Coach Jim Tressel was asked Tuesday if he would call the saga of former OSU star Maurice Clarett's fall an "athletic tragedy."
He would not, instead expressing hope for the man who was sentenced to 3 and one-half years in prison on Monday.
"Knowing Maurice like I do, I'd like to think that he'll have a plan for his growth while he's taking care of those consequences," Tressel said. "My feelings don't change any for him.
"Like any situation that arises, if you'll take it and use it to grow, it's amazing what it can do for you. So my prayer is that he takes that time and creates a plan for his life and that he'll have a wonderful life."
Clarett pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon, ending for now a tumultuous three year-run that began shortly after he led the Buckeyes to the 2002 National Championship.
Troy Smith, once a close friend to Clarett, said he will be keeping his former teammate in his prayers.
"I'm praying for him all the time. It's an unfortunate situation, but there's not much myself of my teammates can do about that situation," Smith said. "Every man chooses his path. It might not be a good one, but he has to live with that situation."
Downing challenges fans
Sorry Buckeyes fans, but Ohio Stadium may not offer the Big Ten's rowdiest fans. Or so says T.J. Downing.
The loudest environment the senior guard said he's ever experienced was at Penn State's Beaver Stadium last October during OSU's 17-10 loss.
"So I'd like to issue a challenge to our fans. (PSU's) fans single-handedly took us out of our game," Downing said. "Maybe we can do the same."
Can they, though?
"I don't know. Penn State fans can, so our fans can," Downing said. "I know how we party here in Columbus."
To rival last year's "White Out" in State College, OSU is billing Ohio Stadium as the "Red Sea" for Saturday's Big Ten opener, asking all fans to wear scarlet.
Pettrey honored
Kicker Aaron Pettrey was tabbed Big Ten Special Teams player of the week after the freshman's flawless Saturday.
Pettrey nailed field goals from 43 and 47 yards while booting five of his seven kickoffs for touchbacks.
This marks the third straight week the Buckeyes have made the list.
Smith was the league's offensive player of the week for his season-opening performance against Northern Illinois and linebacker James Laurinaitis took the defensive honors after his showing at Texas.
Clarett's former high school teammates at Youngstown's Warren Harding, receiver Mario Manningham and linebacker Prescott Burgess, garnered this week's offensive and defensive accolades. The pair are now teammates at Michigan.
Boeckman out, Hall improving
Backup quarterback Todd Boeckman will be unavailable this week after spraining his ankle during the fourth quarter of Saturday's 37-7 win over Cincinnati.
Third on the depth chart behind Smith and Justin Zwick, the sophomore was in for just four plays before his day was cut short mid-drive. The injury, though, is not thought to be serious.
"He rolled his ankle," Tressel said. "It didn't even happen really in the course of a play, but he was falling and the play kind of ended and someone fell on him."
Also on the ankle sprain front, Roy Hall is now "95 percent" healthy and the senior wideout will see "significantly" increased time this week, Tressel said.
After being sidelined for the season's first two games, Hall only saw a handful of plays in his return on Saturday.
Quotable
"David Patterson demonstrated the whole week that he thought we weren't ready. Not to say he was Nostradamus, but he was right. We came out sluggish and we came out slow. He felt it and I felt it" - Smith on the prescient senior defensive tackle foreseeing the Buckeyes' listless start in Saturday's 37-7 win over Cincinnati.
Extra points
Steve Rehring has replaced senior Tim Schafer as the starting left guard, according to the most recent depth chart released by the team on Tuesday. Schafer is now listed behind Alex Boone at left tackle ... ESPN's College Gameday will be visiting OSU for Saturday morning's broadcast. The crew will set up shop just south of St. John Arena ... Saturday will mark the 22nd meeting between OSU and Penn State, with the Nittany Lions holding a 11-10 edge.
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