Ohio State vs. Wisconsin – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 8, 2001
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BUCKEYES (3-1) TAKE ON WISCONSIN (3-3) IN THE HORSESHOE
On the heels of its most impressive showing of the season, Ohio State hosts Wisconsin, Saturday, in sold out Ohio Stadium (101,568). Kickoff is set for 3:36 p.m., EDT, on ABC. The Buckeyes are coming off a 38-20 win over 14th-ranked Northwestern this past Saturday. Ohio State led the visiting Wildcats 21-7 at the half and jumped out to a 38-7 lead at the end of three quarters. The Buckeyes are now 2-0 in the Big Ten. They also are 5-0 in night games played in Ohio Stadium. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is trying to bounce back from a shocking 63-32 loss to visiting Indiana Saturday, a game in which the Badgers trailed 32-0 at the end of the first quarter. The loss was the first in two Big Ten starts for Wisconsin. This will be the second of three-consecutive home games for Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes, who wrap up their home stand next week against San Diego State.
RECORD CROWD SEES WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN
An Ohio Stadium record crowd of 104,042 was on hand Saturday to see the Buckeyes defeat Northwestern. The old record of 102,602 didn’t last long. It was set in the Sept. 8 season opener with Akron.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
This is Homecoming Weekend at Ohio State. As part of the festivities this weekend, the annual Captain’s Breakfast, a reunion of former football captains, will be held Saturday morning at the Hilton Easton. The list of this year’s returning captains includes Jim Langhurst, who captained the 1940 Buckeyes. The first Captain’s Breakfast was held in 1934 with 20 former captains attending. At each breakfast, the current captains receive a pewter mug engraved with their name and the year of their captaincy. Other weekend activities include a reunion of the 1961 Ohio State team, which posted an 8-0-1 record and won the Big Ten (6-0). That team, which featured Bob Ferguson, Paul Warfield and Matt Snell, tied TCU in the opener (7-7) and then ran off eight-consecutive wins, including a 50-20 decision over Michigan in the final game of the season.
WBNS RADIO FEEDS STATEWIDE NETWORK
Buckeye fans not in attendance at Saturday’s game can hear all the action on WBNS Radio (1460 AM and 97.1 FM), the flagship station for the 79-station Ohio State radio network. Paul Keels calls the play-by-play and former Buckeye All-America Jim Lachey serves as the color analyst for the broadcast. Another ex-Buckeye, Jim Karsatos, provides the expert sideline commentary. Network programming begins one hour before kickoff. Following the game, WBNS Radio carries Coach Jim Tressel’s press conference live. WBNS also broadcasts the Buckeye Roundtable on Monday nights and the Jim Tressel Call-In Show at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.
ABC HAS BADGER-BUCKEYE TILT
ABC will televise this week’s game between the Badgers and Buckeyes. Brent Musburger will call the play-by-play and Gary Danielson will be the color analyst. Jack Arute will serve as the sideline commentator and Emmy winner Bob Goodrich will produce the game.
BUCKEYES TAME THE CATS
The Buckeyes ran their Big Ten record to 2-0 and chalked up their first win of the season over a ranked opponent, Saturday, downing visiting Northwestern by a final score of 38-20. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells got the Buckeyes off on the right foot, bolting 71 yards off left tackle on the second play from scrimmage to stake OSU to a 7-0 lead. Wells would go on to score two more touchdowns and rush for a career-high 179 yards on 22 carries. The 14th ranked Wildcats tied the game at 7-all on their first possession, but the Buckeyes took a 14-7 lead when Will Smith forced a fumble that junior All-America Mike Doss, scooped up and returned 30 yards for a score. OSU led 21-7 at the half on Wells’ 1-yard run. The Buckeyes put the game out of reach by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half and taking control 38-7. Northwestern, which entered the game averaging 490 yards a game, finished with just 306 yards (216 of that coming on the Wildcats last three possessions). The fast-striking Wildcats, who had been averaging nearly 90 plays a game, managed a season-low 79 against an aggressive, well-prepared Ohio State defense, which forced two turnovers and recorded 10 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. The Wildcats dangerous duo of quarterback Zak Kustok and running back Damien Anderson was held to a combined total of 221 yards. Wells got plenty of support in the running department from sophomore Sammy Maldonado and freshman Lydell Ross. Maldonado banged his way through and around the Wildcat defense for 60 yards on 13 carries. Ross added 33 yards on 11 attempts, including a dazzling 9-yard touchdown run at the start of the third quarter that gave OSU a 28-7 bulge. Ohio State finished with a season-high 287-yards rushing on 53 attempts. The 38 points also was a season high for the Buckeyes who downed the Wildcats for the 22nd-consecutive time.
TRESSEL ON LAST WEEK
“It was a great night for football and the fans were just tremendous. We asked our kids to play hard from start to finish, because Northwestern does, and I think our players responded. One of the things we wanted to do offensively was keep control of the ball and keep them off the field. Running the ball successfully was a key. The defensive touchdown gave us a big lift, and the way we came out in the second half and scored on our first three possessions was key. Defensively, we kept up with their offensive pace and didn’t seem to get caught off guard. A lot of credit goes to Brandon Blaney, our defensive graduate assistant, who ran the scout team offense last week and gave us a great look at their offensive tempo,” Jim Tressel said.
| Safety Mike Doss |
DOSS BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior All-America Mike Doss is this week’s Big Ten DefensivePlayer of the Week. In addition to returning a Northwestern fumble30 yards for an Ohio State touchdown, Doss had a team-high 14tackles, including a sack, in the Buckeyes’ win over the Wildcats.The 5-11, 203-pounder also was credited with one pass broken up.Doss is the second Ohio State player to win Big Ten Player of theWeek honors this year. Quarterback Steve Bellisari received theaward following the Akron game.
WELLS HAS HIS BEST DAY
Senior tailback Jonathan Wells ran for a career-high 179 yards on 22 carries Saturday. He also scored a career-high three touchdowns. Wells has now topped the 100-yard mark twice this year (119 vs. Akron) and four times during his career. His previous high was 131 yards at Illinois last season. With 414 yards this year, he should easily surpass his previous season high of 598 set last year.
“I think I am running a little bit more instinctively this year,” said the 6-1, 230-pounder from River Ridge, La. “But on that touchdown run to start the (Northwestern) game, it was pretty much just straight-ahead running behind great blocking.”
BUCKEYES BACK IN THE TOP 25
After dropping out of the rankings for two weeks following their Sept. 22 loss at UCLA, the Buckeyes are back in the Top 25 this week, checking in at the No. 21 spot in the Associated Press Poll and the No. 25 position in the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes held down the 21st spot in both polls prior to their 13-6 loss to the Bruins.
A LOOK AT THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes are 2-0 at home and 1-1 on the road this year. They also are 1-1 against teams ranked in the Top 25. Following Saturday’s win, OSU is averaging 369.5 yards and 24.8 points per game. The Buckeyes are third in the Big Ten in rushing yardage at 210.2 yards per game. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells is averaging 103.5 yards per game, good for fourth place among conference runners. He also is second in scoring with 9.0 points a game. Defensively, the Buckeyes are surrendering 303.5 yards and 15.3 points per game. They rank second in scoring defense and third in total defense. Ohio State also is second in time of possession with an average of 32:38 minutes per game. In the special teams department, the Buckeyes rank first in net punting (39.8) as well as in kickoff coverage (17.1 yards per return). Ohio State has rushed for nine touchdowns this year and thrown for two. The defense has given up seven touchdowns – four through the air and three rushing. Two of those aerial TDs came in the waning moments of Saturday’s game with Northwestern. Ohio State was 3-for-3 in the red zone against Northwestern and is now 8-for-8 in the last two games. Also in the last two games, Ohio State has a 4-1 edge in the turnover department. On the season, OSU has nine takeaways and has turned the ball over six times.
OHIO STATE COACH JIM TRESSEL
With a 3-1 mark in this, the early stages of his first year as head coach at Ohio State, Jim Tressel now sports a lifetime record of 138-58-2. Prior to coming to Ohio State, the 48-year-old Tressel spent 15 highly successful years at Youngstown State, where he led the Penguins to four Division 1-AA National Championships, six trips to the title game (including an unprecedented four in a row) and 10 appearances in the playoffs. Tressel was a four-time choice as the Division 1-AA National Coach of the Year at Youngstown, winning that honor in 1991, ’93, ’94 and ’97. He also was a six-time pick as Ohio Coach of the Year.
Born in Mentor, Ohio, Tressel grew up in Berea, Ohio, where his father, the late Lee Tressel, was the head coach at Baldwin Wallace College and a legendary figure in Ohio college coaching circles. The elder Tressel led B-W to the 1978 Division III National Championship and was National Coach of the Year that season.
Tressel played for his father at Baldwin Wallace, winning all-conference honors at quarterback as a senior. He graduated cum laude in 1975 with a degree in education and embarked upon his coaching career in 1975 as a graduate assistant at Akron, where he spent four seasons (the last three in a full-time capacity) and earned his master’s degree in education. Tressel’s coaching career then took him to Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse before coming to Ohio State in 1983 as a member of Earle Bruce’s staff. He spent three years as an Ohio State assistant, serving as quarterbacks and receivers coach the first year and taking on the added responsibility of the running backs his last two years. While Tressel was at Ohio State, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 27-9, played in the Fiesta, Rose and Citrus bowls and captured the 1984 Big Ten title. Some of his more notable pupils during that time included Cris Carter, Mike Tomczak and Keith Byars.
Tressel left Ohio State following the 1985 season to become head coach at Youngstown State. He remained there until returning to Ohio State this past January as the 22nd head football coach in Ohio State history. This will be Tressel’s first meeting with Wisconsin.
BUCKEYES AND BADGERS SERIES BEGAN IN 1913
This will be the 69th meeting between the two schools in a rivalry that began in 1913. The Buckeyes lead the series 49-14-5 and have a 27-5-3 advantage in Columbus. Ohio State prevailed 23-7 in Madison last year behind the running of tailback Derek Combs who rushed for 122 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. The Buckeyes have won four of the last five, the lone loss coming in 1999 in Columbus (42-17). Between 1960 and 1980, Ohio State reeled off 21-consecutive wins against the Badgers. That streak ended in 1981 with a 24-21 Wisconsin victory in Madison. The Badgers also defeated the Buckeyes the following year, 6-0, in Columbus and were 5-2 in a seven-game stretch from 1981 to 1987.
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
After opening the season with a 26-17 win over Virginia in the Eddie Robinson Classic, the Badgers split their next four games. The unexpected loss to Indiana leaves them at 3-3 for all games and 1-1 in Big Ten play. On the season, Wisconsin is averaging 380 yards a game and giving up 339.7. Even though Indiana rushed for 449 yards, the Badgers are still giving up just 170 yards a game on the ground. Redshirt freshman Anthony Davis leads the Big Ten in rushing with an average of 140 yards per game. He has carried the ball 117 times, but did not play last week. Quarterback Brooks Bollinger, who sat out losses to Oregon State and Fresno State with a liver contusion, is back in the lineup. He has completed 30 of 59 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns in the four games he has played in. His backup, Jim Sorgi, has proven to be a very capable replacement, throwing for 748 yards and five TDs. Ohioan Lee Evans (Bedford) leads the team in receptions with 35 for 718 yards and four touchdowns. He leads the Big Ten in receiving yards per game at 119.7. Defensively, the Badgers are led by linebacker Nick Greisen a 6-2, 234-pound senior who is the Big Ten’s second leading tackler with an average of 13.5 in six games. Senior defensive lineman Wendell Bryant leads the Big Ten in sacks with seven and has 11 tackles-for-loss.
VETERAN ALVAREZ LEADS THE BADGERS
Barry Alvarez is in his 12th year at the helm of the Badgers. During his stay in Madison, he has directed Wisconsin to three Big Ten championships and three appearances in the Rose Bowl. With a 3-3 slate this year, Alvarez has a lifetime record of 82-51-4 with the Badgers. He is 2-6-1 against Ohio State, including a 1-3 mark in Columbus. Alvarez’s 11-year stay as head coach at Wisconsin makes him the dean of Big Ten coaches (Penn State’s Joe Paterno is in his ninth year in the league).
TRESSEL ON WISCONSIN
“I have no idea what happened last week, but I am sure Wisconsin will come in here this week and be ready to play. They have some very skilled players on offense and are a very physical football team. Defensively, up until last week, they had been playing well,” Tressel said.
BUCKEYE DEFENSE PUTS THE WRAPS ON YET ANOTHER HEISMAN HOPEFUL
The Ohio State defense limited Northwestern running back Damien Anderson 80 yards on 21 carries. Anderson had entered the game averaging 125 yards a game. Anderson is the third Heisman Trophy candidate to meet his match in the form of the Ohio State defense. The Buckeyes held UCLA’s DeShaun Foster to 66 yards on 29 carries and bottled up Indiana’s talented Antwaan Randle El to the tune of 251 yards in total offense.
BUCKEYE PLAYMAKER
If former Buckeye All-American Cris Carter just catches touchdown passes, junior strong safety Mike Doss just makes plays. Doss came up with another “backbreaker” Saturday against Northwestern, scooping up a Damien Anderson fumble and returning it 30 yards for a touchdown. Doss, who also has blocked two punts this year (UCLA and Indiana), has a team-high 29 tackles on the year and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (5) and sacks (2). The 5-11, 203-pound junior was a consensus All-Big Ten pick last year and also was named to a first-team berth on the Sporting News All-America team.
BENTLEY THE CENTER OF ATTENTION
Senior center LeCharles Bentley continues to draw high praise from first-year Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. “LeCharles is playing just about as well as any center I have ever been around,” said Tressel, whose previous stops include assistant’s stints at Syracuse and Ohio State. “He is smart, clever, competitive and rarely makes a mistake. If he continues to play the way he has, I can’t imagine a better center in college football.” Bentley, 6-2 and 300, is in his second full year as a starter. The Cleveland, Ohio product, who when he isn’t playing football enjoys gourmet cooking, was the Buckeyes’ Offensive Player of the Game following UCLA and the Lineman of the Game after Indiana and Northwestern.
ROSS SHOWING YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE
When freshman running back Lydell Ross ripped through the Indiana defense for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns Sept. 29, he became the youngest Ohio State runner ever to rush for 100 or more yards in a game. The 17-year-old Ross (he turns 18 Dec. 4) also is the first Ohio State freshman to top the century mark since Robert Smith in 1990. The only other Buckeye freshman to do so is two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, who accomplished the feat in 1972. Ross contributed 33 yards and his third touchdown of the season in the win over Northwestern and now has 174 yards on the year. His 9-yard TD run against the Wildcats gave the Buckeyes a commanding 28-7 lead early in the third quarter.
BUCKEYES PLAYER NOTES
Freshman kicker Mike Nugent booted his first collegiate field goal Saturday, hitting from 44 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 38-7 lead. Nugent also made both of his PAT attempts … Derek Ross picked off his first interception of the year Saturday, returning it 43 yards. It was the third interception of his career … True freshman Dustin Fox got his first start Saturday when the Buckeyes opened in a nickel package. He was credited with six tackles in the unofficial press box stats … Doss’ fumble return was the third TD of his career. He scored twice on fumble recoveries last year.
| Wide Receiver Michael Jenkins |
JENKINS PACES OSU RECEIVING CORPS
Sophomore Michael Jenkins continues to lead the Buckeyes inreceptions. Jenkins had a pair of receptions against Northwestern,giving him 12 on the year. Jenkins is averaging 66 yards per gameand 22 yards per reception. In addition to Jenkins, nine otherBuckeyes have at least one reception to their credit. Junior ChrisVance has the longest reception of the year – a 61-yard TDcatch-and-run in the season opener against Akron. Fullback JamarMartin is the Buckeyes second leading receiver with seven catches,six more than he had all of last year.
GROOM NOW TIED FOR THIRD IN THE BIG TEN
Junior Andy Groom ranks third in this week’s Big Ten punting statistics with an average of 44.1 yards per punt on 15 punts. That figure is good for 16th place nationally. Groom, a former walk-on who was converted to scholarship earlier this year, had four punts against Northwestern, including a 59-yarder. He also dropped three punts inside the NU 20.
GETTING THE JOB DONE UP FRONT
One of the reasons for the success of the OSU defense this year has been the stellar play of the defensive front. Starters Mike Collins and Tim Anderson at tackle and Darrion Scott and Will Smith at ends have combined for 47 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss, while reserves Tim Cheatwood, Kenny Peterson and Simon Fraser have come off the bench to collect six tackles-for-loss of their own. That group also has four of the team’s 10 sacks and has applied relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
BELLISARI EIGHTH IN TOTAL OFFENSE
With 618 yards this year, senior quarterback Steve Bellisari has 5,088 yards in career total offense at Ohio State. That total ranks him eighth on the all-time OSU list. Bellisari also has thrown for 4,553 yards during his career and stands seventh in Ohio State annals.
Ohio State Career Total Offense Leaders 1. Art Schlichter 8,850 1,464 atts. 1978-81 2. Bobby Hoying 7,152 1,026 atts. 1992-95 3. Greg Frey 6,098 988 atts. 1987-90 4. Joe Germaine 6,094 852 atts. 1996-98 5. Mike Tomczak 6,015 858 atts. 1981-83 6. Archie Griffin 5,589 924 atts. 1972-75 7. Jim Karsatos 5,261 759 atts. 1983-86 8. Steve Bellisari 5,088 866 atts. 1998-01
Ohio State Career Passing Yards Leaders 1. Art Schlichter 7,547 497-951 1978-81 2. Bobby Hoying 7,232 498-858 1992-95 3. Joe Germaine 6,370 439-741 1996-98 4. Greg Frey 6,316 443-835 1987-90 5. Mike Tomczak 5,569 376-675 1981-84 6. Jim Karsatos 5,089 359-629 1983-86 7. Steve Bellisari 4,553 306-617 1998-01
WALTER KEEPS ON TICKING
Senior Tyson Walter, who sat out all of last year with a back injury, has returned to action this season and has started the first four games, giving the 6-5, 300-pound senior a string of 41-consecutive starts as the Buckeyes head into this week’s game with Wisconsin. The versatile Walter has started two games a left guard (Akron and Indiana) and two at left tackle (UCLA and Northwestern) this season. Assuming he starts the remaining seven regular-season games, and possibly a bowl game, Walter will establish an Ohio State record for starts.
BUCKEYE INJURY REPORT
Sophomore split end Drew Carter, who missed the first two games with a foot injury, suffered a knee injury prior to the Indiana game and did not make the trip to Bloomington. Carter is expected to undergo surgery and is out indefinitely. Prior to being hurt in fall camp, Carter was penciled in as a starter. He had six receptions last year.
OSU FRESHMEN MAKING A CONTRIBUTION
Seven true freshmen have seen action to date for the Buckeyes: running backs Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, split end Chris Gamble, flanker Angelo Chattams, defensive tackle Simon Fraser, safety Dustin Fox and kicker Mike Nugent. Additionally, offensive tackle Ryan Cook is on the two deep, but has not recorded any playing time thus far.
OHIO STATE’S AWARDS CANDIDATES
The Buckeyes, the most decorated team in the 1990s in terms of major individual awards, always seem to have their share of all-star candidates and this year is no exception. On offense, center LeCharles Bentley is an All-America and Outland Trophy candidate. A veteran of 40 games and 24-consecutive starts, the 6-2, 300-pound senior is the wheel horse of the Buckeyes’ offensive front. He has played brilliantly through the first four games. Additionally, left tackle Tyson Walter has returned with a flourish and seems headed for postseason honors. On defense, tackle Mike Collins and safety Mike Doss are on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi and Thorpe awards, respectively. Both are among the best in the country at their positions. In the first four games, Doss already has two blocked punts and has returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Although fullbacks rarely make All-conference or All-America teams in this day and age, Jamar Martin is an exceptional football player and one of the keys to the Ohio State offense. Renowned for his fierce blocking, Martin is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 9.3 yards per reception. Linebackers Joe Cooper (a third-team All-America by the Associated Press last year) and Matt Wilhelm are both candidates for the Butkus Award.
BUCKEYE CAPTAINS
Seniors Steve Bellisari, Jamar Martin, Joe Cooper and Mike Collins are the 2001 Ohio State captains. Bellisari and Cooper also were captains last season and are the first repeat captains at OSU since Pepper Johnson in 1984 and ’85.
WALTER NOMINATED FOR NFFHF SCHOLARSHIP
Offensive tackle Tyson Walter has been nominated for a 2001 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship. Walter, from Bainbridge, Ohio, graduated from Ohio State in the winter of 2000 with a degree in finance and is currently completing work on degrees in economics, risk management and information services. In addition to being an honors student, he has started 41-consecutive games and is in his fourth year as a starter for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has had a Big Ten-best 18 NFFHF scholarship winners.
SIX WALKONS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
Six members of the Ohio State football team have been converted to scholarship this season. They are seniors Ben Steele (Marysville, Ohio) and Jim Kortovich (Euclid, Ohio), juniors Andy Groom (Columbus), Michael Stafford (Upper Arlington, Ohio) and Andrew Schabo (Worthington, Ohio) and sophomore Jason Bond (Worthington, Ohio)
MAURICE HALL HONORED BY THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Ohio State freshman running back Maurice Hall has been selected by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as that organization’s Midwest Region High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2001. The award honors high school scholar-athletes who demonstrated outstanding academic application and performance, superior football performance, and exemplary leadership and citizenship. Hall, who was nominated by the Columbus Chapter of the NFFCHF, graduated with a 4.6 GPA, was a First-Team All-Ohio pick and was president of his senior class at Columbus Brookhaven High School.
GAME DAY COACHING ASSIGNMETNS
On offense, quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels and tight ends coach Bill Conley will be in the press box during the game, assisted by offensive graduate assistant Jim Bridge. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and running backs coach Tim Spencer will be on the sidelines. On defense, linebackers coach Mark Snyder, defensive backs mentor Mel Tucker and grad assistant Brandon Blaney will be upstairs, while defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio, defensive line coach Jim Heacock and special teams coordinator Ken Conatser will be on the field.
HICKS OSU’S LATEST HALL OF FAME SELECTION
Former All-American offensive tackle John Hicks is the latest Ohio State player to be selected for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Hicks, who won first-team All-America honors in 1972 and ’73, is the 18th Ohio State player to be selected. He will be honored between the first and second quarters of this week’s football game and will be officially inducted in New York in December. Hicks won the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award as a senior in 1973. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.
BUCKEYES EDGE CLOSER TO BIG TEN MILESTONE
With Saturday’s impressive win over Northwestern, the Buckeyes improved their all-time Big Ten ledger to 397-152-24. Ohio State now needs three more Big Ten wins to become the second team in league annals to reach the 400 mark.
BUCKEYES NOW AT 728 ALL-TIME WINS
One of the most successful programs in college football, Ohio State now has an all-time record of 728-287-53 in this, its 112th year of varsity competition. The Buckeyes are one of just seven Division 1A schools to top the 700 figure.
DECALS AND FLAGS ADDED TO OSU UNIFORM
The Ohio State football team is wearing three very special helmet decals this season. The Buckeyes have a “KS” sticker on their helmets in honor of former All-America lineman Korey Stringer, who died in July while at training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. Following the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. and the plane crash in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, an American flag decal was added to the helmets. A third decal, the number 22, was affixed to the head gear prior to the Indiana game in memory of Ohio State soccer player Connor Senn who died Sept. 26 while playing for the Buckeyes. The team also is wearing an American flag on its jerseys. The latter was added prior to the Northwestern game.
GAME 1: AKRON
The Buckeyes opened the 2001 campaign Sept. 8 with a 28-14 win over Akron in front of a then Ohio Stadium record crowd of 102,602. The game marked the debut of new Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and the unveiling of refurbished Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes rolled up 525 yards in total offense and ran 85 plays (20 more than Akron) on a hot, humid day.
Quarterbacks Steve Bellisari and Scott McMullen threw for 289 yards, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers. Bellisari had a pair of touchdown passes and sophomore split end Michael Jenkins had six receptions for 106 yards in his first career start.
Senior tailback Jonathan Wells ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. The Buckeyes netted 236 yards rushing.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State defense limited the Zips to 248 yards (114 rushing and 134 passing) and one touchdown. Senior linebacker Joe Cooper had a team-high 10 tackles.
The Buckeyes led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and were ahead 21-0 before Akron got on the board with just over two minutes to play in the first half. The two teams traded long touchdowns in the second half, the Buckeyes scoring on a 61-yard pass in the third quarter, and the Zips on an 87-yard interception return in the fourth.
GAME 2: AT UCLA
In a titanic defensive struggle, the Ohio State defense forced seven fumbles, recovering four of those, and held the Bruins’ offense to 323 total yards, including just 105 yards in the second half. After converting four third-down plays on their first drive, which led to their only touchdown of the day, the Bruins converted just two of 11 the rest of the afternoon.
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm led Ohio State with 10 total tackles, including eight solos and two tackles-for-loss. He also forced a fumble. Strong safety Mike Doss had seven tackles, recovered a fumble and blocked a UCLA punt that Ohio State recovered for a touchdown. And defensive end Tim Cheatwood was credited with five tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. It was a superb defensive effort by the Buckeyes against a veteran and talented offensive team.
UCLA tailback and Heisman Trophy hopeful DeShaun Foster, who had been averaging 149 yards a game, could manage just 66 on 29 carries against the Buckeyes.
Punter Andy Groom had his best day as a Buckeye against UCLA, averaging 46.8 yards per punt on six kicks, including a career-best 61-yard boot. Offensively, the Buckeyes could manage just 166 yards against a solid UCLA defense. In spite of a missed PAT and two missed field goals, Ohio State was a touchdown away from winning the game.
Jonathan Wells led the Buckeyes in rushing with 47 yards.
GAME 3: AT INDIANA
Behind the running of true freshman Lydell Ross, the passing of Steve Bellisari, and a third-consecutive impressive defensive showing, Ohio State opened its Big Ten season with a 27-14 road win over Indiana. Ross, a 6-0, 210-pound tailback, slashed and dashed his way through the Hoosiers for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Senior tailback Jonathan Wells added 69 yards and a third rushing TD as the Buckeyes netted 197 yards on the ground.
With the OSU running game in high gear, Bellisari enjoyed the best percentage day of his career, completing 15 of 21 passes for 194 yards. Nine different players caught passes for the Buckeyes, including split end Michael Jenkins and fullback Jamar Martin who led the way with three each. The Buckeyes scored all five times they were in the red zone and when they did bog down, junior punter Andy Groom gave them great field position by averaging 42.3 yards per kick on three punts.
The Ohio State defense, meanwhile, limited the Hoosiers to 337 yards and held ever-dangerous quarterback Antwaan Randle El to 70 yards rushing and 181 yards passing. The Buckeyes won the turnover battle, 2-0, recovering a fumble and picking off an interception. Linebackers Matt Wilhelm and Joe Cooper led a balanced defensive effort with nine and eight tackles, respectively.
Ohio State’s special teams also came up big with All-America Michael Doss blocking a punt for the second-consecutive week.
HORVATJ’S NO. 22 RETIRED
The jersey number of Ohio State’s first Heisman Trophy winner, the late Les Horvath, was officially retired at halftime of Saturday’s Northwestern-Ohio State game. His No. 22 will now hang in the north end of Ohio Stadium and will never again be worn by an Ohio State football player. Horvath, who died in 1995, won the Heisman in 1944, leading Ohio State to a 9-0 record and the Big Ten championship. His widow, Ruby Horvath, represented him at the halftime ceremony. Horvath is the fourth Ohio State football player to have his number retired, joining Archie Griffin (1999), Vic Janowicz (2000) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (2000). Eddie George’s No. 27 will be retired at halftime of the Nov. 10 Purdue game.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Coach Jim Tressel’s weekly Media Luncheon is held each Tuesday at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Caf©, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Selected Ohio State players will be available for interviews at the luncheon and Tuesday following practice (about 6:15 p.m.) Coach Tressel and two assistants also are available following Thursday practices. A reminder, too, that ALL requests for player, assistant coach and head coach interviews must be directed to either Steve Snapp, Pat Chun or Dan Wallenberg in the Ohio State Athletics Communications Office (614/292-3103 or 292-6861). Also, television stations are asked not to interview players coming off the field following the completion of the game. The first opportunity to interview players after a game will be in the interview room after Coach Tressel has spoken with the team.
SAN DIEGO STATE UP NEXT FOR THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes will host San Diego State next week in a game originally scheduled for Sept. 15 The game was postponed and then rescheduled following the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. Ironically, both schools had Oct. 20 as an open date.
