Fickell doesn’t want the blame to fall just on QBs

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

While thousands of fans are pointing fingers at the quarterbacks, Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell believes the blame has to be spread across his entire roster for the Buckeyes’ embarrassing loss at Miami.

In one of the worst offensive showings ever at Ohio State (2-1), true freshman Braxton Miller and fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman appeared lost. They combined to complete just four passes — all to running backs — in 18 attempts for only 35 yards, with two turnovers in a 24-6 loss to the Hurricanes.

Fickell and his staff will assess the situation this week.

“We have an idea of what’s going to happen but until we see them compete in practice and see how guys handle situations and roles and different things like that, we’re not going to make a complete judgment just yet,” Fickell said Tuesday.

It doesn’t matter to fullback Zach Boren who gets the job, so long as they do the job.

“Whoever is out there we’re going to support and we’re pushing for them,” he said. “We’re hoping whichever quarterback is out there they make the smart plays.”

Bauserman, the starter in the Buckeyes’ first three games, failed to get anything going against the Hurricanes. He hit on only 2 of 14 passes for a meager 13 yards.

Many fans on message boards and call-in shows are clamoring for Miller to get most of the snaps from center, but he didn’t do much to earn the job. He was just 2 for 4 passing — both completions coming in the final minute with the game all but over — for 22 yards. More worrisome than those numbers, however, is that he threw one interception, lost a fumble and recovered his own bobble another time.

PENN STATE

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

The most prominent football program in the East plays in a conference filled with Midwestern schools.

But don’t expect Penn State to take part in the latest round of switcheroo reshaping the college athletics landscape.

Coach Joe Paterno on Tuesday even suggested again perhaps looking eastward to expand the Big Ten, throwing out Rutgers as a potential addition for a league with its Eastern terminus in Happy Valley. A one-time proponent for the creation of an Eastern football conference, Paterno called Syracuse and Pittsburgh’s switch from the Big East to the ACC a good move for the parties involved.

And he’s as mystified as other college football fans about where the game is headed.

“So I think the problem you have right now is you look at it as I look at it, anyway, is things are changing and you’re not really sure what’s going to happen,” Paterno said. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up.”

NOTRE DAME

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly got his message across early to Robert Blanton: Talk all you want off the field, but tone down the chatter when you’re playing.

Blanton’s performance at cornerback is making plenty of noise for the Irish. The senior seems to be where the ball is these days. Last Saturday against Michigan State, he made six tackles, including three for losses, broke up three passes, had a sack and — most important for the Irish — shut off a late Spartans drive with an interception, returning it 82 yards to seal the win.

Blanton’s emergence as one of the stars of the Irish defense is no surprise to Kelly.