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Ohio State's Tressel feels sorry for angry fans
The Associated Press
Updated 12:24 AM Wednesday, September 16, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — What's brewing today with the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes ...

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Jim Tressel is not used to being criticized by Ohio State's fans. Maybe it's the .808 winning percentage, the 2002 national championship or the four consecutive Big Ten titles heading into this season. But until now, even when the Buckeyes lost it was as if he was wearing a Teflon vest.

No more. Tressel said during his weekly news conference Tuesday that he's getting assailed by fans via e-mail. He said he feels sorry for them.

"When I read some of them ... I feel terrible for them because there's no way they're happy," he said of those criticizing his conservative playcalling and understated approach to the game. "They've got to be some of the most unhappy people in the world, and I feel bad because we just made them less happy, and I hate to be a part of making someone less happy."

Tressel said he can't conceive of ever relinquishing control of Ohio State's offense. He also said he will continue to abide by the philosophy he has always had.

"I'll always believe that you win tough ballgames by making sure that you're the group that makes less mistakes, wins that field position battle (and) wins the battle in the trenches," he said.

In other words, don't count on the Buckeyes coming out and throwing the ball 67 times, like Toledo's Aaron Opelt did in a 52-31 loss at Purdue a couple of weeks ago.

The Buckeyes face the Rockets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday.

ADAMS UPDATE: There are seldom surprises in the coaching staff's selections for players of the week. That changed this week, however.

Mike Adams, a touted recruit, had fallen off the depth chart for the Buckeyes on the OL. Tressel said he wasn't handling his responsibilities and gave vague responses to whether Adams had been suspended.

Then, all of a sudden, Adams' name appeared as the scout team offensive player of the week for the USC game.

When Tressel was asked Tuesday if Adams is now in his good graces, the coach answered, "He's getting there. We'll see how today goes and the next, but he worked pretty good yesterday."

It may or may not just be a coincidence that the rest of the OL did not have a particularly good game against the Trojans.