COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Luke Fickell says he couldn’t sleep he was so excited about his first official practice as Ohio State’s interim head coach. He also concedes he will be relieved when it is over.
More than eight months after a memorabilia-for-cash scandal rocked the program, leading to coach Jim Tressel’s forced resignation, the Buckeyes took the field for the start of preseason practice on Monday. Fickell, a defensive assistant under Tressel the last nine years, would not address the performances or roles of any players, saying he only wanted to focus on the group and not individuals.
Ohio State, which vacated a 12-1 season in 2010 because Tressel knowingly used ineligible players, needs to replace seven starters on defense and three on offense before the Sept. 3 opener against Akron.
