Dials leads former Buckeyes in benefit for Terlesky

May 8, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

BOARDMAN

The inaugural Varsity Partners Team Talk featuring nine former Ohio State athletes included stories about Jim Tressel, why they chose to become Buckeyes and their greatest moments at Ohio State.

Among the five who created the foundation is 2002 Boardman High School graduate Terence Dials, who played basketball for the Buckeyes for four seasons and was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2005-06.

“Our drive is to just give back to the community,” Dials said on Saturday at his alma mater. “We wanted to start out with the communities where we are from and giving back to athletes who are in need.”

The other founders are football players: quarterback Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy winner), Cleveland; offensive lineman Kirk Barton, Massillon; linebacker Bobby Carpenter, Lancaster; and linebacker Anthony Schlegel, Highland Park, Texas.

Joining them for Saturday’s “Team Talk: A Fan Forum with former Buckeyes Athletes” were football players Chris “Beanie” Wells, Dustin Fox and Matt Wilhelm, and basketball player Scoonie Penn.

The forum was a benefit for Christine Terlesky, a former Boardman High School teacher who was diagnosed with ALS in 2013. The event included a question-and-answer session, a raffle for Ohio State memorabilia and autographs.

“When Chris Terlesky was first diagnosed with ALS, I was playing basketball in Europe,” said Dials who lives in Columbus and works logistics for DHL. “I know they had spaghetti dinners, but I couldn’t physically do anything.

“Since I retired last May, I’ve been trying to come up with ways to give back to my community and people who helped me along the way,” said Dials whose mother, Judith Kimbrough, and stepfather, the Rev. Clifford Kimbrough, live here.

Dials credits Terlesky’s father, Ron Moschella, for pushing him to be more than a jock.

“I wasn’t the easiest kid to get along with as far as academics,” said Dials, who took an accounting class taught by Moschella. “We used to have arguments in class — I would say I don’t need to worry about this right now and he’d say, ‘You need your education.’

“That was the biggest thing that he preached. It was always education with him,” Dials said. “I credit him for a lot of advice he gave me.”

His interaction with Terlesky came primarily on the basketball court as she assisted her father, the head coach of the girls team.

“She had that attitude that her dad has — get after it!” Dials said. “She’s a competitor.”

Dials presided over the forum as memories of being Buckeyes were shared. Fans heard about Tressel’s habit of chewing on stogies in his office and the first time Smith heard the Youngstown State University president “use a cuss word.”

Smith recounted his rivalry with backup quarterback Justin Zwick, which led to a parking lot showdown. To Smith’s surprise, Tressel was there, saying there would be no fight and to take his [bottom] to his dorm.

Carpenter topped that tale, pointing out Tressel’s hair had changed a lot from the 2002 championship photo in his office.

“What happened to all the brown hair?” the linebacker asked.

Carpenter said Tressel responded: “That’s what you and Troy did to me.”