Ground Report

Dec. 28, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ohio State FB Contacts: Jerry Emig (614-203-2766 and emig.2@osu.edu) / Adam Widman (614-572-6903 and widman.12@osu.edu)

Sugar Bowl Update II: Buckeyes settle into bowl week

44th bowl week kicks off with practice at the Superdome and bowling at dinner 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sunday arrived in the Big Easy and the Ohio State Buckeyes had their first of four practice sessions in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome…a two-hour “Tuesday” practice in the morning that included about a 20-minute open window for media to shoot photographs and record video.

The Superdome is the only facility among the six College Football Playoff bowl games where teams can practice on the playing field leading up to the game, if they so choose. Alternate practice sites were the New Orleans Saints’ practice facility and the new stadium/practice facility on the campus of Tulane University.

The size of the Superdome coupled with potential depth perception issues for those unaccustomed to playing in it prompted both Alabama and Ohio State to want to practice there. The Crimson Tide, as the No. 1 seed, chose the afternoon practice times and the Buckeyes were thus left with a 10 a.m. to noon window in the Superdome.

Alabama’s been here and done this

This College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1 at 7:30 p.m. CST; ESPN – will be the third game in the Superdome for many of the Crimson Tide players. Alabama, which has the most Sugar Bowl appearances – 14 – and wins – eight – is making a second consecutive visit to the Sugar Bowl and the Superdome and its third appearance in the last four years.

Ohio State, meanwhile, has just two players who have been here for a game: fifth-year seniors Darryl Baldwin, the team’s starting right tackle, and long snapper Russell Doup. Both were true freshman in 2010 when Ohio State capped its season with a victory over Arkansas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, a win that was later vacated.

Bowl histories

Ohio State is making its 44th bowl game appearance. The Buckeyes are officially 19-24 in previous bowl games. Head coach Urban Meyer is 7-2 in bowl games, 0-1 with Ohio State (a 40-35 Discover Orange Bowl loss to Clemson last year). His record does include a 1-0 mark in Allstate Sugar Bowls. His 2009 Florida Gators defeated his alma mater, Cincinnati, 51-24, in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.

The 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl is the 81st Sugar Bowl Classic.

Quotes from the gang

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tom Herman and five players spent 45 minutes at individual podiums addressing questions from the media late Sunday afternoon. Some thoughts from the day:

TE Jeff Heuerman on the topic of SEC speed: “This game isn’t a game to prove that we are faster than the SEC. We have a few goals that are higher than that.”

Tom Herman on Cardale Jones’ confidence: “He’s on the cover of two magazines. I liked it when he was the underdog. … He’s doing great. He’s still Cardale, but it’s great that his confidence was put to the test [vs. Wisconsin] and he answered the test.”

RB Ezekiel Elliott responding to a comment about there being bottled water under his table: “I brought my own hydration.”

OT Taylor Decker on Alabama’s defensive line: “This is going to be the best defensive line we are going to play against. Top to bottom: they are obviously the best d-line we’ll face. They have size at every position. They’re hard to move. And their ability to rotate guys through is going to be a big challenge.”

WR Even Spencer on the historic nature of this game: “This is a tremendous stage and a historic moment. The fact I get to be a part of this historical event is crazy. Two programs that have great teams, great programs and great seasons…I’m really happy to be able to say we are a part of this stage.”

QB Cardale Jones on Ohio State’s offensive weapons: “We have guys that can take a five-yard hitch pass 80 yards. We have guys that can take it out of the backfield and go 80 yards.”

Another “Feastivus” miracle

Well, not really, but the team did enjoy another delicious dinner Sunday, coupled with bowling and lots

of team-centric entertainment, at the Mid City Lanes Rock”N”Bowl. Players dined on a traditional New Orleans style buffet featuring Andouille sausage & chicken jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, shrimp remoulade and turkey & Andouille gumbo among the Cajun delights. Ribs and shrimp pasta and prime rib, brisket and pulled pork were also on the buffet.

A stage was set up with a professional dee-jay spinning and scratching records until a half dozen Buckeyes took over the microphones and rapped and sang and danced for well over an hour. The “best spirit” award looked to be shared by the H-back duo of Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall. Multi-musically talented Doran Grant plus Antonio Underwood, Darron Lee and Devin Smith also took turns with the mic.

Coach Larry Johnson got the high-score bowling award.

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