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From today's DDN:
Doug Harris chats with Former Ohio Mr. Football Ryan Brewer
Brewer gives thumbs up to Holtz, backs Spurrier at South Carolina
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
Former Troy High School running back Ryan Brewer won the Ohio Mr. Football Award as a senior in 1998 and is fourth on the all-time state rushing list (7,656 yards) and third in touchdowns (117). Despite his legendary prep career, the major powers — including Ohio State, to its regret — neglected to offer him a scholarship. South Carolina, which was in the throes of a 20-game losing streak, became willing to part with a full ride, but not without some misgivings. "He showed up on campus, and I timed him in the 40," coach Lou Holtz quipped. "And I told him, 'If you get in a race with a pregnant lady, you'll finish third.' But that sucker's a winner."
OSU coach John Cooper paid for the snub of Brewer, who earned MVP honors after scoring three touchdowns while leading the Gamecocks to the first of two straight wins over the Buckeyes in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002. Cooper was fired the next day.
Brewer, 24, was one of the final players cut by the Baltimore Ravens in 2003. After one season in NFL Europe, he returned to Columbia, S.C., to start a construction-materials business and co-host a sports-talk radio show (WCOS-AM in Columbia, 4 to 6 p.m.) while helping out on football broadcasts. In February, he married his college sweetheart, volleyball player Liz Price.
• "After playing in Europe, I came back and didn't get any sniffs from the NFL. I was hurting a little bit, knees and ankles. They wanted me to go back this year, but I had enough. It wasn't worth the pay. I had just got married. And being away from my wife and dogs was kind of tough on me."
• "We've got some of the best fans (at South Carolina). I don't care what Ohio State people say. We were 0-11 and sold out every game. That says something for them right there."
• "With Steve Spurrier coming in (as coach), it's going to be a new level. I've talked to him a bunch. The guy says what he feels. He says he's going to be the winningest coach in South Carolina history, and he says he's going to be there seven years. So he has to average 9.3 wins a season. With a 12-game season, he believes he can do it. You can call him arrogant. I just call him confident. There's a fine line between confidence and cockiness. He's right on the line."
• "(The radio show) is tough when it's not football season because that's about all I know. We have a great baseball program at South Carolina. They talk a lot about that and basketball. I have to study up, but I don't have time because of my business. So, I throw in football whenever I can."
• "They've asked me to do sideline (analysis) at South Carolina games. But I get too into the games to do that stuff."
• "(Winning Mr. Football) is something I can pass on to my kids. It's a great accomplishment. It's a great state for football. You look around at Texas, Florida, and California, and Ohio is right there in the mix. I had arguments about that all the time when I was with Baltimore and with Europe. Which is the best state for football? I would throw Ohio in there with the best of them. And if you want to fight about it, we will."
• "I had a ton of respect for Holtz as a coach and a person. He taught me a lot on the field and off. He's a tough coach. He's the Bear Bryant of this age. A lot of people didn't like him. A lot of people loved him. I think he teaches great values and showed great leadership. It's one of those things down the road I can say, 'I played for coach Holtz.' "
• "I was being interviewed by ESPN after the Outback Bowl (in 2001), and (Ohio State coach John Cooper) came over. He just said, 'Heckuva game, and I was a walk-on, too.' Now, explain that one to me. I wasn't a walk-on at South Carolina. I don't know if that's what he thought I was or not. But it was one of those things where I go, 'You know, the guy still doesn't respect me.' "
• "I didn't want (Cooper's firing) to be pinned on me. People are going to pin it on me, but it wasn't really that. He did lose to Michigan a couple times."
• "I had a great time (in college). I have no regrets. Everything happened for a reason. I met some great people. I met my wife, and I'll have football friends forever."
Doug Harris chats with Former Ohio Mr. Football Ryan Brewer
Brewer gives thumbs up to Holtz, backs Spurrier at South Carolina
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
Former Troy High School running back Ryan Brewer won the Ohio Mr. Football Award as a senior in 1998 and is fourth on the all-time state rushing list (7,656 yards) and third in touchdowns (117). Despite his legendary prep career, the major powers — including Ohio State, to its regret — neglected to offer him a scholarship. South Carolina, which was in the throes of a 20-game losing streak, became willing to part with a full ride, but not without some misgivings. "He showed up on campus, and I timed him in the 40," coach Lou Holtz quipped. "And I told him, 'If you get in a race with a pregnant lady, you'll finish third.' But that sucker's a winner."
OSU coach John Cooper paid for the snub of Brewer, who earned MVP honors after scoring three touchdowns while leading the Gamecocks to the first of two straight wins over the Buckeyes in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002. Cooper was fired the next day.
Brewer, 24, was one of the final players cut by the Baltimore Ravens in 2003. After one season in NFL Europe, he returned to Columbia, S.C., to start a construction-materials business and co-host a sports-talk radio show (WCOS-AM in Columbia, 4 to 6 p.m.) while helping out on football broadcasts. In February, he married his college sweetheart, volleyball player Liz Price.
• "After playing in Europe, I came back and didn't get any sniffs from the NFL. I was hurting a little bit, knees and ankles. They wanted me to go back this year, but I had enough. It wasn't worth the pay. I had just got married. And being away from my wife and dogs was kind of tough on me."
• "We've got some of the best fans (at South Carolina). I don't care what Ohio State people say. We were 0-11 and sold out every game. That says something for them right there."
• "With Steve Spurrier coming in (as coach), it's going to be a new level. I've talked to him a bunch. The guy says what he feels. He says he's going to be the winningest coach in South Carolina history, and he says he's going to be there seven years. So he has to average 9.3 wins a season. With a 12-game season, he believes he can do it. You can call him arrogant. I just call him confident. There's a fine line between confidence and cockiness. He's right on the line."
• "(The radio show) is tough when it's not football season because that's about all I know. We have a great baseball program at South Carolina. They talk a lot about that and basketball. I have to study up, but I don't have time because of my business. So, I throw in football whenever I can."
• "They've asked me to do sideline (analysis) at South Carolina games. But I get too into the games to do that stuff."
• "(Winning Mr. Football) is something I can pass on to my kids. It's a great accomplishment. It's a great state for football. You look around at Texas, Florida, and California, and Ohio is right there in the mix. I had arguments about that all the time when I was with Baltimore and with Europe. Which is the best state for football? I would throw Ohio in there with the best of them. And if you want to fight about it, we will."
• "I had a ton of respect for Holtz as a coach and a person. He taught me a lot on the field and off. He's a tough coach. He's the Bear Bryant of this age. A lot of people didn't like him. A lot of people loved him. I think he teaches great values and showed great leadership. It's one of those things down the road I can say, 'I played for coach Holtz.' "
• "I was being interviewed by ESPN after the Outback Bowl (in 2001), and (Ohio State coach John Cooper) came over. He just said, 'Heckuva game, and I was a walk-on, too.' Now, explain that one to me. I wasn't a walk-on at South Carolina. I don't know if that's what he thought I was or not. But it was one of those things where I go, 'You know, the guy still doesn't respect me.' "
• "I didn't want (Cooper's firing) to be pinned on me. People are going to pin it on me, but it wasn't really that. He did lose to Michigan a couple times."
• "I had a great time (in college). I have no regrets. Everything happened for a reason. I met some great people. I met my wife, and I'll have football friends forever."
