2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University
in the college football
season of 2001-2002.
It marked their first season under new head coach Jim Tressel
. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–5 record, capped by a 26–20 victory over their fierce rival
the Michigan Wolverines
in Ann Arbor in the regular season finale. The Buckeyes went on to play in the 2002 Outback Bowl
in Tampa, Florida
, where they lost 31–28 to the South Carolina Gamecocks
.
season marked a transition from former head coach John Cooper to new head coach Jim Tressel
. Tressel was beginning his first season as head coach at the Division 1-A level as the 22nd head coach of the Buckeyes. He came from Youngstown State University
where he led the Penguins
to four national championships at the Division 1-AA level. The Buckeyes finished the 2000 season with an 8-4 record and Coach Cooper was later fired on January 2, 2001..
Prior to Cooper's firing, the Buckeyes were ranked 23rd in the AP Poll
, losing in the 2001 Outback Bowl
to the South Carolina Gamecocks
by a score of 24-7.
2002 NFL draftees
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
season of 2001-2002.
2001 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the University of Miami winning the national title for the fifth time.The Hurricanes were led by Larry Coker, who was in his first year as head coach after five years as Miami's offensive coordinator under Butch Davis...
It marked their first season under new head coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–5 record, capped by a 26–20 victory over their fierce rival
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, also known as The Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Wolverines of the University of Michigan and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University...
the Michigan Wolverines
2001 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2001 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2001-2002. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr...
in Ann Arbor in the regular season finale. The Buckeyes went on to play in the 2002 Outback Bowl
2002 Outback Bowl
The 2002 edition to the Outback Bowl featured the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. South Carolina had blown out Ohio State in the previous year's game, 24-7....
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, where they lost 31–28 to the South Carolina Gamecocks
2001 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2001 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks were led by Lou Holtz in his third season as USC head coach, and played their home games in Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.Carolina followed up one of...
.
Preseason
The 2001 Ohio State Buckeyes footballOhio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
season marked a transition from former head coach John Cooper to new head coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
. Tressel was beginning his first season as head coach at the Division 1-A level as the 22nd head coach of the Buckeyes. He came from Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
where he led the Penguins
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
to four national championships at the Division 1-AA level. The Buckeyes finished the 2000 season with an 8-4 record and Coach Cooper was later fired on January 2, 2001..
Prior to Cooper's firing, the Buckeyes were ranked 23rd in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, losing in the 2001 Outback Bowl
2001 Outback Bowl
The 2001 edition to the Outback Bowl featured the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Ohio State Buckeyes.After a scoreless first quarter, South Carolina's kicker Jason Corse put the Gamecocks on the board with a 23 yard field goal, giving USC an early 3-0 lead...
to the South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
by a score of 24-7.
Schedule
| Date | Ranking | Opponent | Result | September 8 | 24 | vs. } | W | 28 | 14 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
102,602 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 22 | 21 | @ } | L | 6 | 13 | Pasadena, California Pasadena, California Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet... • Rose Bowl Rose Bowl (stadium) The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12... |
73,723 |
| September 29 | @ Indiana 2001 Indiana Hoosiers football team The 2001 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University, Bloomington during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:... |
W | 27 | 14 | Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census.... • Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium, Bloomington Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. It is primarily used for football, and is the home field of the Indiana Hoosiers. The stadium opened in 1960 as part of a new athletics area at the university and currently has a capacity of 52,929... |
48,577 | |
| October 6 | vs. | W | 38 | 20 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
104,042 | |
| October 13 | 21 | vs. Wisconsin 2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team The 2001 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:-Season summary:... |
L | 17 | 20 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
103,520 |
| October 20 | vs. *# | W | 27 | 12 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
102,432 | |
| October 27 | @ Penn State | L | 27 | 29 | State College, Pennsylvania State College, Pennsylvania State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double... • Beaver Stadium Beaver Stadium Beaver Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University. It is home to the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference. The stadium is named for James A... |
108,327 | |
| November 3 | @ Minnesota | W | 31 | 28 | Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... • The Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
45,407 | |
| November 10 | vs. Purdue 2001 Purdue Boilermakers football team The 2001 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented the US Purdue University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule:-Rivalries:*In the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, Indiana beat Purdue.... |
W | 35 | 9 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
104,189 | |
| November 17 | 25 | vs. Illinois 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team The 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season season. Led by senior quarterback Kurt Kittner, the team won the Big Ten Conference title and earned a Sugar Bowl berth, but lost to LSU, 47–34.-Schedule:... |
L | 22 | 34 | Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... • Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974... |
104,407 |
| November 24 | @ Michigan 2001 Michigan Wolverines football team The 2001 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the college football season of 2001-2002. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr... |
W | 26 | 20 | Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010... • Michigan Stadium Michigan Stadium Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field... |
111,571 | |
| January 1 | vs. ° South Carolina 2001 South Carolina Gamecocks football team The 2001 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks were led by Lou Holtz in his third season as USC head coach, and played their home games in Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.Carolina followed up one of... |
L | 28 | 31 | Tampa, Florida Tampa, Florida Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709.... • Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events... |
66,249 | |
| *Non-conference opponent #(Originally scheduled 9/15; Postponed due to the events of 9/11) • °2002 Outback Bowl 2002 Outback Bowl The 2002 edition to the Outback Bowl featured the South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. South Carolina had blown out Ohio State in the previous year's game, 24-7.... |
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Coaching staff
- Jim TresselJim TresselJames Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
- Head Coach - 1st year - Jim BollmanJim BollmanJim Bollman is the current offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Bollman has been the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes since 2001, covering the entire tenure of head coach Jim Tressel.-External links:...
- Offensive Coordinator/Offensive line coach - 1st year - Mark DantonioMark DantonioMark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
- Defensive Coordinator - 1st year
2002 NFL draftees2002 NFL DraftThe 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL Club |
| LeCharles Bentley LeCharles Bentley LeCharles Vernon Bentley is a retired American football center of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.A two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Saints, Bentley was also a member of... |
2 | 44 | Guard | New Orleans Saints 2002 New Orleans Saints season The 2002 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 36th as a member of the National Football League. They improved upon their previous season's performance of 7–9, winning nine games. Despite the winning season, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.... |
| Derek Ross Derek Ross Derek Ross is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings... |
3 | 75 | Defensive Back | Dallas Cowboys 2002 Dallas Cowboys season -Offseason:Despite an off-season filled with promise, the season would again prove to be a disaster. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator and head coach Bruce Coslet was brought in to run the offense for Dallas. Even though he was dismissed by Cincinnati, his history of high-powered... |
| Jonathan Wells Jonathan Wells (American football) Jonathan Wells is a former running back who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes.-High school career:Wells played high school football at John Curtis Christian High School in his native River Ridge, Louisiana... |
4 | 99 | Running Back | Houston Texans 2002 Houston Texans season The 2002 Houston Texans season was the franchise's first-ever season and the city of Houston's first NFL season since the Houston Oilers left in 1997 to move to Tennessee to become the Titans.... |
| Darnell Sanders Darnell Sanders Darnell L. Sanders is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He played in 36 games at Ohio State University and finished with 42 catches for 474 yards and nine touchdowns. He was drafted in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He also played for the Atlanta... |
4 | 122 | Tight End | Cleveland Browns 2002 Cleveland Browns season The 2002 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season with the National Football League.-Regular season:- Playoffs :-Standings:... |
| Jamar Martin Jamar Martin Jamar Martin is a former National Football League fullback in the National Football League who played in the Arena Football League as fullback for the New York Dragons.-High School Years:... |
4 | 129 | Fullback | Dallas Cowboys 2002 Dallas Cowboys season -Offseason:Despite an off-season filled with promise, the season would again prove to be a disaster. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator and head coach Bruce Coslet was brought in to run the offense for Dallas. Even though he was dismissed by Cincinnati, his history of high-powered... |
| Courtland Bullard Courtland Bullard -References:... |
5 | 167 | Linebacker | St. Louis Rams 2002 St. Louis Rams season The 2002 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 65th year with the National Football League and the eighth season in St. Louis.-Schedule:This season marked the decline of Kurt Warner and The Greatest Show On Turf-Standings:... |
| Tyson Walter Tyson Walter Tyson Barrett Walter is a former American football player who played offensive tackle and center in the National Football League. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Walter in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft... |
6 | 179 | Center | Dallas Cowboys 2002 Dallas Cowboys season -Offseason:Despite an off-season filled with promise, the season would again prove to be a disaster. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator and head coach Bruce Coslet was brought in to run the offense for Dallas. Even though he was dismissed by Cincinnati, his history of high-powered... |
| Steve Bellisari Steve Bellisari Steve Bellisari is an Arena football quarterback who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. Bellisari is best known as an Ohio State University Buckeye from 1998 to 2001.-College career:... |
6 | 205 | Quarterback | St. Louis Rams 2002 St. Louis Rams season The 2002 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 65th year with the National Football League and the eighth season in St. Louis.-Schedule:This season marked the decline of Kurt Warner and The Greatest Show On Turf-Standings:... |