August 25, 2010
Ohio native Schofield no longer an OSU fan
By Doug Smock
The Charleston Gazette
HUNTINGTON - Growing up, Chad Schofield sported his share of Ohio State's scarlet and gray. It kind of happens when you grow up in Strongsville, Ohio.
Or anywhere else in the Buckeye State - even the south-facing hillside visible from Marshall's Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
"Even if you go to a different college or school in Ohio, you're still an Ohio State fan. It's unbelievable," Schofield said.
But he was able to a go a few steps farther in his love for Ohio State football. In this case, a couple thousand miles - all the way to the Fiesta Bowl with his family.
And not just any of the Buckeyes' four appearances in the Arizona game. It was the big one, the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, the 31-24 double-overtime victory over Miami for the BCS national championship.
"Somehow we scrambled up some tickets, grabbed a flight and went out there for a couple of days," he said. "I think I was a freshman in high school, and that was the first time Ohio State went to the national championship in so long. You see it on ESPN Classic now, it was a great game to watch."
Schofield no longer roots for the Buckeyes. As Marshall's starting center, he will help the Thundering Herd try to spring a major upset a week from today, when MU opens the season - and the tenure of new coach Doc Holliday - at Ohio State. Kickoff time is 7:30 next Thursday night.