And you thought Big Ten championships were decided by interceptions and punt returns and missed blocks and broken tackles. This one could be determined by something as mundane as connective tissue. A twist here and a tear there, and away goes that giant trophy.
Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi — another Ohio kid who found fame and good fortune outside the Buckeye State — was leading his team to a title until something fibrous and fundamental in his ankle stretched or snapped or popped. Now Stanzi hangs out with an orthopedic surgeon, and he’s looking at X-ray film instead of film of OSU’s pass coverages.
If the Buckeyes need a field goal to beat Iowa or Michigan the next couple of weeks, their chance to display the Big Ten’s top prize could be affected by other ligaments or tendons that have lost their connection. Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey had his knee that could powerfully swing north and south abruptly forced westward by an opponent’s shoulder, and then he met another musculoskeletal medical mechanic with a wall full of degrees. Now Devin Barclay, a former pro soccer player old enough to be a doctor himself, has gone from wandering on Ohio State’s sideline to being the Buckeyes’ favorite foot after Pettrey’s connective tissue lost its grip. Barclay’s joints are sound and Ohio State’s rosey future could now hinge on him making the right connection and his aim being sound. Permanent Link
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