[Buckskin86]

Tank a Blocking Tiger in OSU Backfield
By John Porentas

A lot of you are probably way too young to remember this, but in 1964 the Esso Oil Company ran a very successful ad campaign encouraging their customers to "Put a Tiger in Your Tank." That ad campaign is long-gone, but In 2007, the Ohio State Buckeyes did something vaguely similar. They put a tiger named Tank in their backfield. When they did that they got a high-octane blocker that is intent on extending the mileage that OSU running backs cover this season.

"I've always said that taking a 10 yard sprint then hitting somebody is definitely better than locking up right off the bat," said a grinning Whaley in comparing blocking as a fullback to blocking as an offensive lineman.

"That's the biggest change is getting that 10 yard sprint. Believe me, if I can get my 265 pounds going it's a great collision if I can hit somebody like that. It's a lot more freedom. It's fun," Whaley said.

"My job is run over people, so if somebody wants to call me Tank I figure that would be about the best nickname I could have," Whaley said.

"It's been wonderful. I just wanted to get in there and lead the way for Beanie and all those other great tailbacks we have."

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/20...ota/whaley.htm