Published: Monday, October 9, 2006
OSU NOTEBOOK
From Ohio Stadium
Nice field: Ohio State installed a new grass field after the Penn State game two weeks ago — it cost an estimated $75,000-$100,000 — and the field got good (but not yet great) reviews. It also brought a little humor to Saturday's post-game press conference. "The sideline was extraordinary," said Tressel, drawing laughs. "It was pretty. I thought the color was nice." Most players agreed it was better than the previous turf, which was in bad shape due to the unusually rainy September. Still, the field was uneven and will likely need a few games to settle. "There was a lot of little divots and stuff like that out there," quarterback Troy Smith said. "It'll take some time to beat it up a little bit, fall on it a little more, run some more deep ball routes, we'll be OK." When Smith delivered the "deep ball" line, he smiled and looked at Tressel, drawing a few more laughs.
Who's No. 1? Tressel was asked on Saturday if he paid attention to the fact that second-ranked Auburn lost to Arkansas earlier in the day. "I didn't know Auburn lost," he said. "I guess [I] take notice, because I have a ballot in the USA Today coaches' poll, so I have to be very focused on doing that job well. Outside of that, the only team I care about is Michigan State." The "coaches poll" line drew laughter because before the Texas game earlier in the season, Tressel had said he voted the Longhorns No. 1, but it was later revealed that his ballot had Ohio State at No. 1. The mistake was attributed to the fact that someone in the communication office had submitted his ballot instead of Tressel, who had planned to vote Texas No. 1.
BG's local connection: Bowling Green has two area players on its roster: sophomore running back Andre Boomer (Warren Harding) and freshman kicker Paul Belany (Mathews). Neither is on the Falcons' two-deep chart.
A little help: Several defensive players mentioned that playing Bowling Green was helpful because the Falcons played several different formations, including a few that the Buckeye defense hadn't seen. "It was a good in-state game," OSU senior defensive tackle Joel Penton said. "Those new things can always help us."
Noteworthy: Ohio State is 57-8-1 when ranked as the nation's top team. ... The Buckeyes are 4-0 against Bowling Green and have not lost to another Ohio team since Oberlin won 7-6 at old Ohio Field in 1921, one season before the Buckeyes moved to the Horseshoe. Interestingly enough, Ohio State beat Oberlin 128-0 in 1916. ... The Buckeye defense had one interception, giving it an interception in all six games this season. The Buckeyes have 12 interceptions and have recovered two fumbles.
Joe Scalzo
Monday, October 9, 2006
Nice field: Ohio State installed a new grass field after the Penn State game two weeks ago — it cost an estimated $75,000-$100,000 — and the field got good (but not yet great) reviews. It also brought a little humor to Saturday's post-game press conference. "The sideline was extraordinary," said Tressel, drawing laughs. "It was pretty. I thought the color was nice." Most players agreed it was better than the previous turf, which was in bad shape due to the unusually rainy September. Still, the field was uneven and will likely need a few games to settle. "There was a lot of little divots and stuff like that out there," quarterback Troy Smith said. "It'll take some time to beat it up a little bit, fall on it a little more, run some more deep ball routes, we'll be OK." When Smith delivered the "deep ball" line, he smiled and looked at Tressel, drawing a few more laughs.
Who's No. 1? Tressel was asked on Saturday if he paid attention to the fact that second-ranked Auburn lost to Arkansas earlier in the day. "I didn't know Auburn lost," he said. "I guess [I] take notice, because I have a ballot in the USA Today coaches' poll, so I have to be very focused on doing that job well. Outside of that, the only team I care about is Michigan State." The "coaches poll" line drew laughter because before the Texas game earlier in the season, Tressel had said he voted the Longhorns No. 1, but it was later revealed that his ballot had Ohio State at No. 1. The mistake was attributed to the fact that someone in the communication office had submitted his ballot instead of Tressel, who had planned to vote Texas No. 1.
BG's local connection: Bowling Green has two area players on its roster: sophomore running back Andre Boomer (Warren Harding) and freshman kicker Paul Belany (Mathews). Neither is on the Falcons' two-deep chart.
A little help: Several defensive players mentioned that playing Bowling Green was helpful because the Falcons played several different formations, including a few that the Buckeye defense hadn't seen. "It was a good in-state game," OSU senior defensive tackle Joel Penton said. "Those new things can always help us."
Noteworthy: Ohio State is 57-8-1 when ranked as the nation's top team. ... The Buckeyes are 4-0 against Bowling Green and have not lost to another Ohio team since Oberlin won 7-6 at old Ohio Field in 1921, one season before the Buckeyes moved to the Horseshoe. Interestingly enough, Ohio State beat Oberlin 128-0 in 1916. ... The Buckeye defense had one interception, giving it an interception in all six games this season. The Buckeyes have 12 interceptions and have recovered two fumbles.
Joe Scalzo
Monday, October 9, 2006
it cost an estimated $75,000-$100,000 — and the field got good (but not yet great) reviews. It also brought a...
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