While some in college football may be downplaying Ohio State’s matchup against Bowling Green on Saturday, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he is not.
Tressel, who has seen his team come away with close victories over North Carolina State and San Diego State, said he is not taking the Falcons for granted, especially given their performance against Purdue.
“Bowling Green did a great job against Purdue,” Tressel said. “They made the plays they needed to make in a very hard fought football game.”
Tressel said he has been impressed with the BG offense, particularly quarterback Josh Harris, who he said is a special player.
“Everyone talks about their extraordinary offense, which is very true,” Tressel said. “Josh Harris brings something to the game on every play that you need to concern yourself with.”
Tressel said that along with the offense, Ohio State will need to be concerned with other areas of BG’s team.
“I think the unsung hero of that football team is how good their defense is,” Tressel said. “They do a great job against the run, they do a great job not giving up big plays, so they’re an outstanding football team top to bottom.”
Tressel was asked about the Mid-American Conference, and his impression on it this season.
Tressel said that the MAC has shown to be a strong conference, especially considering the high profile wins of Northern Illinois and BG this season, as well as others.
“You look at the conference and what they have been able to do,” Tressel said. “I don’t think anyone can question the MAC.” Tressel said that looking at BG’s recent success shows how strong the MAC is.
“I’ve only watched what Bowling Green has done, and they’re a darn good football team,” Tressel said. “I think that they have beaten most of the teams they have played out-of-league in the last four or five years.”
Tressel said he wasn’t sure if the conference deserved more bowl bids than it was getting.
“That’s up to the bowls,” Tressel said. “Sometimes in the bowl decision-making process, it isn’t simply how good your team is, sometimes it comes down to fanbases and travel and some of those kinds of things. Far be it from me to tell the bowls what they should be doing.”
One of the major questions for Ohio State so far this season has been its lack of a running game. In the three-overtime win over N.C State, the Buckeyes only were able to gain 73 yards on the ground, and their leading rusher was quarterback Craig Krenzel, who ran for 37 yards.
“We’re not anywhere near where we have to get in our running game right now,” Tressel said. “Obviously it’s a concern because I really think that if you’re going to be a championship caliber team, you have to have a great run game.”
Tressel said the running game is a group effort, and it’s a job of more than just the running backs themselves.
“Whether it’s what we’re designing as a staff or what our guys up front are blocking, or what we’re not doing in the backfield,” Tressel said. “We must get better.”
