Ohio State Notes and Quotes from Wednesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2005
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Ohio State practiced at Pinnacle High School again Wednesday afternoon as the fourth-ranked Buckeyes continue preparations for the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Monday against No. 5 Notre Dame. Both teams sent selected players and an assistant coach to a morning press conference before taking the field for the second of five days of practice. Ohio State brought defensive coordinator Jim Heacock as well as A.J. Hawk, Mike Kudla, Nate Salley and Anthony Schlegel. Notre Dame brought its offensive players and coordinator.
Both teams will go through the same routine Thursday before assembling in Sun Devil Stadium Friday morning for media day. Press conferences will be held at each team’s practice sight Saturday. Jim Tressel and Charlie Weis will hold a press conference Sunday at the media hotel, marking the final media availability before the game kicks off Monday at 5:12 p.m., EST (3:12 p.m., MST).
WIN NO. 43 FOR OSU SENIORS WOULD TIE SCHOOL RECORD
In the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the Ohio State’s senior class of 16 student-athletes will be aiming for win No. 43 since they arrived at Ohio State, which would tie the school record for wins by one class over a four-year period. The Buckeye senior class of 1998 won 43 games, including two victories against Notre Dame, in their four years from 1995-98. Other top senior classes include 1997 and 1996, which both had 41 wins, and four classes that had 40 wins, including 1975, 1976, 1996 and 1997.
Jim Tressel, Ohio State head coach
On practice Wednesday
“It was a good work out. We had beautiful weather and the kids played crisp, fast and physical. We’ll start scaling it down a little bit as the week goes along and we’re excited for a wonderful match-up.”
On defensive coordinator Jim Heacock and the OSU defense
“Jim Heacock brings excellent confidence and preparation. He is a very inclusive guy. Luke Fickell has a lot of input and Jim (Heacock) brought in Tim Beckman and Paul Haynes and the more feel they get for our kids and our system the more input they have. And guys like Paul Nichols and Mike Pechac do a great job with our defense, too. And our players are veterans and have seen a lot, which gives them confidence through inclusion and high expectations.”
On facing Notre Dame’s tall, physical wide receivers
“You have to have a certain mentality. We’ve faced big guys before and you have to review past performances. You have to work on situations when the ball is thrown up and you have to fight like crazy. We won’t know for sure what they’ll be like until we get out there against them and there will be a little sparring at first, but we definitely respect them just from watching film.”
On what it takes to have a great run defense
“I would say three things. First is a commitment to play the run. Second is having the athletes needed to do it. And third is the scheme to put people in the right position. At Ohio State for years and years we have made a commitment to stop the run and Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell have put us in the scheme that fits our personnel.”
Jim Heacock, defensive coordinator
Looking back on the regular season
“It seemed like every game we were going up against an offense that was clicking and that was very talented. When you look at our schedule, every week was a new challenge. There was no time to sit around and second guess yourself (from the previous game). We went up to Minnesota against their great offense and went up against Northwestern, which has a great offense. There’s never time to dwell on the past.”
On Charlie Weis and the Notre Dame offense
“He does a great job, there’s no question. He’s been around the game a long time and is very intelligent. They do a lot of different things very well and they give you lots of problems. They’ll definitely do some different things and throw us a new wrinkle. We’ll have to adjust. That’ll be our challenge. But it always comes down to blocking, tackling and making plays.”
Nate Salley, senior defensive back
On Notre Dame’s offense
“They put it up deep a lot, like five or six times a half. They try to go for the big play so we have to be ready for that. It’ll be a huge challenge for us in the secondary but we just have to try to stay loose and do our thing. We’re going to have to bring our `A-game’ and be prepared.”
On which team might feel more pressure
“There is a lot of pressure on both teams. Notre Dame hasn’t been to a major bowl in a while and we’re back here again and will be expected to do well. This will just be a great game and I don’t think there could be anything better other than playing in the national championship and if you take two or three plays away against both of us during the regular season we would be playing each other in the Rose Bowl.”
A.J. Hawk, senior linebacker
On going up against Notre Dame’s offense
“Any time you go up against a great offense and a great coach, they’re going to try to find ways to exploit what you do. People talk about match-ups and that’s what it’ll be all about.”
On it being only the fifth meeting between Ohio State and Notre Dame
“That’s part of what makes this such a big game. I remember the two games in 1995 and 1996. They were huge then and this is huge now. I remember (OSU linebackers) Coach Fickell playing in those games and I remember all the hype. It was two huge schools squaring off. Everyone has seen that picture of Eddie (George). It’s up everywhere. It’s a special game. Both teams have a huge national recognition and will bring a bunch of fans. That’s why I’m excited to be playing in it.”
Anthony Schlegel, senior linebacker
On it being another big game for both teams
“They played USC and Michigan – it’s all the same. People talk about the mystique, but when you go to a place like Ohio State, it’s around you all the time. This is a huge game and it’s awesome to be here. It’s the same feeling that we had when we played Texas and Michigan.”
On the Fiesta Bowl
“We had a little time off and now we’re getting focused and getting ready for the task at hand. Already this week this has really opened my eyes as to what this game is all about.”
On he and the linebackers growing their hair long
“We started doing it awhile ago as a tribute to Pat Tillman. We’re just three guys, three friends, and we’ve enjoyed it. And now we’ll end our careers on the field where he played. It’s funny how things come full circle.”
Mike Kudla, senior defense end
On playing Notre Dame
“The game is going to be huge itself because of all the tradition of both schools. Growing up in the mid 90s I watched the Ohio State-Notre Dame games and now it’s great to be a part of it. It’s almost a lifetime opportunity. The build-up for this game is huge.
“These two programs are so huge and tradition-rich in football it’s odd they haven’t played more. Notre Dame is a great team and we expect nothing but their best.”
On the OSU defense
“I think we’ve done a good job switching things up. I give Coach Heacock credit for that. And I think we’ve gotten better as the season has gone on. I’m sure Notre Dame will give us something different and we’ll have to adjust.”
### Go Bucks! ###
