Ohio State players weren’t polled when the school was given a choice of whether to play in the afternoon or under the lights at Wisconsin on Saturday. But there’s little doubt about what they preferred.
“Prime time,” defensive end Simon Fraser said with a smile. “It’s going to be an awesome environment for us.”
When OSU was approached about sliding its game against the Badgers into ESPN’s 8 p.m. CDT time slot, coach Jim Tressel didn’t hesitate.
“I felt it was a great opportunity,” he said.
But Badgers coach Barry Alvarez found the Buckeyes’ decision to play late at least a little surprising, and not because his team has won 14 of its last 15 night games.
“If I ever have a choice to play on national TV on the road at 8 o’clock, I’m going to say no,” he said. “That’s just my feeling.”
Alvarez said the late start puts a visiting team at a disadvantage the following week.
“You get home late,” he said. “It shortens Sunday, and the players don’t have much time off.”
Shooting fallout
Troy (Ala.) State indefinitely suspended sophomore tailback Marrio Fraser from school for misconduct relating to the shooting of a teammate. Freshman linebacker Cedric Brooks was treated and released from a local hospital after he was shot in the shoulder at about 3 a.m. Sunday, police said.
University officials said they do not believe an investigation will show that Fraser caused Brooks’ injury, but he was suspended under a university policy involving cases of serious misconduct.
TEAM, SYNOPSIS
Florida State Seminoles
Coach Bobby Bowden knows he could join Penn State’s Joe Paterno atop the Division I-A career victories list Saturday at 338 by beating Miami: “If it happens, it happens. If I had my druthers, I wish he’d keep winning, and I would too.”
Oregon State Beavers
If Steven Jackson wins the Heisman, it won’t be because of a glitzy campaign. “We’ll just give him the ball some more,” coach Mike Riley said when asked how he’ll promote Jackson, who has rushed 183 times for 877 yards and nine TDs.
California Bears
Coach Jeff Tedford said good defense wasn’t the only reason the Bears’ passing offense was smothered by Oregon State last weekend. “Any time we were going to shake open, they held us. … They’re taught just to hold and not let you get open.”
TCU Horned Frogs
Tye Gunn will return as the starting quarterback when the No. 18 Horned Frogs (5-0) play Friday night at South Florida. Gunn, a sophomore who is 6-0 as a starter, missed the last three starts after separating his right (throwing) shoulder in practice.
North Carolina St. Wolfpack
Quarterback Philip Rivers, the ACC’s all-time leading passer, is sentimental about his four years with the Wolfpack. “One thing I’ve tried to do a lot more this year is enjoy and take in every part of every game,” he said. “Before you know it it’s gone.”
Florida Gators
To answer the question no Gators fan ever thought would need to be answered: Yes, the team’s victory against Division I-AA Florida A&M will count toward Florida’s six-win requirement to become bowl eligible. The Gators are 3-3.
