OSU FOOTBALL News and notes

We're No. 1: Sports Illustrated picked Ohio State as its preseason No. 1 in this week's edition. The issue includes a lengthy feature on senior quarterback Craig Krenzel, who balances football fame with a molecular genetics major. "It's fun and I think that kind of stuff helps the image of the program," Krenzel said. "But as for what it will do for us as a team? Probably nothing." As of Wednesday, he hadn't read the article, but he plans to. "I'll probably read it once, but it's not like I'm going to hang it up in my room."
Jinx? What jinx? This isn't the first time Ohio State's been featured on the cover of SI in the past year. The Buckeyes were on the cover following their win over Michigan in December with the headline, "Unstoppable Ohio State." They were also on the cover following their Fiesta Bowl win over Miami. "That's one of the things most of the guys come to Ohio State for," Coach Jim Tressel said. "I think the guys like that. But I don't know if they sit around and read about themselves. I don't know that we give them time to do that."
Moving on up: The USA Today reported that sophomore running back Maurice Clarett may challenge the NFL's rule that players cannot declare for the draft until three years after graduating from high school. Needless to say, Tressel wasn't happy about the news. "I certainly didn't confer with him about those things. Would I like those types of statements to be made? No."
More Maurice: Most players have relied on the news for the latest on Clarett. "We haven't been told a lot," Hartsock said. "The details are pretty fuzzy to us." Junior running back Maurice Hall heard the news about the NCAA's investigation through his parents. "I didn't know what to think," he said. Did his parents tell him to get ready? "Of course," he said. "But they've been saying that since little league."
Getting hitched: Senior tight end Ben Hartsock married his high school sweetheart, Amy Lykowski, this summer. How has life changed since then? "Well, my address changed and I share a bed now," Hartsock said with a laugh. "It's only been a month." Hartsock is technically allowed to go home at night, but elected to stay in the team hotel for preseason practice. "It's rough on Amy and I that I'm away and she's sitting at home with the cat. I had to kiss her goodbye this week. I guess I'm married to football for awhile."
-- Joe Scalzo