Ohio State's Tressel Regrets Ripping Fans

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On Tuesday, coach Jim Tressel called a segment of hard-core Ohio State fans "miserable."

He said he gets critical e-mails, then added, "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," he said. "I mean, they're already miserable."

By Thursday, he said he regretted putting down those who follow the team.

"My dad taught me a long time ago, you'll have a thousand chances to keep your mouth shut, use every one of them," Tressel said.

He said he wasn't aware of any fallout to his earlier comments.

"But no one could have better fans than we do," he said. "And if anyone was half as miserable as we were on Sunday (and) Monday, I could understand them being miserable."

Almost always in control of the situation in his public appearances, Tressel added, "You live and learn."

TELL THAT TO BRADY QUINN: QBs coach Nick Siciliano, on the pressure exerted on Terrelle Pryor: "Everything changes when there are 105,000 people sitting in those stands. There's a lot of pressure there. This is the hardest job in the state, I don't care what anybody says. It's harder being the quarterback here at Ohio State than being the Cleveland Browns quarterback or the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback because all eyes are on you."

GO EAST, YOUNG MEN: Toledo's traveling party for Saturday's game against the Buckeyes at Cleveland Browns Stadium includes 105 people. They leave campus at 1:30 p.m. Friday and head out in three luxury coaches (as opposed to, say, school buses). Another bus carrying 25 more members of the party is to arrive early Saturday morning.

The Rockets will have a walk-through at the stadium at 4 p.m. Friday.

MISSING MAN: The Buckeyes will definitely miss not having RT Jim Cordle, who will miss the next 3-4 weeks with an injury to his right ankle.

"I think it's a big deal anytime you lose someone that has played so much," Tressel said Thursday. "Jimmy's played since 2007, three years, it's leadership and all the other things there."

In his place, the Buckeyes will likely go with sophomore J.B. Shugarts, backed by former doghouse resident, Michael Adams. Adams has not been in uniform for the first two games, but the coaches will not say why that is or if he is suspended.

Regardless, he appears to have crawled back into their good graces.

Tressel said losing Cordle was a blow, but someone else will have to take up the slack.

"You say to people that they're one play from being a big deal," he said. "Everyone says, 'What can I do to play?' Well, you're playing."

OPINING OVER OPELT: Toledo QB Aaron Opelt leads the nation in total offense at 437 yards a game. No question that he has to have a big game for the Rockets to hang with or even beat the Buckeyes on Saturday.

"He's a great quarterback, a strong-armed guy. They spread the offense out and make some running lanes for him," said Ohio State LB Austin Spitler. "They've got athletes just like we do. But he makes the thing roll."

Rockets coach Tim Beckman has lots of nice things to say about the senior. Here's a sampling:

- "He's just getting comfortable with what we're doing. It's a credit to him and how hard he worked this summer to prepare himself. He decided he was going to take over this summer.

- "He's getting rid of ball faster, better decision making, offensive line protecting. The line has given up one sack this year."

- "It comes down to the way Aaron's running the offense and the way the offense as a whole has jelled together."

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