Ohio State's Tressel Promotes The Elbow Bump

By: Associated Press | NBC4i.com
Published: September 23, 2009

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

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Coach Jim Tressel is trying to initiate a new, healthier way of greeting people.

During his Tuesday news conference, Tressel spoke of P Jon Thoma, who had the flu last week and was unable to play in the 38-0 win over Toledo.

Thoma has recovered and is scheduled to play on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when the 13th-ranked Buckeyes host Illinois.

Tressel said he had spoken to several of his coaching peers who said their teams were being decimated by the standard variety flu.

Then the coach offered to demonstrate how to avoid passing the illness via hand contact.

"They did a little seminar in our athletic department meeting the other day. Instead of shaking hands, you go like this," Tressel said, standing to address a reporter and demonstrate. "You're supposed to elbow bump, that's the newest thing."

He suggested when reporters got back to their offices, they should go up to a co-worker and say, "'s happenin?' and then give them an elbow bump.

That little moment of levity didn't detract from the seriousness of the illness.

LB Ross Homan said there is a genuine concern at Ohio State about preventing a large-scale outbreak.

"The (staff) is always bugging us, about always washing our hands," he said. "Hopefully we avoid the pandemic."

HE SAID IT: Illini coach Ron Zook, on Ohio State's Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson: "Their defensive ends can flat play. They'll be as good as we've faced this year."

TV TALK: The Illinois game will be televised by ABC/ESPN.

TRESSELESE: The coach on why Dan "Boom" Herron isn't rushing for more yardage: "I think Boom had a couple chances last week where he just got shoestringed and you could see where he might pop it and all you need is to pop it and all your yards per carry is totally skewed. I haven't seen his grade and so forth as being anything less than excellent. He's where he's supposed to be. He has been called upon at times when it was loaded up in there, but he's not unlike someone asked, well, was that good for (QB) Terrelle (Pryor) to pop that long one to start the game Saturday, that's what a running back needs is, go hit one for about 27 and all of a sudden, you get a little bit of that momentum going. No, Boom will be fine."

THE HONORABLE EARLE: Former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce will serve as the team's honorary captain against Illinois.

Tressel said Bruce had one major task affiliated with the assignment.

"Our honorary captain always addresses the squad at the pregame meal because it's too late once we get to the locker room," he said. "If we're not ready to go by the time you walk through that skull session and into Ohio Stadium, it's too late. So coach Bruce will visit with our guys Saturday at pregame meal."