Ohio State Notes and Quotes from Thursday – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 29, 2005
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Ohio State was back on the practice field Thursday at Pinnacle High School as the fourth-ranked Buckeyes continued 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 offensive coordinator Jim Bollman as well as Nick Mangold, Robbie Sims, Santonio Holmes and Troy Smith. Notre Dame brought its defensive players and coordinator.
Both teams will assemble 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).
Jim Tressel, Ohio State head coach
On practice Thursday
“It was another gorgeous day and we scaled back a little bit time-wise and scaled back some of the hitting. We’re about to the point where everyone is itching to play a game.”
On looking back at past bowl games
“We don’t go back and look at past years very much. We do from an administrative standpoint, like when are certain team meals and functions and things like that, but from a practice standpoint we tag it onto where we were when the season ended. We rehearse some things we want to put in and throw some things out because they won’t work against their scheme.”
On the players enjoying themselves this week
“That’s one of the great things about a bowl game. Five years ago I probably would have said I preferred a playoff system because that’s what I knew, but now having been a part of it, there is so much good about the bowl. There is so much camaraderie and you can see how much they are enjoying themselves. This is their reward. They want to go out now and play hard in the game.” On Bobby Carpenter’s status for the game
“Bobby did a little bit more today and it will still be a game-time decision. Today was like a (regular season) Tuesday practice for us and I have seen a lot of heeling happen between Tuesday and Saturday, but I would hesitate to say exactly how it’ll turn out. The medical people are No. 1 and giving it good discretionary thought is No. 2. Bobby wants to play badly if he can play well. You know Bobby doesn’t play half speed.”
Jim Bollman, Ohio State offensive coordinator
On the Ohio State offense
“The thing is our defense is good and deserves credit. The better we can be (on offense) makes our whole outfit better. I know at times it looks conservative and you can say what you want, but it usually comes down to who makes fewer mistakes. There’s no sense in putting those guys in a bind. They always give us good opportunities and we have to take advantage of them.
“In general, the way (sophomore tailback) Antonio Pittman came through the way he did (was crucial). It’s a combination of everything, but for that position to be productive is a huge part.”
On quarterback Troy Smith
“If you look at him from the outside, he’s a guy who makes big plays and he has done that. He has done a good job of decision making and from an efficiency standpoint. And he’s always a threat running the ball. We’ve all seen that, so that gives you some options. I know he’s in there studying all the time and working hard. He’s always there and asking.”
Robbie Sims, senior offensive guard
On the accomplishments of the senior class
“I think it means we have set the bar high. It gives the next class a high goal to shoot for. For me, it means being a part of something special. I remember being recruited and then hearing that we were like the second-best recruiting class and I was like, `Wow, I can’t wait to be a part of that.’ Then as a freshman I was just trying to make it through each play without getting yelled at by Coach Bollman. But it has gone so fast and I’m just proud to have been a part of it.
“It (the Fiesta Bowl) will be emotional (for the seniors). We all came in together and care about each other. We’re a family. This is a very unselfish team. Being back in that stadium (Sun Devil Stadium) will be emotional and it’ll bring back Miami and Kansas State memories. I was just a freshman in that national championship game so I was very nervous. It was a great game – just indescribable.”
On he and Nick Mangold being the seniors on the offensive line
“After we lost those guys like Adrienne Clark, Shane Olivea and Alex Stepanovich, the thing for Nick and I was that we wanted to make our last year as a Buckeye special. This is our baby. This is our contribution to the university.
“We try to go out every wee k and make sure Antonio Pittman has a great game. Our goal is for him to get at least 100 yards every game. But we have so many different ways to come at you. We have a lot of guys who can be the star.”
On quarterback Troy Smith
“Troy is our general. I’m a senior and a captain, but I can only yell so much. And I don’t know how to catch a ball or hit a hole, but I just take care of my guy and let those guys make plays.”
Nick Mangold, senior center
On quarterback Troy Smith’s change from last year
“The biggest difference is his confidence level. He didn’t get as many reps in the preseason so he might have been a little rusty, and when you only get so many reps, a mistake is bigger. As he progressed he got more reps and his confidence grew.”
On being back at the Fiesta Bowl
“This is such a good game and we’ve had a great time out here this week. I could be here another three years. We have beautiful weather and beautiful accommodations. It’s great.”
Santonio Holmes, junior wide receiver
On the OSU and Notre Dame offenses
“Being the underdog as far as the offense goes is fine. Our job is to score some points and let the defense take it from there. Our job isn’t to see how our offense fares against another team’s offense. It’s just going to be a great game and it’s an opportunity for two powerhouses to meet on the field.”
On Notre Dame’s offense getting more publicity than its defense
“Being able to win nine games, you know their defense had something to do with it. And they were able to hold down USC from their normal yardage total.”
Troy Smith, junior quarterback
On staying calm during the game
“You have to be able to stay cool in every phase of the game. Like when people say you have to take it one day at a time, it’s the same in a game. During a game you have to stay on an even keel. You can’t get too high or too low. I don’t have a panic button. To a certain extent it comes natural.”
On what the Fiesta Bowl means to the team
“It’s for the seniors. They could go undefeated in bowl games and have a great college legacy.”
### Go Bucks! ###
