COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Jim Tressel has always wanted to see an Army-Navy game.
“That’s on my sports ‘bucket list’ to someday see that game,” he said. “I’ve never been to it, but I’ve heard it’s breathtaking.”
Seeing the Midshipmen shift gears on that lethal running attack against Army in a stadium full of dress uniforms is one thing. Tressel has no desire to see Navy put on a show on Saturday when they take on his sixth-ranked Buckeyes.
“I guess I have a little different perspective as I’m watching that triple-option run up and down the field” at Ohio Stadium, he said with a chuckle.
The Buckeyes host the Midshipmen for the first time in 78 years in the season opener for both teams. Ohio State is hopeful of another shot at a national title, not to mention extending its string of Big Ten titles to five in a row.
consecutive national rushing titles.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo knows what his squad is up against when it steps before 106,000 partisan fans.
“It’s a great challenge,” he said. “Ohio State has a phenomenal football program with a legendary coach and a bunch of future first- and second-round draft choices. This program has been in three of the last seven national championship games, five BCS bowl games in that span. It is one of the elite programs in the country.”
Told that most of the best-known Buckeyes from a year ago – linebacker James Laurinaitis, tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells, wide receiver Brian Robiskie and several other household names – are gone, the second-year coach of the Midshipmen almost laughed.
“It doesn’t matter. They just reload,” he said. “There are guys the country doesn’t know about right now that are going to be stars and future NFL draft picks.”
Ohio State’s defense returns seven starters. Among the only four holdovers on offense is quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the nation’s top recruit two years ago and coming off a year of seasoning in which the Buckeyes won eight of 10 games after he took over as the starter.
The only knock against him was that he couldn’t stretch a defense through the air. Sure, he could turn a potential big sack into a big gain with that quick, sinewy 6-foot-6 frame. But can he hit a pass when the game is riding on it?
uestion as an insult.
“When they call a run play, that’s when I’ll take off unless I see something bad,” Pryor said early in August workouts. “We’ll find out against Navy if I can throw the ball.”
Niumatalolo has no doubts that he can.
“He looks like Usain Bolt in pads,” he said. “Guys like him don’t come along very often. He’s bigger than anybody on our defense and faster than anyone on our team. He can throw the ball a mile. He’s the ultimate weapon.”
It’s not as if the Midshipmen don’t have some weapons of their own. Quarterback Ricky Dobbs has waited for his chance to take over Navy’s stuck-to-the-ground offense. A year ago, he was the team’s third-leading rusher even though he only played in eight games.
The only question about him – does this sound familiar? – is whether he can throw the ball as well as he runs it.
Tressel has no doubts that he can, either.
“The thing that I keep hearing as I listen (to Ohio State’s defensive coaches) is that he’s a very, very good passer and that’s scary in this offense,” Tressel said. “Because if you don’t have the play-action covered, there could be a sinking feeling when you see that ball flying out there knowing none of our guys are around (a receiver).”
o State’s defensive line dominated – unless that was a sign that the offense hasn’t quite matured as fast as its triggerman.
One other concern for the Buckeyes is what lies ahead. On Sept. 12, No. 4 Southern California comes to Columbus for one of the premier intersectional games in the nation. The players say they’re not overlooking Navy, but they said that last year while struggling to get past Ohio University 26-14 the week before playing USC.
Then they went out to California and were blasted 35-3 by the Trojans.
Ohio State is honoring the military at the game, with former astronaut and ex-senator John Glenn “dotting the i” in the school’s script Ohio band formation at halftime.
The Buckeyes have tried to treat their opponent with reverence and respect while gearing up for the opener like it’s any other game. But, still, it’s clear it’s not just another game.
The stakes for the two teams couldn’t be much different.
“We’ve talked about it,” Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman said of Navy’s players, whose biggest battles won’t be on a football field. “These guys definitely have a different kind of training than what we go through. Their mindset is, they’re fighting for their lives; we’re fighting to win a game.”
Add A Comment