Saturday, April 22, 2006
Most of the team's starters aren't expected to play much.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Never mind that most of the starters won't play much, or that it's 133 days until Ohio State plays a game that really matters.
Thousands of fans are expected to dodge the raindrops today to watch their beloved Buckeyes play in the annual spring intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium.
For the fans, it's an excuse to tailgate and to talk about all things Buckeye.
For the players and coaches, it's not much more than a glorified practice, the last of 15 allotted during the spring. At the same time, though, how many practices are dissected and talked about for months?
"We always say the spring game is mostly fun because you've been working hard and now you get to compete. Any time you keep score, you'd like to win," coach Jim Tressel said Thursday. "It's probably a little more impact than a normal spring practice. But they [the players] all know we've got 29 practices ahead of us before we line up for real against Northern Illinois."
Even though they don't take it seriously, many players still recognize that having an audience will likely get their heart pounding.
Still gets competitive
"It definitely gets competitive. A lot of it's about pride, in proving individually that you can play, that you deserve to be out on the field," defensive lineman Joel Penton said. "Then a lot of it is coming together as a Scarlet or Gray team and going out there against the guys who you play with every day and in front of the fans and coaches."
Quarterback Troy Smith will play only the first quarter, as will his backup, Justin Zwick. Both will wear black jerseys, meaning no defender is permitted to hit them.
Smith said the game has many benefits.
"It's bragging rights," he said. "And it helps your confidence out tremendously."
Pittman won't play
Antonio Pittman, Ohio State's leading rusher last year, won't play because of a sore hamstring. Much of the entertainment value for the fans will be provided by watching the rest of the tailbacks, in particular heralded 17-year-old Chris Wells.
"He's certainly a guy with high hopes and high expectations," said assistant coach Dick Tressel. "For him to play really well is what everybody expects."
A spring game has its own set of rules. Players frequently switch sides to fill in where there are some holes in the lineup.
Also, punt returns will not be allowed, to avoid injuries.
Bleak spring
This has already been a bleak spring at Ohio State in that regard. While catching a pass last week, walk-on punter/receiver Tyson Gentry injured his neck. He has had two surgeries at Ohio State Medical Center and remains hospitalized. His family has asked that details of his injury or his condition not be made public.
Several players said they couldn't even recall who won last year's spring game. But that doesn't mean there still will won't be some hard hitting.
"It doesn't matter if it's the Scarlet and Gray game or the jersey scrimmage or opening up against Northern Illinois, when you're in Ohio Stadium and you're playing in front of Ohio State fans there's something special about it," Penton said. "And it's a big game."