No Outside Practice on Team Media Day Wednesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
LOS ANGELES – Contrary to what the English born singer-song writer Albert Hammond wrote and sang in his 1972 hit “It Never Rains in Southern California,” it does rain in Southern California. It did not pour, but persistent rains Wednesday morning in Los Angeles soaked the practice fields and prompted the cancellation of Ohio State’s scheduled afternoon practice at the Home Depot Center.
Following a team media day at the media headquarters, the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown, the Buckeyes returned to their hotel late Wednesday morning for team meetings before the originally scheduled 1:15 p.m. practice. The team learned then that a decision had been made not to practice outdoors because of the weather.
The team still used the time available to prep for the game. The Buckeyes used some of the giant conference room and meeting room space in the lower level of the Marriott for numerous offensive, defensive and position meetings.
The Aroma of Fresh Chili Players and coaches enjoyed hot dogs and chili dogs from local Hollywood eatery Pink’s after their position meetings and team sessions at the Hyatt. Pink’s, a family-owned hot dog stand since 1939, is known as the hot dog to the stars. Best way to find the restaurant according to its web site is to look for a crowd and “follow the aroma of fresh meaty chili and soft hot dog buns.”
Song was a Top 5 Hit “It Never Rains in Southern California” was a major hit song, peaking at No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1972. Sonny and Cher and Barry Manilow also recorded versions of the song.
Nice to see Steve Long-time Ohio State sports information director Steve Snapp, a veteran of 35 bowl games, is at his 36th. Snapp, who is continuing to improve and rehabilitate after suffering a stroke almost a year ago, came to the Rose Bowl this year on one of the booster organization bowl packages.
Massive Media Day The media day Wednesday was a 45-minute full team affair. Each of the 102 players on the trip was made available to the assembled media contingent, which is growing by day — the Rose Bowl has around 450 credentialed media members. The players were either seated at one of 11 round tables situated in the Marriott ballroom or they were at a raised podium with TV lights and microphones. Every Buckeye player attended.
Low Key Thad Junior defensive end Thaddeus Gibson has enjoyed the stay in Los Angeles after previously spending two bowl weeks in Scottsdale, Ariz. (one Fiesta Bowl and one BCS championship game) and one in New Orleans (BCS championship game). He hasn’t left the hotel much, though.
“The mall [adjacent to the hotel] is fun, but I really haven’t done much,” Gibson said. “It is a fun week, but this is a work week and I’m concentrating on getting myself ready to go.”
Same for Simon Freshman defensive tackle John Simon hasn’t been out experiencing Los Angeles outside of team functions, either, preferring instead to stay close to the hotel.
“It is a great experience,” Simon said of his first bowl trip. “I haven’t gone out at all. I’d like to, but I want to stay focused on the game.”
Last is Best Fifth-year senior Andrew Moses is having his best bowl trip. The already graduated Moses (political science) has been on four previous bowl trips – all BCS games; 2006 Fiesta Bowl, 2007 BCS championship game, 2008 BCS championship game and 2009 Fiesta Bowl – and he says this Rose Bowl has been his best.
“This bowl trip, with the sites of Los Angeles and places like Disneyland, has been the best,” Moses said. “My teammates have made it great. This is a really close team and just hanging out with my teammates has been fantastic. Plus, Lawry’s was great and I went to Long Beach, too.”
West Coast Grant There is only one player on Ohio State’s roster from California: junior receiver Grant Schwartz. He is from Dana Hills, near Disneyland, and coming to a bowl game in his home state has been nothing short of cool for him.
“It is a cool experience to come here with all the guys,” Schwartz said. “It’s my home state so it’s a lot different of a road trip for me. I haven’t been able to show the guys things like my high school, but Disneyland was cool. I’ve been there a bunch of times so I was able to show the guys around.”
Friends Counting the time he spent at home prior to the holidays, Schwartz has been able to hook up with many high school friends. They shouldn’t ask Grant for tickets to the game, though. He gets six tickets for family and friends and they were gone immediately. He did say he’ll have about 30 friends and family at the game.
Click the links above to listen to audio from Ohio State players and to view a photo album of images from Wednesday.
###OhioStateBuckeyes.com###
