43
Fitch grad Billy Price reflects on OSU’s season
By STEVE WILAJ
Talking with Billy Price over the phone, it’s easy to forget the person on the other line is a 6-foot-4, 315-pound mammoth of a young man that spends his Saturdays doing the dirty work for one of college football’s best teams.
Here’s why.
While the Austintown Fitch alum is mean and nasty as Ohio State’s starting left guard — a role he had for all of last year’s national championship season, as well — the Valley native who has helped the Buckeyes to a 25-2 record since 2014 is as well-spoken, kind and articulate as they come.
On Thursday night, the 2013 Fitch grad took five minutes to discuss his sophomore campaign of earning third-team All-Big Ten honors, as well as Ohio State’s eventful 2015 season that saw the No. 7 Buckeyes (11-1) fall just short of championship expectations (OSU missed the College Football Playoff and will play no. 8 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day).
So, taking a break from studying for his final exams — he had one test on Wednesday and another on Friday, while he still has a test on Monday and a final paper due Tuesday — here’s how Price saw things from down in the trenches:
On the season, in general. OSU entered ranked No. 1 and as favorites to repeat as national champions, but a Nov. 21 home loss to Michigan State dashed those hopes.
Price: The atmosphere around Columbus is almost like it’s been a disappointment. When in reality, it’s an 11-1 season, which most programs don’t achieve every year. So from my aspect, I thought it was a successful learning process in most aspects. With [offensive coordinator Tom] Herman leaving [after 2014] and coach [Ed] Warinner becoming the offensive coordinator, it was kind of figuring out what everybody’s roles were. So it was a learning experience throughout the season and it really actually benefited us in many directions when we finally figured out where everybody belongs.
On the 17-14 loss to Michigan State. The Buckeyes averaged 241 rush yards per game in 2015, but rushed for just 86 yards against the Spartans.
Price: I don’t, personally, like to look back negatively and harp on things. But that was a learning game for us. As far as up front on the offensive line, it seemed like everybody was in a funk. We couldn’t get two plays going together and we weren’t able to execute the way we’re used to executing. But you have to give credit to Michigan State. They came out and executed and had a great game plan against us, as far as taking away our strengths.
On OSU’s 42-13 win at no. 10 Michigan the following week. The Buckeyes rushed for 369 yards against their rival, which Price wouldn’t mention by name.
Price: When we played The Team Up North, we were really, really able to just impose our will on the defense and really do what we like to do: run the ball inside and then step back and do a little play-action. We really executed highly.
On the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation — which (not-so-smoothly) alternated between T.J. Barrett and Cardale Jones all season.
Price: It was a little frustrating at times. But it was a situation where the coaches have to decide who’s the best fit for the program and best fit for the offense. Some of the plays weren’t as successful as how they’d turn out last year — but it wasn’t specifically because of Cardale or specifically because of J.T. It was a combination of things. So the quarterback situation, to me, didn’t hamper anything. I think our coaches did an excellent job of deciding when each was gonna play and how they went about it the whole year.
On his Big Ten third-team honors a year after earning freshman All-America honors.
Price: I had a really good spring where I was really able to gain confidence, because a lot of our guys were sitting out because the amount of reps they had or some other reason. So I was able to actually rotate and take steps in developing myself personally. It was a really good process for me and that confidence I gained during the spring, I was able to carry it over to the fall. Also, my understanding of the offense is a lot better — where our plays are going, how we’re reading different keys on each play. So for me to become more familiar with the offense has really been able to increase my expertise of the offense and help me execute at a high level.
As for the season finale against Notre Dame, Price is excited to take part in a game that surely excites the valley locals.
“In Austintown, there’s a lot of Notre Dame and Ohio State fans,” he said. “Every time I come home I get a little bit of chat of people saying, ‘I wish you guys played Notre Dame.’”
Actually, following the game’s announcement, Price received a text from his Falcons freshmen football coach, Jeff Gessler — a Fighting Irish fan: Hey, looking forward to playing you guys. Finally we get to see Ohio State-Notre Dame, it read.
Unfortunately for Gessler, it’s not a contest the Buckeyes are overlooking just because they missed the playoffs.
“Like [head coach Urban] Meyer said, it’s two historic programs,” Price said. “So, yeah, we’re excited for it. We all have our eyes on the goals for the game — and that’s to take care of our side of things, execute and go out there and get the victory.”