OSU looks to Smith, seniors for run at crown
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ohio State begins spring practice today, 156 days before the Sept. 2 season opener with Northern Illinois and the official beginning of the Season of Smith.
While several members of the 2002 Buckeye recruiting class, like Santonio Holmes, A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold, Bobby Carpenter and Rob Sims, are a month away from the NFL draft, 11 fifth-year seniors from that same class, led by quarterback Troy Smith, are taking over.
"As soon as you become that guy, that senior, there's a little bit more expected of you," Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said. "It's not a position you assume, it's an action we expect. We expect you to be at the front of the line, we expect you to be encouraging people, even sometimes leading them by the hand."
Three key newcomers, freshman running back Chris Wells, freshman defensive back Kurt Coleman and junior-college linebacker Larry Grant, are expected to join the squad for the spring practices. But Smith, no longer in a fight for his job, not facing a ban for the season opener like a year ago, stands in the center of what could be a run at a national title.
"The scenario is different, there's no question," Tressel said. "That doesn't mean he can go out and have three interceptions and two fumbles, because the situation will be different again. But I think he's really excited about the fact that he knows he's learned a lot of things while he's been here.
"He got to fight through emerging as the starter for a while, he got to handle adversity between the last two seasons, and now he really gets to go out and get after it with all the lessons that he's learned and all that wisdom."
As the quarterback of the team that could be ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls, as a player sure to be mentioned in preseason Heisman talk, Smith knows how closely he'll be watched.
"It's a double-edged sword," Smith said of the attention, "because it can cut you either way. You do good, and sometimes you can be on too much of a high. You do bad, and it can definitely backfire. So, staying on an even keel is key."
It wasn't easy for Smith to reach this point, the start of his season in the sun. So, the Glenville grad plans on approaching this year like all the others.
"The more comfortable you get with your role on the team," said Smith, "the more you can slip. I'll treat it with the same hunger."
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ohio State begins spring practice today, 156 days before the Sept. 2 season opener with Northern Illinois and the official beginning of the Season of Smith.
While several members of the 2002 Buckeye recruiting class, like Santonio Holmes, A.J. Hawk, Nick Mangold, Bobby Carpenter and Rob Sims, are a month away from the NFL draft, 11 fifth-year seniors from that same class, led by quarterback Troy Smith, are taking over.
"As soon as you become that guy, that senior, there's a little bit more expected of you," Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel said. "It's not a position you assume, it's an action we expect. We expect you to be at the front of the line, we expect you to be encouraging people, even sometimes leading them by the hand."
Three key newcomers, freshman running back Chris Wells, freshman defensive back Kurt Coleman and junior-college linebacker Larry Grant, are expected to join the squad for the spring practices. But Smith, no longer in a fight for his job, not facing a ban for the season opener like a year ago, stands in the center of what could be a run at a national title.
"The scenario is different, there's no question," Tressel said. "That doesn't mean he can go out and have three interceptions and two fumbles, because the situation will be different again. But I think he's really excited about the fact that he knows he's learned a lot of things while he's been here.
"He got to fight through emerging as the starter for a while, he got to handle adversity between the last two seasons, and now he really gets to go out and get after it with all the lessons that he's learned and all that wisdom."
As the quarterback of the team that could be ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls, as a player sure to be mentioned in preseason Heisman talk, Smith knows how closely he'll be watched.
"It's a double-edged sword," Smith said of the attention, "because it can cut you either way. You do good, and sometimes you can be on too much of a high. You do bad, and it can definitely backfire. So, staying on an even keel is key."
It wasn't easy for Smith to reach this point, the start of his season in the sun. So, the Glenville grad plans on approaching this year like all the others.
"The more comfortable you get with your role on the team," said Smith, "the more you can slip. I'll treat it with the same hunger."
