Meyer to keep attention focused on the field Saturday

8/27/2012

COLUMBUS — As the Ohio State football team sets off on a new era Saturday, its coach hopes he will able to laser his attention onto the field.

But Urban Meyer makes no promises.

The new Buckeyes coach said today he will carry a note card reminding him to keep focused on the game -- not the atmosphere of a stadium filled with 100,000-plus fans for the season opener against Miami (Ohio).

"No, that’s serious,” said Meyer, an Ashtabula native who coached at OSU as a graduate assistant under Earle Bruce. "I have to do that because I’m going to be coming out of my shoes a little bit.”

He added: "Obviously, to say I’m very excited to be here would be a shallow statement."

Meyer addressed his anticipation for Saturday among other topics in his first weekly media luncheon.

Meyer also updated the status of senior defensive end Nathan Williams, who will attempt to return Saturday from microfracture surgery last fall, while OSU released its first official depth chart. The Buckeyes will be unusually green, with five members of the Buckeyes' heralded freshmen class listed on the two-deep -- including at the three linebacker positions. One spot where a freshman will have to wait is right tackle, where senior Reid Fragel remains ahead of Taylor Decker.