Football Coaches Look For Answers In Spring – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 31, 2003
Spring practice is a time for teaching, for emphasizing and re-emphasizing fundamentals, for experimentation. It is also the time when a team develops its personality.
“I think a lot of the success we enjoyed last fall was the result of what we accomplished in the spring,” says Craig Krenzel, the quarterback of the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship football team. “We came together as a unit in the spring and that feeling carried over into the season.”
The Buckeyes were THE story of the 2002 college football season – first because of what they did and secondly because of the way they did it. In rolling to a perfect 14-0 record and establishing an NCAA record for the most wins ever by a Division 1-A school, Ohio State won seven games by seven or fewer points, including a thrilling 31-24 double overtime victory over defending national champion Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
Not bad for a team that began the season ranked 13th in the initial Associated Press poll
“We always believed in ourselves,” said Krenzel, the Offensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. “Our goal was to get better each day and take each game one at a time.”
Krenzel expects that same type of focus when the Buckeyes open spring practice in early April.
“We know what it takes to win,” says the 6-4 signal caller. “We know, too, that we will have to work even harder this year, because everyone will be gunning for us.
“Besides, the coaches aren’t going to let us spend any time thinking about last year. The focus now is on 2003.”
Tressel and his talented staff have 51 lettermen and 18 starters returning from last year’s championship team. All 11 starters return on offense, and six are back from one of the nation’s best defenses. All-America place-kicker Mike Nugent rounds out the list of holdovers.
In addition to Krenzel, who accounted for 2,478 total yards and 15 touchdowns in his first year as a starter, the list of offensive holdovers include three of the nation’s premier skill players in split end Michael Jenkins, flanker Chris Gamble and tailback Maurice Clarett.
Jenkins led the 2002 Buckeyes in receiving with 61 receptions for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns, while the multi-talented Gamble, who also started the final six games of the year on defense, had 31 catches for 499 yards.
Clarett was the Buckeyes leading rusher, becoming the second true freshman in school history to top the 1,000-yard mark. The 6-0, 230-pound rookie finished the season with 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns. Both totals would have been much higher had he not been forced to sit out three full games and parts of two others because of injuries.
Additionally, the entire offensive line, led by all-star candidates Alex Stepanovich at center and Shane Olivea at tackle, returns intact.
The OSU defense also claims Gamble as a returning starter. Arguably, the best all-around player in college football, Gamble picked off a team leading four interceptions last year and played in 100 or more plays in each of the team’s last four games. In the Fiesta Bowl, he held Miami’s ace receiver Andre Johnson to four receptions, with three of those coming in the first quarter.
Other defensive notables include ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott and tackle Tim Anderson, three-fourths of the best defensive front in college football a year ago.
But even with a solid nucleus of veterans returning, there is still plenty of work to do. Just ask the coach.
“If you watched our games last year, you know we have to improve in every phase of everything we do,” says Tressel, a near unanimous choice as the 2002 National Coach of the Year. “We can still get a lot better. But in order to do that, we have to work hard in the spring and set the tone for fall camp.”
| Dustin Fox is one of six returning starters on defense. |
One of the Buckeyes’ priorities on offense during the month of April will be developing depth along the offensive front.
“We were able to play a couple of our young guys, like Rob Sims and Nick Mangold, last year and we feel pretty good about how they played,” says offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. “But we need to get them more reps. And we want to take long looks at (redshirts) T.J. Downing, R.J. Coleman and Mike Datish. Those are three pretty good football players and we need to see where they best fit in.
“This is a chance, too, to get Mike Kne some more experience. He played well in our jumbo package last year and this spring could really help him.
“We want to be a balanced offense and that starts with the play up front.”
There will be other points of emphasis as well on offense, like developing the depth at wide receiver and more consistent play at the running back positions.
“We have some very good young receivers with a lot of potential,” says Bollman. “Spring will be an important time for them.
“We want our fullbacks to block better and all three of our tailbacks to become more complete players.”
Defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio has similar concerns as he looks toward the coming season.
“We want to see how good our young players are, especially the defensive backs,” he says. “This is a chance for us to move some people around and see who fits in where.
“Do we move Dustin Fox to safety or do we leave him at corner? How and where do Nate Salley and Tyler Everett fit into our plans? Who will be the nickel back? That is what spring practice is all about.”
With the loss of seniors Kenny Peterson and David Thompson at tackle, Dantonio will pay close attention to the progress of Mike Kudla, Jay Richardson and Joel Penton at end and Quinn Pitcock at tackle. Kudla worked his way in the two deep last year as a freshman. The other three were redshirted.
“We had eight guys we could rotate in-and-out of there on the defensive line last year,” he says. “We want to develop that kind of depth again this year.”
Added Dantonio, “We need to find some linebackers, too. We lost a couple of pretty good ones in Matt Wilhelm and Cie Grant. That should be an interesting battle because we have some good young players (A.J. Hawk, Mike D’Andrea and Bobby Carpenter) waiting to show what they can do.
“We also need to find out who are leaders are. Those guys usually come to the forefront in the spring.”
The departure of senior All-America Andy Groom means the Buckeyes also need to find a punter in the spring.
Nugent, who set seven place-kicking records last year but can also punt, is a possibility. So is B.J. Sander, who was the regular punter in 2000 before giving way to Groom.
“The punt is the most important play in football,” says Tressel. “We need somebody to step up and deliver.”
After all, that’s what spring practice is all about.
SPRING PRACTICE DATES
The Buckeyes open spring practice April 3 and will play the annual Scarlet and Gray Game in Ohio Stadium on April 26. Kickoff for the latter is set for 1:30 p.m. Spring Practice is open to the media, but all reporters and photographers are required to stay behind the restraining ropes at the north end of the practice field. Practice Dates: April 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26
OHIO STATE CLAIMS 2002 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
| Chris Gamble returns as a starter at flanker and cornerback for Ohio State. |
Ohio State concluded the 2002 football season by defeating the Miami Hurricanes, 31-24 in double overtime at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and winning the school’s, and the Big Ten’s, first undisputed National Championship since 1968. The Big Ten champion Buckeyes thus wrapped up a perfect 14-0 season, setting an NCAA Division 1A record for most wins in a season. It was Ohio State’s first unbeaten season since the 1968 team captured the national crown with a 10-0 mark. During the course of the season, Ohio State defeated five ranked teams – Washington State, Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan and Miami. The Buckeyes were No. 2 in the polls heading into their showdown with top-ranked Miami, which entered the Fiesta Bowl with a 34-game winning streak. Ohio State now owns the longest winning streak in Division 1A at 14 games. The Buckeyes also have won nine-consecutive Big Ten games dating back to the final conference game of the 2001 season.
TRESSEL NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel received numerous accolades at the conclusion of the 2002 season. On the heels of the Buckeyes’ 14-0 season and the school’s first consensus national title in 34 years, Tressel was named National Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America, the American Football Coaches Association, the Bobby Dodd Foundation and the Paul “Bear” Bryant Committee. In his two seasons at Ohio State, Tressel has compiled an overall record of 21-5, including a 13-3 mark in Big Ten play. His 17-year career record now stands at 156-62-2.
BUCKEYES RETURN VETERAN CAST FOR 2003
The Buckeyes return 18 starters in 2003, including all 11 starters on offense. There are six holdovers on defense including three members of the front four. All-America place-kicker Mike Nugent rounds out the list of holdovers. Ohio State has 51 returning letter winners – 24 on offense, 22 on defense and five with the special teams.
2003 BUCKEYE ALL-STAR CANDIDATES
Quarterback Craig Krenzel (15-1 as a starter), sophomore tailback Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns as a true freshman), flanker/cornerback Chris Gamble (31 receptions on offense and a team leading four interceptions on defense), split end Michael Jenkins (61 receptions for 1,076 yards), tight end Ben Hartsock, center Alex Stepanovich and tackle Shane Olivea head up a talented cast of holdovers for the Buckeyes on offense.
The Buckeye defense, meanwhile has three of the top defensive linemen in college football returning in ends Will Smith (12.5 TFL) and Darrion Scott (6 sacks) and tackle Tim Anderson. All-America kicker Mike Nugent, who scored 120 points and set seven school records in 2002, is back for his junior year.
OHIO STATE’S 2003 SCHEDULE
Ohio State kicks off the 2003 campaign by hosting the University of Washington Aug. 30. That game will be televised by ABC and is being considered for prime time Saturday evening. OSU’s Sept. 6 game with San Diego State, originally scheduled as a home game for the Aztecs, has been moved to Columbus, giving the Buckeyes eight home games for the second year in a row. As a result of that switch, the Buckeyes open the season with five-consecutive home contests before a bye week Oct. 4. The Buckeyes’ first road game is at Wisconsin, Oct. 11, the second-consecutive trip to Madison for the Scarlet and Gray. The Buckeyes pick up Iowa and Michigan State this year in Big Ten play and drop Illinois and Minnesota. Ohio State and Illinois had played continuously since 1914, a string of 88-consecutive games.
OHIO STATE CLAIMS ITS SEVENTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2002 national title is Ohio State’s seventh overall. The Buckeyes won their first crown in 1942, posting a 9-1 record under Paul Brown. Legendary Buckeye mentor Woody Hayes guided OSU to the 1954 national championship and a perfect 10-0 record behind the running of All-American halfback Howard “Hopalong” Cassady. Hayes did it again in 1957, directing Ohio State to a 9-1 mark that began with a season-opening loss to TCU. In 1961, on the heels of an 8-0-1 record, the Football Writers proclaimed the Buckeyes as national champions. In 1968, Ohio State’s super sophomores upset No. 1 Purdue in the third game of the season and went on to post a 10-0 mark. The Buckeyes concluded the ’68 season by downing USC in the Rose Bowl and were everyone’s choice as the best team in college football. In 1970, the Buckeyes posted a 9-1 record (their lone loss was to Stanford in the Rose Bowl) and were picked by the National Football Foundation as the top team in college football.
BUCKEYES BAG 29TH BIG TEN CROWN
With an 8-0 record in 2002, Ohio State captured its 29th Big Ten championships since beginning conference play in 1913. The Buckeyes have captured 15 outright titles and shared 14 others, including the 2002 crown when Iowa also posted an 8-0 record. Last year marked the first time since 1943 – and just the fourth time ever – that the conference has had undefeated co-champions. Ohio State and Minnesota did it in 1935, both teams finishing at 5-0.
OHIO STATE’S BOWL HISTORY
Ohio State has played in 34 bowl games over the years and has an all-time bowl record of 15 wins and 19 losses. The Buckeyes have appeared in 10 different bowls and are the only Big Ten school to play in every New Year’s Day Bowl.
DANTONIO BROYLES AWARD FINALIST
Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Mark Dantonio, was one of five finalists for the 2002 Frank Broyles Award, which goes annually to the leading assistant coach in college football. Under Dantonio’s direction, the Buckeyes allowed just 13.1 points a game, a total that led the Big Ten and was second nationally. The Buckeyes also led the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing 77.7 yards per game (third nationally).
FOUR BUCKEYES EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS IN 2002
Seniors Mike Doss, Matt Wilhelm and Andy Groom, along with sophomore Mike Nugent, were named to first-team All-America berths in 2002.
Doss, the Buckeyes’ hard-hitting strong safety, was named to the Football Writers, Football Coaches, Sporting News, Walter Camp and Associated Press first teams. He is one of just seven three-time All-American in Ohio State history, joining an illustrious group that includes two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.
Wilhelm, who led the team in tackles with 121 at his middle linebacker spot, was named to the Football Writers, Sporting News and Associated Press squads.
Groom, a former walk-on who led the Big Ten in punting, was named to the Football Writers and the Associated Press teams.
Nugent set seven OSU kicking records in 2002. He was named to the Football Coaches and the Walter Camp teams and is the first Ohio State place-kicker to win All-America honors.
Over the years, Ohio State has produced 160 first-team All-Americans.
DOSS, CLARETT RECEIVE TOP BIG TEN ACCOLADES
| Maurice Clarett rushed for an OSU freshman record 1,237 yards in 2002. |
Senior safety Michael Doss was named as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and tailback Maurice Clarett was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2002. Doss was selected by a vote of the Big Ten’s coaches, while Clarett was the choice of the coaches and the media electors.
SEVEN BUCKEYES ON 2002 ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Seven Ohio State players were named to first-team spots on the 2002 All-Big Ten team. Tailback Maurice Clarett (Media), strong safety Mike Doss (Media and Coaches), cornerback Chris Gamble (Coaches), punter Andy Groom (Media/Coaches), kicker Mike Nugent (Media), defensive tackle Darrion Scott (Coaches) and linebacker Matt Wilhelm (Media/Coaches) all earned first-team berths.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel was accorded a second-team berth (M/C), as were offensive tackle Shane Olivea (M/C), split end Michael Jenkins (M/C), defensive tackle Tim Anderson (C), defensive tackle Kenny Peterson (C), defensive end Will Smith (M,/C), and linebacker Cie Grant (C).
All but Doss, Groom, Wilhelm, Peterson and Grant return in 2003.
KRENZEL, GAMBLE SHARE 2002 MVP AWARD
Quarterback Craig Krenzel, who helped engineer a perfect 14-0 season in his first season as a starter, and flanker/cornerback Chris Gamble, the first two-way starter for OSU in more than 30 years, were selected by their teammates as co-Most Valuable Players for the 2002 season. Krenzel threw for 2,110 yards and 12 touchdowns and repeatedly came up with big plays to spark the Ohio State offense. Gamble, who started the last six games of the season on both offense and defense, led the team in interceptions with four and was the second leading receiver with 31 receptions. He played in 100 or more plays in each of the Buckeyes last four games. Krenzel, also the Offensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, will be a senior in 2003, while Gamble will be a junior.
SURE-HANDED JENKINS MOVES UP CAREER LISTS
Senior-to-be Michael Jenkins heads into the 2003 season with at least one catch in 26-consecutive games. The 6-5 split end led the Buckeyes in receiving in 2002 with 61 catches for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns. He now has 110 career receptions for 2,064 career yards. Both totals rank sixth in Ohio State annals. Former Ohio State All-America David Boston is the school record holder in both categories with 191 receptions and 2,855 yards.
NUGENT ASSAULTS RECORDS BOOK
Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent, one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award as college football’s best place-kicker, set seven school records in 2002: most points by a kicker (120), most field goals in a season (25), most consecutive field goals made (24), most consecutive field goals made in a season (23), most consecutive field goals in Ohio Stadium (15), most consecutive games with at least one field goal (12), and most field goals of 40 or more yards in a season (10). He also tied the school mark for 40-yard field goals in a game (3 vs. Washington State). Nugent’s string of 24-consecutive makes came to an end at Illinois when he missed from 37 yards out. He had made 23 in a row, just two shy of the NCAA record.
THREE BUCKEYES WIN ACADEMIC HONORS
Quarterback Craig Krenzel (molecular genetics), tight end Ben Hartsock (biology) and cornerback Dustin Fox (communications) were named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV Football Team. To be eligible for consideration, a player must be a starter or key reserve and have a grade point average of 3.2 or better. Krenzel and Hartsock also were accorded second-team berths on the Verizon Academic All-America team.
MORE ACADEMIC SUCCESS
A total of 27 Ohio State players were named to the 2002 Big Ten All-Academic Football team. That total led the Big Ten. In order to be eligible for consideration, a player must have a GPA of 3.00 or better during the past academic year. Forty-six members of the OSU football team had GPA’s of 3.00 or better during Fall Quarter.
STICKING AROUND FOR THEIR FINAL YEAR
Defensive ends Will Smith and Darrion Scott, along with split end Michael Jenkins, will return for their senior seasons at Ohio State rather than opt for early entry in the NFL draft. Strong safety Michael Doss made the same decision last year and played a key role in leading the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship.
CLARETT SETS SINGLE-SEASON OSU FROSH RUSHING MARK
Tailback Maurice Clarett set the OSU single-season record for rushing yards by a freshman with 1,237 in 2002. Clarett, who sat out three games and played sparingly in two other because of injuries, had seven 100-yard games, including a career-best 230 against Washington State. The latter is the sixth best effort in Ohio State history and is 9 yards short of the OSU freshman rushing record of 239 yards set by Archie Griffin in 1972.
OHIO STATE’S TOP FIVE FRESHMEN RUSHERS
Name Yards Year Gms Maurice Clarett 1,237 2002 11 Robert Smith 1,126 1990 12 Archie Griffin 867 1972 11 Jaymes Bryant 656 1986 13 D.Sensanbaugher 633 1943 9
OHIO STATE ALL-TIME
Ohio State heads into the 2003 campaign with an all-time record of 746-292-53 in 113th seasons. The Buckeyes’ very first football team posted a 3-1 record in 1890. Ohio State also has an all-time Big Ten ledger of 408-155-24 since beginning league play in 1913. The Buckeyes have won or shared 29 Big Ten championships.
BUCKEYES ENJOY RECORD ATTENDANCE
| Will Smith notched 59 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2002. |
A record total of 827,904 fans flocked through the Ohio Stadium gates see the Buckeyes play in 2002. That eight-game total easily eclipsed the old record of 654,500, set in 1991 in seven games. The Buckeyes’ average home attendance of 103,488 is the second highest in OSU history, surpassed only by a 103,532 figure in six games in 2001. A single-game record crowd of 105,539 was on hand for the 2002 Ohio State-Michigan game in Columbus. The Buckeyes drew a total of 1,201, 501 fans in 14 games for an average of 85,821.
TWO NEW NAMES ON OHIO STATE ROSTER
Defensive backs Donte Whitner and Ashton Youboty enrolled at Ohio State at the beginning of the Winter Quarter (Jan. 6) and currently are attending classes and taking part in the winter conditioning program. Both will be take part in spring drills. Whitner played his high school football at Cleveland Glenville. Youboty played at Klein High School in Houston, Texas.
REYNOLDS BROTHERS CLAIM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHPS
Ohio State linebacker Robert Reynolds wasn’t the only member of his family to win a national championship this past year. Robert’s older brother, Patrick, was a starting defensive end for Western Kentucky, which won the 2002 Division 1AA title. Robert will be a senior at Ohio State in 2003. Patrick was a senior last season.
BUCKEYE PLAYER NOTES
Craig Krenzel has thrown for 2,453 yards to date, a total that places him 10th on the all-time Ohio State yardage list. The 6-4 Krenzel also ranks second in career completion percentage at OSU with a .584 figure (176 of 301) heading into the 2003 season … Flanker/cornerback Chris Gamble, the first two-way starter for the Buckeyes since the early 1970s, took part in 100 or more plays in each of the Buckeyes’ last four games in 2002, including 128 at Illinois and 122 against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl … With 25 field goals last year, junior-to-be Mike Nugent has made 32 of 42 career field goal attempts. The school record for career field goals made is 59. Nugent also has converted 72 of 75 extra point attempts … offensive tackle Shane Olivea and defensive linemen Darrion Scott and Simon Fraser will miss spring practice while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Offensive tackle Ivan Douglas also is expected to be held out for medical reasons, and linebacker Pat O’Neill will receive a medical waiver and will not play next year …Defensive end Will Smith, linebacker Robert Reynolds and tight end Ben Hartsock are the Buckeyes’ most experience holdovers with 38 games to their credit. Offensive guard Adrien Clarke is next with 37 and has started 29 times. Guard Bryce Bishop has started a team-best 26 consecutive games. Smith and Tim Anderson each have 23 starts to their credit to lead the defense. Cornerback Dustin Fox has 15 consecutive starts.
