NC Sports clients' plays among best in Ohio State history

September 8, 2012

From Bill Livingston's "Smith’s a catch among catches"

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A great catch defies gravity, boundaries and defenders' obstruction.

A great catch makes you accuse your eyes of lying.

A great catch can inspire a team, ignite a crowd and transform a player.

Ohio State sophomore wide receiver Devin Smith made a great catch last Saturday against Miami (Ohio). It earned a two-page photo spread in the current Sports Illustrated. It was the top catch in the first week of college football, according to ESPN. It might turn out to be the best of the season.

Big-game context, of course, is what Smith's one-handed, back-of-end zone, beyond-belief catch lacks. It was not against Michigan, the ancient rival, or Wisconsin, the new one.

"We really try to evaluate, 'Who can make a big play?' I ask the question all the time, 'Who can physically score the touchdown?' I didn't know Devin Smith could. I have not seen it. Now I know he can," said coach Urban Meyer. "I'm not talking about the one [by Smith last season] against Wisconsin, where the guy scrambles the run, catches it and falls down. I mean, go make a touchdown."

I've been covering Ohio State football since Chris Spielman was a freshman. Here are the rankings of the best Buckeyes catches I have ever seen:

1. Devin Smith vs. Miami (Ohio), 2012: There have been many bigger catches, in terms of context, but none that was more difficult (see http://tinyurl.com/9n7ggzw). One demand of a great catch can be reacting to an off-line throw. A great touchdown catch also beats a great nonscoring catch, in my view.

On Smith's snag, the ball seemed so clearly overthrown that the Miami defender, playing behind him, extended his arms to try to make the interception. But a twisting Smith leaped backward, caught the ball with one hand and -- now for the surreal part -- never steadied it against his body, including on the landing.

"I finally saw some still shots of it, and that as a good a catch as I've ever seen," Meyer said.

2. Cris Carter, 1985 Citrus Bowl against Brigham Young: The catch is in the first 20 seconds of this clip (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xu9SgfabTU). Said quarterback Jim Karsatos, "When I finally saw it on film, he was tiptoeing the sidelines, and he jumped up and caught the ball left-handed by the point of the football at least a yard out of bounds. Then he somehow levitated back in bounds to get both his feet in bounds. I swear to this day he actually levitated to get back in bounds. It just blew me away."

Carter will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. He had the best hands of any Ohio State player ever.

"One day, he caught a backhanded pass when it was 10 degrees outside, and everyone looked around like, 'What the heck was that?' " said Meyer, who was a graduate assistant when Carter played at OSU.

3. Anthony Gonzalez against Michigan, 2005: (See www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHjWpxcFWbE.)

Riding the shoulders of a Michigan defender, twisting to make the catch, then absorbing the hit and fall, Gonzalez's play was at least the equal of Troy Smith's play-extending, inside-out move against the Wolverines' pass rush. It made possible the Buckeyes' rally from a nine-point deficit with seven minutes to play.

4. Michael Jenkins' "Holy Buckeye" play against Purdue, 2002:

Notable for artistry, context and poise, with quarterback Craig Krenzel checking down from covered tight end Ben Hartsock to Jenkins, the play included a route adjustment by the other wideout, Chris Gamble. (See my discussion of the play at http://tinyurl.com/6vkqhfd). Although it kept the perfect season alive, it is downgraded slightly since Krenzel's throw into the wind was right on the money.

5. Mayfield's Mike Lanese against Michigan, 1984:



Lanese, a Rhodes Scholar, flew through the air to convert a third-and-11 on Mike Tomczak's off-target pass. The catch prolonged the drive that sent the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl. The catch is about 61/2 minutes into the clip (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGynpv8xCo).

Or how about Terry Glenn's 75-yard score against Pittsburgh in 1995?
(See www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb-3Xvi591g.) Glenn was OSU's only Biletnikoff Award winner as college football's best wide receiver.

Or Jenkins' 45-yard snag in double-coverage to get OSU away from its own goal-line, enabling the Buckeyes to run out the clock in a 19-14 win at Wisconsin in 2002?

Or Chris Vance's catch (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=feBEFypINE8) at the end of a rout against Purdue in 2001? It lacked all big-moment context but still was remarkable.

Ex-Buckeye receiver ready to catch on in field of law

June 25, 1993

By Bruce Hooley
Plain Dealer Reporter

COLUMBUS—He has inspired the cheers of a sold-out Ohio Stadium, matched wits with the scholars at Oxford and scanned the horizon from the deck of the guided missile cruiser USS Sterett.

Now, at age 28, Mike Lanese is ready for his latest adventure… enrollment in law school and the life that lies beyond.

Those who know Lanese, a 1982 Mayfield High School graduate and an academic All-American flanker at Ohio State in 1984 and 1985, see his enrollment in the OSU Law School during the fall semester as the latest step in a career plan aimed at high public office.

“I would not be surprised to some day have the chance to vote for him for representative, senator or governor,” said Jim Jones, Ohio State’s athletic director. “I think he would be an ideal candidate.”

Cleveland attorney Neil Cornrich, a friend of Lanese’s since high school, “can’t think of a better person to be a future senator from Ohio. Mike would be just perfect for that type of thing.”

Lanese doesn’t deny his fascination with the Statehouse and the White House, but for now, it is difficult for him to look beyond the poor house.

“It’s entirely safe to say I’m interested in that kind of thing, but first things first, I still haven’t paid off my Geo Storm,” said Lanese, a Navy lieutenant due for discharge in mid-July. “It would be pretty presumptuous and arrogant of me to say that in five or 10 years, I’ll be ready to run for political office.

“By no means am I prepared to even consider that right now, be it emotionally, intellectually, or financially. There are still a lot of hurdles I have to get through.”

A scan of Lanese’s resume does nothing to dispel the notion that his name will someday surface on the ballot.

Plenty of accomplished college athletes wind up in Washington. Witness retiring Supreme Court Justice Byron (Whizzer) White and Sens. Bill Bradley, Jack Kemp and Tom McMillen.

“It may appear, from the things that I’ve done, that I have a master plan for where my life is headed, but I really don’t,” Lanese said. “The common thread is education. I’ve selected things that look interesting. They are challenges that I think will give me a strong foundation, regardless of what I decide to do.”

Law school is the latest such experience for Lanese, who enters with no deeply ingrained interest in a legal career.

“I don’t have a particular aspect of the law I want to concentrate on, and there’s always the option of not practicing law at all,” Lanese said. “I say that to some people and they look at me like I’m nuts, but a law degree in and of itself is a flexible degree. It’s tremendous in terms of teaching you to read and write critically.”

An All-Ohio tailback at Mayfield in 1981, Lanese languished on the OSU bench for two years before becoming a starter in 1984.

Among his 41 receptions that season was a sprawling, twisting grab for 17 yards on the third-and-14 midway through the third quarter of the Michigan game. That catch helped the Buckeyes expand a 7-6 lead to a 21-6 victory and gain a berth in the Rose Bowl.

OSU hasn’t made that trip since, but Lanese has logged many miles.

He spent two years at Oxford after graduating from Ohio State, then gained his Naval commission after a pulled hamstring torpedoed a tryout with the Browns in 1988.

He has been home to Mayfield once since being assigned to the Sterett in September of 1989, spending nearly two years of active duty at Subic Bay in the Philippines.

“I’ve literally been hundreds of thousands of miles away in every way imaginable,” Lanese said. “I’ve tried to keep up with what Ohio State is doing or what the Browns are doing, but it’s pretty hard when you’re working 18-hour days.”

Jones first spotted that type of effort in Lanese at Ohio State, and the OSU athletic director is certain it will serve him well in the future.

“I have not doubt Mike will succeed at whatever he puts his mind to,” Jones said. “He was unique, in that he saw the big picture early on in his life. He knew where he wanted to go and used what was available to him to get there. He’s just a great young man.”

Lanese in Comeback

Ex-Buckeye close to Browns’ pact

July 20, 1988

By Tony Grossi

Remember Mike Lanese, the fine wide receiver from Ohio State who accepted a Rhodes Scholarship two year ago rather than heading into the National Football League?

Lanese is back from his two-year study program at Oxford University in England and wants to resume his football career.

He is close to signing a free-agent contract with the Browns. Neil Cornrich, Lanese’s attorney, said the Houston Oilers are also being considered.

Lanese, of Mayfield Village, worked out briefly at the Browns’ regular-season practice facility at Baldwin-Wallace Collage Monday. He caught passes thrown by quarterback coach Marc Trestman as coach Marty Schottenheimer and receivers coach Richard Mann looked on.

“We have an interest in him,” Schottenheimer said yesterday.

“From what I could see, he ran pretty good and seemed like he’s got good hands,” Mann said. “He’s a guy I understand was productive in college. And we know he’s intelligent.”

Lanese said the Browns’ coaches clocked him in 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t played football in two years.

“I could be in better condition,” Lanese, 24, said yesterday. “But I am healthy and I am fresh. It never took me long to get into playing condition. On the other hand, I have to reacquire my skills. Of course, I’ll have to learn the offense.”

That shouldn’t be much of a problem for him. A two-time Academic All-America at Ohio State, Lanese was one of 32 college seniors nationally to win the prestigious Rhodes Scholarships in 1985. He was the first OSU student in 54 years so honored.

At Oxford, Lanese’s studies centered on economics and politics.

“When I accepted the scholarship,” he said, “some people remarked they were disappointed I didn’t stay with football and come out in the draft. I’m glad I didn’t. It was an experience I couldn’t possibly pass up. It was outstanding.

“But one of my character flaws is I happen to like playing football. I suffered for two years not playing. Every once in a while, I had the urge to be hit.”

Lanese, a 6-0, 185-pounder, was known as a sure-handed possession receiver at OSU. He is ninth on the school’s all-time list with 72 receptions for 1,170 yards and six touchdowns. He played in the shadow of OSU record-holder Cris Carter, now with the Philadelphia Eagles.

If Lanese is signed by the Browns, he will join a crowd at wide receiver. Besides the six returning veterans from last year’s team, the Browns have seven free-agent receivers under contract and one draft choice.

The Browns’ rookies, free agents, quarterbacks and selected veterans report to training camp tomorrow at Lakeland Community College. Sunday is the first day of practice.

“Realistically, I have to admit it’s a longshot,” Lanese said. “But I wouldn’t invest the effort into it if I didn’t think I had a chance.”

Lanese said he will pursue a career in law when his playing days are over.