CriticalSteve
All-American
http://www.brutusreport.com/content.asp?ContentId=541
As Long As Each Man Realizes This Sense of Duty
Ryan Franzinger, a walk-on fullback from St.IgnatiusHigh School, is looking for playing time on special teams and at fullback as the 2005 season gets ready to begin.
By Steve Patterson
Coming out of St Ignatius, what schools recruited you and what led to your decision to become a Buckeye?
“Out of St. Ignatius I received strong interest from I AA Patriot League schools, some Ivys for a little bit, the service academies, and mild interest from the MAC schools. No school offered me a scholarship but Holy Cross made a nice offer (Pat. League schools do not give full athletic scholarships for football). Ohio State contacted me but only from the throws coach for the track team. I decided to attend Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts to pursue football and track along with their strong Jesuit education. After the first semester there I found myself unhappy and decided to transfer to OSU and walk-on to the football team but also knowing that if football does not work out, I would still be able to throw the discus.”
You and John Kerr led St. Ignatius to the state championship in 2001, are you still close? Did you influence John's decision to transfer from Indiana to Ohio State?
“John and I are still pretty close. I do not think I had any influence in his decision to transfer. I kept my decision somewhat of a secret for a while because I still wanted to participate for Holy Cross's track team. I remember seeing John over Thanksgiving break my freshman year and he told me that he was going to transfer within the Big 10 but he did not know where. Then I believe around March or April he told me that he was going to transfer to OSU and that he had known that for a while, but he too was keeping it a secret. I remember he had quite a sticky situation with his release from the IU athletic department and Coach Dinardo and it was wise for him to keep quiet. We both were making the decision on our own.”
How do you feel about the outlook for the 2005 team?
“Ohio State football 2005, as a surprise to no one, will be an extremely talented group in all areas. Yes there may be a few question marks but we are gladly accepting those Challenges. The big question is not if we are talented enough to win the championship but whether or not we will use our talents fully and reach our full potential through team efforts. Each team member is confronted with this challenge and each man has his job to do with great effort. As long as each man realizes this sense of duty, the team should be very strong. I have been a part of very talented teams before that have not won a championship because of breakdowns in team chemistry due to poor leadership at times and selfish attitudes of its team members. This must be avoided at all costs. Conversely, I have been a part of championship teams that were not the most talented, but were however, composed of comrades willing to make the self-sacrifices necessary for the good of the team. This type of attitude, I believe, is the key to unlocking the greatness in talented groups.”
What is your summer routine like? Are you looking forward to full practices in August?
“The summer routine consists of 4 consecutive days of lifting and running. Two days are devoted to upper body lifts and two days are for lower body lifts. These days are also split up according to speed and running form work, and also days for mostly agility work.”
How will the fullback position unfold and what will your role be this coming year?
“There are some talented guys ahead of me at fullback but I will just do the best that I can and fill in at any role the coaches ask me to. Hopefully I can get some time on the KO and KOR units."<O:p</O:p
As Long As Each Man Realizes This Sense of Duty
Ryan Franzinger, a walk-on fullback from St.IgnatiusHigh School, is looking for playing time on special teams and at fullback as the 2005 season gets ready to begin.
By Steve Patterson
Coming out of St Ignatius, what schools recruited you and what led to your decision to become a Buckeye?
“Out of St. Ignatius I received strong interest from I AA Patriot League schools, some Ivys for a little bit, the service academies, and mild interest from the MAC schools. No school offered me a scholarship but Holy Cross made a nice offer (Pat. League schools do not give full athletic scholarships for football). Ohio State contacted me but only from the throws coach for the track team. I decided to attend Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts to pursue football and track along with their strong Jesuit education. After the first semester there I found myself unhappy and decided to transfer to OSU and walk-on to the football team but also knowing that if football does not work out, I would still be able to throw the discus.”
You and John Kerr led St. Ignatius to the state championship in 2001, are you still close? Did you influence John's decision to transfer from Indiana to Ohio State?
“John and I are still pretty close. I do not think I had any influence in his decision to transfer. I kept my decision somewhat of a secret for a while because I still wanted to participate for Holy Cross's track team. I remember seeing John over Thanksgiving break my freshman year and he told me that he was going to transfer within the Big 10 but he did not know where. Then I believe around March or April he told me that he was going to transfer to OSU and that he had known that for a while, but he too was keeping it a secret. I remember he had quite a sticky situation with his release from the IU athletic department and Coach Dinardo and it was wise for him to keep quiet. We both were making the decision on our own.”
How do you feel about the outlook for the 2005 team?
“Ohio State football 2005, as a surprise to no one, will be an extremely talented group in all areas. Yes there may be a few question marks but we are gladly accepting those Challenges. The big question is not if we are talented enough to win the championship but whether or not we will use our talents fully and reach our full potential through team efforts. Each team member is confronted with this challenge and each man has his job to do with great effort. As long as each man realizes this sense of duty, the team should be very strong. I have been a part of very talented teams before that have not won a championship because of breakdowns in team chemistry due to poor leadership at times and selfish attitudes of its team members. This must be avoided at all costs. Conversely, I have been a part of championship teams that were not the most talented, but were however, composed of comrades willing to make the self-sacrifices necessary for the good of the team. This type of attitude, I believe, is the key to unlocking the greatness in talented groups.”
What is your summer routine like? Are you looking forward to full practices in August?
“The summer routine consists of 4 consecutive days of lifting and running. Two days are devoted to upper body lifts and two days are for lower body lifts. These days are also split up according to speed and running form work, and also days for mostly agility work.”
How will the fullback position unfold and what will your role be this coming year?
“There are some talented guys ahead of me at fullback but I will just do the best that I can and fill in at any role the coaches ask me to. Hopefully I can get some time on the KO and KOR units."<O:p</O:p
