Former Buckeye Bobby Carpenter speaks in Ridgeville Corners
By CHUCK MARTINEZ
RIDGEVILLE CORNERS -- The 20th Annual Freedom Township Men's Club Sports Night was another soldout success.
The Henry County organization that helps support the county's athletic endeavors as well as non-profit organizations like the United Way, 4-H and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to name just a few, did another outstanding job of raising funds through silent auctions and raffles on Wednesday night at the Ridgeville Legion Hall and spearheading the night's events was guest speaker Bobby Carpenter.
Carpenter is a home-grown Ohio boy from Lancaster, who took his parents work ethic and turned it into a stellar career on the football field.
After playing for his father (Rob) at Lancaster High School, Carpenter headed to Columbus.
At The Ohio State University, Carpenter was a two-time all-Big Ten selection during his four years as a starting linebacker for the Buckeyes and currently is a member of the Dallas Cowboys after being selected with the Cowboys' first pick of last year's National Football League draft.
On Wednesday, Carpenter shared his experiences as a college student/athlete in Columbus and as a professional football player in Dallas. He explained why he became a Buckeye and shared his views on topics ranging from coaches and teammates to current NFL trends.
Here are a few of the insights shared by Bobby Carpenter.
Why did you become a Buckeye?
"I was never a big Ohio State fan growing up. Being from Ohio I'd seen them play, but I followed teams coached by my dad's friends like Randy Walker at Northwestern. But I had friends there (in Columbus), who I talked to when I went there for a visit and that's what Ohio State is about. People talk about the Scarlet and Gray, but it's not that, Ohio State is about the people. It's about the ones you already know, the ones you meet and the experiences and special times you share there, that's what makes Ohio State special."
Is Ohio State the real "Linebacker U?"
"I think Ohio State has sort of claimed that crown. Penn State really hasn't sent anybody out (to the NFL) in years and linebackers from Ohio State have grabbed lots of college awards and awards in the NFL."
What one play stands out in your mind while you were a Buckeye?
"I'd say there's two. Our goal-line stand against Michigan my junior year and then Nate Salley blocking the field goal against Michigan State, at that point we were 3-2 and we had national-title hopes, but we were struggling. It's funny how one play can turn things around."
Compare your college coach Jim Tressel with your first NFL coach Bill Parcells.
"Coach Tressel is quiet and collected all the time, that's why we call him the senator. Coach Parcells is just the opposite, he wears everything on his sleeve, when he's screaming, he's talking and when he's talking, he's screaming. Parcells is more brash and it's not a show, he's like that all the time and he's got a one-liner for everything you do."
What are your thoughts on the recent NFL suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry?
"I think it is all going to be a plus. You hate to see players like that suspended for a year and another for eight games, but the NFL needs to keep a clean image. Ninety-five percent of the players in the NFL are great guys, smart and educated with great character ... for the rest of them, this will help them clean up (their act)."
What's it like being in the T.O. circus?
"I went from one of the most recognizable college programs to the most recognizable NFL team, but being at Ohio State really helped be prepare to handle the pressures of the media. We had a lot of things going on around Columbus. Unfortunately not everything can be positive and Ohio State helped prepare me for the media. T.O. is really a very personal guy and I think the media has created a lot of it. He's almost two people, one for the media and then another guy for everything else. He's a hard worker, a great teammate and he's great to be around and he does a lot of stuff for the guys on the team."
What were your feelings when Tony Romo dropped the snap in the playoffs against Seattle?
"I try to explain it like you're on vacation and you can't wait to come home and see your dog that you've had for years and your friend agreed to watch it for you. And when you come home your friend opens up the door and the dog comes running out happy to see you and then gets hit by a car ... that was the feeling. And for me, that game was Saturday, on Monday I went down to see the national championship game against Florida and we lost that too, it was definitely a difficult three-day stretch for me."
Are you excited about Wade Phillips being the new coach in Dallas.
"It's pretty much going to be the same scheme for me defensively. They've told me I'll be at the outside (linebacker), but to learn the inside as well. Wade does a lot more blitzing than we did with coach Parcells and I'm really excited, because (blitzing) was something I got to do a lot of in college and hopefully it's something I'll get to do a lot of again."
Is there a friendly rivalry between you, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel?
"Those guys are my best friends and we didn't have too much of that last year, but this year we're playing the AFC East and the Jets and A.J. and the Packers are coming to Dallas, so that's going to be really special for all of us to get back together and hang out a little bit before the game. We still spend a lot of time together and we still all have the long hair. In fact last week at A.J.'s wedding the pictures looked like something out of 1975, I guess it's a contest now, we'll see who cuts it first."
What's your advice to young players?
"Coming into Ohio State two of the last scholarships given my freshman year were to me and A.J. Hawk. They have measures for size and speed and things like that, but you can never measure heart. People always wonder why some guys come out of nowhere and why some come out on top and others don't. It's because of the work ethic and heart, it's hard to measure someone's desire."
RIDGEVILLE CORNERS -- The 20th Annual Freedom Township Men's Club Sports Night was another soldout success.
The Henry County organization that helps support the county's athletic endeavors as well as non-profit organizations like the United Way, 4-H and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to name just a few, did another outstanding job of raising funds through silent auctions and raffles on Wednesday night at the Ridgeville Legion Hall and spearheading the night's events was guest speaker Bobby Carpenter.
Carpenter is a home-grown Ohio boy from Lancaster, who took his parents work ethic and turned it into a stellar career on the football field.
After playing for his father (Rob) at Lancaster High School, Carpenter headed to Columbus.
At The Ohio State University, Carpenter was a two-time all-Big Ten selection during his four years as a starting linebacker for the Buckeyes and currently is a member of the Dallas Cowboys after being selected with the Cowboys' first pick of last year's National Football League draft.
On Wednesday, Carpenter shared his experiences as a college student/athlete in Columbus and as a professional football player in Dallas. He explained why he became a Buckeye and shared his views on topics ranging from coaches and teammates to current NFL trends.
Here are a few of the insights shared by Bobby Carpenter.
Why did you become a Buckeye?
"I was never a big Ohio State fan growing up. Being from Ohio I'd seen them play, but I followed teams coached by my dad's friends like Randy Walker at Northwestern. But I had friends there (in Columbus), who I talked to when I went there for a visit and that's what Ohio State is about. People talk about the Scarlet and Gray, but it's not that, Ohio State is about the people. It's about the ones you already know, the ones you meet and the experiences and special times you share there, that's what makes Ohio State special."
Is Ohio State the real "Linebacker U?"
"I think Ohio State has sort of claimed that crown. Penn State really hasn't sent anybody out (to the NFL) in years and linebackers from Ohio State have grabbed lots of college awards and awards in the NFL."
What one play stands out in your mind while you were a Buckeye?
"I'd say there's two. Our goal-line stand against Michigan my junior year and then Nate Salley blocking the field goal against Michigan State, at that point we were 3-2 and we had national-title hopes, but we were struggling. It's funny how one play can turn things around."
Compare your college coach Jim Tressel with your first NFL coach Bill Parcells.
"Coach Tressel is quiet and collected all the time, that's why we call him the senator. Coach Parcells is just the opposite, he wears everything on his sleeve, when he's screaming, he's talking and when he's talking, he's screaming. Parcells is more brash and it's not a show, he's like that all the time and he's got a one-liner for everything you do."
What are your thoughts on the recent NFL suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry?
"I think it is all going to be a plus. You hate to see players like that suspended for a year and another for eight games, but the NFL needs to keep a clean image. Ninety-five percent of the players in the NFL are great guys, smart and educated with great character ... for the rest of them, this will help them clean up (their act)."
What's it like being in the T.O. circus?
"I went from one of the most recognizable college programs to the most recognizable NFL team, but being at Ohio State really helped be prepare to handle the pressures of the media. We had a lot of things going on around Columbus. Unfortunately not everything can be positive and Ohio State helped prepare me for the media. T.O. is really a very personal guy and I think the media has created a lot of it. He's almost two people, one for the media and then another guy for everything else. He's a hard worker, a great teammate and he's great to be around and he does a lot of stuff for the guys on the team."
What were your feelings when Tony Romo dropped the snap in the playoffs against Seattle?
"I try to explain it like you're on vacation and you can't wait to come home and see your dog that you've had for years and your friend agreed to watch it for you. And when you come home your friend opens up the door and the dog comes running out happy to see you and then gets hit by a car ... that was the feeling. And for me, that game was Saturday, on Monday I went down to see the national championship game against Florida and we lost that too, it was definitely a difficult three-day stretch for me."
Are you excited about Wade Phillips being the new coach in Dallas.
"It's pretty much going to be the same scheme for me defensively. They've told me I'll be at the outside (linebacker), but to learn the inside as well. Wade does a lot more blitzing than we did with coach Parcells and I'm really excited, because (blitzing) was something I got to do a lot of in college and hopefully it's something I'll get to do a lot of again."
Is there a friendly rivalry between you, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel?
"Those guys are my best friends and we didn't have too much of that last year, but this year we're playing the AFC East and the Jets and A.J. and the Packers are coming to Dallas, so that's going to be really special for all of us to get back together and hang out a little bit before the game. We still spend a lot of time together and we still all have the long hair. In fact last week at A.J.'s wedding the pictures looked like something out of 1975, I guess it's a contest now, we'll see who cuts it first."
What's your advice to young players?
"Coming into Ohio State two of the last scholarships given my freshman year were to me and A.J. Hawk. They have measures for size and speed and things like that, but you can never measure heart. People always wonder why some guys come out of nowhere and why some come out on top and others don't. It's because of the work ethic and heart, it's hard to measure someone's desire."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:52 PM
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