Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

Three TidBits from Troy: Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith had several sage observations with reporters this week.

1) Troy on Fan Loyalty - Smith was asked when he first noticed that OSU state fans were more than just a little stoked for the upcoming season. Troy had an answer, and a sage opinion.

Troy Smith

"I think I noticed it when there were 30,000 fans at a practice. Now that's love and that's loyalty, die-hard people. A guy told me that he would love me if we lost 60-0 or if we won 60-0. I don't believe that though," said Smith drawing a laugh from reporters.

2) Troy on Game Week Rituals - Smith was reminded that former OSU safety Mike Doss at tacos every game week Monday in OSU's 2002 national championship season. Smith was aware of that, and said he has a plan of his own.

"Every Monday I'm going to eat a taco salad with lean turkey meat," said Smith.

Smith knew a bit more about Doss' championship history.

"It was funny with him because every year that Mike Doss was a senior on a team and Tyler Everett was a freshman, they won a championship, from little league all the way up to college. I'm not a superstitious guy but you can't let that go by," said Smith.

3) Troy on His Ohio Roots - "This is where I'm from. It upsets me sometimes when I hear college students say they want to go somewhere where there's no snow. I wouldn't want to have Christmas without snow and I love the state of Ohio and I love Columbus and I love Cleveland."

Coming Out Party: The anticipation over the opener is always intense, but this season it is nearly tangible. Nearly everybody wants to see the new-face Ohio State defense and whether it can hold up. One person who really has no doubts however is defensive tackle David Patterson.

David Patterson

"I've seen those guys do amazing things at practice and I can't wait to see them do it in a game. I really can't wait for you guys to see what they can do. It's kind of like you have a little brother or a little cousin and you know he's good at football and you play with him in the back yard but no one else gets to see him but you. But finally they have a game and everyone can see. I just can't wait for them to show everyone that they can play," said Patterson.

Patterson says he has made it a point to let his young defensive teammates know that now is the time to perform.

"It's kind of a fun thing," he said.

"I walked up to Marcus Freeman in the locker room and said 'It's showtime! It's showtime baby. Lets show everyone what you're all about, that you can go out there and play with the best of them.'

"I'm looking forward to the younger guys to get out there and prove and show everybody that they're great players, that they have the talent to be here and that they're going to contribute a lot to this team. I don't think we're nervous at all about these guys. We have great players back there. We know they're talented. I've seen them day in and day out at practice, I know what they can do."

John Kerr

Who Needs a Break?: There's lots of talk about rotating lot of players on the defensive side of the ball this season, particularly early in the season. Coaches talk about the need to see the young players under fire, and also talk about the advantages of giving the starters a bit of a break during the course of the game. OSU linebacker John Kerr, however, doesn't quite buy into the idea that coming out of the game for a rest is a real good idea.

"I think it's over rated to be honest with you," said Kerr.

"I think if you train hard enough in practice and train hard enough in the preseason, you should be in good enough shape to play 70 plays or whatever it is.

"It's really not that much. If you get to 120, that's bad," Kerr said.

Other Buckeyes, however, saw it a bit differently.

"You never want to come off the field, but if I'm tired and I need a blow and I know that I can trust my teammates to come in and do the same job I would, then so be it," said corner back Malcolm Jenkins.

"If whoever is behind me can do the same job that I am, then I have no problem with that."

Taking Care of Business: Its fun and pageantry for the fans in the stands on Saturday, but for the players on the field, there's a job to do.

T. J. Downing

"We just want to make sure we come out and take care of our job," said senior offensive lineman T. J. Downing.

Downing was asked if his job description includes pounding people into submission.

"We're not here to demoralize people. Yeah, we want to hurt people and punish them and put them on their backs, but we have to make sure we take care of our job," said Downing.

"On the offensive line we always talk about a controlled chaos. It's tough and it's punishing up there, but if you get too whacked out and start going berserk trying to hurt people, you're going to screw up your assignments. We're not going to let anybody take us out of our game," Downing said.

One order of business Downing will take care of before kickoff on Saturday is to trim up his newly acquired mohawk haircut.

"Come Saturday I'm going to tighten up the sides and skin it down and it's going to look nice," he said.

Freshman Stepping Up: The focus has been on the young players on the defensive side of the ball this fall, but there is one young player who has made an impression since arriving this fall. Tight end Jake Ballard has established himself as OSU's third tight end at this point, moving ahead of some older players like Will Crawl who have been in the the program longer.

"Jake Ballard has probably edged himself a little bit above (the others) right now through camp," said OSU tight ends coach John Peterson.

Not Really an Upset: Antonio Smith was listed as the number one cornerback last spring, leading to speculation by some that that designation was simply a tribute to the senior for the spring by the OSU coaching staff, but that Smith would loose the spot this fall. That hasn't happened. Smith has proven himself to the defensive staff as the right man for the job.

Antonio Smith

"He's done an outstanding job," said corner backs coach Tim Beckman.

"He's probably been the most consistent player back there day in and day out.

"It shows his maturity.

"The young man is a senior. The rest of the kids back there are all freshmen and sophomores. He had the challenge of keeping that position and he's done a fine job in camp here. He is constantly getting better every day," said Beckman.

"Antonio Smith has had as stable a camp of any of them right now. He deserves the start and he will get the start."

Pulling for Mike: OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel confirmed last night that Mike D'Andrea will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Tressel is hoping that the surgery may actually present some opportunity for D'Andrea to continue his football career.

Mike D'Andrea

"Mike's going to have a surgery in I would say the next week or two for a better quality of life and there are some procedures out there now that could maybe give him a chance down the road. He did all he could do from a rehab standpoint, gave every effort he could give. He just has to go on to the next option," said Tressel.

"I still have hopes that he could play at the next level if somehow we can figure out a way to get him back to himself physically he can contribute at the next level," Tressel said.

Marcus Freeman

First Game Jitters: The anticipation for the first game is limited to just the fans. The players too are feeling a bit edgy waiting for that opening kickoff.

"I'm anxious to get on the field and play for Ohio State, but I'm also nervous," said linebacker Marcus Freeman.

"I know I'll be nervous until the first snap, but once that first snap comes you have to throw those nerves out the window and just play football."

Buckeye Work Ethic: Linebacker James Laurinaitis hails from the state of Minnesota and has worked his way into the starting middle linebacker spot. Laurinaitis says he has seen a remarkable work ethic not only several of his fellow linebackers, but with Buckeye-state football players overall.

James Laurinaitis

"That’s one thing, being from Minnesota when I came here, the work ethic of a lot of Ohio kids – back home some kids would be kind of lazy, but every kid I’ve ever seen here on this team just flys to the ball," said Laurinaitis.

Laurinaitis says that quality is part of the reason that freshman Tyler Moeller has made such an impression since joining the Buckeyes in fall camp.

"He might not know what he’s doing all the time, but he’s going to make a hit if he’s in the position. He’s one of those guys where if ‘hey, if I don’t know what I’m doing I’m going to run to the ball at least and try to make a great effort,’" said Laurinaitis.

"Tyler’s a hard worker."

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