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ohiostatebuckeyes.com:: |
Welcome to Brandon Smith's online chat. Please post your questions for him here. |
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ohiostatebuckeyes.com:: |
Brandon is here so we will go ahead and begin? |
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Jessica:Columbus: |
What is one word of wisdom from Coach Tressel that means the most to you? |
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Brandon:: |
That's a tough question because he has tons of advice. The things he stresses the most are class and character on and off the field. |
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Taylor:Columbus: |
What is your least favorite part of being on the OSU football team? |
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Brandon:: |
There are not many negatives but we are held to a higher standard than most college students and that isn't easy. We start off as 17-18 year-old kids with so much attention on us. But there are positives to that because we mature faster. |
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Sean:Butler, Pa.: |
What do you do during the offseason to keep fit? |
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Brandon:: |
We have workouts all throughout the year where we lift and run for two hours a day. The 6 a.m. workouts are the toughest but you feel great once you have accomplished it. |
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Trey:Lexington, Ky.: |
Who would you say you are closest to on the team? Are you excited to have a lot of the guys returning for their final season? |
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Brandon:: |
I'm probably closest to members of my original signing class (2004). Nick Patterson, Shaun Lane and Curtis Terry to name a couple. It's always exciting to be able to spend more time with your teammates. After this, you never know where we will all end up. |
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Rod:N.J.: |
What's the team looking like this year? When do you start practicing for the following season? |
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Brandon:: |
We're experienced and very hungry. We are ready to play some football. The preparation for the season has already begun with our lifting and running. But we begin practices with spring ball leading up to the Spring Game. |
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Carol:Westerville, Ohio: |
What are you studying in school and how do you manage your time between class and practice? |
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Brandon:: |
I'm studying family financial management. When I'm not practicing, I'm spending my time doing things for class and studying. I keep the leisure things for the weekend. |
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James:Delta, Ohio: |
What was one of your best memories from last season? |
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Brandon:: |
Beating Michigan for the fourth-time in a row. |
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Brad:Powell: |
Who on the 2008 schedule are you looking forward to playing? Any thoughts on who will be the toughest matchup? |
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Brandon:: |
Obviously, it is easy to look forward to the USC game but I think the Michigan game will be the toughest. |
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Melissa:Dallas, Texas: |
When did you first start playing football and what about it made you want to pursue it all the way to the college level? P.S. We just moved to Texas last year and miss our Buckeyes. Keep up the good work! |
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Brandon:: |
I first started playing football in the seventh grade. Watching the NFL Draft made me want to pursue college football. |
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Troy:Cincinnati: |
What do you think is next for you after Ohio State? |
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Brandon:: |
Hopefully, I will get an opportunity to play in the NFL. If that doesn't work out, I would like to work in a sports related field. |
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Britt:Columbus: |
Do you get stopped a lot walking around campus? What's it really like being an athlete at Ohio State? |
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Brandon:: |
We honestly just blend in with the other students. Occasionally, you get a little more attention but nothing out of the ordinary. |
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Danny:Atlanta: |
Why did you choose Ohio State? |
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Brandon:: |
I thought it was a great opportunity, something I felt I couldn't pass up. |
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Danielle:Pickerington: |
What's something most people don't know about the Ohio State football program? How would you describe the team? |
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Brandon:: |
What most people don't know is that we are all well-rounded people. The team is a very close, silly, fun-loving bunch of kids. |
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Jen:Galloway: |
What do you think of the new recruits? What's your say? |
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Brandon:: |
I didn't follow the recruiting very closely but I'm sure we got some great guys who will come in ready to make an impact. |
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Ann:Hillard: |
The night before a game when you're staying at the Blackwell, what does the team do? Do you battle with nerves? |
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Brandon:: |
We relax with the team movie, something picked by the seniors. We have a chapel service along with a former-Buckeye speaker in most cases. Then we conclude with meetings. I'm sure everybody has some degree of nerves but it's something that is dealt with personally. |
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Paula Warner:Columbus: |
How old were you when you saw your first Ohio State game and did that influence you in becoming an Ohio State Buckeye? |
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Brandon:: |
The first Ohio State game that I attentively watched was the 2002 season opener. I was amazed that a year ago Maruice Clarrett was a senior in high school like me. It gave me the thought that I could follow suit. |
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Turk:Euclid: |
What are you and your teammates doing to get to the big game for the third straight year? |
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Brandon:: |
Hello Mrs. Turk. We are getting in our running and lifting. We've committed ourselves to a greater degree than the past two years because they obviously weren't good enough. |
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Turk:Euclid: |
With signing day being two days ago, and players being allowed to talk about recruits, which recruit are you most excited about getting and watching develop? |
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Brandon:: |
It's always fun to see the potential of all the recruits when they report. To watch them all grow throughout the year is what is exciting. |
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Tammy:Westerville: |
What's something you've learned from Jim Tressel that you will take with you for the rest of your life? |
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Brandon:: |
When you do something, it doesn't affect only you. It affects those close to you, those you are surrounded by and most importantly your family. |
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Jeff:Cornelius, NC: |
What's the word on Pryor? |
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Brandon:: |
I don't know anything outside of what we have seen on ESPN. He has everybody in the dark. |
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Nic:Charlotte, NC: |
Is the team looking forward to spring practice this year, and getting the ball rolling on another run the National Championship? |
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Brandon:: |
Yes, we are excited and chopping at the bit to get back out there. |
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ohiostatebuckeyes.com:: |
Time for one last question. |
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Nic:Charlotte, NC: |
I'm sure with all the talk of the SEC being better than the Big 10 or whatever... do statements like that get Buckeyes fired up |
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Brandon:: |
Of course, we are all competitors. Nobody likes to lose - not around here anyways. |
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ohiostatebuckeyes.com:: |
That's it for Brandon. Thanks for all the questions. |
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