sports Columbus from 6A Like the reception many OSU fans received in Lincoln when they journeyed to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium last season, it appears that at least a few Cornhuskers were treated to some Buckeye Nation hospitality. Kylie Unger, 32, originally from Grand Island, Neb., graduated from Nebraska in 1998, and she came expecting the worst from Buckeye Nation after a comment spat in her direction during the plane ride into town. “Unfortunately, on the plane, someone told me to jump off. It was an Ohio State fan,� Unger said with an uneasy laugh. Unger was also in attendance for Nebraska’s first-ever Big Ten Conference game in Madison and remembered the vulgarities hurled in her direction. Like Malik, Unger’s trip to Columbus was different. Everything that followed the comment on the airplane, she said, was all good. “Everybody’s been so nice. Someone actually walked up and was like, ‘Hey, welcome to Ohio,� Unger said. “It’s been awesome (in Columbus). I expect to go to the bars and be treated fine.� Amy Hoff, 29, a 2005 Nebraska graduate originally from Scottsbluff, Neb., agreed. Hoff said she was apprehensive about making the trip to Columbus because of horror stories she’d heard about Buckeye Nation. “We were a little scared at first because we’ve heard bad things, that Ohio State is probably one of the worst fan bases beside Wisconsin,� Hoff said. On Friday, Hoff toured campus, including across the Ohio Union at Midway Bar and Grill, where Nebraska fans congregated. The welcome she received was a pleasant surprise, she said. “It’s been fine,� Hoff said. “It’s been great since we flew in.� Even in the presence of fellow Nebraskans and Cornhuskers fans, you can imagine how Malik, bedecked in marching-band regalia, might be the target of abusive language. The abusive language never arrived, Malik said. “Everyone’s been courteous. I haven’t had one bad fan today. No one’s been badgering us or pestering us, so I like that,� he said. The Scarlet and Gray did not extend the same courtesy to the visiting team or its fans. With an Ohio Stadium record crowd of 106,102 in attendance, OSU trounced the Cornhuskers, 63-38. Buckeyes’ sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller powered OSU to victory, setting a new OSU single-game quarterback rushing record with 186 yards in the game. Miller also threw for 127 yards, completing 7 of 14 pass attempts. Miller helped lead OSU’s offense to just 17 yards of total offense in the first quarter, but racked up a statistical advantage by game’s end. In arguably the most impressive showing by first-year coach Urban Meyer’s spread offense to date, the Buckeyes out-gained Nebraska, 498-437 . Junior running back Carlos Hyde rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries and tallied four touchdowns in the game to help lead the Buckeyes to victory. OSU might have been inhospitable to its visitors on the field, but Buckeye Nation’s welcome for the visiting fans, and the Nebraska band, was a welcome surprise, Malik said. “We’ve been approached by a lot of (OSU) fans with nice things to say. They say, ‘Good luck,’� Malik said. “It’s much better than any Big 12 school I’ve seen.� On Saturday the OSU football team travels to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers at 8 p.m.
Daniel Chi / Asst. photo editor
OSU sophomore cornerback Bradley Roby carries the ball after his 2nd quarter interception during an Oct. 6 game at Ohio Stadium against Nebraska. OSU won, 63-38.
Coombs: Bradley Roby ‘a 1st-round pick down the road’ grant gannon Lantern reporter gannon.78@osu.edu Redshirt sophomore cornerback Bradley Roby might be a gifted athlete, but one Ohio State coach said his work ethic is what has taken him to the next level. “The reason he is good is because God gave him a lot of ability, but the reason that he’s great is because he has taken what God has given him and he’s mastered his craft,� said OSU’s cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs. Through OSU’s six games, Roby is statistically one of the leading defensive backs for the Buckeyes and in the Big Ten. He leads the conference in passes defended with 11, and his two interceptions are tied for second behind his teammate, redshirt senior cornerback Travis Howard. At Monday’s press conference, coach Urban Meyer named Roby as one of the team’s co-defensive players of the week. When Meyer introduced Roby he said, “Co-player of the game as well on defense, it’s every week, making play opportunities from the corner.� That consistent production can be seen in his stats. Despite missing the University of Alabama-Birmingham game, Roby is fourth on the team with 32 total tackles. He also has two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. Coombs gushed about his pupil, and credited Roby’s success to his work in the film room.
“A kid like Bradley, whose film study is extraordinary, hours and hours of film study, he’ll know his opponent. He understands the route that’s coming, he’s prepared for the ball when it comes and then you go to finish those plays,� Coombs said. “He’s the guy that wants to make plays, that needs to make plays for our team to be successful.� In Roby’s latest effort against Nebraska, he recorded four total tackles, a pass break-up, and intercepted two passes, one of which he returned for the game’s first touchdown. His performance and labor with film has been noticed by his coaches and teammates alike. “Bradley’s a playmaker for us and always in there watching film, always competitive out there on the practice field doing what he has to do, always doing his job. So we love having him out there, especially on the back end giving us some extra time to rush the quarterback,� said senior defensive end and captain John Simon. That playmaking ability has not been limited to the defensive side of the ball. With 2:32 left in the first half of the Michigan State game on Sept. 29 in East Lansing, Mich., Roby laid out and blocked a kick from the Spartan’s punter. This gave the ball to the Buckeye offense 35 yards from the end zone, but they were unable to capitalize and score any points. Coombs has seen improvement from Roby since the coach arrived on campus and said he has a bright future ahead like former OSU cornerbacks Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield and Malcolm Jenkins before him. “Frankly, I think the sky’s the limit,� Coombs said. “I think Bradley’s a first-round draft pick down the road.� OSU will play Indiana Saturday at 8 p.m. in Bloomington, Ind.
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