No. 6 Ohio St. to Battle Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2002
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Video Press Luncheon
Football Luncheon Quotes
Depth Chart
Top 25 Polls
Buckeyes On The Road
Sixth-ranked Ohio State takes to the road for the first time in 2002 Saturday, traveling down Interstate 71 to face the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Game time is 3:35 p.m. in Paul Brown Stadium (cap. 66,927). The game, which is sold out, will be televised by ESPN and broadcast by WBNS Radio. This will be the largest crowd ever to see a football game in the city of Cincinnati. Additionally, it will be the largest football crowd in Conference USA history. Ohio State received an initial allotment of 10,000 tickets, but literally thousands of OSU fans have purchased tickets through the Bearcats’ ticket office.
Records and Results
Ohio State is 3-0 on the year with consecutive home-field victories over Texas Tech, Kent State and Washington State. The Buckeyes are coming off a 25-7 win over 10th-ranked Washington State. It was Ohio State’s first victory over a Top-10 team since a 24-14 win over Texas A&M in the 1999 Sugar Bowl.
Cincinnati is 1-1 on the year, defeating TCU in overtime, but losing this past Saturday to West Virginia, 35-32, when a 49-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game hit the left upright as time expired. Both games were played in Cincinnati.
A Quick Look At The Coaches
Jim Tressel is in his second year at Ohio State, where his record is 10-5 for all games and 7-2 in Ohio Stadium. He posted a 3-2 road record last year. Tressel has an all-time record of 145-62-2 in 16 years as a head coach. This will be his first meeting with Cincinnati.
Rick Minter is beginning his ninth year at Cincinnati. His record with the Bearcats is 42-50-1. That also is his career ledger. He is 0-1 against Ohio State (1999).
Buckeyes Now Sixth In Both Polls
Ohio State currently is ranked sixth in both the ESPN/USA Today and the Associated Press weekly polls. That represents the highest OSU ranking since the Buckeyes held down the No. 5 spot going into week six of the 2000 season. The Buckeyes were ranked 12th and 13th, respectively, in preseason voting this year.
Attendance Record Falls
An Ohio Stadium record crowd of 104,553 saw the Buckeyes defeat Washington State. The previous single-game record of 104,407 was set last year against Illinois.
Series Information
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 10-2 and have won the past seven games played between the two schools. Cincinnati’s two victories came in 1896 (8-6) and 1897 (24-0). Both of those games, and six of the first eight games in the series, were played in the Queen City (the last one in 1911). The past four games have been played in Columbus. The teams played 11 times between 1893 and 1931, but did not play again until 1999. Ohio State won that game 34-20. The current four-game series continues in 2004 and 2006 with games in Columbus.
A Look At The Buckeyes
Coach Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes have been impressive in the early going, averaging 40.3 points and 417.3 yards per game on offense, while giving up 15.0 points and 336 yards each time out on defense.
In Saturday’s win over a good Washington State team, the Buckeyes trailed 7-6 at the half before rallying with 19 unanswered points after intermission.
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. 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, 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.
Coach Jim Tressel On The Buckeyes
“I feel like we beat a very good football team last week. Washington State is certainly deserving of its ranking and capable of contending for Pac-10 title. Maurice Clarett’s run (44 yards) at the start of the third quarter gave us a big lift. So did the interception by Matt Wilhelm. I was pleased that we took care of the ball on offense. When you don’t turn it over and can control the ball the way we did, you give yourself an opportunity to win.
“Now we have to go on the road, so we need to be ready and stay focused. That will be our challenge this week. Cincinnati is a veteran football team, and I am sure their players will be excited to play us on their home turf.”
| PK Mike Nugent |
Clarett And Nugent Recognized
The Buckeyes have claimed two of the Big Ten’s three weekly awardsfollowing their win over Washington State.
Tailback Maurice Clarett was named Offensive Player of the Week after shredding the Washington State defense for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. It was the sixth-best single-game rushing effort in Ohio State history and the second best by an Ohio State freshman, surpassed only by Archie Griffin’s 239 yards against North Carolina in 1972.
The 6-0, 230-pound Clarett, who currently leads the Big Ten in rushing and scoring, also won the award following Ohio State’s win over Texas Tech Aug. 24. He is the first Ohio State freshman since David Boston in 1996 to win such recognition twice in one season.
Sophomore Mike Nugent was named Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing field goals of 43, 43 and 45 yards against WSU. The latter equaled his career long, which he first hit against Texas Tech and later matched against Kent State. Nugent is just the second OSU kicker to hit three field goals of 40 or more yards in a game. Tom Klaban was good from 47, 25, 43 and 45 yards out in the Buckeyes’ 12-10 win over Michigan in 1974.
Nugent is a perfect seven-for-seven in the field goal department this year and has hit eight in a row dating back to last year. Six of this year’s treys have been from 40 or more yards, breaking the school single-season record of five set by Rich Spangler in 1984 and tied by Dan Stultz in 1999.
Stultz and Spangler rank one-two in career kicks of more than 40 yards with 15 and 12, respectively. Tim Williams (1990-93) had 10 and Klaban (8). Nugent is next in line with seven.
The Buckeyes have now had a player of the week following each of their three games. Senior safety Michael Doss was the Defensive Player of the Week following the Kent State game.
All-America Performance
After three games, freshman tailback Maurice Clarett has put together some mind-boggling numbers. Clarett leads the Buckeyes, and the Big Ten, in rushing and scoring
In the rushing department, he has carried the ball 63 times for 471 yards and six touchdowns. The powerful 6-0, 230-pounder is averaging 157 yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry. He also has caught six passes and was on the receiving end of one of the Buckeyes’ two passing touchdowns.
Clarett began the season by rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries against Texas Tech. He had TD runs of 59, 44 and 1 yard in a 45-21 win.
Against Kent State, he carried the ball 11 times for 66 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving) in a 51-17 rout. The Buckeyes ran just 47 plays, including just 22 runs, in the win over the Golden Flashes.
With most of the nation looking on in last Saturday’s 25-7 win over nationally-ranked Washington State, Clarett carried the ball 31 times for 230 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. He put up 194 yards in the second half, including two runs of 44 yards and another of 20. His 31 carries were two short of the school record for a freshman and his yardage total was nine shy of the freshman mark.
After three games, he already has as many 100-yard games as Archie Griffin had in 1972 and is literally making a run at Robert Smith’s freshman rushing record of 1,126 yards set in 1990. Smith had five 100-yard games that year.
Clarett, who seems to get stronger as the game goes on, has demonstrated the ability to run over, by and away from defenders.
“Maurice reminds me a lot of when we had Keith Byars,” said OSU coach Jim Tressel. “He just wears you down late in the game. It is hard enough to tackle him in the first and second quarters, but it really gets tough in the third quarter.”
“I was hoping he would rush for 240 yards against a good team like Washington State,” said Griffin, who holds the OSU single-game frosh rushing record with 239 against North Carolina in 1972. “He is a tremendous football player.”
Buckeyes Quick Out Of The Shoot
Ohio State has scored on its first possession in each of its first three games, scoring touchdowns against Texas Tech and Kent State and a field goal against Washington State.
In the first two games, special teams helped jump start the Ohio State scoring efforts. After freshman Bobby Carpenter pinned Texas Tech at its own 8-yard line with a tackle on the opening kickoff in the season opener, the Buckeye defense forced a Red Raider punt that was returned by Michael Doss to the TTU 32-yard line. That led to a Lydell Ross 2-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Ohio State lead. Against Kent State, Ohio State stopped the Golden Flashes at their own 13-yard line on the opening kickoff. The Buckeye defense again held, forcing a punt, which was blocked by free safety Donnie Nickey and recovered at the KSU 31. Tailback Maurice Clarett scored seven plays later on a 2-yard run for the early 7-0 Ohio State advantage.
Against Washington State, the Buckeyes took the opening kickoff and marched to the Cougar 26-yard line, setting up a 43-yard field goal by Mike Nugent with 13:19 left to play.
Head Coach Jim Tressel
Ohio State is under the second-year direction of Jim Tressel. The 49-year-old mentor led the Buckeyes to a 7-5 record last year, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten and an appearance in the Outback Bowl Jan. 1. Now in his 17th year as a head coach, Tressel’s impressive resume includes an all-time record of 145-62-2. Prior to coming to Ohio State, Tressel spent 15 years at Youngstown State, where he guided the Penguins to four Division 1-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 highly-successful coaching career at Baldwin Wallace College, where he won the 1978 Division 111 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 424 games.
| Safety Mike Doss |
Buckeyes Prominent on Awards “Watch Lists”
Two-time All-America strong safety Michael Doss is on the WalterCamp Player of the Year “Watch List” that was released at the startof the season. Doss, who was picked as the Big Ten’s preseasondefensive player of the year, also is on the Thorpe Award watchlist. The latter, of course, goes to the top defensive back incollege football.
Additionally, senior punter Andy Groom is on the Ray Guy Award watch list, while junior split end Michael Jenkins is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list and senior linebacker Matt Wilhelm on the Butkus Award watch list.
Based upon their early-season play, junior defensive end Will Smith, junior offensive tackle Shane Olivea, sophomore kicker Mike Nugent and freshman tailback Maurice Clarett will all be in the running for postseason honors.
Silver Bullets On Target
The Ohio State defense, a.k.a. the Silver Bullets, has been zeroing in with increasing accuracy through the first three games. Against Texas Tech, the Mike Doss, Donnie Nickey, Will Smith, Matt Wilhelm and Cie Grant-led Buckeyes allowed 21 points and 372 yards. In game two, Kent State finished a long afternoon with 17 points and 358 yards. This past weekend, 10th-ranked Washington State, which entered the game averaging 40 points and 440 yards a game, was held to 7 and 280, respectively. On the year, the Buckeyes are allowing 73 yards a game rushing and have not given up a rushing touchdown. In the turnover department, OSU has picked off five interceptions. The Buckeyes already have 23 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks.
OSU Offense Putting Up Big Numbers
The Ohio State offense is firing on all cylinders offensively with averages of 40.3 points and 417.3 yards per game. The Buckeyes, who are averaging 6.8 yards per play, are running for an average of 251 yards per game and passing for 166.3. Additionally, the Buckeyes have converted 11 of 12 opportunities in the red zone and 42 percent (14 of 33) of their third-down chances. Ohio State has scored 10 rushing touchdowns and two via the pass. The Buckeyes also have seven field goals. OSU has been most productive in the first quarter, outscoring their three opponents 38-14. OSU has a scoring edge in all four quarters (27-14 in the second, 32-0 in the third and 24-17 in the fourth).
Jenkins, Gamble Lead Receiving Corps
Junior split end Michael Jenkins has caught at least one pass in 15-consecutive games dating back to the 2001 season opener against Akron. Jenkins has nine receptions so far this season, tying him with sophomore flanker Chris Gamble for the team lead in that department. Gamble, who had six receptions against Kent State, had five all of last year.
Nugent Extends Consecutive Field Goal String to Eight
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent has made all seven of his field goal attempts this year and now has a string of eight straight dating back to last year’s win over Michigan. Nugent’s streak ranks as the fifth best in OSU annals. The school record for consecutive field goals made is 15 set by Vlade Janakievski in five games in 1979 and ’80. Janakievski also made 10 in a row in eight games in 1978 and ’79. Dan Stultz had 10 in four games in 2000. Janakievski also holds the record for consecutive field goals made in Ohio Stadium with 10. He did that twice – the first time in seven games in the 1978 and ’79 seasons, and the second time in four games in 1980. Tim Williams made nine in a row in the Horseshoe in five games in 1992 and ’93. Nugent has made seven in a row in Ohio Stadium, all this year. Nugent, who had seven field goals all of last year, also has made all 14 of his PAT attempts this year.
Big Ten Leaders
Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett leads the Big Ten in rushing with an average of 157 yards a game. His 7.5 yards per carry figure also tops the league charts. Additionally, Clarett paces the conference in scoring with 42 points, an average of 14 points a game. Clarett also is second in all-purpose yardage with an average of 172.3 yards per game. Kicker Mike Nugent leads in kick scoring with 11.7 points a game and is second in overall scoring. He also leads the conference in field goal percentage (100.0/ 7-of-7) and PAT accuracy (100.0/ 14-of-14). Punter Andy Groom is second in the league with an average of 44.0. Sophomore Chris Gamble is second in punt returns with an average of 15.2 yards per runback. Defensively, end Will Smith is second in tackles-for-loss with six. He, fellow end Darrion Scott and linebacker Cie Grant rank among the league leaders in sacks.
From a team standpoint, Ohio State is first in scoring offense (40.3), red zone efficiency (11-12/.917) and red zone defense (3-8/.375) and second in rushing offense (251.0), total offense (417.3) scoring defense (15.0) and rushing defense (73.0)
| QB Craig Krenzel |
Krenzel Ties Ohio State’s Consecutive CompletionRecord
Junior quarterback Craig Krenzel carved a niche for himself in theOhio State records book against Kent State by completing his first11 pass attempts. That string, coupled with a successful toss onhis last attempt at the end of the Texas Tech game, gave Krenzel 12completions in a row, tying the school record set by Bill Mrukowskiin 1962 and later equaled by Mike Tomczak (1983) and Jim Karsatos(1985).
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. Tackle Ivan Douglas will be the captain this week at Cincinnati. Offensive captains to date have been: Craig Krenzel (Texas Tech), Mike Stafford (Kent State) and Ben Hartsock (Washington State).
A Very 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. “I set little goals for myself when I came here,” he said. “At first, I just wanted to contribute everyday and help the team. So now, to be a starter, well, that is special.”
Stafford served as the offensive captain against Kent State and was named Offensive Lineman of the Week after that game. Apparently there are more thrills to come for the 6-3, 280-pound lineman.
Ohio State All-Time
With the win over Washington State, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 735-292-53 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 400-155-24 since beginning league play in 1913.
Freshman Class Has Early Impact
After three games, 11 members of Ohio State’s highly touted freshman class have seen game action. Maurice Clarett, Tyler Everett, Mike D’Andrea, Nate Salley, Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk, E.J. Underwood, Mike Kudla and Joel Penton all played against Texas Tech in the season opener. Offensive linemen Robbie Sims and Nick Mangold debuted in the Kent State game. In the latter, Clarett scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 2-yard run and the other on a 7-yard pass reception, while Hawk tallied his first collegiate six-pointer on a 34-yard interception return.
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
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.
Scouting Cincinnati
The Bearcats are off to a 1-1 start to the 2002 season after getting by Texas Christian, 36-29, in overtime Sept. 2 and then losing, 35-32 Sept. 14 to West Virginia.
On offense the Bearcats are averaging 410.5 yards per game, including 281 yards through the air and 129.5 yards on the ground. On defense, Cincinnati is giving up an average of 436.5 yards per game, including 221 yards by pass and 215.5 yards by rush.
Running back Dema McCleskey has 202 yards through the first two games of the season. Quarterback Gino Guidugli has completed 38-of-68 passes (55.9 percent) for 562 yards. He has thrown four touchdowns, but also has been intercepted four times. He owns an efficiency rating of 132.95. Leading the receivers is LaDaris Vann, who has 13 grabs for 163 yards and one touchdown.
Jonathan Ruffin is 1-of-2 on field goal attempts this season. After no tries in the opener against TCU, he hit a 35-yarder against West Virginia and then missed a game-tying try from 49 yards as time expired. Chet Ervin handles punting duties for the Bearcats. His 10 punts this season have gone for an average of 39.5 yards. He has downed two inside the 20, one for a touchback and none have been blocked.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Antwan Peek leads the team with 21 tackles, including four that have gone for losses totaling 11 yards. He also has 1.5 sacks. He has forced one fumble and blocked one kick. Six other players, including Ivan Fields (FS) and Andre Frazier (DE) who each have 18, have double-digit tackle totals. The defensive unit has two picks and has forced two fumbles.
Cincinnati has yet to score in the second quarter this season. The Bearcats have scored 24 points in the opening quarter and only seven in the third quarter. The fourth quarter is a different story as UC has scored 30 points. In the win over TCU, they used a 15-point fourth quarter comeback before Guidugli scampered 14 yards for the winning score in overtime. The Bearcats are averaging 34 points per contest while limiting opponents to 32 points.
The 2001 Bearcats
Cincinnati finished 7-5 a year ago, after losing the Motor City Bowl to Toledo, 23-16. It was the third bowl appearance for the Bearcats in the last five seasons. In 2001, the Bearcats had wins over Army, Tulane, UAB, Houston, Connecticut, Memphis and Louisiana-Monroe. Quarterback Gino Guidugli was the unanimous choice as the Conference USA Freshman of the Year. He was second nationally among freshmen in completions (18.5), fourth in total offense (249.8) and fifth in passing efficiency (137.5).
Cincinnati’s Last Game
Cincinnati came up just short as Jonathan Ruffin’s 49-yard field goal hit the left upright as time expired in a 35-32 loss to West Virginia last Saturday at Nippert Stadium. West Virginia gained 363 yards rushing, led by Avon Cobourne’s 193 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns. Rasheed Marshall completed 16-of-24 passes for 189 yards and a score and ran for 44 yards and two scores. Miquelle Henderson caught eight passes for 105 yards. McCleskey led the Bearcat rushing attack, gaining 118 yards on 24 carries to move into sixth place on UC’s career rushing list with 2,328 yards. Guidugli completed 20-of-30 passes for 275 yards and two scores and also ran for a score. Murray caught six balls, all on the final drive, for 63 yards.
Meet Coach Rick Minter
Rick Minter, a 1977 graduate of Henderson State University, is now in his ninth season as head coach of the Bearcats. That is the longest coaching tenure by any of Cincinnati’s previous 34 coaches. He owns a career record of 42-50-1 and has guided the Bearcats to three bowl appearances during the last five seasons. Minter trails only Hall of Fame mentor Sid Gillman on the school’s all-time win list. Gillman won 50 games in his six seasons in the Queen City. Minter became the Cincinnati coach in 1994 after coaching linebackers as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame in 1992-93. He also has assistant coaching stops at Ball State, New Mexico State, N.C. State, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas and Henderson State, where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1977.
Clarett Questionable for UC Game
Ohio State freshman tailback Maurice Clarett underwent arthroscopic surgery early Tuesday to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. His status for the game against Cincinnati was termed “questionable” early in the week by head coach Jim Tressel.
Fickell Newest OSU Staff Member
Former Ohio State defensive lineman Luke Fickell has joined Jim Tressel’s staff as special teams coach. Fickell replaces 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.
Charting the 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.
Game 1 Recap-Texas Tech
Ohio State opened the 2002 campaign Aug. 24 with a convincing 45-21 victory over Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic. It was 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
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.
Opening Day Streak Extended
The victory over Texas Tech 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.
Media Luncheons
The weekly media lunches this year will again be held on 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. This week’s players are Matt Wilhelm, Ivan Douglas and Alex Stepanovich.
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 an open practice should check with a member of the Athletics Communications staff to see which periods are open.
Tressel 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.
Buckeyes Open Big Ten Season Next Week
Ohio State opens the 2002 Big Ten season next week by hosting the Indiana Hoosiers, who are under the first-year direction of Gerry DiNardo. Game time is 12:10 p.m. EDT.
Former Buckeye on UC Staff
Cincinnati secondary coach Dino Dawson played for the Buckeyes from 1984-86. Dawson played wide receiver at Ohio State.
