Fickell educated at media day

By Bill Rabinowitz

The Columbus Dispatch

CHICAGO

Luke Fickell thought he’d be appearing at a luncheon at the Big Ten media days on Thursday.

Eat a little meal, give a little talk. Or so he believed.

So the new Ohio State football coach was a little surprised to face a large banquet room full of media in his 15-minute question-and-answer session. He may have been taken aback, but considering the roller-coaster of emotions he has endured the past several months, it was nothing new.

“I had a completely different idea of what that last 15 minutes was going to be,” Fickell said. “What I had prepared mentally to be ready for was completely different.”

Not that he was complaining. As a coach, he strives to put players in uncomfortable positions to test their mettle. Why should he be any different? Fickell said he could have called someone to find out exactly what the schedule entailed. But he has been so busy that he didn’t bother.

“As you can probably imagine, the last few months have been a whirlwind — exciting, crazy, emotional, but yet very productive as well,” Fickell said in his opening comments.

Truth is, Fickell didn’t really have to endure much of a grilling. Most of the pressing Ohio State/NCAA questions have been asked, and answered or dodged. He has already mastered stock answers for the obvious questions surrounding Ohio State’s situation.

The Buckeyes will worry only about they can control, he said, and the lofty expectations that accompany every OSU season aren’t affected by the NCAA sanctions. His own precarious status is not something he dwells on.

Fickell said he still has not taken the time for reflection on his sudden ascension to coach after the resignation of Jim Tressel on May 30.

“I had no time to feel sorry [for Tressel], to have a whole lot of emotion,” Fickell said. “The situation arose and obviously I had to stand up.

“I think that’s what’s been best for me — not to have the ability to sit down and think about the situation that’s ahead, but hit the ground running, do what I know how to do best. That’s [to] compete [and] obviously learn along the way. It has been exciting and challenging. But I think that’s what you get into this field for.”

Fickell said he did manage to sneak away on a long-planned family trip to the Outer Banks.

“We got away for five, six days and actually relaxed for about one day,” he joked.

But it was back to the grind soon enough. Most of Fickell’s new coaching colleagues don’t know him well yet, but one who does predicts success.

“He’s got a great staff, and he’s got a great program to sell,” said Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who was Fickell’s boss as Buckeyes defensive coordinator. “I think the players will play for him. He’s got a good demeanor, and I think he’s a great person. I think he’ll do a great job, and I expect him to be very successful.”