Insider Look at Ohio State Football with Frank Epitropoulos

Frank Epitropoulos was another Buckeye that committed early and did not waver in his commitment.  He was the MVP of the International Bowl, an All-Star game for some of the top players in high school football, and graciously took some time for an interview to help Buckeye nation gain an inside look.

Your dad played for Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce; what did he tell you about them?

FE: He told me that these men loved the game, but my dad learned from them that you must love college football deeply because it is highly demanding, very difficult and challenging.  You must enjoy playing.

What is Earle Bruce like?

FE: I have known him for a while, he is highly intense, even at his age, and his grandson will be my coach at WR.  Coach Smith was with Urban Meyer at FL and has experience at Temple, so I look forward to learning from him.

You are a punter as well as a receiver, has Urban and the coaching staff talked to you about being a punter?

FE: Very briefly, but they have mainly emphasized wide receiver, but if I am one of the best punters on the team, I can help them there too, but my focus is on receiver.  I do not have the frame to be a TE, so receiver will be my focus.

What is Urban Meyer like?

FE: Very intense guy. When you see him in practice, you can feel the intensity oozing from his veins.  He does yell, but he is mainly very encouraging, but his intensity is what makes him special.

Who are some of the recruits in your class that you think are underrated?

FE: Blake Thomas, the TE is a great player and will be a star at OSU. Najee Murray was mostly listed as a 3-star but he is really a 4-star player or higher. These two guys will be great players.

You were recruited before all the scandal of tattoos etc. broke out; how did you feel when all this was in the news?

FE: It was really hard and frustrating, especially because we lost coach Tressel. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to come to OSU and to see him go was heart breaking.  But I committed to the program and the school, not the person, and I did not want to break my commitment.

How close were you to Jim Tressel?

FE: I have known him for a while. Even after he left the job, Coach Tressel would call me and ask about my season. He is a great person who genuinely cares.  Even though he was no longer head coach at OSU, he still took time to let me know  I was important to him.

What is the biggest difference between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer?

FE: They are really different coaches. Tressel sits back and lets the players journey on their own some. I am getting to know coach Meyer but he is extremely intense.  Jim Tressel was calmer.

Tell me about the mood of the team right now?

FE:  I was just at Mickey Mariotti’s 5:55 a.m. conditioning session and it blew my mind.  The intensity was ridiculous and it will be a huge help to our team. It is only February/March but the guys are really going at it and I think it will help us win a lot of games.

Tell me about your time with Dane Sanzenbacher?

FE: I meet him on the “Cruise for Cancer.” I attended the cruise for my senior project and we spent sometime talking together. He told me that I needed to be a hard worker, have football smarts, know your plays, go to workouts, and be on time.  He gave me lots of advice that I will apply this year and I hope I can be as good of a receiver as he was.

Thank you so much Frank for your time. Buckeye nation eagerly awaits your playing career at wide receiver.