OSU’s Heacock, Bollman to end extra-long stints

By TIM MAY

The Columbus Dispatch

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

A couple of days before Christmas, after Ohio State had its last practice in Columbus before the Gator Bowl on Monday, Jim Heacock still had some work to do. He had to clean out his office.

The 16-year Ohio State assistant coach would be leaving as the defensive coordinator. He will be returning no longer part of the staff.

The same goes for offensive coordinator Jim Bollman after 11 seasons. They were not retained by new coach Urban Meyer.

Boxing Day came early for the two longest-running assistant coaches on the Ohio State staff. But when asked Thursday whether it was a tough moment, Heacock shook his head.

“No,” he said as he left practice at the University of North Florida football stadium. “Honestly, I feel good about the effort, I feel good about what we were able to accomplish defensively. I feel good about my career there.

“There is just no way I’m going to be down. It’s just the way it is.”

Senior center Michael Brewster was among the those players who said they want to make Monday a special day for Bollman.

“That’s nice to hear those guys have that kind of sentiment,” Bollman said. “There’s a few of those guys we’ve been through a few wars together, and it’s nice to have one more chance to do it with them.”

With that it mind, will he let it all hang out, calling pass plays on every down?

“Every down — we’ll be in empty [no running backs, five receivers], and we’ll come out winging it every down, that’s exactly right,” Bollman said, smiling slightly as looked up from under the brim of his hat.

Seriously, “We just want to win the game. That’s all,” he said. “Just give the guys a chance to win the game.”

Bollman was one of the first hires of Jim Tressel in the winter of 2001, and he remained on staff for the one-year tenure of Luke Fickell. But the universal sentiment in his profession is job change is part of the game.

“I don’t think that makes it any easier, especially when you are at a place as profound as Ohio State,” Bollman said. “When you’re in this business, to have chances to coach at a place like Ohio State, I’m thankful I had that chance.”

Fans and the media have taken their shots at Bollman over the years, even when Tressel was heavily involved in play-calling. But the criticism was especially heavy this season when the Buckeyes were 107th in total offense nationally.