Meadowdale H.S. graduation 2012
Middletown H.S. graduation 2012
Dunbar H.S. graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > December > 31
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Down-and-out to In-N-Out
The Buckeyes are getting more free time than on previous bowl trips to Arizona, and for some players that means more time for In-N-Out Burger.
The cult hamburger stand began in California but has expanded into the Phoenix area the last decade.
The menu includes the double-double - two beef patties and two strips of cheese - and the triple-triple. (You can guess.)
“Two years ago, I got the triple burger,” linebacker Marcus Freeman said.
“This year, I’m trying to watch what I eat. I just got a single. (A triple is) too many calories for me.”
Nader Abdallah, senior defensive tackle: “I get the double-double. I tried it out two days ago. I was pretty good.”
A.J. Trapasso, senior punter: “The double-double, animal style.”
Animal style?
“They just dump all the rest of the grease and butter and cheese and whatever else on the fries. It’s good. I don’t crave it like some of these guys. I’m more of a burrito guy,” Trapasso said.
There is an In-N-Out not far from the Buckeyes’ workout facility at Pinnacle High School, and it is within easy driving distance from the team hotel, the Scottsdale Princess Resort.
Not all of the Buckeyes will visit, however.
“I have a strict diet over here. I’m sticking to the salads and stuff,” buff linebacker James Laurinaitis said.
“If I’m going there, I’m getting a water.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
McCoy recalls 2006 start against Ohio State
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy’s second career start came in a 24-7 loss to Ohio State on Sept. 9, 2006, the last time the teams met. He remembers it well.
“I’ve tried to think a lot about that game,” said McCoy, a junior. “I just remember they were ranked No. 1 in the country, we were at home, and they came in and beat us.”
The Longhorns, ranked No.2 before that game, went on an eight-game winning streak after the loss before falling to Kansas State and Texas A&M to conclude the regular season. They beat Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.
“You learn a lot from losing,” McCoy said. “We bounced back from that game. That was probably the biggest thing that I took out of that. We went on a long winning streak after that.”
McCoy completed 19 of 32 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown but also threw his first career intrerception, by Buckeyes’ linebacker James Laurinaitis.
“I remember that for sure,” said McCoy, who threw only seven interceptions in 2006 and has suffered only six losses in his three seasons.
McCoy’s passer rating of 69.0 in that game was the fourth-worst in his 36 career starts.
“I would say that I have grown a lot” since 2006, he said. “I’ve overcome a lot of things. I’ve been blessed to be able to have two more years to play successfully. I know I have become a lot better player than what I was then.
“At the same time, Laurinaitis can say the same thing. That’s why it’s going to be a fun matchup. He (Laurinaitis) does a great job leading their defense.”
McCoy has thrown for 3,445 yards and 32 touchdowns this season against seven interceptions, but he understands how effective the Buckeyes’ defense can be.
“I know they are tough. They are really big and physical. We know we have our work cut out for us,” McCoy said.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Buckeyes feel snubbed Texas’ pain
When Ohio State met Miami in the BCS championship game after the 2002 season here, the matchup was a foregone conclusion.
This time, not so much.
The Buckeyes can feel Texas’ pain in being excluded from the national championship game, especially since Texas beat Oklahoma - which is in the title game - and each team had one loss.
“The BCS rewarded who lost first” between Texas and Oklahoma, Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso said. The Longhorns lost to Texas Tech in the final seconds in Lubbock, Texas.
“Even just watching it … and it was none of my business … it didn’t involve my team … the more I watched it, if I was Texas I would feel I got shafted,” Trapasso continued.
“I think more than anything, they (Longhorns) are not focused on that. They are focused on this game and in trying to make a statement, because that is the only statement they can make at this point.
“They can come out here and play like they were supposed to be in that game, and we know that and we are preparing for that.”
Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis agrees that Texas will not dwell the perceived slight.
“Any time you believe you should be in the national championship game, which a lot of people argue they should, you want to play well. They are an unbelievable team. That is one of the motivations,” he said.
Buckeye cornerback Malcolm Jenkins: “I’m pretty sure they have a chip on their shoulder, as far as that goes.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Colt McCoy: So what’s in a name, anyway?
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was third in the Heisman Trophy balloting and leads his team in passing and rushing yards, which makes him a sacred Longhorn.
Leave it to some wise guy — not us — to ask a few of the Buckeyes about McCoy’s first name during an interview session Wednesday morning before Ohio State’ daily workout. None of the OSU players took the bait.
“There are not many people with the name ‘Colt’ ” linebacker Marcus Freeman allowed. “I’ve heard it for a couple of years now. It’s a nice name.”
A quarterback’s name, he was asked?
“I guess anybody can take that name,” Freeman said.
Would you name your son Colt?
“I have a son, Vince,” Freeman said.
Not named, by the way, named after Vince Young — that would be former Texas quarterback Vince Young — Freeman said with a chuckle.
“It flows pretty good. It’s definitely a football name,” cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said.
The name obviously plays better in the West.
