Former leader Fickell was big part of Bucks

Cleveland Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS

A year ago Luke Fickell was coming off a loss to Michigan as Ohio State’s head coach, flooded by rumors about Urban Meyer’s imminent hiring and preparing for a Gator Bowl the Buckeyes would lose to finish off the Buckeyes’ first losing season since 1988.

Six weeks ago, Luke Fickell, in his first season calling the signals as defensive coordinator, was explaining why his defense gave up 49 points to Indiana, was watching Meyer come into the defensive meeting room to give the defense a kick and was briefly mired in TV-generated ridiculousness over the firing of a pizza delivery guy.

Saturday, Luke Fickell was one of the coordinators on an Ohio State team that finished the sixth perfect season in school history, was celebrating his alma mater’s revenge against Michigan and saw his defense shut out the Wolverines in the second half, allowing just 60 yards while forcing three turnovers.

“When (Meyer) challenged us, when he challenged the entire defense, I think we knew we weren’t satisfied,” Fickell said after Saturday’s 26-21 win.

Fickell again was working with one of his best friends in Mike Vrabel but also was teamed with two new defensive assistants in co-coordinator Everett Withers and corners coach Kerry Coombs. After the OSU defense gave up 10 touchdowns in two games against Nebraska and Indiana, the Buckeyes gave up 10 defensive touchdowns over the last five games.

“Tough times bring out the best in real competitors, and you can say that about players and you can say that about coaches,” Fickell said. “I think we did a great job of coming together and hashing things out and being successful, because in the end, it’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish.”

In the last five games of the year, Ryan Shazier averaged 10.2 tackles per game, was twice named conference defensive player of the week and made a case for Big Ten defensive player of the year.

Indiana was Zach Boren’s first game at linebacker, and in his last five games, he averaged 8.2 tackles per game.

Fickell could have left Ohio State last season, or Meyer could have not retained him, though he was very much encouraged to do so to by Athletic Director Gene Smith. Fickell retained his $750,000 salary, which tied him with Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison as the highest-paid assistant in the Big Ten.

As he’s said before, Fickell stayed because his wife and his family like it here, and because Ohio State is a special place and difficult to leave. So he stuck around for 2012, and ended it a long way from 2011.