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Statement on the NCAA Sanctions - The Ohio State University today received the NCAA’s ruling regarding violations involving its football program. Following a 12-month investigation conducted jointly by the NCAA and the University, the NCAA levied sanctions beyond those self-imposed by the university. Among the penalties Ohio State had self-imposed was a loss of five scholarships; the NCAA imposed a nine-scholarship penalty, three during each of the next three years. Additionally, the NCAA has imposed a three-year probation and a post-season ban for the coming year.
“We are surprised and disappointed with the NCAA’s decision,” said Gene Smith, Ohio State’s Athletics Director and Associate Vice President. “However, we have decided not to appeal the decision because we need to move forward as an institution. We recognize that this is a challenging time in intercollegiate athletics. Institutions of higher education must move to higher ground, and Ohio State embraces its leadership responsibilities and affirms its long-standing commitment to excellence in education and integrity in all it does.
“My primary concern, as always, is for our students, and this decision punishes future students for the actions of others in the past,” said Smith. “Knowing our student-athletes, however, I have no doubt in their capacity to turn this into something positive – for themselves and for the institution. I am grateful to our entire Buckeye community for their continued support.”
Smith noted that President E. Gordon Gee and the university’s Board of Trustees are in the process of concluding their examination of compliance at the university as part of a larger effort to develop a comprehensive, state-of-the-art model for the entire institution, including the athletics program. “All of us at Ohio State are determined to ensure that our compliance programs and protocols are best in class,” said Smith. “We will assume a leadership role in representing our university and its values.
“It is important to remember that Ohio State has one of the nation’s largest self supporting athletics programs, with students succeeding both in competition and in the classroom,” said Smith. “We have more than 1,000 students who compete in 36 intercollegiate sports, and the overall grade-point average of our student-athletes is just over 3.0. During the last two years, the University has had more student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team than any other school. Further, Ohio State finished second in last year’s Directors’ Cup, which recognizes the best athletics programs in the country.”
Statement from Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer:
“I agreed to become the Head Football Coach at The Ohio State University because Shelley and I are Ohio natives, I am a graduate of this wonderful institution and served in this program under a great coach. I understand the academic and athletic traditions here and will give great effort to continue those traditions.
“It is still my goal to hire excellent coaches, recruit great student-athletes who want to be a part of this program and to win on and off the field. The NCAA penalties will serve as a reminder that the college experience does not include the behavior that led to these penalties. I expect all of us to work hard to teach and develop young student-athletes to grow responsibly and to become productive citizens in their communities upon graduation.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer announced the hiring of two individuals to his administrative staff today: Brian Voltolini will be the team’s director of football operations and Mark Pantoni is the team’s director of player personnel. Both worked for Meyer at the University of Florida.
Voltolini will be responsible for the operation of the football program’s budget, scholarships, team travel, housing, camps and clinics. Pantoni will supervise all aspects of the program’s administrative duties for recruiting, including on-campus official and unofficial visits, budgeting, travel and database management.
“I am really pleased that Brian Voltolini and Mark Pantoni wanted to be a part of the football program at The Ohio State University,” Meyer said. “I have spent considerable time working with each and I certainly appreciate the passion and the effort that both bring to their positions every day.”
Voltolini has worked on a Meyer staff for nine seasons, starting with Meyer’s first head coaching position in 2001 at Bowling Green State University. He spent two years there, working as video coordinator with additional responsibilities in the area of operations, before moving on to the University of Utah with Meyer.
Voltolini spent three seasons at Utah, from spring 2003 through the spring of 2006, finishing his tenure as director of video while also handling administrative operations duties in the areas of recruiting budgets, billing and youth camps.
Meyer recruited Voltolini to Florida in 2006, and for the next five years he directed the football video/software operations, including managing Meyer’s coaching web site. He took over football operations for the 2010 season – Meyer’s last at Florida – before spending the 2011 campaign on Will Muschamp’s Florida staff.
“Brian not only has a sharp awareness of what needs to be done for an efficient, fluid operation of a football program,” Meyer said, “but he also has that keen sense of knowing what the program needs from an operations perspective. And I appreciate that greatly.”
Voltolini grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and has a degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from the University of Idaho (1999). He and his wife, the former Lindsey Wilde, have three children: a son, Deacon, and daughters Scarlett and Lucia.
Pantoni has worked at the University of Florida for the past five years, and he has had direct responsibilities as a recruiting program coordinator for the past two seasons, including serving as the director of football administration from March of this year through the end of the regular season.
Pantoni’s vast knowledge of recruiting is something that one recruiting website said would be missed most about his moving on to Ohio State.
“Pantoni did a lot of everything, but what will be missed most of all is his knowledge,” a reporter for “alligatorarmy.com” wrote. “He was an encyclopedia of stats, measurements, strengths, weaknesses, potential, abilities ... this list could go on and on.”
“Mark has proven abilities at organizing recruiting efforts and in building relationships with prospects and their families,” Meyer said. “I have seen how well he understood recruiting in the state of Florida and nationally, and I am certain his efforts are going to be well-received in the state of Ohio. He is one of the hardest working people I have been around.”
Pantoni also helped with Florida’s highly successful summer camp showcase, Friday Night Lights. One of the best-known on-campus summer camps, this one-night event was held under the lights in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with music and highlight videos on the scoreboard.
A Florida native, Pantoni grew up in Sarasota and attended the University of Florida. He has both bachelor’s (Summa Cum Laude; 2004) and master’s (2006) degrees from Florida in applied physiology and kinesiology.
Pantoni’s wife, the former Kristin O’Berry, is also a Florida native (Jacksonville) and a Florida graduate.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tom Herman, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa State University the past three years, and before that an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for record-setting offenses at Rice University, has been named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at The Ohio State University. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer announced the hiring today.
“Tom Harmon has one of the bright young minds in college football,” Meyer said. “His philosophies are very similar to those of my own. I spoke to numerous colleagues about Tom and all had great things to say about him. I enjoyed our time together during the interview process and I am excited to have him on the staff.”
Herman’s 2011 Iowa State offense, which he will coach Dec. 30 in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers at Yankee Stadium, averages 181.2 rushing yards and 211.7 passing yards per game. The Cyclones put up 44 points in a triple-overtime win over Iowa and tallied 37 in a double-overtime upset of then-undefeated and No. 2 Oklahoma State.
“To work with and for Coach Meyer is an exciting opportunity for me,” Herman said. “I am really looking forward to working with him and learning about his offensive systems. And to be able to coach with him at The Ohio State University is simply a dream come true.”
Herman has 11 years experience as a collegiate coach, including seven seasons as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, and 13 when his two seasons – 1999-2000 – as a graduate assistant at Texas are included. He coached four years at Sam Houston State (2001-04), serving as receivers coach and special teams coordinator. He also spent two years at Texas State (2005-06) and two years at Rice (2007-08) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
While his Texas State offenses led the Southland Conference in total offense each season, his time at Rice was particularly notable. His offenses broke over 40 school records and in his second season the Owls won 10 games and went to a bowl for the first time since 1954.
Furthermore, Rice ranked in the Top 10 nationally in 2008 in passing offense (5th; 327.8), scoring offense (T8th; 41.6) and total offense (10th; 472.3). Two Rice receivers had more than 1,300 yards receiving that year, tight end James Casey had 111 catches and quarterback Chase Clement was the Conference USA MVP.
Herman was born in Cincinnati and still has family there, although he was raised in Simi Valley, Calif. He played collegiately at California Lutheran, graduating in 1997 with a degree in business administration. He has a master’s in education from the Universisty of Texas.
Herman and his wife, Michelle, have a daughter, Priya, and a son, Maddock.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes will meet the Florida Gators in the 2012 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.. The site is EverBank Field (77,511) and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
“The guys will be extremely excited about playing Florida in the Gator Bowl on January 2,” Ohio State coach Luke Fickell said. “We are hoping to end the season on a good note.”
Both teams finished the regular season with 6-6 records. Ohio State posted a 3-5 Big Ten Conference Leaders Division record while Florida’s mark included a 3-5 record in the SEC Eastern Division. The game will also be a chance for each team to move on and rebound from a season-ending loss to their rival. Ohio State fell on the road to Michigan, 40-34, Nov. 26, the same day that Florida dropped a 21-7 decision to Florida State in Gainesville.
“I am excited that the team is going to a bowl game and to have one more chance to win another game as a Buckeye,” senior linebacker Andrew Sweat said. “We’ll be ready to get back to practice later this week.”
And for Ohio State senior center Mike Brewster, his last game as a Buckeye will be in his home state.
“I am happy the way the bowl game worked out,” Brewster said. “If we couldn’t be in a BCS game, I like the fact that we are playing against a program like Florida that has a rich tradition like Ohio State. And I like it that I’ll be playing my last game in my home state in front of friends and family.”
Tickets on Sale at 10 a.m. Monday
Tickets are available for the 2012 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl with prices starting at $60.00, plus applicable service charges. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can do so online at OhioStateBuckeyes.com starting Monday, December 5, at 10 a.m. EST.
The following is a direct link to the Athletics Ticket Office web page to purchase tickets: http://go.osu.edu/2012GatorBowlTix
Only Second Meeting
Ohio State and Florida have met only once before on the gridiron, and that meeting was significant. The game was the 2007 BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Ariz., and the No. 2 Gators, coached by Urban Meyer, defeated the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14, to claim the national championship. It was the first of two national championships over a three-year period for Meyer’s program.
Fickell: Buckeyes Deserving
Ohio State has played in a bowl game every year since last missing out in 1999, an official streak of 10 consecutive bowl appearances. This year makes 11 consecutive bowl games and Fickell thinks his 6-6 team deserves the opportunity to play.
“These guys deserve this bowl game,” Fickell said. “All they’ve been through…they deserve this.”
Gator Bowl History
Ohio State has played in one Gator Bowl. It was the 1978 game between Ohio State and Clemson, and won by the Tigers, 17-15. It was the last game coached by Woody Hayes, something that Fickell is very much aware.
“We’d like to put a completely different spin on Ohio State’s Gator Bowl history,” Fickell said.
Bowl History
The TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl will be the 42nd bowl game for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 19-22 all-time in bowl games, including a 2-6 record in bowl games in the state of Florida.
Florida Bowl Games
§ 1977 Orange Bowl – Ohio State 27, Colorado 10
§ 1978 Gator Bowl – Clemson 17, Ohio State 15
§ 1986 Citrus Bowl – Ohio State 10, BYU 7
§ 1993 Citrus Bowl – Georgia 21, Ohio State 14
§ 1995 Citrus Bowl – Alabama 24, Ohio State 17
§ 1996 Citrus Bowl – Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14
§ 2001 Outback Bowl – South Carolina 24, Ohio State 7
§ 2002 Outback Bowl – South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28
Florida Buckeyes
Ohio State has nine players on its current roster from the state of Florida. The list includes Sr. C Mike Brewster (Orlando/Edgewater H.S.), Sr. QB Joe Bauserman (Tallahassee Lincoln H.S.), Jr. LB Etienne Sabino, (North Miami Beach/Dr. Krop), Jr. SAF Orhian Johnson (St. Petersburg/Boca Ciega), Jr. CB Travis Howard (Miami/Dr. Krop), So. RB Carlos Hyde (Naples/Naples), Fr. LB Ryan Shazier and Fr. DB Jeremy Cash (both from Plantation/Plantation), and Fr. TE Jeff Heuerman (Naples/Barron Collier).
Luke and Will
Luke Fickell is in his first season as a head coach and will stay on the Ohio State coaching staff following the bowl game when Urban Meyer takes over. Will Muschamp is in his first season as Florida coach.
“I’ve known Will for a few years,” Fickell said. “He’s had some ups and downs as well [this year]…probably why we are having a similar season record-wise.”
Quick Update
Fickell was optimistic that standout freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier, who injured a knee in the Michigan game, would be available for the bowl game.
“I hope Ryan is ok,” Fickell said. “I’m hearing he’ll be all right. He’ll be excited about playing in the bowl game.”
Finals Week
Ohio State students and student-athletes will experience their final fall quarter finals week this week (the university is transitioning to semesters next year). Fickell said he would not get the team back together until at least Thursday of this week.
(Tim May/Columbus Dispatch) Former Ohio State quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels passed away about 4 a.m. today after a long bout with cancer, The Dispatch learned. He was 69.
The object of profound thanks from a tearful Troy Smith during the OSU quarterback’s Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in December 2006, Daniels – a Pennsylvania native -- had a coaching career that spanned more than 40 years, including from 2001-2009 at OSU. Yet it was the genteel manner of the diminutive Daniels to which folks immediately referred.
“He was the most patient man and was such a great teacher of football and life,” said Nick Siciliano, who was first Daniels’ understudy then his successor as QB coach at Ohio State after Daniels became too ill to coach. “I love and will miss him dearly.”
Like many of the coaches on the OSU staff, Siciliano had visited with Daniels in the last few days at his New Albany home where hospice services had been established. Daniels was first diagnosed with cancer of the kidney in the summer of 2006 after suffering a mild heart attack, had been battling the disease with periods of success ever since.
“You could just see how tough of a man he was,” Siciliano said. “He never complained.”
Daniels, a native of Bethel Park, Pa., near Pittsburgh, was a running back at Slippery Rock before beginning his coaching career. That journey took him through the ranks, working at Boston College, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in college and with the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the NFL. Among his players were Dan Marino at the University of Pittsburgh and Smith.
When Jim Tressel took over the OSU program in the winter of 2001, Daniels was one his early hires, bringing him from the University of Cincinnati. He tutored Craig Krenzel during the 2002 national championship season, and in 2004 ushered the rise of Smith who, among other things, became just the second OSU starting quarterback in history to beat Michigan three straight times.
Daniels also was the lead recruiter for quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who when he signed in March 2008 out of Jeannette, Pa., was considered the No.1 overall prospect in the nation. While Pryor also went on to beat Michigan three straight times as a starter, Daniels only got to work with him in 2008 before Siciliano took his place due to his declining health.
But Daniels, who is survived by his wife of 31 years, Kathy, their some Matt, an OSU graduate who is now an assistant coach at Toledo St. John’s High School, and daughter Kaitlin, a former OSU cheerleader, was known just as much among his peers for his sincerity and approach to life.
“His unbelievable sense of humor, and his positive attitude the last 5-1/2 years,” OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heaock said. “He was a great human being.”
Photo Credit: 247/Bucknuts
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller, from Huber Heights, Ohio, was today named the Big Ten Conference’s Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year. The award is named in honor of Darrell Thompson, from the University of Minnesota, and Indiana University’s Antwaan Randle El.
Miller, who became Ohio State’s starting quarterback in the fourth game of the season, threw for 997 yards this season with 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He completed 50 percent of his attempts (67 of 134), and he capped his season with a 14-for-25 effort for 235 yards with two touchdowns – all season highs – in the regular season finale against Michigan.
Dangerous as a runner, Miller led the Buckeyes with 695 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Included was a school-record (by a quarterback) 81-yard touchdown run vs. Indiana.
Here’s more on Miller:
§ He rushed for more than 100 yards a team-best three times with 105 yards against Indiana and Penn State, respectively, and 100 vs. Michigan.
§ He accounted for 13 rushing and passing touchdowns in the last five games of the season, including all seven of his rushing scores and six of his 11 passing touchdowns.
§ He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. The first time was after the dramatic win over Wisconsin when he completed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith with 40 seconds to play and rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
§ Just this past week he earned the award again after his 335 yards of total offense vs. Michigan.
§ His late-game heroics also included leading the Buckeyes to a game-tying touchdown with 55 seconds left to play against Purdue. On fourth-and-13 he found Jordan Hall in the end zone for the dramatic score.
§ He led the Buckeyes on a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to help the Buckeyes close to 37-34 against Michigan.
Miller will be presented with the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year award Friday at a gala event in Indianapolis as part of the Big Ten championship game’s weekend of activities.
Ohio State’s Big Ten
Freshmen of the Year
1990 Robert Smith, RB
1992 Kory Stringer, OT
1994 Orlando Pace, OT
1996 Andy Katzenmoyer, LB
2002 Maurice Clarett, RB
2008 Terrelle Pryor, QB
2011 Braxton Miller, QB
