Todd Boeckman

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Navy No Easy Opener for No. 6 Buckeyes; Post-Practice InterviewsþWell I decided today that I'm still going to post articles about Ohio State even though Todd isn't still there. Saturday is the season opener and I think everyone is excited for that.

Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Release: 09/02/2009

By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- This much is certain when it comes to No. 6 Ohio State's recent series of opening-game opponents: Navy is no Youngstown State.

While the Penguins were almost grateful to open the season at Ohio Stadium the last two seasons, the Buckeyes recognize that Navy won't be nearly so star-struck.

The Buckeyes opened with 38-6 and 43-0 routs of Youngstown State, the only Football Championship Subdivision team Ohio State has ever played.

Navy is at another level.

"We've got a great Navy team coming in week one," offensive guard Bryant Browning said. "First off, those guys have won a lot of games. They go to bowl games, and they win. We're usually facing, I guess you could say, a lesser opponent sometimes -- you could say it that way. But Navy is not one of those teams. They're going to come in here looking for a big upset."

Ohio State's contest against Navy on Saturday -- the first regular-season meeting between the teams since 1931 -- is not expected to be so lopsided as recent debuts for the Buckeyes.

"Navy's no pushover," quarterback Terrelle Pryor said. "And you know they're going to be tough. They serve our country. You also got to appreciate that too because they serve our nation and protect us."

There are also a couple of other reasons why the game could be a problem for the Buckeyes.

For one, the Midshipmen's triple-option attack is something foreign to a defense that regularly faces spread attacks.

"Whenever you play someone like Navy it raises the urgency because you can't look at them and say, 'Well, I know what they do. Yeah, this is what they run. We know how to stop that,"' coach Jim Tressel said. "Plus our guys have a tremendous respect for the people who choose to go into that particular world. You've got to be courageous and our guys know that. ... It'll be an eye-opener for us."

For another, a date with No. 4 Southern California, which ravaged the Buckeyes 35-3 in SoCal a year ago, is looming a week later. The Buckeyes know they can't be distracted by that, since they'll likely have their hands full with the Midshipmen.

Unlike Youngstown State or the Mid-American Conference schools the Buckeyes usually open against, the Midshipmen won't be intimidated by the more than 100,000 in attendance. They've played on big stages and in big games, winning their last 13 against Army and Air Force to take the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy the last six years.

Apparently, Ohio State's fans have noticed.

Tressel said that athletic department officials have told him that there is as much or more interest in Navy tickets as any game on the Buckeyes' schedule. He hinted that the Ohio Stadium record attendance of 105,711 could be eclipsed.

A typical cupcake in the opener wouldn't draw nearly so much attention.

Navy returns 25 letterwinners and 13 starters from a team that went 8-5 last season, led the nation in rushing for an NCAA-record fourth-consecutive season (292.4 rushing yards per game) and went to the EagleBank Bowl, losing 29-19 to Wake Forest.

Junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs leads Navy's offense. He gained 495 yards and scored eight times a year ago.

All the Buckeyes are wary of the Midshipmen's option game.

"We haven't seen this since I've been here," linebacker Austin Spitler said. "The preparation has been unbelievable and the coaches have really stressed the importance of doing our 1/11th. Since it's something we haven't seen, it is a difficult situation."

And no easy way to open a season.Jacksonville Jaguars Sign Todd Boeckman Again! Jacksonville Jaguars Sign Todd Boeckman Agian!

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed rookie quarterback Todd Boeckman and waived first-year quarterback Paul Smith today.

Smith was cut Sunday and replaced by former Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman, who is joining the Jaguars for the second time. He was originally signed June 17 and cut July 31. Now he has a shot at being a practice-squad player.

This is his new roster picture--

Boeckman still has NFL hopes

I came across this today. It's from the Columbus Dispatch, enjoy!

--Boeckman still has NFL hopes--

Todd can't remember the last time he wasn't in training camp this time of year.

"It's probably been 10 years," the former Ohio State quarterback said. "Maybe more than that, if you count seventh and eighth grade."

The Jacksonville Jaguars released Boeckman on Friday, just two days before they opened camp.

It was the latest disappointment he has endured in the past year. After being named first-team All-Big Ten in 2007, the fifth-year senior was benched in favor of freshman Terrell Pryor after three games last fall.

Boeckman went undrafted in April but landed a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals. He never heard back from them. The Jaguars signed him in June, and it was a tough blow to be cut just as he was getting ready to head to Florida

I've had a lot of ups and downs," Boeckman said. "I don't know even know the full reason (Jacksonville cut him). I thought I'd at least get a shot in camp."

Boeckman lives in Columbus and will continue working out in case he does get a call. He hasn't had time to formulate a backup plan, such as playing in another pro league or getting a job outside football

There are a lot of unknowns now," he said, adding that he hopes teams will need a quarterback at some point this preseason. "I just have to wait and see if anything pops up."