I know I haven't posted anything on here for a long time! Here is the latest on the buckeyes and the Rose Bowl!
Buckeyes Practice, Lift Weights & Ride Rides
LOS ANGELES - The members of the Ohio State football team spent just over two hours stretching, lifting weights and practicing under somewhat overcast skies but pleasant conditions Saturday morning at the Home Depot Center.
The start of the practice was split between one of the numerous practice fields at the Home Depot Center - a sprawling athletics complex in Carson, Calif., that is home to MLS Soccer's LA Galaxy and Chivas USA as well as the U.S. Soccer Federation and the U.S. Tennis Association - and the weight room at the complex. The offense ran through drills in shorts on one of the lower turf fields while the defense lifted and then the two units switched workout locations.
The latter part of the morning was a full team practice session in shorts and helmets.
Following practice, showers and a return trip to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza - the hotel and practice facility are about 35 minutes apart - the team had just about enough time to return to their rooms and relax briefly before boarding the busses once again for the trip to Disneyland.
Tressel Confirms Players' Status A note of interest from Saturday: coach Jim Tressel confirmed to members of the media that four players from the typical team roster this season are not with the team in California: senior receiver and return specialist Ray Small; senior defensive lineman Rob Rose; sophomore running back Bo DeLande; and freshman receiver Duron Carter.
Tomorrow The team will begin a series of 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. practices for the next three days. The team will eat dinner at Lawry's The Prime Rib as part of the Rose Bowl's annual "Beef Bowl."
A Delightful Day at Disneyland
LOS ANGELES - Members of the Ohio State football team (and Oregon's team, too) spent about seven hours Saturday afternoon enjoying rides and having a great time as the special guests at Disneyland.
Visiting the park on what the locals say is one of its busiest days of the year, the Buckeyes had plenty of time to experience much of what Disneyland and its adjacent sister park, California Adventure, has to offer.
Toward the end of the evening the Buckeyes were treated to a welcome reception at the ESPNZone, located in the Downtown Disney District. At about 7:15 p.m. the team boarded the busses for the 43-mile trip back to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza for team meetings before calling it a night.
Welcome Ceremony Members of the Ohio State and Oregon football teams kicked off the day at Disneyland with a nicely attended - media, Rose Bowl court, Tournament of Roses dignitaries, media and fans - welcome reception with the park's iconic Sleeping Beauty's Castle looming in the background.
Ohio State was represented by coach Jim Tressel, the team's senior tri-captains Kurt Coleman, Austin Spitler and Doug Worthington, and offensive lineman Jim Cordle. Oregon coach Chip Kelly was on hand with his team captains: senior defensive end Will Tukuafu, cornerback Walter Thurmond, center Jordan Holmes and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
A Majestic Symbol Each team was presented with its own trophy at the welcome reception: a "Crystal Castle" described as "a majestic symbol of a place where dreams do come true."
First a Little Work Before the welcome reception started, the four members of each team and the coaches autographed 22 footballs that will be used for charitable purposes. Ohio State was the first to arrive and sign the balls. In between the signings, the eight players had just a moment to shake hands and talk briefly with each other.
In the Director's Chairs After the welcome reception the players and coaches met with the media for a good 30 minutes of up-close interviews and photos. Each of the players was stationed at his own director's chair next to a nice-sized Disneyland sign with their name on it.
Showing posts with label Austin Spitler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Austin Spitler. Show all posts
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Captains Talk "The Big Game"
Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio State had to beat Penn State to stay in the Big Ten race. The next week the Buckeyes needed to beat Iowa to win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl.
With those missions accomplished the last two weeks, the ninth-ranked Buckeyes now face another big game against archrival Michigan on Saturday.
What's on the line for Ohio State this week?
''I don't think I can have a good Thanksgiving without winning this game,'' defensive tackle Doug Worthington said Monday.
The month of November has brought three consecutive high-pressure games for the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1), who have wrapped up at least a share of their fifth consecutive Big Ten title.
When offensive tackle Jim Cordle walked into Ohio State's practice facility on Monday morning, he was greeted by the team's strength and conditioning director, Eric Lichter. Lichter looked at Cordle, still limping slightly from a midseason foot injury and said, ''I think you peaked last week.''
Cordle looked at him with a smile and responded, ''No, I still have one more game in me and this team has one more game in us.''
The Buckeyes can lock up an outright conference crown by beating their bitter rivals, but that's about it.
Michigan (5-6, 1-6) has much more at stake. The Wolverines need a win to qualify for a bowl game, to end a five-game losing skid in conference play, to snap a five-game losing skid to Ohio State, to avoid the basement in the Big Ten and to take some of the heat off embattled second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Ohio State's players and coaches swear they haven't been beaten down by the past two grueling games against the best the Big Ten can throw at them. The Buckeyes needed overtime to beat Iowa 27-24 in Columbus on Saturday.
''Someone described this month as tough, tougher and toughest,'' coach Jim Tressel said. ''We've battled through the tough and the tougher, and now we're excited about the toughest.''
With two-thirds of those hurdles behind them, the Buckeyes find it easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
''We knew that this was how our November was going to go,'' wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. ''We talked about it - all three are huge games and we were going to have to take them one at a time. The week leading up to (each) game we knew it was going to be the most important game of our year. (We were) able to take care of the Penn State and Iowa games, and now all the focus goes onto Michigan.''
Having come through so much, the Buckeyes recognize they have just one game left before getting some time off to nurse their bruises and to catch up on their sleep.
''It wears you down, that tough stretch, but what energizes you is this game,'' Cordle said. ''There's no way we won't be up for this game.''
The wear and tear has been as much mental as physical. After losing at Purdue on Oct. 17, the Buckeyes have had no margin for error in the Big Ten race.
''We couldn't turn the ball over, we could miss assignments. We had to be perfect,'' tight end Jake Ballard said. ''We did just about everything to come out with a win against Iowa and Penn State.''
Players and coaches who are a part of Ohio State teams that beat Michigan receive a small, gold charm in the shape of a pair of football pants. It's a prized possession for a Buckeye.
In addition to getting yet another one of the trinkets for beating their rivals, the Buckeyes would like nothing more than to deprive the Wolverines of a bowl trip.
''I don't think we're going to have any problem with this game as far as getting up for it or being ready for it,'' Worthington said. ''It's something that we need, something we want. We're hungry for it. ... Their seniors will go to a bowl game if they beat us, so we don't want to be the guys who lose those gold pants or catapult them to a nice little sunny trip.''
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio State had to beat Penn State to stay in the Big Ten race. The next week the Buckeyes needed to beat Iowa to win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl.
With those missions accomplished the last two weeks, the ninth-ranked Buckeyes now face another big game against archrival Michigan on Saturday.
What's on the line for Ohio State this week?
''I don't think I can have a good Thanksgiving without winning this game,'' defensive tackle Doug Worthington said Monday.
The month of November has brought three consecutive high-pressure games for the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1), who have wrapped up at least a share of their fifth consecutive Big Ten title.
When offensive tackle Jim Cordle walked into Ohio State's practice facility on Monday morning, he was greeted by the team's strength and conditioning director, Eric Lichter. Lichter looked at Cordle, still limping slightly from a midseason foot injury and said, ''I think you peaked last week.''
Cordle looked at him with a smile and responded, ''No, I still have one more game in me and this team has one more game in us.''
The Buckeyes can lock up an outright conference crown by beating their bitter rivals, but that's about it.
Michigan (5-6, 1-6) has much more at stake. The Wolverines need a win to qualify for a bowl game, to end a five-game losing skid in conference play, to snap a five-game losing skid to Ohio State, to avoid the basement in the Big Ten and to take some of the heat off embattled second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Ohio State's players and coaches swear they haven't been beaten down by the past two grueling games against the best the Big Ten can throw at them. The Buckeyes needed overtime to beat Iowa 27-24 in Columbus on Saturday.
''Someone described this month as tough, tougher and toughest,'' coach Jim Tressel said. ''We've battled through the tough and the tougher, and now we're excited about the toughest.''
With two-thirds of those hurdles behind them, the Buckeyes find it easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
''We knew that this was how our November was going to go,'' wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. ''We talked about it - all three are huge games and we were going to have to take them one at a time. The week leading up to (each) game we knew it was going to be the most important game of our year. (We were) able to take care of the Penn State and Iowa games, and now all the focus goes onto Michigan.''
Having come through so much, the Buckeyes recognize they have just one game left before getting some time off to nurse their bruises and to catch up on their sleep.
''It wears you down, that tough stretch, but what energizes you is this game,'' Cordle said. ''There's no way we won't be up for this game.''
The wear and tear has been as much mental as physical. After losing at Purdue on Oct. 17, the Buckeyes have had no margin for error in the Big Ten race.
''We couldn't turn the ball over, we could miss assignments. We had to be perfect,'' tight end Jake Ballard said. ''We did just about everything to come out with a win against Iowa and Penn State.''
Players and coaches who are a part of Ohio State teams that beat Michigan receive a small, gold charm in the shape of a pair of football pants. It's a prized possession for a Buckeye.
In addition to getting yet another one of the trinkets for beating their rivals, the Buckeyes would like nothing more than to deprive the Wolverines of a bowl trip.
''I don't think we're going to have any problem with this game as far as getting up for it or being ready for it,'' Worthington said. ''It's something that we need, something we want. We're hungry for it. ... Their seniors will go to a bowl game if they beat us, so we don't want to be the guys who lose those gold pants or catapult them to a nice little sunny trip.''
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