COLUMBUS – In the wake of recent allegations that the Michigan football program has violated NCAA rules regarding limits on practice time, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday that his program adheres to the guidelines that limit the hours of mandatory practices and organized workouts, but the players themselves often put in significant additional time.

“What makes it difficult is how good these kids want to be,” Tressel said as his team began detailed preparations for Saturday's season-opener against Navy.

“Sometimes you have to chain the doors of the Woody Hayes [training] center, just to get them out of there. And act like you're cleaning the floor of the weight room or something, because these kids want to be good. They want to train. They want to get their buddies in there and throw the ball around, those kinds of things.”

First Published September 1, 2009, 8:24 p.m.