Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel decided this week to take a chance on sophomore wide receiver Chris Gamble being able to start on both sides of the ball.
That wager paid off in full.
Gamble, who started at cornerback and receiver for the first time, was involved in the two biggest plays the Buckeyes made in their 13-7 victory over Penn State.
Gamble’s first big play was made on the game’s opening drive when quarterback Craig Krenzel fumbled at the Nittany Lion goal line. The ball was recovered by Penn State’s Anwar Phillips.
Phillips looked well on his way to a Penn State touchdown, but Gamble, showing his defensive prowess and hustle, ran Phillips down at OSU’s 41-yard line for a touchdown-saving tackle. The Nittany Lions failed to score on the ensuing drive.
“Chris Gamble did a great job coming up with the tackle,” Tressel said. “It looked like it was going to be a 98-yard return. That’s what effort is all about. Guys like Chris Gamble just play.”
The next big play proved to be the game winner when Gamble intercepted a Zack Mills pass and ran it back for a 40-yard touchdown return.
“I saw Zack Mills rolling to the left, the one dude running the post and the other dude running the wheel (pass route),” Gamble said. “I saw him throw it to the wheel and I just attacked it.”
Gamble, the first Buckeye to start on both sides of the ball since Paul Warfield in 1963, first showed the Buckeye staff his defensive abilities when he and safety Mike Doss would switch positions in spring practice.
“We were just kidding around,” Gamble said. “He’s a good reciever too, but when I was playing defensive back, he couldn’t get the ball.”
Although Gamble has only started one game at cornerback, he leads OSU with three interceptions this season. Gamble has also been the Buckeyes regular punt returner.
However, playing nearly 60 minutes is not all glitz and glamour. Gamble has had to attend more meetings, remember more plays and be better physically conditioned to handle the rigors of playing both ways
Gamble, who said he was cramping up throughout the game, is fine with making these sacrifices.
“It’s all for the team,” he said. “I just want to learn and help the defense out by making some plays. I just wanna stay in and play the whole game.”
Gamble said the main difference between his performance this year and last year is confidence and an increased amount of opportunities.
“This year I’m getting playing time on both sides,” Gamble said. “Last year I was nervous, and if they had put me in I would have been nervous. This year I wasn’t so nervous.”
