LB Austin Spitler (official thread)

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by BuckTwenty

Wow... first I've heard of him possibly moving to FB since he was a redshirt frosh. At this point, I think he's too valuable as the back-up to Laurinaitis... but then again, I'm not the coaching staff. Where did you hear this from?? Not doubting your sources at all briegg, but is this better suited for the rumor mill or is this genuine fact?

Austin would start at MLB for almost any other team in the Big Ten (I can't think of anyone that would start next year off the top of my head that would be better than him) and he's right up there with Homan as far as playing time for 2nd stringers at LB for us. I'm kinda hoping this isn't true, but if it is, this is a HUGE break for Mark Johnson to move up on the depth chart at MLB and it makes a pretty nice entrance for Sweat/Sabino (whoever will be the MLB out of those two) to step into 3rd string.

He was asked to move last year, didn't really want too...But last year there was depth at the FB spot...Not as much this year, so maybe he makes the move?

Also I believe that Homan or Terry could back up the Mike...

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Also I believe that Homan or Terry could back up the Mike...

I think they'd want to get Terry on the field instead of having him as a back-up. I could see Sabino backing up Laurinaitis if Spitler moved to FB.

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

I think they'd want to get Terry on the field instead of having him as a back-up. I could see Sabino backing up Laurinaitis if Spitler moved to FB.

Well obviously...The thing I was pointing out that if we really needed someone because of injury we have guys that can play in the middle if Spitler were to move...We have more depth on the outside than inside, so we could slide one of those guys in and put someone else on the outside...I agree about Sabino as well, but is he going to be ready right away??

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Well obviously...The thing I was pointing out that if we really needed someone because of injury we have guys that can play in the middle if Spitler were to move...We have more depth on the outside than inside, so we could slide one of those guys in and put someone else on the outside...I agree about Sabino as well, but is he going to be ready right away??

Gotcha'.

[osugrad21]

DDN

Spitler in a backup role again for Buckeyes With Laurinaitis back, linebacker corps deep, making things tough on Bellbrook grad.

By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 08, 2008
COLUMBUS ? Austin Spitler still has a mark on the bridge of his nose, a reminder of a practice injury. There's another just beneath his lower lip, a second facial scar from his Ohio State football experience.
"I must have a weird-shaped head or something," Spitler joked. "I can't get a helmet that fits me. It slides down, my chin strap comes undone, so now I have a few scars to show for it. Hopefully, soon I'll have one that fits."


He also hopes to find where he fits in the OSU linebacker rotation. Spitler, a junior from Bellbrook, will enter his third straight season as the backup for two-time All-American James Laurinaitis in the fall. Many speculated Laurinaitis would relinquish his final year of eligibility and enter this month's NFL draft.
Laurinaitis, though, decided to return. When asked for his honest reaction for the Laurinaitis news, Spitler smiled.
"Oh, crap," he said.



Cont...

[BB73]

Austin has a reputation as a prankster.

ozone

Messin' With Jim Suits Austin Just Fine, and Visa Versa
By John Porentas

You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind, you don't pull the mask off the ole' Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim, unless of course, you're Austin Spitler.

Songster Jim Croce died long before Austin Spitler and James Laurinaitis arrived on Campus at Ohio State to play linebacker, but the song lyric applies. Austin Spitler loves messing with James "Big Jim" Laurinaitis, and Laurinaitis feels exactly the same way about Spitler.

Austin "Willie McCoy" Spitler

"A very interesting human being is Austin," said a grinning Laurinaitis.

"He's just different.

"You know how you can meet somebody and you can remember somebody who is kind of like that new person?

"I can literally say that I've never met anyone
else like that kid.

"I don't know what it is, but he's in his own world. He's always is trying to make you smile," said Laurinaitis.

Cont'd ...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$ (Matthew Hager)

Spitler Content To Wait His Turn...............Spitler comments on another year of being second on the depth chart due to JL's decision to return. JL comments that if Spitler was on another team, he would definetly be a starter.

[Brutus1]

Originally Posted by BB73

Austin has a reputation as a prankster.

ozone

Just call him slim.

[RB07OSU]

Just have to give props to Austin for his amazing recovery on Ray Small's fumble on Saturday. I thought we had lost the ball for sure and Austin would not be denied. That play showed a lot of heart and I felt the announcers didn't give him enough credit, as he really had to fight for it.

[bucknut11]

Originally Posted by RB07OSU

Just have to give props to Austin for his amazing recovery on Ray Small's fumble on Saturday. I thought we had lost the ball for sure and Austin would not be denied. That play showed a lot of heart and I felt the announcers didn't give him enough credit, as he really had to fight for it.

OZone is reporting Austin won Special Teams Player of the Week! His big recovery certainly didn't go unnoticed.

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football: After long wait, Spitler's time arrives
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Austin Spitler felt as if he had been stuck at the world's longest red light.

The linebacker arrived at Ohio State in 2005, along with a fresh-faced Minnesota kid named James Laurinaitis. Spitler redshirted, while injuries to Marcus Freeman and Bobby Carpenter propelled Laurinaitis from third string to starter by season's end.

And that, as they say, was that. If Spitler's college career were a highway, he was stalled on the entrance ramp.

For the next three years, he sat behind Laurinaitis, who became a three-time All-American and winner of various trophies.

Spitler has played just 99 minutes in his career. Fans might remember him most for a negative moment -- his crucial roughing-the-punter call against Louisiana State in the national championship game in January 2008.

What did it feel like to be Lou Gehrig's backup? Spitler could probably tell you.

"It's been a ride," Spitler said with a wry smile that suggests there is much more to his story than what he says. "It's been a lot of ups and downs, but it's been good the majority of the time. I've learned so many things from the people in front of me."

And that's the key to where Spitler is: He spent the downtime learning, watching, working and improving.

It's why the fifth-year senior from Bellbrook -- southeast of Dayton -- finally is listed as a starter this spring. His next start will be his first.

"The interesting thing about him is he hasn't just waited," co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said. "He has made himself a lot better since he came in, and that's a credit because you see a lot of guys that come in and they're a backup, and they don't see that light at the end of the tunnel.

"They just think like, 'By the time this person leaves, it will be my turn.' And by that time, someone has caught them or passed them. And that hasn't happened with him."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State football: After long wait, Spitler's time arrives

[BB73]

Spitler has played just 99 minutes in his career. Fans might remember him most for a negative moment -- his crucial roughing-the-punter call against Louisiana State in the national championship game in January 2008.

That's not fair, implying that fans might only remember him for the roughing-the-punter call against LSU.

We also remember the 'roughing-the-center' call on a TSUN punt in 2006.

Give 'em hell this year, Austin.

[Poe McKnoe]

Originally Posted by BB73

That's not fair, implying that fans might only remember him for the roughing-the-punter call against LSU.

We also remember the 'roughing-the-center' call on a TSUN punt in 2006.

Give 'em hell this year, Austin.

That was on BTN on Monday night. Still, to this day, the only game I've heard that penalty called. It was like a 3rd and 26 and Henne moved them to 4th and 13. I don't want to say the refs wanted to slow down OSU and prevent the inevitable 21-7 score, but they did.

I think Spitler's got A LOT of aggression after sitting behind JL his entire career, and I hope he takes it out on the opposition (in legal but punishing ways)!

[BB73]

Austin talks about waiting for an opportunity to start, and how the team is coming together during the spring. About 2 and a half minutes.

Official.site.video

[martinss01]

Originally Posted by Poe McKnoe

That was on BTN on Monday night. Still, to this day, the only game I've heard that penalty called.

same here and if im a special teams coach i might consider telling my long snapper to just keep his head down till the ball is kicked. free first downs? ill take em!