DT Colin Cole impressive in training camp

In the trenches

By Bill Huber

August 1, 2008

Allen Barbre, battling Daryn Colledge to be the starting left guard, beat Alfred Malone in back-to-back reps in one-on-one pass-rushing. Earlier, Malone beat Colledge.

Colin Cole had perhaps the most impressive rep, getting underneath starting right guard Jason Spitz and bulldozing to the “quarterback.” Impressive rookie Jeremy Thompson beat starting left tackle Chad Clifton with a strong inside move.

Krenzel Delivered in the Clutch for Buckeyes

What is 'it' about the clutch players?

By Mark Schlabach

August 1, 2008

What made former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana play so calmly in the final seconds of the fourth quarter?

What caused former Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel to lead his team to so many comeback victories during the Buckeyes' 2002 national championship season?

What was really running through Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan's veins last season?

If college football coaches knew the answer, they would surely bottle it and pass it on to generations of players to come. But for the most part, coaches really aren't sure what drives the sport's greatest clutch players.

From Montana to Krenzel to Ryan, some college players just thrive under pressure. It is a trait seemingly derived from the same DNA that determines the color of a player's hair and eyes.

Craig Krenzel delivered in the clutch for the Buckeyes.

"Those guys just have it," Tressel said. "They don't blink."

Krenzel barely blinked during his two seasons as Ohio State's starter. As a sophomore, he was thrust into the starting role when teammate Steve Bellisari was suspended for drunken driving, days before the Buckeyes played rival Michigan. Krenzel led the Buckeyes to a 26-20 upset of the No. 11 Wolverines, the Buckeyes' first victory in Ann Arbor since 1987.

Afterward, Krenzel said, "I was surprisingly calm. I was more calm than before my first high school start."

The next season, Krenzel stayed remarkably cool during a series of memorable comebacks. He ran for the winning touchdown in the final minutes of a 23-19 victory over Cincinnati in the opener. Late in the season, when the Buckeyes were trying to remain unbeaten, they trailed Purdue 6-3 late in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-1, Krenzel threw a 37-yard touchdown to Michael Jenkins with 1:36 left for a 10-6 victory.

Against defending national champion Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Krenzel led the Buckeyes to a 31-24 upset in two overtimes. He completed only seven passes, but five of his throws were for first downs. He also ran for a game-high 81 yards and two touchdowns.

"A guy like Craig, because he worked so hard to master the things he needed to do, that gave him the confidence for his innate qualities to express themselves," Tressel said. "One of his strengths was his toughness and his belief in himself. He thought, 'Hey, don't worry about it. I'm going to get it done.'"

Krenzel named one of Big Ten's all-time clutch players

Big Ten's clutch players from the past

August 1, 2008

By Adam Rittenberg

Here's a look at 10 players who earned the title of "Captain Clutch" during their Big Ten careers:

Anthony Carter, WR, Michigan [1979-82] -- Carter was only a freshman when he played a part in one of the greatest plays in Michigan history, hauling in a 45-yard touchdown pass as time expired to beat Indiana in 1979. The wideout/return man had 37 touchdown receptions in three seasons.

Kerry Collins, QB, Penn State [1991-94] -- Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, and Collins made his mark the next year. He led the Nittany Lions to a 12-0 record, which included three road victories (Michigan, Indiana, Illinois) by seven points or fewer.

Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin [1996-99] -- The NCAA's all-time rushing leader made his mark in big games, winning back-to-back Rose Bowl MVP awards after rushing for 246 yards and 200 yards in Badger victories. Dayne also had a 246-yard effort in his first bowl appearance, a Cotton Bowl win against Utah.

Bob Griese, QB, Purdue [1964-66] -- Griese's near-flawless performance in Purdue's upset of No. 1 Notre Dame in 1965 stands as one of the greatest in team history. The next year he led the Boilermakers to their first Rose Bowl appearance and a 14-13 win against USC.

Brian Griese, QB, Michigan [1994-97] -- After coming off the bench to rally the Wolverines past Ohio State in 1996, Griese cemented himself as a clutch quarterback the next season. He led Michigan to a 12-0 record and a national championship, winning five games by 10 points or fewer, including a 21-16 triumph over Washington State in the Rose Bowl.

Jim Harbaugh, QB, Michigan [1983-86] -- Considered by many to be the best quarterback in school history, Harbaugh led Michigan to a 27-23 win against Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl. He won four games by three points or fewer as a senior.

Nile Kinnick, RB, Iowa [1937-39] -- The stadium is named after him for a reason. Kinnick did it all for Iowa, including a 63-yard punt that pinned No. 1 Notre Dame at the 6-yard line in a 7-6 Hawkeyes win in 1939.

Craig Krenzel, QB, Ohio State [2000-03] -- He took heat for his arm strength, but no one could question his late-game toughness. The two-time Fiesta Bowl MVP led Ohio State to a national title in 2002 with his arm and his legs.

Chuck Long, QB, Iowa [1981-85] -- A dramatic fourth-down touchdown run against Michigan State kicked off a memorable 1985 season for the Hawkeyes and Long, who many believe should have won the Heisman Trophy. Two weeks later, Long rallied Iowa past Michigan.

Mike Nugent, PK, Ohio State [2001-04] -- Record-setting kicker was nearly unshakable under pressure. He kicked game-tying and game-winning field goals to beat Purdue in overtime in 2003, and his game-winning 55-yard kick against Marshall stands out in an otherwise forgettable 2004 season.