NOTEBOOK From Ohio Stadium

TV troubles: The unpopular decision to switch the live television broadcast of Saturday's Ohio State-Miami (Ohio) football game during the third quarter to the Oklahoma-Texas Christian game was made by the ABC Television Network and not by ABC-affiliate WYTV-33 in Youngstown, explained WYTV general manager Dave Trabert. The switch, which occurred while Ohio State was leading, 27-0, in Columbus while Oklahoma was losing, 10-7, in Norman, Okla., drew a barrage of complaints from viewers to both the ABC Network and to WYTV, Trabert said. "Unfortunately, this is something that all the networks do and don't give stations an opportunity [to disagree with]," said Trabert. "It's not just with football games. They will make national programming decisions that ABC affiliates have no control over." Bill Castrovince, WYTV sports reporter, believes the broadcast was switched because it was a blowout whereas the Oklahoma-TCU game was a close one and an upset in the making. TCU did eventually win, 17-10, while Ohio State won, 34-14. Trabert said that if this is going to happen that ABC "should at least do it on a regional basis," meaning that, in Ohio State's case, don't do it in the Ohio region for an Ohio State game. He said the public complaints from the switch are "completely justifiable. It just shouldn't happen. Affiliates try to impress this on networks, but it doesn't do any good."
Mahoning Valley players: Ohio State junior Doug Datish, a Howland graduate, started at left tackle and also played at center. "Doug Datish can play all three and probably will play all three [offensive line] positions," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "Doug's very important because of his versatility." Other players from the Mahoning Valley on Ohio State's roster are: Dimitrios Makridis, a sophomore long snapper from Warren Harding; Michael Dougherty, a freshman defensive back from Boardman; and Shaun Lane, a freshman tailback from Hubbard. All four were redshirted. Lane had one carry for 2 yards. For Miami, Marcus Johnson, a senior from Ursuline, started at left end and made two solo tackles and two assisted tackles. Mike Kokal, a sophomore quarterback from Warren Harding, backed up RedHawks starter Josh Betts. Kokal also is Miami's backup punter.
Vindicator staff report