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Gentry, Taliaferro to meet Saturday
JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
09/20/2006
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COLUMBUS -- Shortly after his paralysis, Tyson Gentry heard from Adam Taliaferro. Now he gets to meet him, too.
Gentry and Taliaferro will meet during a special halftime presentation at Saturday's game between Ohio State and Penn State in an effort to promote awareness about spinal cord injuries.
''I think it's going to be wonderful for Tyson Gentry to have that opportunity to learn from Adam,'' coach Jim Tressel said. ''And the other thing is to raise the awareness of spinal cord injury research. That's part of what we'd like to do, because it's real. Some of the great research is being done at places like this (Ohio State). And if we can help raise awareness, that's a good thing.''
Gentry, a Perkins graduate, was paralyzed during spring ball in April on a routine tackle. Taliaferro was paralyzed while playing cornerback for Penn State in a game in Ohio Stadium against the Buckeyes in 2000. He has since made a near-full recovery and now can walk again without aid. He was the first to call Gentry upon hearing he was injured.
Clarett reaction
Tressel was saddened to hear his former player, Maurice Clarett, will spend at least the next 3 1/2 years in prison for pleading guilty to robbery charges. But he hoped Clarett had a plan for life in prison and beyond.
''Knowing Maurice like I do ... I like to think that he'll have a plan for his growth while he's taking care of those consequences,'' Tressel said. ''My feelings don't change any for him. I would say this: Like any situation that arises, if you'll take it and use it to grow, it's amazing what it can do for you. So my prayer is that he takes that time and creates a plan for his life and that he'll have a wonderful life.''
Quarterback Troy Smith is one of the few remaining players with a connection to Clarett. The two were close at one time, but have since drifted apart.
''I'm praying for him all the time,'' Smith said. ''It's an unfortunate situation, but there's not much myself or my teammates can do. Every man chooses his path. It might not be a good one, but he has to live with that situation.''
This & that
Steve Rehring has supplanted Tim Schafer as the starting left guard on the offensive line. Rehring and Schafer had been splitting the snaps, but Rehring will start this week while Schafer will back up at both left tackle and left guard.
''Both Schaf and Steve Rehring have to be ready to play tackle and they have to be ready to play guard,'' Tressel said.
Receiver Roy Hall, still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered prior to the season, got in on a handful of plays against Cincinnati. Tressel estimated he was about 85 percent last week and he'll be about 95 percent by Saturday, but refused to say how much he'll play.
Freshmen Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline have played well in Hall's absence.
''How many snaps he'll play,'' Tressel said. ''I wouldn't even venture to throw a number out, but I'm hoping it will be significant.''
The only player Ohio State will be without won't matter much in the game plan. Third-string quarterback Todd Boeckman rolled an ankle in mop-up duty against the Bearcats and is out.