CENTER STAGE Datish ready to make final jump to NFL

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
On November 20, 2004, just minutes before the start of the Ohio State-Michigan game, former Buckeye lineman Mike Datish was on the field at Ohio Stadium as a member of the "Tunnel of Pride," where former players gather to form a tunnel for the current players to run through.
His son, Doug, had been a sophomore starting guard for the Buckeyes much of the season and when Mike spotted Doug coming out of the locker room, he expected to see a smile on his face.
He didn't.
"It was such an important game and when I saw him, he didn't look happy at all," Mike said. "I asked what was wrong."
"I'm not playing," Doug said.
"What?" Mike said.
"I'm benched," Doug said.
The Buckeye coaches weren't satisfied with Datish's production heading into the regular season finale and gave the start to then-sophomore T.J. Downing. Datish hadn't learned about the switch until that day and watched from the sideline as sophomore quarterback Troy Smith had his breakout game, leading Ohio State to a 37-21 victory.
It wasn't a fun day for Datish, but he didn't blame the coaches and he didn't pout.
"I didn't take it as an insult -- it was a wake-up call for me," said Datish. "When you're playing big-time football, nothing is given to you. You've got to earn it."
Datish put in long hours that offseason. He got stronger. He got better. And the coaches noticed. By the time the fall season started, he'd earned the starting left tackle spot -- the most challenging position on the line. He started all 12 games that season before moving to center for his senior year, where he was a team co-captain and earned first All-Big Ten honors.
"It made me a lot better football player," Datish said of the sophomore benching. "It made me hungry. Now I always remember how it can be taken away from you so quickly."
The next step
Sometime next weekend -- either late Saturday night or early Sunday -- Datish will be selected in the NFL Draft, checking off yet another goal he set almost 10 years ago.
Howland football coach Dick Angle had been hired just before Datish's freshman year and the longtime coach only needed a few minutes to see he had a special prospect on his hands.
"He was an awful big freshman and he was awful mature," said Angle. "Even then, he had a lot of goals set for his life and he was bound and determined to get them.
"And by golly, when you watch his career, he's done every one."
Datish grew up playing soccer -- he was too big to play youth football until seventh grade -- and was also a pretty good basketball player, sports that helped his agility and hand-eye coordination. Although his father had been a standout football player at Howland, he never pressured his son to follow in his footsteps. But years of attending Ohio State football games -- Mike has had season tickets since 1976 -- clearly influenced Doug's thinking.
"Doug was more of a natural with what he liked," said Mike. "He liked soccer and basketball, he just kind of outgrew them."
After watching Datish in the weight room and on the field that first summer, Angle told him he was going to move him up to varsity. Datish then beat out an older player for the starting center position and later began playing defense, too, when one of the starters got injured.
He became a mainstay for the Tigers and the scouts soon took notice. By the time he was a senior in 2001, he'd earned a scholarship to Ohio State and helped lead Howland to its second playoff appearance -- and first in 15 years.
"He brought great attention to the Howland program," said Angle. "He sent a message to the kids in our program that if they had the ambition to go to college and be successful, they could do it at Howland."
Outstanding student
Datish was also an outstanding student, which wasn't surprising considering his mother, Sue, was Howland's valedictorian in 1973.
"He gets his smarts from his mother's side," said Mike. "I was a 2.5 student."
Mike and Sue began dating in high school and continued in college, although Sue attended Ohio University. Mike lettered as a lineman his senior year at Ohio State, but the NFL wasn't a possibility.
"Oh, no, no," he said. "I wasn't that good. We had guys down there who played in the NFL and they kicked my butt, to be honest with you."
Doug went through the same thing early in his college career. He redshirted his freshman year and took his lumps competing against future NFL defensive linemen Kenny Peterson and Tim Anderson.
"It was a humbling experience," Datish said. "At a place like Howland, they didn't throw the ball much and my pass-blocking wasn't up to snuff. It [college] wasn't necessarily overwhelming, though. They were great guys and great football players."
Datish saw limited action in 2003 before breaking into the starting lineup in 2004. Since then, other than the Michigan game, Datish has had a stellar Buckeye career. He's also been terrific in the classroom. Datish earned his undergraduate degree in history last year and needs just a few more classes to earn his master's.
"He loves history; for him, it's a passion," said Sue. "He had a great opportunity to have his education paid for and he's taken advantage of everything and he appreciates everything."
So does Sue.
"The past few years have been so overwhelming," she said. "Every time I see him down the field, I'm filled with such pride. I'm not sure they [the players] really realize the enormity of what they've accomplished because they're in the middle of it all.
"It's been such a terrific experience for Doug and for us. I really feel like I'm a part of the Buckeye family. I'm just sad it's coming to an end."
New era to begin
Fortunately, another part of Doug's career is about to begin. He's spent the past few months working out (he had a solid performance at February's NFL Combine), interviewing for teams and doing his best not to overanalyze the process.
"It's like being on the world's longest job interview," Doug said. "From the Senior Bowl until now, I've met with all 32 teams, been interviewed numerous times, been poked and prodded.
"I think they know more about my anatomy than anyone else."
Datish grew up as a Pittsburgh fan -- whenever the Steelers weren't on TV, he'd watch the games with his uncle at Billy's Black and Gold in Sharon -- and he even had a Steeler-themed bedroom growing up.
"But wherever I go [in the draft], that's my new favorite team," said Datish.
Is he nervous?
"Nah," he said. "It's out of my control. I've done everything I can do and now you've just got to let the cards fall where they may."
Doug's biggest strength -- his versatility -- is also a little bit of a weakness heading into the draft. NFL teams are concerned that he hasn't had time to master a position, which means he'll likely enter the league as a "sixth man," able to fill in at any spot on the line.
"I'll play wherever they need me to play," said Datish, who is officially listed as a center. "It's going to be amazing just to be able to say I'm an NFL player. I'm anxious to see how I stack up against grown men and the legends of the game."
No matter what happens, everyone agrees on this: Doug won't change. Datish returns often to visit Angle, work out with the team and offer advice and encouragement to younger players. He knows he's been given a lot and he's anxious to give back.
"Whenever I talk about him, I keep using the word 'quality,' " said Angle. "He's a special person and he's been that way since the first day I met him.
"He's a great kid, a great student of history and a great student of the game. He's just another in the line that make the Mahoning Valley such a special place for football players."
scalzo@vindy.com