Football: Players Meet the Media Tuesday After Practice – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Ohio State players Dionte Johnson, Anderson Russell and Ryan Pretorius met with the Columbus media on Tuesday after practice. The top-ranked Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0) face No. 19 Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2) this Saturday in the Horseshoe (Noon, Big Ten Network).
Ryan Pretorius, junior kicker
On the kick return against Penn State
“Well that kick had a real good hang time, about 4.21. That never should have happened. I can’t really tell you what went wrong.”
On the special teams unit
“Basically nothing can go wrong. If any one of the 11 guys on the field has a slip up, they will have a fair chance to block it. I get all the praise, but really it should go to all of us. We are all working together.”
On coming to America
“I have really just been following a dream. I played soccer and rugby as a kid. Then my rugby career took off. Then my shoulder gave out on me and I heard I could come to America and just kick. When I first got here I put on the pads and couldn’t kick for the life of me, but two year later I went to every college coach in the country begging for a chance and coach Tressel gave me a look.”
Anderson Russell, sophomore defensive back
On fight though injury
“I sprained my ankle in the second quarter of the Minnesota game. I did my best to fight threw it. I have really been working with the trainers and today my ankle has felt the best it has it a while.”’
On Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill
“It is a huge challenge. He is a big back and he has a great offensive line. They are all big guys — 300 pounds each. It is going to be a physical game, but we are coming off a physical game (Penn State) last week.”
On injuries
“Football is a tough game. Everyone one gets dinged up. You just have to fight through that. At this point in the season everyone is hurting a little.”
Dionte Johnson, senior fullback, captain
On the kickoff returns for touchdowns against Ohio State
“It is (deflating). Especially after the defense plays such a great game. I think that’s the second time we’ve given up a kickoff for a touchdown. You don’t want that to go against them (defense) in the stat column.”
On Wisconsin winning three straight in Ohio Stadium
“It’s not really like we’re going into the game looking at it, but at the same time we’re going to be thinking about the last time we played them and that puts a bad taste in your mouth. I wouldn’t say so much that it’s Coach Tressel reminding us, but the players are. A lot of us were here in ’04 when they beat us.”
