Dispatch Chat: Update 1/15

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Transcript of OSU football online chat with Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch
Friday, September 15, 2006 1:15 PM

Log on to Dispatch.com/buckeyes or BuckeyeXtra.com/buckeyes every Friday at noon during Ohio State's football season for a live chat with either Ken Gordon or Tim May, OSU football reporters for The Dispatch.
Below is a transcript of Tim's chat before the Buckeyes' game against Cincinnati:
Moderator: Welcome to the Dispatch.com/BuckeyeXtra.com Ohio State football question-and-answer session with OSU football reporter Tim May. Our chat will begin in a few minutes.
How are the modifications to the WHAC going, and will this help with our current recruits and their parents? -- Jim C.
Tim: Only time will tell if it is helps with recruiting, the nearly $20 million renovation being done to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The way I understand it, the project is on schedule, the players already are using the locker room and the meeting rooms. Most of the extra stuff, like the expanded weight room and players lounge, etc., won't be completed until early next year. But in short, it's all about keeping up with, and perhaps a little ahead of, the Jonses.
We start Big Ten play after the Cincinnati game on Saturday. Have any other teams in the Big Ten impressed you with their out-of-conference play? -- G.B. in Cleveland
Tim: G.B., first of all, is G.B., short for Green Bay? Were you named after your father's favorite NFL team? Pardon me, but I was just stalling. No. That's my answer. But it can be yes after Saturday if Michigan makes an honorable showing at Notre Dame, if Michigan State dumps Pitt and if Iowa handles Iowa State. Iowa's struggle last week without Drew Tate was to be expected, but my goodness -- Syracuse stunk last year. And Northwestern losing by 17 at home to Division I-AA New Hampshire? I know NH has a strong program, but are you kidding me?
I couldn't tell by watching TV, and of course the idiots in the booth never mentioned it, so what was your impression of the Ohio State fans' presence at the Texas game? Was there a noticeable amount of scarlet and gray in the stands? -- Susan, stuck in Ann Arbor
Tim: No. 1, forget this chat and call a tow-truck company -- see if Bo's Tows is still in operation. As for the OSU crowd at Texas, as I walked in the gate with our sports editor, Ray Stein, I talked with two OSU-clad fans who had paid $450 each for tickets. What I'm getting to is the OSU wedged in the NW end zone was packed, starting with the band; there were a couple of other pockets of scarlet, and then the rest of the crowd was peppered with the stuff. We guessed there might have been 8,000 to 10,000 OSU fans in total.
Would Ohio State ever consider playing Cincinnati in Paul Brown Stadium or maybe a MAC team in Cleveland Browns Stadium? Thanks. -- Allie in Toledo
Tim: Pssst, Allie, the Buckeyes are playing Toledo in Browns Stadium in 2009. They have played Cincinnati in Paul Brown Stadium. Don't you remember the near-miss they had down there in the national championship season of 2002? There's a chance they could play there again, but nothing is concrete yet.
Would tOSU have beaten UT with Zwick at QB? -- Scott L. in Bozeman, Mont.
Tim: Who knows? You had to be impressed with OSU's plan, though, rolling Troy Smith away from the pressure, clawing at the Longhorns' belly with the flips to Anthony Gonzalez early, then going over the top to Ted Ginn Jr. late. Texas admitted it loaded up expecting more running from Smith. Whether that would have changed with Zwick in the game we'll never know. But as Jesse Jackson said on Saturday Night Live, "The question is moot."
Everyone knew that OSU's defense had to improve between the NIU game and Texas -- clearly they did -- but by how much? What are the lingering concerns, especially against the run? -- Sam O.
Tim: The lingering concern is just that: Can the Buckeyes consistently stop the run? People are quickly referring to it as a bend-don't-break defense, but from this vantage point it's been a bend-break-their-back-with-a-big-turnover-return defense. It's still a young unit, though, and they are playing so many guys it's tough to get that chemistry right off the bat. And then here comes Cincinnati, averaging less than a football field rushing in its first two games. I'm not sure there will be a clear answer from this game.
Can you tell me anything about the new quarterback recruit from Georgia? -- Butch in Atlanta
Tim: For one thing, Antonio Henton is bigger than I envisioned him when the Buckeyes signed him in February. He has those stout legs like Troy Smith. In fact, many who have watched him in practice say he reminds them of Smith, i.e., in both his running and passing potential. He's quick and fast, and he throws a snap spiral. Other than that, he is spending a red-shirt season, which should make spring drills interesting, considering he'll be competing with upperclassmen Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft in the race to replace.
Can you please explain the roughing-the-passer penalty on Richardson during the Texas game last week? I don't think this call was given its due in The Dispatch last week. Was there ever an explanation from the officiating crew? -- Mike in Westerville
Tim: Immediately after the game it proved to be irrelevant, due to the final score. But not given its due? I wrote about it in the Wednesday OSU notebook and the Friday notebook, and Ken Gordon and I touched on it I believe in our "Inside the Beat" column on Monday here on the Web. Bottom line, it looked like a high hit by Richardson on Colt McCoy, but appearances are deceiving. Couple that with the officials' obvious intent to protect QBs more this year, and voila. Besides, the referee was standing behind the QB, and, well, if you saw the 6-7, 285-pound Richardson bearing down on you, you might want to throw a flag, or throw in the towel, too.
I noticed that Troy Smith has not run much the past two games. What is the reason for this?
Tim: Easy. He hasn't had to. Plus, they've only called about six plays that involve the QB running, and about four have been options where they'd rather he pitch it anyway. Besides, why run when passing is so much fun? Keeping something in the tank for Big Ten opponents could never be considered a bad thing.
What the hell is wrong with Ken Gordon saying that if he wasn't being paid he wouldn't watch the Buckeyes play Cincinnati? -- Max D. in Columbus
Tim: There is noting wrong with him saying that. He said it -- actually, he typed it -- in our "Inside the Beat" column that appears on Buckeyextra.com on Mondays. He can say - uh, type - what he wants. This is America, man. As for me, I'd watch Tulane vs. North Texas if that was my only alternative for seeing a college football game on a given Saturday. Growing up, I'd actually go into slight depression once the football season was over. I counted the days until the first game of the year on television, and I'm talking about that old College All-Star game in Chicago, when a team of stars played the defending NFL champion in Soldier Field. A huge thunderstorm ended that game's run. Back to your point, though, I find Saturday's game intriguing from the standpoint I believe you learn as much about a so-called No.1 team in the country in games like this as you do in ones like the 24-7 win at No.2 Texas last week. Besides, you can't play Texas or Michigan or Penn State or Iowa every week.
How do you think Coach Tressel is perceived nationally? Do you think he is seen as one of the top two or three coaches in college football?
Tim: It depends on how you rate them. Are you talking about gurus, geniuses, fellows whose game plans are considered strident and edge-running? Then no. Are you talking about program builders, task masters, fellows who embrace all manner of doing things on the field and off? Then yes. As for the football part, I can think of only a handful of games where I thought Tressel and his staff were ill-prepared, at least from what was displayed on the field. Two of them were in the 2004 season in the losses at Northwestern and Iowa. I think he has proved without a doubt he is good in the rivalry game (4-1 vs. Michigan) and in the bowls (4-1), and that's about as good as it gets.
I read yesterday that Ohio State had three wins last year by 30 or more points. I think the reputation that Tressel has as a coach who always plays it close to the vest is inaccurate. Sure, he does that when he has to, but I think that since the middle of last season, he's shown he can open it up with the best of them. Granted, the Buckeyes aren't putting 50 points on the board every week, but what team does these days? Do you agree that Tressel is perceived incorrectly by the public (especially OSU fans)? -- Jimmy in Canal Fulton, Ohio
Tim: What I believe is Tressel, first and foremost, wants to get to the fourth quarter with a chance to win every game. Second, I can recall an interview I had with him soon after he arrived concerning his demands on a quarterback, and one of them was, when the big play is there, no matter when it's there, hit it. Texas fans bemoan that lost fumble near the goal line that Donald Washington returned to set up the Buckeyes' first TD last week. But look at the post Smith overthrew to a wide-open Ginn, and the post he just missed to an open Brian Hartline, and the slant that Anthony Gonzalez dropped that might have been another quick six. Giving your QB the right to throw the ball downtown is not the mark of a timid man.
I wonder if the way the quarterback at OSU holds the ball when handing off to a running back, with one hand stretched out and glaringly obvious, is an advantage to a defense. Rex Kern and some other Woody quarterbacks are probably appalled. -- Ted T. in Dayton
Tim: To be frank, I don't see much of a difference in the way they do it and the way the QBs at Texas or Southern Cal or Boise State do it. Besides, showing the ball blatantly is a good way to set up that play-action fake. As for the hazard, Justin Zwick's fumble in the opener as he reached to hand off to Chris Wells came because he tripped over the foot of pulling left guard Tim Schafer. That's the same "over" play the Buckeyes used to score their final touchdown last week at Texas.
I was in Austin and noticed that John Kerr was hardly on the field for the Buckeyes. I thought he was a starting linebacker. What gives? -- Michael C. in Sacramento, Calif.
Tim: Linebackers coach Luke Fickell said he actually apologized to Kerr about that. With the Buckeyes in the nickel defense a lot, there were fewer than 20 plays where the weak side linebacker was on the field, and Kerr sort of got lost in the rotation with Ross Homan. Many observers keep whispering it's only a matter of time before Homan becomes the starter there, but the coaches keep insisting they are pleased with Kerr and encouraged by the freshman Homan's fast warming after rising from Coldwater. Expect them both to play.
With all the people we are playing, where is Robert Rose in the rotation? Redshirt?
Tim: Tressel said last week that Rose is going to play, maybe a little, maybe a little more. There are a lot of fellows they are trying to roll into the rotation up there.
I've heard that Anthony Gonzalez is as fast as Ted Ginn Jr. Fact or fiction? -- Semancha in Boise, Idaho
Tim: I don't think we'll ever really know. Ginn said this week the two have never raced at Ohio State, that they race defensive backs. Both are fast, though. I think that is obvious. It's just that Ginn, with that magnificent stride, more looks the part.
How is the honorary captain chosen for the games? -- C.J. in Columbus
Tim: Tressel, or at least Tressel and his associates, pick them. Like this week, it's 2002 national championship quarterback Craig Krenzel, who is back in town working in private business and doing some radio work for WTVN. It's an interesting concept. Tressel believes in keeping things modern while also making sure his current players are well aware of the past, and thus their responsibility.
Were you surprised by how easily Notre Dame tore apart Penn State? -- Jerry A. in Austin, Texas
Tim: Yes. Oh, you want more than that. OK, what I learned from the result is the Notre Dame defensive renaissance is real; PSU quarterback Anthony Morelli has a ways to go; Penn State has not simply reloaded after last year's surprising run to the Big Ten title; if JoePa was hoping to go out in a blaze of glory, there's a good chance he missed his chariot.
Do you feel that the Buckeyes will have a letdown tomorrow? If so, do you think it will be enough for UC to pull off a major upset? -- Steve F. in Columbus
Tim: I mean this in all sincerity -- if the Buckeyes win a close one, I wouldn't be surprised to hear them say there was a letdown. If they win a blowout, I wouldn't be surprised to hear them say they weren't looking ahead or behind. My point is, a play can go this way or that way and turn what's supposed to a tight game into a blowout, or what was supposed to be a blowout into a tight game. Like Texas last week -- did the Longhorns have a letdown? That said, there are so many jobs still up for grabs, especially on defense, I don't know how there could be a letdown.
Other than Michigan, which remaining opponent do you think presents the biggest threat to OSU? -- Antonio in Boston
Tim: Iowa on the road is a threat, believe it. And Michigan State on the road is, too. The Spartans had the Buckeyes right where they wanted them last year before that fiasco of a field-goal attempt -- too few players on the field -- was blocked and returned for a TD by Ashton Youboty. That MSU offense is going to give anybody trouble.
When our defense returns to top five next year, will Tressel revert to his old, predictable ways on offense? -- Peter in New York
Tim: Look at it this way: not only will he have a veteran defense, but he'll have a first-year starter at quarterback, at least three new starters on the line, possibly the loss of Ted Ginn Jr early to the pros, the loss of starting fullback Stan White Jr. Predictable might not be the right way of putting it, but "walk before you can run" might be.
Moderator: Time to wrap it up. Thanks, Tim. Nice job by you and our readers. As always, thanks for the time, and please pass along our sympathy to Ken for having to head out to the 'Shoe tomorrow.

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Inside the Beat
Looking ahead to Big Ten play
By Tim May and Ken Gordon
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday, September 18, 2006

The Buckeyes are 3-0, ranked No. 1 in the country and appear to be clicking in every phase of the game. But now Big Ten play starts, and OSU will have to survive Penn State and Iowa to truly make this a September to remember. Dispatch beat reporters Ken Gordon and Tim May assess where the Buckeyes stand.
GORDON: Tim, I think the first thing on my mind is whether OSU has answered all of its defensive question marks yet. Even after that win at Texas, there was some concern over the run defense. I'm certainly not down on the D, but I don't think Cincinnati really gave the Buckeyes a true measuring stick, since the Bearcats don't have a solid run game. Tony Hunt and Penn State should be a better test of whether the Buckeyes have tightened down.
MAY: No question about that. The athletic ability of the opponent rises across the board again this week, but not to the level of Texas. Counting the eight sacks the Buckeyes held the Bearcats to minus yards rushing. That's no fluke. That's against a team that game-planned against them all week, that ran the zone play some like Texas did, but to no avail. When a team's defensive tackle is having the game that Quinn Pitcock had on Saturday, though, it changes everything for the opposing offense. He was considered one of the top five defensive tackles coming out of high school five years ago, and he has lived up to that billing.
GORDON: Actually, I'm more impressed with the personality this unit is developing. Two things stand out: They don't panic when teams move on them early, and they adjust well. Opponents have scored just nine second-half points this year, all in the opener. And No. 2, the ball-hawking back seven. They have six takeaways already, half of what they recorded all last season. That's huge. Any single player really surprised you this season yet, Tim? I think Anderson Russell has emerged from a pack of talented youngsters on defense, personally.
MAY: We all thought James Laurinaitis had the potential, but moving him to the middle where he can be at the heart of it all was one of those coaching genius moves (though Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell aren't into being called anything other than coach). Back to your point, though, Brandon Mitchell is having one of those senior seasons that Jim Tressel demands. That is, he is playing his best ball in his last go-round. The OSU defense as designed by Heacock demands strong, smart, dynamic safety play, and the Buckeyes are getting that from Russell and Mitchell.
GORDON: Let's look ahead to Penn State. Some say the Nittany Lions don't deserve their No. 24 ranking, with rather sluggish wins over Akron and Youngstown State and a thumping at the hands of Notre Dame. You know they're going to bring a physical game on both front lines. Can their defense, featuring LB Paul Posluszny, hold down OSU's multi-dimensional offense? That, to me, is the best matchup this week.
MAY: Agreed. The Nittany Lions could not throttle Notre Dame two weeks ago on the road. With a first-year starting quarterback, the offense still seems to be in search of a new identity compared to last year's unit dominated by the running/throwing of Michael Robinson. It's curious how Derrick Williams has been rather quiet this year, compared to last year, when he burst onto the scene as a freshman, even scoring that big touchdown against the Buckeyes. Whether he and Posluszny are totally back from their catastrophic injuries of last season is up to debate, but they were the Nits' sparks.
GORDON: One thing is certain, the next two weeks are crucial. OSU gets Penn State and then Iowa on the road at night. Winning those two games gives them major strength-of-schedule credibility and puts them in the driver's seat for a Big Ten title, even though we both feel the Oct. 14 road trip to Michigan State will be a stern test. The next four games are soft, and then it's Michigan at home. The way it looks, that could be a matchup of unbeatens, maybe No. 1 vs. No. 4, or something like that -- shades of 1968? Hey, the Buckeyes take it one game at a time, but we don't have to, do we?
MAY: No, we don't. But as the first quarter against Cincinnati proved, college football is full of surprises, and especially when the big boys play. The difference can be one bad kick here, one blown coverage there, and suddenly you've got yourself a ball game. Penn State has high-quality players, unless the recruiting experts are full of hot air, so it might just be a matter of time before it starts clicking this year. Ohio State is a team full of newbies, too, but a team whose time has come, according to the poll voters. Saturday should serve as a fine measuring stick, because now every team in the Big Ten is starting anew in a way, with a league title and its accompanying BCS Rose Bowl berth on the line.

[Buckskin86]

Scarlet-and-gray Q&A
Transcript of OSU football online chat with Ken Gordon
The Columbus Dispatch
Friday, September 22, 2006 1:07 PM

Log on to Dispatch.com/buckeyes or BuckeyeXtra.com/buckeyes every Friday at noon during Ohio State's football season for a live chat with either Ken Gordon or Tim May, OSU football reporters for The Dispatch.

Below is a transcript of Ken Gordon's chat before the Buckeyes' game against Penn State:

Maurice Wells seems like a risk every time he enters the game. He certainly does not seem to be living up to expectations. Why doesn't OSU just play Pittman and Chris Wells? -- Nick A. in Dublin

Ken: A risk for what? I'd say when he gets the ball between the tackles, he's a risk for 2 or 3 yards. I agree with you there, that's not his role. But I'd say if you pitch out to him, he's a risk to turn the corner. And if you throw the ball to him in space, he's a risk for a big play, like his 30-yard reception against Northern Illinois. You aren't off base here, I don't see Wells as an every-down, traditional back. I do think he's perfect as a change-of-pace, third-down type of player and therefore valuable.

Like I have said the previous three weeks, I think the defense will be all right -- as long as they continue to improve. What do you see as the area that most needs the most improvment? -- Paul in Columbus

Ken: Ah, our first "I told you so" about the defense! Run defense will remain a question mark until they stop a team that has a good back. Last week doesn't count, as Cincinnati barely even tried to run, and I think taking sack yards off the rush totals is the worst stat in college football (the NFL does it right). Anyway, let's see how OSU fares against Tony Hunt and the Penn State o-line. I'm not down on this defense, but it will face some major tests in the coming weeks.

I read in the paper today that Lydell Ross sold his national-championship ring, and I think that's disgraceful that someone would have so little regard for such a great achievement. Do you agree? -- Marla in Obetz

Ken: Disgraceful is too strong a word to me. At first blush, yes, it's surprising. If it were me, I'd cherish not only the title, but the symbol of achieving something with my teammates. But that's me. Maybe Lydell has other ways of remembering that season that mean more to him. Maybe he's in financial trouble. We don't know, and I'm not one to judge harshly, anyway.

Why doesn't Ohio State use any trick plays? It might help, because other teams know Ohio State never does anything fancy. A trick here and there might result in some big yardage. -- Joe in Bellaire, Ohio

Ken: Not to sound snide, but OSU's "nothing fancy" offense seems to be resulting in some big yardage.The Buckeyes are 18th nationally in yardage (426.7) and 30th in scoring (32.0). So it's not like they're looking for something to get them unstuck. Also, since Ted Ginn Jr.'s freshman season, he's been getting stuffed on end-arounds more often than not. OSU tried one last Saturday and he lost 6 yards. I would say that defending an offense that features a mobile quarterback, two or three good running backs, about six legitimate receivers, a solid tight end and a very good offensive line is tricky enough.

Beanie Wells' number of carries through the first three games are 10, 5 and 5. Why is he seeing less action as the season progresses instead of more? I'd have thought that by the time we reached Game 4, he'd be a bigger part of the offense. -- Adam in Hilton Head, S.C.

Ken: Actually, I've been saying all along that Antonio Pittman is the clear-cut starter. What that usually means is that as the games get tougher, the starter carries more of the load. Against Texas, I think OSU coaches worried the pressure might be too much for Beanie, plus he had fumbled in the opener. Last week, I thought he played a decent amount, and remember, they threw him a 10-yard pass, as well. As the Big Ten opens, I think we'll continue to see Beanie for a series or two a game to spell Pittman and keep him as fresh as possible. But remember, it's Pittman who is the centerpiece of the running attack, whether fans agree with it or not. Tressel has said he would ideally split the carries 50 percent Pittman, 25 percent Wells and Mo Wells. That's pretty clear.

If even (Penn State linebacker) Paul Posluszny admits that A.J. Hawk should have won the Butkus Award last season, it just makes me wonder how such a mistake could have been made that Posluszny was voted the award. Have you heard anything behind the scenes that could shed light on how that happened? Did Hawk have a bad rep that voters didn't like (or something like that?). Thanks! -- Morris D. in Hackensack, N.J.

Ken: Blame you east-coasters! No, seriously, the Butkus voting pool is small (I believe 50 people, but I'm not positive). Every vote counts a lot, and from what I hear, Posluszny won by one vote. Compare that to the Lombardi, which Hawk won, and which has hundreds of voters. So I don't know. I'm not much for conspiracy theories. Maybe voters were jealous of Hawk for dating Laura Quinn?

Which player is the best interview on the team? (And you can't say Anthony Gonzalez). -- Scott L. in Bozeman, Mont.

Ken: Why can't I say Anthony Gonzalez? Because he is, by far. The beautiful thing about Gonzo is how well-rounded he is. You could ask him about the price of bread in Morocco and he'd give you a thoughtful opinion, or at least a funny quip. No Gonzo? Man, you know how to hurt a guy. OK, here are some others I love to talk to: QBs coach Joe Daniels, guard T.J. Downing, tackle Kirk Barton and QB Troy Smith, pre-2006. Smith used to be wonderfully candid but now is drearingly politically correct. It's even worse because you know he's got these great thoughts, but he holds them back. I've covered NFL and college football now for eight years, and without a doubt, the offensive line as a position are the best interviews.

The papers out here have already put USC in the national-championship game against the Buckeyes. Although history has shown that the Buckeyes have some serious hurdles to overcome to get there (Penn State, Iowa at night and those guys from up north), do you think the Pac Ten is that tough this year, and is USC the cream of that crop? -- Bob Z. in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Ken: No doubt, the Trojans are the class of the Pac 10. Oregon should have lost to Oklahoma last week, and I don't see another top-15 caliber team in the mix. USC showed me something with how it stood up to a very physical Nebraska team. The Trojans can hit, they're not just west-coast finesse. USC hosts Notre Dame on Nov. 25, that should determine the BCS title-game matchup. But heck, if the papers already have it figured out, let's just skip all the preliminaries and go to Arizona now. A lot less work for me!

Anything on the grapevine about who might be leaving early for the NFL? I know, I know: Enjoy the moment. But I keep thinking about how awesome it would be to have Ted and Gonzo back. It might be tough next year with a new QB and losing anyone early. -- Bill in Williamsport, Pa.

Ken: I would be surprised if Ginn Jr. was back and would be equally surprised if Anthony Gonzalez wasn't. That's not on the grapevine, it's off the top of my head. Ginn Jr. will be a first-round pick, and the vast majority of those guys go pro early, particularly if the Buckeyes happen to win a title. Gonzalez could do nothing but help himself in the draft by coming back in 2007 with Ginn gone and he would be the top option. Now I'll throw a name out there that you haven't, and that's Antonio Pittman. If he has a big year, he may go, because Chris Wells will continue to steal carries from him and his numbers could suffer in 2007. Putting up back-to-back 1,300-yard or more seasons should land Pittman an early draft slot, I would think. The only other remote possibility would be right tackle Kirk Barton, who some are saying has All-America potential, but I see him returning. And one other thing: Enjoy the moment.

Is there any way we CANNOT have Brent Musberger announce any OSU games? He is the most negative announcer about OSU there is. I have to turn the sound off the TV and listen to the radio. -- Mary C. from Columbus

Ken: Wow, really? Years ago, I think you may have been right, Brent always seemed to doubt OSU's chances. But now, heck, I think he loves Ohio State, which he shouldn't do, either, by the way. During the Texas game, all he did was shower praise on Tressel, Smith, Ginn, etc. I'm not sure what you're listening to. Now, the radio guys are buddies of mine, so I have no problem with anyone choosing to listen to them. But remember: I believe OSU has the right of refusal on who announces its games, so you're not going to get the same potential for pointed criticism as you would from an outside network broadcast.

Why has Troy Smith stopped running the ball? -- Susan in Mount Vernon, Ohio

Ken: Interesting question, one the media has asked Troy and Tressel about for the past two weeks. Sifting through their answers, here's my opinion: 1. Troy is dead-set intent on proving he can be a pocket passer, partly looking ahead to his NFL draft stock. He has always fought the stereotype of being an "athlete" who plays quarterback. And 2., he will run, eventually. I think OSU is thrilled it is 3-0 without having to risk Troy's health running around. But I can't see them ignoring such an important part of their offense all year. This guy scored 11 rushing TDs last year, after all. My opinion, just when teams start forgetting to account for Smith scrambling, he'll burn someone, big-time.

What has happened to young defensive ends (Lawrence) Wilson and (Doug) Worthington? I have not seen or heard about them for awhile. -- Alan R. in Brightom, Mich

Ken: Wilson is playing a lot in OSU's five-man rotation at both end spots. In fact, he batted down a Dustin Grutza pass at the line and later sacked Grutza last week. He was held back a bit by an injury in fall camp, but seems to be OK now. The coaches like him a lot. Worthington is coming off a serious knee injury suffered in bowl practice last December. He has dressed for games but I don't believe he has played. When he comes back, in future seasons look for he and freshman end Walter Dublin to form the "all-suburb" tandem. Get it, Worthington and Dublin?

Do you think Joe Paterno should retire? -- Max A. in Pittsburgh

Ken: Nope. The man stands for all that is good and right about college football, and the longer he stays in the game, the more he might influence a younger coach to do the same. Too many schools chase TV money, too many coaches promise a recruit they'll stay, then contract-hop at the first opportunity. All Joe does is graduate players, give millions of dollars to his school and community, and oh by the way, he came within one play of being undefeated last year. He can drop dead in his office at age 102, in my view.

Do you feel the university let Maurice Clarett down by not providing closer scrutiny on an 18-year-old freshman?

Ken: Oh man, this is a chat, not a sociology thesis. My 30-second version is if you invite a snake into your bed, you're going to get bitten. I think Jim Tressel learned a valuable lesson from Maurice, which is it's not worth recruiting questionable characters. Since then, the players he's brought in have been markedly better people, at least from my limited exposure to them. I don't feel it's the university's job to provide closer scrutiny, I believe it's Tressel's job to screen applicants better, so to speak. And I think since 2003, he has done that.

How much of an advantage would a rainy day be to Penn State tomorrow? -- Sid in Greensburg, Ohio

Ken: I think it would be a wash (look out, I love cheesy puns). Seriously, this is not the same type of Penn State team as even five years ago. They have some speedy receivers and they try and throw the ball downfield a lot. I also think OSU matches up pretty well across both front lines, so there's no clear-cut edge if it's a grubby, smash-mouth game. Honestly, I don't see rain playing much of a role in who wins.

What happened to Sirjo Welch, who played on special teams last year?

Ken: The Beechcroft graduate was in academic hot water and did not get his grades in order until the end of summer quarter, three weeks into fall camp. He did not return to the team, and I don't know what his plans are. He did not enroll at Ashland University, as was rumored.

Since Rob Oller is probably too afraid to do chats, I'll ask you: Does he really think he's funny in the Scarlet and Gray Matter on Sundays? Why is he allowed to take cheap shots in that thing? -- John D. in Austin, Texas

Ken: Did this one sneak by our moderator, or what? Rob Oller would love to do chats, I'm sure, and he would be really good at them. It just so happens we decided to start our foray into this with our OSU beat writers. Scarlet and Gray Matter is one of our most popular features on Sundays, actually. That and the Bottom Line. Now, since you're from Austin, wasn't that the paper in which John Kelso (forgive me if I have the wrong writer) wrote two or three columns making fun of the whole state of Ohio? Something about Miss Ohio and pigs? All sorts of other completely inane, uncalled for slams? Man, I'm sorry if at some point in history, Texas had problems with boosters. OSU has, too. Tell Kelso to take a shot at that subject next time and leave the 11 million good people of this state alone.

Moderator: Well, now that we've destroyed all the goodwill built up between Texas and Ohio, let's wrap this up. As always, thanks for taking the time to hang with the readership, Ken. Enjoy the Big Ten opener tomorrow, and tell JoePa that Harry Caray wants his glasses back.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/foot...p?story=214303

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

9/29

Web Xtra
Transcript of OSU football online chat with Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch
Friday, September 29, 2006 1:12 PM

Log on to Dispatch.com/buckeyes or BuckeyeXtra.com/buckeyes every Friday at noon during Ohio State's football season for a live chat with either Ken Gordon or Tim May, OSU football reporters for The Dispatch.
Below is a transcript of Tim's chat before the Buckeyes' game against Iowa:
So we're four games into the season. Who do you think will be playing for the national title come January? -- Brooke in Fargo, N.D.
Tim: Most crystal balls are partly cloudy at the moment, because there is no dominant team this season, not even No.1 Ohio State. Based on what I've seen, though, Southern Cal is rounding back into shape (as in a monster) again; if Texas gets past Oklahoma, look out; Auburn proved last night in escaping South Carolina that it is not head and shoulders above the rest of the Southeastern Conference; etc. It's hard to say right now, but if Ohio State and Michigan are both undefeated going into Nov.18, I definitely could see the winner playing in the title game. It goes the same in the SEC -- if Florida, Auburn or Georgia run the table, look out. But what if the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Pac-10, Big East and Atlantic Coast (don't sleep on Virginia Tech) all produce undefeated champs? You won't want to be anywhere close to that shoving match.
Do you think that OSU coaches tend to call plays too conservatively? I cringe when I see run after run on first down, and see talented receivers going to waste. I also think that cautiousness can lose games. -- David S.
Tim: Funny, but I think they