OSU Coach Luke Fickell Talks Kenny Guiton, Joe Bauserman at Press Conference

After watching backup quarterback complete just one pass last Saturday against Nebraska, Buckeye fans are wondering: What will Coach Luke Fickell do next?

His response: Look at sophomore Kenny Guiton. 

"Kenny will get some more reps and that's a part of it," Coach Fickell stated at the weekly press conference. "Kenny has been getting reps, and some of them have been at the quarterback position, some of them have been on special teams. Kenny has stayed involved a lot and showed the team and everybody how important it is to him, and he'll get probably more and more opportunities in the weeks to come.

I think Kenny starts with his passion to play right now. If you come over to practice, you would see whether he's on special teams, whether he's jumping in on scout team, he wants to play football, and we've got a bunch of guys out there that are that way. When you've got those guys out there, you say I've got to find a way to get him on the field or give him a chance to get some reps. I think that's probably the one thing that jumps out that you've seen from Kenny."

Coach Fickell also evaluated Bauserman's performance. 

"It's a tough situation to come into. They [Nebraska] changed their game a lot with what was going on, so coverage was a lot different when he was in there as probably when Braxton was in there. That has something to do with it, but ultimately, it comes down to performing and making plays, and that's ultimately what we've got to evaluate people on. Could he have done something? Yeah, obviously we all could have done better."

With all the fan turmoil surrounding Coach Fickell's offensive decision making, the media asked Fickell if he has the authority to make offensive play calls and whether he listens to the players' suggestions/

"I listen and I'm there with them, and I throw my two cents in at times, and then there's times I just sit and when they get done doing what they do. I say, no, let's go ahead and punt or let's kick the field goal.

I've probably made a couple suggestions during a game, some good, probably some bad. But that's a part of it. As we grow and continue the process, but I am always there, and that's what makes it hard sometimes defensively is they're trying to ask me a question defensively and I'm on the other side, and just more there for support and throw some ideas out when they're needed."

Finally, Coach Fickell addressed the surrounding rumors that he may not be the Buckeyes' leader next year, due to the mediocre performance on the field.

"I don't give that any thought. I think about each and every day how we can get better, worry about those guys and what's their mental state and how do we continue to motivate them and still have the energy, because it's the leadership role.

If you don't have energy, then how can the people around you have energy? If you don't have confidence, how can the people around you have confidence? That's where you spend all your time focusing, not what can happen in the future."

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