No. 11/10 Ohio State (0-0) vs. Youngstown State (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 1
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Place: Ohio Stadium - capacity 102,329
TV: Big Ten Network will televise the game. Roger Twibell will call the play-by-play and be joined in the booth by former Ohio State quarterback Mike Tomczak.
Radio: WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State Radio Network. The Jim Tressel pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. “Big Daddy” Paul Keels will call the play-by-play and will be assisted by former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. Also, Sirius Satellite Radio will have the game on Channel 126.
Weather: Live Doppler 10 meteorologist Brandon Roux is calling for sunny skies and a high temperature of 80 degrees.

by Matt Barker
September 1, 2007

In the National Football League, teams are afforded four to five exhibition games before their season-openers, but that’s not the case in NCAA football, though in essence this is an exhibition game of sorts for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State will try to use as many players as possible to evaluate the talent on hand, including at the quarterback position where junior Todd Boeckman and sophomore Rob Schoenhoft are expected to play.

Sophomore Chris “Beanie” Wells, junior Maurice Wells, and true freshman Brandon Saine will also get their opportunities toting the rock.

Several receivers will also have their chances snaring passes, including true freshmen Taurian Washington and Dane Sanzenbacher.

This is the 118th season of intercollegiate football at Ohio State, but this will mark the first time the Buckeyes have faced Youngstown State, and the first instance where OSU has taken on a Division I-AA opponent, or the Football Championship Subdivision which it is now known.

The Buckeyes have an all-time opening day record of 101-12-4 and have won their last 28 home openers. OSU’s last opening day loss at home was to Penn State in 1978. Ohio State has not lost to an Ohio opponent since 1921, falling to Oberlin 7-6. The Buckeyes tied Wooster 7-all in 1924 in Columbus.

Ohio State has 11 starters back from its 2006 team that went 12-1, won its second-consecutive Big Ten championship and played in the BCS national championship game. It marked the Buckeyes’ third Big Ten crown under head coach Jim Tressel, the fourth appearance in a BCS bowl and the second appearance in the national championship game.

Youngstown State is aiming for a third-consecutive Gateway Football Conference title in 2007 behind seventh-year head coach Jon Heacock. Last season the Penguins made their 11th appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and first since doing so in 1999 under then-head coach Jim Tressel, who left YSU after the 2000 season for Ohio State.

Five all-conference performers are back for Youngstown State, including linebacker James Terry, defensive tackle Mychal Savage, guard Brad Samsa and tight end Derrick Bush. Quarterback Tom Zetts is in his third season as a starter and owns 44 career touchdown passes.

The bottom line is this, and it’s all in the numbers. Division I-A teams are allowed 85 scholarship players, to just 63 at the I-AA level. Most of the players from Youngstown State were passed over by the bigger schools, so they will have a chip on their shoulder and will be jacked up entering the ‘Shoe. But Ohio State has depth at every position and the rout will be on early.

Prediction: Ohio State 45, Youngstown State 7

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Every Tuesday during the season, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel addresses a panel of media members at the Fawcett Center to discuss the Buckeyes’ upcoming opponent, among a litany of other things. Some of which is your typical “coachspeak,” while at times it offers some very insightful information.

Yesterday, we learned some very valuable information, though sometimes you have to read between the lines.

In the battle for the starting quarterback position, fifth-year junior Todd Boeckman won the job as expected, but his backup, redshirt sophomore Rob Schoenhoft will see action early on against Youngstown State. But it appears that redshirt freshman Antonio Henton may not play, and he may have even dropped farther down the depth chart:

“At the quarterback position, you know, the one that everyone was waiting for, maybe we will go live, really it hasn’t changed from what we’ve been talking about before, Todd Boeckman is the guy that’s going to have the first chance to go out there and be nervous and have some fun and he’s been waiting so long for this opportunity. He’s been studying hard, paying close attention. He knows who we are and what we want to do. I think Jim Bollman and Joe Daniels and that group have done a nice job of seeing what he does best and building some things around that. I’ve been happy with Rob Schoenhoft and I expect him to have some opportunities to play on Saturday. Not a hundred percent sure if Antonio Henton will, we’ll have to see how it unfolds, and Joe Bauserman has been a pleasant surprise, a young guy coming in from Major League Baseball and hadn’t played football in a while and he’s going to be pretty fair.”

One blow for the Buckeyes’ is that flanker Ray Small will not play against Youngstown State, still feeling the effects of a high ankle sprain a few weeks ago during fall camp:

“Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline have been the vets. Dane Sanzenbacher. Devon Torrence has come over. Even though he started a few days late on the offensive side he’s going to be impactful and will be without Ray Small, which hopefully before the year is out, he’ll be a significant part of what happens out wide.”

Later, Tressel was asked about the status of Small, and he replied, “I asked that same question to the trainers today and they stopped at he won’t be playing this week, so I think he’s termed questionable for the next week, I wouldn’t call him doubtful, I would just say questionable.”

One player who is one hundred percent and will see extensive action is sophomore tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells. Others who will get their opportunities toting the rock will be junior Mo Wells and freshman Brandon Saine:

“Chris Wells and Mo Wells are two guys that are battle tested and we need them to rise up and have great years. And we’ve been very impressed with Brandon Saine.”

Coach Tressel had said earlier that about eight of the 15 incoming freshman will play this year, while about six will more than likely be redshirted. One tailback that might not play and could be redshirted this season is freshman “Boom” Herron:

“Dan Herron has done a great job. He was one of the guys Clay was talking about, is he on the bubble, is he going to be number nine or whatever it happens to be, and he may, because he brings a little advantage on the special teams as well. So I don’t know that we know whether he’s going to get in the game or not. I think we’re still, because it’s Tuesday at noon, I’m not sure we know.”

As for the offense as a whole and what the difference will be this season as oppose to last year, one thing that seems to be a certainty is that the Buckeyes will implement the tight end more in the game plan:

“That’s a hard one to tell. I really feel good about our tight ends and we probably will be less percent of the time without a tight end in the game. If you remember back to last year, we were four wide, one back, or maybe even five wide, a significant amount of the time. I don’t know if we’ll be without a tight end that much. Beyond that, I’m not sure you’ll see a great difference.”

And it’s official, for the time being anyway, that’s there’s a new kicker:

“Aaron Pettrey will kick off, and Ryan Pretorius will do the placements, but I’d like to, throughout the course of the early season make sure they both have opportunities to do both.”

Also during the press conference it’s was pointed out that Michigan was charging $10 dollars less a ticket for their season-opener against Appalachian State, where as OSU is charging the same amount for Youngstown State as they will all others game. Coach Tressel was asked if that was fair:

“Do I think it’s fair? Yeah, I think it’s fair. I’ve been to a couple concerts and things like that and our tickets are very reasonable. I was out in Vegas to speak at a Nike clinic and Ellen and I went to see Celine Dion, I don’t know, or whatever, and it was like $200. You can go to three Ohio State games. And I knew the words to the song. At least when you go to the game you don’t know what’s going to happen, so do I think it’s a problem? No. And remember this about Ohio State football, it’s about the band. It’s about the pageantry, it’s about the tailgating. If we’re silly enough to think it’s just about us, then we’re a little bit short-sighted. So I guess the answer to the question is, no, I don’t think it’s unfair.”

Coach Tressel was also asked about the difference between Division I-A compared to I-AA:

“There’s less numbers, there is they’re not allowed as many in camp. You’ll probably not see the same size in every position. You take their punt return or kick returner, corner guy that transferred in, and he led, what’s Nevada in the WAC? He led the WAC in punt returns and averages 24 yards in punt returns or kickoff returns and I think there’s five guys on the roster that were at division one schools and then I look at number 96 playing against Penn State and he was incredible. He was first team all conference for them and so forth. And so are there as many? Probably not. That’s the difference is in the numbers. 63 scholarships versus 85.”

The good news is that it appears Youngstown State will be the only Division I-AA opponent that will ever be on Ohio State’s schedule:

“Probably not. Just from the standpoint of our philosophy being in state first, intrasectional rivalries, so I doubt if we would need to venture outside of that parameter.”

Last but not least, it was mentioned that Florida has a fundraising scheme where you can book a dinner with head coach Urban Meyer for a million dollars. Asked how much Tressel would draw?

“A buck fifty,” Tressel responed.

Then former head coach Earle Bruce chimed in, “And you’d (Tressel) buy the meal.”

Coach, I have my $1.50 in hand.

Tags: Buckeye Football by Matt Barker
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Ohio State enters the 2007 campaign on the heels of a berth in the BCS National Championship game, though fans are going to have to learn a whole bunch of new names this year.

Gone are Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith along with first-round draft picks Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, Smith’s top two targets in 2006.

The Buckeyes were 12-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play last season under head coach Jim Tressel, who became the second OSU coach in school history to win three Big Ten titles in his first six years in Columbus.

Ohio State returns 11 starters for the 2007 campaign, including five on the offensive side of the ball.

Taking over for Smith as the Buckeyes’ signal caller is 6-foot-5, 243-pound redshirt junior Todd Boeckman, who will get the first crack at running offensive coordinator Jim Bollman’s attack, but warming up in the bullpen is 6-foot-6, 244-pound redshirt sophomore Rob Schoenhoft, and 6-foot-2, 232-pound redshirt freshman Antonio Henton.

Boeckman knows Bollman’s offensive schemes better than anyone since he’s been in the program for five years now, but Schoenhoft has the stronger arm, while Henton is a Smith clone and the best athlete out of the three.

Offensively, Ohio State’s top weapon will be bruising tailback Chris ”Beanie” Wells, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore who was the top rated recruit nationally from the class of 2006.

Wells was a backup to last year’s starter, Antonio Pittman, and gained 576 yards in 104 carries with seven touchdowns.

Though the Buckeyes lost two talented receivers from last year’s team, there’s still loads of talent with several playmakers waiting in the wings.

Ohio State’s top returning receiver is 6-foot-3, 196-pound junior Brian Robiskie, who hauled in 29 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns.

Sure-handed spilt end Brian Hartline, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound sophomore, and 6-foot, 182-pound Ray Small is Ohio State’s main deep threat round.

Small’s high school football coach at Cleveland Glenville, Ted Ginn Sr., has stated that Ray is the most talented receiver he has coached.

The offesnive line is anchored by three returning starters with 6-foot-8, 313-pound junior left tackle Alex Boone, 6-foot-8, 345-pound junior left guard Steve Rehring, and 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior right tackle Kirk Barton.

The strength of the Buckeyes will be on defense as 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior linebacker James Laurinaitis returns after being named an All-American and winning the Nagurski Trophy in 2006.

The OSU linebacker was a defensive force for the Buckeyes in 2006, leading the team with 115 tackles and adding five interceptions with four sacks.

The voting members of the Big Ten media named Laurinaitis the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Depending on who you read, most state that OSU returns just five starters on defense, but that’s a bit misleading.

Sophomore Anderson Russell, a 6-foot, 205-pound free safety, started the first five games last year before going down with a season-ending injury against Iowa, and 6-foot-1, 188-pound sophomore cornerback Donald Washington, though not a starter, saw extensive action in the nickel package.

Arguably the best cover corner in the nation, preseason All-American Malcolm Jenkins, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound junior, who has been timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

Plus there’s loads of talent waiting in the wings with defensive backs Chimdi Chekwa, Eugene Clifford, Aaron Gant, and Kurt Coleman.

In the linebacking corps along with Laurinaitis, 6-foot-2, 236-pound outside linebacker Marcus Freeman returns, as well as several others with experience in seniors Larry Grant and Curtis Terry, plus sophomores Ross Homan and Austin Spitler.

The biggest holes to fill defensively are at the tackle position after losing last year’s starters Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson. 6-foot-7, 271-pound sophomore Doug Worthington moves from end to tackle, while 6-foot-3, 278-pound sophomore Todd Denlinger takes over the other spot.

Juniors Lawrence Wilson (6-6, 278) and Vernon Gohlston (6-4, 264), who led the Buckeyes last year with 8.5 sacks, anchor the line at the ends.

Ohio State’s schedule and lack of big-name, nonconference opponent sets up the Buckeyes quite well for a team lacking in star power on offense.

Ohio State should be 8-0 before traveling to State College to take on Penn State, and the Big Ten Conference title appears that it will be decided in Ann Arbor the last week of the season.

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In 1986, a man by the name of Jim Tressel left Columbus to become the new head football coach at Youngstown State University, and 21 years later he’s returning the favor.

Coach Tressel pulled double duty while at YSU, serving as Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics during his final six years. So not only does Senator Sweater Vest know about using the punt as an offensive weapon, but he also knows the economics of college sports. The Penguins’ athletic department will net $1.3 million dollars just by making two trips to Columbus.

Tressel spent 15 seasons in Mahoning Valley, guiding the Penguins to four Division I-AA national titles and were runner-ups twice. Tressel’s record at YSU was 135-52-2.

Jon Heacock was named head coach at Youngstown State following the 2001 season to replace Tressel. Heacock had spent seven seasons as an assistant under Tressel at YSU, six of those as his defensive coordinator.

Heacock’s brother, Jim, just happens to be the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Both are graduates of Muskingum College.

In 2006, Heacock’s sixth season at the helm of Youngstown State, the Penguins finished the campaign with an 11-3 record, advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) playoffs before losing to the eventual champion, Appalachian State.

The Penguins other two losses last season came at the hands of Penn State, dropping a 37-3 decision to the Nittany Lions at State College, and to Northern Iowa in Gateway Conference play, 31-23.

The 2007 Youngstown State football team has some talented, experienced playmakers returning with quarterback Tom Zetts, wide receiver Rory Berry, and tight ends Derrick Bush and Louis Irizarry, but lost their top rusher and pass catcher from a year ago.

Marcus Mason, who rushed for 1,847 yards and 23 touchdowns is trying to make the Washington Redskins roster, and T.J. Peterson used up his eligibility after hauling in 53 passes for 767 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior in 2006.

Zetts, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior from Boardman, is within striking distance of several school career records at Youngstown State. Entering this season, Zetts ranks in the top five in several categories including first in passing percentage (58.9 percent), second in 200-yard passing games (11), second in touchdown passes (50), third in pass attempts (817) and completions (481), fourth in passing yards (5,788) and fifth in passing efficiency (131.01).

For the 2006 campaign, Zetts was 171-of-301 passing (56.8 percent) for 2,086 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The problems for the Penguins may lie in the running game as Zetts is YSU’s top returning rusher, who picked up 332 yards on 82 carries.

The top returning rusher who is actually a running back is junior Brandon Nicholson (5-7, 200), while sophomore Jabari Scott (5-10, 191) and redshirt freshman Jordan Edwards (6-0, 195) will also get the opportunity to tote the rock.

Berry, a 6-1, 185-pound senior, is the Guins top returning receiver after catching 31 passes for 366 yards and three scores in 2006.

Irizarry, who was recruited by Jim Tressel and played eight games at Ohio State during the 2003 season before two criminal convictions led to his dismissal from the team, had 25 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns last season for Youngstown State.

The offensive line is anchored by returning starters with senior left tackle Tyler Booth (6-6, 300), senior left guard Josh Tanner (6-2, 305), and junior right guard Brad Samsa (6-3, 280).

On the other side of the ball, six starters return to the Penguins’ 4-3 base defense.

Senior defensive end Greg Jacobs (6-3, 270), senior linebackers James Terry (6-2, 235) and Rashod Cotton (6-2, 230), junior cornerback Jarvis Richards (5-11, 190), along with senior strong safety Bob Perez (6-0, 210) bring a wealth of experience.

Terry is the Penguins’ top returning tackler with 39 solo and 76 total stops. He also led YSU with 5.5 sacks in 2006.

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I have a valid excuse, since I have been battling flu-like symptoms and bronchitis for the past week, but what’s yours?

The OSU Athletic Department estimates that about 5,500 showed up for last night’s open practice, a far cry from the roughly 28,000 who turned out a year ago.

Could it have been the heat and humidity that kept people away? Yesterday’s high temperature in Columbus tied a 48-year old record as the thermometer reached 95 degrees, and the humidity was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Another possibility may be that last year’s event put the consensus, preseason No.1-team in the country on display with plenty of star power with the likes of Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. This year’s team is ranked either 10th or 11th depending on which poll you read.

Another possibility might be the total disorganization from last year’s event.

I took my then five-year old son to last year’s autograph session and open practice, and it resembled a mob scene.

Waiting on the west side of the stadium, as soon as the gates open we walked in. Unfortunately, as we made it to the main concourse under “A” deck, thousands were running by us in all directions, which at that point I picked up my son and carried him up the ramp to avoid getting run over by a bunch of crazed autograph-seekers.

When I was a little boy, I was fortunate enough to actually win a NFL game ball at an autograph session held at the Lazarus Annex in downtown Columbus that was signed in my presence by Archie Griffin back in the mid-70s.

Later, thanks to a family friend and dentist, I was able to add other Buckeye signatures on that ball like Cornelius Greene and Brian Baschnagel.

Also about that time, my mother and I waited in line for several hours at that very same Lazarus store to purchase a copy of “Charlie Hustle,” which was then signed by Pete Rose.

When I was in high school for my Career Day project back in 1986, I shadowed Cleveland Indians’ radio broadcaster Herb Score, which resulted in autographs from the likes of Cory Snyder, Mel Hall, Joe Carter, Mike Hargrove, Andre Thornton, Greg Swindell, and Tom Candiotti among others.

That’s the extent of my autograph collection. All memories from my childhood.

Sure, I ran into Eddie George once at the Champps on Olentangy River Rd., and had a few beers with Bobby Hoying and Mike Vrabel while they sat next to me at Brian Boru’s, but never thought of getting their autographs.

Last year’s frenzy to obtain player signatures was reduced to a smattering of hopefuls, which means that the bandwagon still has plenty of seats.

Other notes: Tailback Beanie Wells participated in practice last night, while flanker Ray Small did not. Both have been bothered by ankle injuries in fall camp.

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