Article published January 05, 2003
Buckeyes notebook: OSU has lots of talent returning
By DAVE WOOLFORD
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
TEMPE, Ariz. - Ohio State coach Jim Tressel wanted to reflect back yesterday following his team's national championship double-overtime victory over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Friday night, but members of the media were more anxious to look ahead.
Tressel was asked at a press conference yesterday morning if he thought his success might lead to something more prominent within the coaching ranks. After all, he won the Division I-A national title in only his second year at OSU after winning four championships at Division I-AA Youngstown State.
"I get leery of that question," he responded lightheartedly. "I can't believe you people are asking me that question. Here we are enjoying the one moment ... you always want me to reflect and now you're not letting me reflect. It's mind-boggling."
Asked if the future looks bright, with his entire starting offense supposedly returning, Tressel said, "We'll find out. I think we've got some good guys. I think we've got some great coaches.
"We don't make predictions. We didn't sit there at the Outback Bowl after the game last year talking about the bright future for 2002. We just went to work. That's what we'll do in 2003."
The crowd of 77,502 in Sun Devil Stadium seemed to be comprised mostly of Ohio State fans.
"It seemed like a home game," Tressel said. "Every time we go to a stadium, we have a lot of Buckeye fans. You can't even plug into the formula what per cent of impact they had."
FOOT WORK: OSU kicker Mike Nugent's 44-yard field goal in the third quarter gave Ohio State a 17-7 lead. It was his 25th field goal of the year (in 28 attempts) to extend the school record. However, he missed a 42-yarder with 6:36 remaining in regulation that would have given Ohio State a 20-14 advantage.
That allowed Miami kicker Todd Sievers to send the game into overtime with a 40-yard field goal as time expired in regulation play.
PARTY TIME: Plans for a celebration in Columbus will be announced tomorrow, said Mike Brown, a city spokesman.
Columbus was much calmer after Friday's victory than it was after the Nov. 23 win over Michigan. Police credited the cold weather and empty campus during winter break.
ODDS AND ENDS: Gamble, the Buckeyes' two-way player, participated in 120 of 178 plays, 77 on defense as a cornerback, 32 on offense as a wide receiver and 11 on special teams. ... Miami and Ohio State will meet in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons. ... Six Buckeyes will be playing in postseason all-star games. Doss, Donnie Nickey and punter Andy Groom will play in the East-West all-star game on Saturday. Defensive tackle Kenny Peterson will play in the Senior Bowl on Jan.18, and linebacker Matt Wilhelm and wide receiver Chris Vance - who doesn't usually start for the Buckeyes - will appear in the Hula Bowl on Feb. 1.
TV RATINGS: The Fiesta Bowl drew the highest television rating since the Bowl Championship Series started pairing the top teams for the national title after the 1998 season.
ABC reported an 18.6 rating for Ohio State's double-overtime victory against Miami on Friday - a 30.7-percent jump from last year's national championship, when Miami routed Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl.
The ratings were measured in the country's 55 largest markets. Nationwide ratings will be released tomorrow. (Ratings for Toledo, the 68th-largest market, were not available.)
The four highest-rated markets were Columbus (52.1), Cleveland (42.7), Dayton (38.5) and Cincinnati (33.6). West Palm Beach, Fla., was seventh, Orlando was 10th and Miami was tied for 11th.
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