Buckeyes hold draft for Scarlet-Gray test

The annual spring contest will take place Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- If David Patterson applies for a job as an NFL general manager years from now, he probably shouldn't bring up the fact that with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 Ohio State spring game draft he selected a punter.
Patterson said he was simply supporting coach Jim Tressel's assertion that "the most important play in football is the punt."
Patterson was just one of the seniors who directed the annual tongue-in-cheek draft Wednesday. The selections were made in a cluttered second-floor meeting room in the southeast corner of Ohio Stadium. Two large, white boards -- one for Scarlet, one for Gray -- stood on either side of the room.
The teams will square off Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium.
Tressel hosts
Tressel was the host of the draft, occasionally telling one of the game's captains that they were "on the clock" when they deliberated too long with the teammates and assistant coaches around them.
A graduate assistant wrote the selections down on the boards -- Tressel called him Ohio State's version of "Vanna White." Tressel checked off the players on an overhead projector to make sure no one was overlooked.
Head trainer Doug Calland announced what players were not available because of injury. Tressel then read off those who will see limited action. They included the two players that fans want to see the most: quarterback Troy Smith and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Smith will play only one quarter, Ginn two.
A coin flip decided whether Scarlet or Gray would make the first pick.
"We flip a 50-cent piece that (wide receivers) coach (Joe) Daniels found four years ago and has had in his pocket ever since," Tressel said.
Scarlet won coin toss
Patterson called tails and won the toss, although the Gray braintrust protested there was interference on the toss because the coin hit a chair on the way down. Tressel declined their appeal.
The sides took turns choosing a position and then making the first pick. After some discussion, Patterson said Scarlet would begin at punter and he picked starter A.J. Trapasso.
Three television cameras and around 20 reporters stood around the room as the selections were made. Smith didn't arrive until the draft was almost over, sporting a black Jacksonville Jaguars jersey with quarterback Byron Leftwich's name and number.
Cornerback Antonio Smith, linebacker John Kerr, defensive end Jay Richardson and several assistant coaches helped Patterson, a defensive lineman, with the Scarlet picks.
The Gray selections were made by safety Brandon Mitchell along with offensive tackle Kirk Barton, guard T.J. Downing, defensive linemen Joel Penton and Quinn Pitcock and the other half of the coaching staff.
Mitchell and Patterson said they spent several hours putting together mock drafts, trying to come up with a winning formula.
Ginn goes on 34th pick
That doesn't explain why Ginn wasn't chosen until the 34th pick.
It took around 25 minutes to complete the draft. Each side was then permitted to propose trades -- although all were turned down or laughed away.
Not exactly dealing from strength, Patterson started one trade offer by saying, "Who do we have to give up to get ..."
A couple of players and coaches from each side then got up in front of the group and offered their analysis of the draft.
Kerr said of the Scarlet's selections, "We had a good draft defensively. I think we have the upper hand."
Downing admitted that there were areas in which Gray might have done better.
"We did well at wide receiver and the specialty positions, but I'm a little nervous about the offensive line because we're not as deep as they are," he said.
Smith plays for Scarlet
Smith said, "I came in pretty late but looking at the draft I think Scarlet is way, way better equipped for this game."
Players from both sides laughed out loud.
Mitchell looked at his Gray lineup and refused to make a prediction.
"I just want a win," he said with a wide grin. "I don't care if it's 2-0."