown on a 50-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter. That runback, by split end Jeff Graham, snapped a 10-all tie.
BUCKEYES HAVE WON NINE IN A ROW
Ohio State has an all-time record of 24-3-1 against teams currently in the Big 12 Conference and has won nine in a row since a 29-28 loss in 1977 to Oklahoma in what is considered one of the classic games ever played in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes last regular-season game against a Big 12 school was in 1998, a 35-14 triumph vs. Missouri. Ohio State also defeated Texas A&M, 24-14, in the 1999 Sugar Bowl.
OHIO STATE ALL-TIME
Ohio State enters the 2002 campaign with an all-time record of 732-292-53 in 112 seasons. The Buckeyes’ first football team posted a 3-1 record in 1890. Ohio State also has an all-time Big Ten ledger of 400-155-24 since beginning league play in 1913.
OPENING DAY NOTES
Ohio State has been victorious in its last 23 home openers, dating back to a 19-0 loss at the hands of then-independent Penn State in 1978. The Buckeyes have an all-time opening day record of 96-12-4, including a 13-0-1 mark against teams currently in the Big 12. Much of that success has come against Missouri (7-0-1 on opening day). Coach Jim Tressel is 1-0 in openers at Ohio State and 10-5-1 lifetime when the season curtain goes up. The Buckeyes defeated Akron, 28-14, in the opener last year before a then-record crowd of 102,602.
Incidentally, this is the earliest opening date in Ohio State football history. The Buckeyes are 3-2 in the month of August, losing to Alabama (16-10) on Aug. 27 in the 1986 Kickoff Classic, defeating Fresno State (34-10) on Aug. 29 in the 1994 Pigskin Classic, downing Boston College (38-6) on Aug. 27 in the 1995 Kickoff Classic, defeating Wyoming (24-10) on Aug. 28 in the 1997 Eddie Robinson Classic, and losing to Miami (23-12) on Aug. 29 in the 1999 Kickoff Classic.
HEAD COACH JIM TRESSEL
| Head Coach Jim Tressel |
Ohio State is under the second-year direction of JimTressel. The 49-year-old mentor led the Buckeyes to a 7-5 recordlast year, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten and an appearance inthe Outback Bowl Jan. 1. Now in his 17th year as a head coach,Tressel’s impressive resume includes an all-time record of142-62-2. Prior to coming to Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 years atYoungstown State, where he guided the Penguins to four Division1-AA national championships (1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97) and 10appearances in the playoffs. He was a four-time pick as thenational coach of the year, winning that honor in each of hischampionship seasons. Prior to taking over at YSU in 1986, Tresselspent three years as an assistant to Earle Bruce at Ohio State. Inthat role, he coached the quarterbacks, receivers and runningbacks. His list of star pupils during that time includes MikeTomczak, Cris Carter and Keith Byars. Prior to Ohio State, Tresselalso served apprenticeships at Akron, Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse.Tressel, the 22nd head coach in Ohio State annals, was named to hispresent position Jan. 18, 2001. Jim’s father, the late Lee Tressel,enjoyed a highly-successful coaching career at Baldwin WallaceCollege, where he won the 1978 Division III National Championship.
PREVIEWING THE BUCKEYES
Those members of the media in attendance at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon last month, picked Ohio State to finish second in the Big Ten race this year. In that poll, the Buckeyes were sandwiched between Michigan and Michigan State. More recently, the ESPN/USA Today pollsters picked the Buckeyes 12th in their preseason voting, while the Associated Press preseason poll has OSU 13th. Sports Illustrated ranked Ohio State 12th in its annual college football preview.
Much of that acclaim is based on a defense that returns seven starters. That list includes, Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey at the safety positions, Tim Anderson, Will Smith and Darrion Scott up front, and Matt Wilhelm and Cie Grant at linebacker (Grant started at cornerback last year but was moved to linebacker in the spring where he was an immediate hit). Highly-regarded junior Robert Reynolds rounds out the linebackers and gives the Buckeyes an impressive front seven (along with Kenny Peterson at the other tackle spot). Sophomore Dustin Fox and junior Richard McNutt, both starters in the bowl game, are expected to be the corners when Texas Tech comes to town.
That group will be augmented by the likes of Simon Fraser at end, David Thompson at tackle, Fred Pagac, who is currently challenging Wilhelm for his spot, at linebacker and Will Allen and Harlen Jacobs in the secondary.
There are also six true freshmen in the defensive two-deep.
On offense, the Buckeyes return five starters and must replace the entire starting backfield.
Junior Craig Krenzel appears to be the successor to Steve Bellisari at quarterback. Krenzel, who made his first collegiate start at Michigan last year and directed the Buckeyes to a 26-20 victory, has enjoyed a good fall camp and has taken command of the offense. Scott McMullen, also a junior, is a solid backup. Both are quality athletes with strong arms and an accurate touch.
The 6-4, 225-pound Krenzel will be joined in the backfield by junior Jesse Kline at fullback and either Maurice Hall or Maurice Clarett at tailback. Hall, a sophomore, is an electrifying player with dazzling moves and a supersonic burst. Clarett, the USA Today national high school offensive player of the year last year, has size (6-0, 230) and speed working in his favor. Should he get the nod, he would be the first true freshman in Ohio State history to start at tailback in the season opener.
Additionally, sophomore Lydell Ross, the Buckeyes’ leading returning rusher (419 yards and 6 TDs on 120 carries in 2001) and redshirt freshman JaJa Riley are very much in the hunt for playing time at that position. Both have been slowed by injuries – Ross by a hip flexor muscle strain and Riley by an appendectomy. The speedy Ross should be ready this week, but Riley is on the shelf for the time being.
There is loads of talent, too, at wide receiver, where split end Michael Jenkins and flanker Chris Vance are the returning starters. Jenkins, who hauled in 49 passes for 988 yards last year to lead the team in both categories, appears headed for a breakout year. Additionally stellar sophomore Chris Gamble, along with Bam Childress, Drew Carter, John Hollins, Angelo Chattams and a couple of freshmen, make this the Buckeyes’ deepest position.
Up front, the Buckeyes will start five juniors and a senior. The lone senior is Mike Stafford, a former walk-on from nearby Upper Arlington who will fill in at left guard for Adrien Clarke. The 6-5, 325-pound Clarke, a two-year starter, has been bothered by a series of injuries throughout fall camp and is not expected to play this week.
Alex Stepanovich will get the nod at center, Bryce Bishop at right guard, Shane Olivea at right tackle, Ivan Douglas at left tackle and Ben Hartsock at tight end. The coaches are extremely high on Stepanovich, who takes over for All-American LeCharles Bentley. Olivea is a postseason honors candidate, who like Bishop is a returning starter. Douglas, who missed all of last year with a blood clot in his lung, was a part-time starter and key reserve in 2000. Hartsock divided time with Darnell Sanders last year and is a good all-around football player.
Depth on the line will come from a couple of true freshmen – Robby Sims at guard and Nick Mangold at center. Speedy Ryan Hamby is the No. 2 tight end.
In the kicking department, the Buckeyes return senior punter Andy Groom and sophomore place-kicker Mike Nugent. Groom averaged 45.0 yards per punt last year and is one of the best in college football. Nugent has had a terrific fall camp and appears ready to take over the placement duties on a full-time basis.
TRESSEL ON THE BUCKEYES
“It has been a long camp and I know all of us, players and coaches alike, are anxious to play. The thing that I have liked most is that our players have given us their all in everything that we have done.
“The seniors and the rest of the veteran players have done a great job of working with the younger players and helping them understand what we expect of them. It has been a good camp.
“This week should be fun. We have put in a lot of time on fundamentals. Now we get the chance to play and to see what kind of a job we did. This is our second year here, so we expect to be better as a team and we expect to be better as coaches.
“But the first game is always a little bit of a chess match because you are never sure what to expect.”
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
The Red Raiders have won seven games each of the last two seasons and have their sights set on an improvement in 2002, a season that features seven opponents that played in a bowl game a year ago. Texas Tech will be counting on eight returning starters on offense and nine returning starters on defense. The offense has been ranked among the nation’s elite in passing and scoring. Quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who has started the last 23 games behind center, has been the top passer in the Big 12 each of the last two seasons and ranked among the nation’s Top 10 in passing. He has thrown for a school-record 7,412 yards and could become only the 19th quarterback in NCAA history to top the 10,000-yard plateau in his career.
All starters on the defensive line, two linebackers and three defensive backs, return. Senior linebacker Lawrence Flugence was a third-team All-American a year ago and senior defensive end Aaron Hunt was selected a 2002 preseason All-American. Flugence was the Big 12’s leading tackler the last two seasons, including a year ago when he had 145 tackles. He had 156 stops in 2000. Robert Treece made 12-15 field goals last season, including a long of 42 yards in a 10-point loss at No. 3 Nebraska.
KINGSBURY NAMED BIG 12 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by a panel of voters representing the Big 12 Conference media. Kingsbury, also a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, the Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Davey O’Brien Award, holds school records in pass completions (752), attempts (1,171), passing touchdowns (50) and career completion percentage (64.2). He ranks among the Top 5 returning quarterbacks nationally in completions, yards and touchdowns.
MEDIA TAB TECH 3RD IN BIG 12 SOUTH
The Red Raiders were picked to finish third in the Big 12 South Division behind Oklahoma and Texas, respectively, in the league’s preseason media poll. Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Baylor round out the division. Colorado was picked to edge Nebraska in the North Division, followed by Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri and Kansas.
LEACH IN THIRD SEASON IN LUBBOCK
Mike Leach, a former assistant and offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops, landed his first collegiate head coaching job at Texas Tech prior to the 2000 season and immediately began the transformation of Red Raider football into a high-powered passing attack. The 1983 graduate of Brigham Young became the first coach in Texas Tech history to lead his first two teams to bowl games. His 7-6 team in 2000 played East Carolina in the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl and then the 7-5 2001 team met Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. His overall coaching record is 14-11.
TRESSEL ON TEXAS TECH
“They have a bunch of veterans on offense and they will come in here throwing the ball. Kliff Kingsbury is the first in a long line of outstanding quarterbacks that we will see this year. He gets it away quickly and is very accurate.
“Defensively, they have nine starters back from a unit that got much more aggressive as the season progressed. They like to attack.”
OHIO STATE ALL-STAR CANDIDATES
| Two-time All-American Safety Mike Doss |
Michael Doss, already a two-time All-American, has beenlisted as a preseason candidate for the Thorpe Award, which goesannually to the outstanding defensive back in college football.Doss, who was selected as the Big Ten’s preseason defensive playerof the year, also should be in the running for national defensiveplayer of the year honors.
Defensive ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott, along with defensive tackle Tim Anderson, also will be in the thick of things when it comes to postseason honors. All are juniors. Smith wreaked havoc last spring and again this fall in practice and could quickly emerge as the Buckeyes’ next great defensive lineman.
On the offensive side of the ball, big Shane Olivea (6-5, 310) has the potential to be something very special at right tackle.
In the kicking department, Andy Groom is one of the leading candidates for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.
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.
THE CLASS OF 2005
The freshman class this year was ranked in almost everyone’s Top 5 recruiting classes last February. Nine members of that class – three on offense and six on defense – are listed in the two-deep this week.
FICKELL NEWEST MEMBER OF OSU COACHING STAFF
Former Ohio State defensive lineman Luke Fickell has joined Jim Tressel’s staff as special teams coach. Fickell replaced Ken Conatser, who left Ohio State at the end of last season for a position at Kansas. Fickell was a four-year starter at nose guard for the Buckeyes between 1993 and 1996. He has spent the past two years as defensive line coach at the University of Akron. A year ago, Fickell was preparing to play against his alma mater as a member of the Zips’ staff.
THREE PLAYERS NOT AVAILABLE FOR FIRST GAME VS. TEXAS TECH
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel has announced that sophomore fullback Branden Joe, freshman tight end Redgie Arden and senior flanker Chris Vance will not be in uniform for the Texas Tech game.
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 during ceremonies in New York. He will be recognized in an on-campus salute at the Michigan-Ohio State game Nov. 23
MEDIA LUNCHEONS
Weekly media lunches this year will again be held Tuesdays at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf, located at 1421 Olentangy River Rd. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. Ohio State coach Jim 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. Tuesday practices are open to the media and photographers are permitted to shoot the first 20 minutes, or specific periods as designated by the coaching staff. Photographers covering open practice should check with a member of the Athletics Communications staff to see which periods are open.
TRESSEL CALL-IN SHOW MOVES TO THURSDAY
This year, the weekly Jim Tressel call-in show will air from noon-1 p.m. Thursdays on WBNS AM (1460) Radio. The show will be replayed on Thursday nights around the state. The show previously was heard on Tuesday evenings.
KENT STATE UP NEXT FOR THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes return to action Sept. 7 by hosting Kent State. Kickoff is set for 12:10 p.m., EDT. ESPN Plus will televise the game. Tickets remain for that game and can be ordered by calling (614) 292-2624 or 1 800 GO BUCKS, or by going on-line at www.hangonsloopy.com. Tickets are $47.50 each. There is no limit. The Kent State game will be Alumni Band Day, with more than 500 former band members returning to Ohio Stadium for pregame and halftime ceremonies, including the quadruple Script Ohio.
