FIESTA BOWL ROUNDUP | News and notes

The bling is the thing: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was asked what was more impressive on recruiting trips -- his five national championship rings (including four with Youngstown State) or Charlie Weis' four Super Bowl championship rings. "My guess is," said Tressel, "that [the cost] all of mine wouldn't add up to one of his." Weis, for the record, agreed with that assessment. The Notre Dame coach said he wears one of his Super Bowl rings on recruiting trips. Tressel said he does, sometimes. "When I remember to wear it," he said.
Texas-style philosophy: Ohio State senior linebacker Anthony Schlegel has a unique outlook. "I say, 'Life is like a garden -- dig it,' " he said Friday at media day in Sun Devil Stadium. Schlegel said he's jealous of teammate A.J. Hawk, who eats "a lot of chicken and rice" and works out every day. "I need sweets and chocolate malts," said Schlegel. "I try to give [Hawk] some candy all the time and he just won't take it." Schlegel, who is married, said he has a great relationship with Hawk and fellow senior linebacker Bobby Carpenter, but, like a marriage, some time away is needed. "We have a great time together. In fact, the first time I met A.J. and Bobby was on my recruiting trip, and I knew then that we were alike. It made me feel very comfortable. We hang out sometimes, but it's kind of difficult sometimes. There are days where we're together every second, so sometimes you don't want to necessarily go out with each other at night."
Troy's take: Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith said he was impressed with Notre Dame's defense, comparing it to Iowa. "They have physical players and they have speed, from the front line to the secondary," said Smith of the Fighting Irish. "They're smart and the communicate well." Smith said he was an Ohio State fan growing up in Cleveland but didn't always consider playing for the Buckeyes. "As I got older I began to understand that football wasn't always played in the sun. I used to like the Dolphins and Florida State and Florida." Smith said his favorite Buckeyes were quarterbacks Joe Germaine and Bobby Hoying, tailback Eddie George (who won the Heisman Trophy in 1995) and linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer. "I loved that guy," said Smith. "He used to just smash people."
Who is that guy? Former Notre Dame All-American and Cleveland native Bob Golic was at Sun Devil Stadium for a Cleveland television station. He played at Notre Dame when Charlie Weis was a student (who didn't play football). "A few years ago I was watching an NFL game and there's Charlie on the screen," said Golic, "and I thought, 'I should know that guy.' I had no idea it was the same guy I knew at Notre Dame." Golic said he's a big fan of the Notre Dame coach. "He's great for the program, a down-to-earth, no-nonsense kind of coach. When he was [a student] at Notre Dame, nobody was a bigger fan. To be the coach now, it's a perfect connection."
Rob Todor