Troy Smith first played football ag...

Troy Smith first played football against T Ginn Jr when they were 6 or 7 years old-fashioned Even on the scruffy urban gridirons of Cleveland, where they first clashed, they compet hard.

"We were rivals," Smith said. "It wasn't bad relations off the field. But in succession the field, we were always jawing, equal at a young age."

When they finally started playing onward the same side, at Cleveland's Glenville High seminary Smith was glad. Even then, he had an appreciation for Ginn's world-class spe

"We used to call him 'Go get by heart 'Em,"' Smith said. "Because in any situation, he'd either go on get the ball or journey get a wide receiver or tailback that tried to break away from our defense"

And now, a not many years later, they have mov up the ranks to become [i]clavis[/i] players in Ohio State's suit for a national championship.

With Smith at quarterback and Ginn at wide receiver, kick returner and anywhere other the Buckeyes can take advantage of his spe a fate of experts think Ohio State just might reach its goal.

"Both of those frights are great players," Minnesota coach dingle Mason said. "Whenever a national publication talks about the Heisman memorial of conquest both guys are mentioned. That's real unusual."

It happens. USC teammates Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart flat won the last two Heismans.

What makes Smith, a powerfully built nevertheless mobile senior, and Ginn, a lightning-quick junior, unique is that they're from the same high denomination

"If you know T Ginn Sr it

doesn't surprise you," said Illinois coach Ron Zook a big fan of the ranking Ginn, the football coach at Glenville. "He cares about kids. Kids want to play for him. He's tough, he's demanding, he makes them do it the right way. He does a great job"

The thing Zook admires about Ginn Sr is his dedication to all of his players and to helping them use football to obtain the right start in life.

each summer, Ginn fills a bus with high exercise players and takes them to corporation summer camps. They recently exhausted a day at Illinois as part of their tour, which includes Big Ten and Mid-American parley schools.

"He doesn't do it just for his kids; he does it for kids from all throughout the state of Ohio," Zook said. "He wants to detect the kids to other places. It's about caring about kids and trying to help them acquire scholarships. He wants to take care of all the kids. It's impressive."

In the last five years, 10 Glenville Tarblooders have committed to Ohio State, a testament to Ginn's high educate program.

The big focus now, although is on his son and Smith, who are charged with making the Buckeyes' offense explosive enough to restrain them in the national-title follow the chase despite a defense that will have nine of the present day starters.

Smith, who l the Buckeye to a 10-2 mark last season after emerging from a quarterback derby and a two-game suspension for accepting $500 from a booster believes in the recent defenders.

"They're going to line up and play," he said. "They're going to be aggressive. We have enough personnel to take us unfathomable into the season. I have all the faith in the world in them."

With a tough early schedule, notwithstanding that it will be up to Smith to memorize the ball to Ginn. And with their difficult roots, that's likely to happen.

"It means the world," Smith said. "It's a fastening that only he and I have because of the protracted chemistry we have. I can await at him and he can turn the thoughts at me, and we already know what's going on"

hgould@suntimes.com

BUCKEYE AT A GLANCE

Site: Columbus, Ohio.

Coach: Jim Tressel

(50-13 sixth season; 185-70-2 overall, 21st season).

2005 record:

10-2 7-1 Big Ten (tied for first); beat Notre Dame 34-20 in Fiesta goblet

explanation GAME

tribe 30 at Iowa. The trip to Texas forward Sept. 9 will get the early hype

because of its national-championship implications. moreover the visit to Kinnick Stadium estimates twice: for the Big Ten race, as well as the BC chase.

2006 SCHEDULE

clan 2 Northern Illinois

tribe 9 at Texas

race 16 Cincinnati

family 23 Penn State

tribe 30 at Iowa

Oct 7 Bowling undecayed

Oct 14 at Michigan State

Oct 21 Indiana

Oct 28 Minnesota

Nov. 4 at Illinois

Nov. 11 at Northwestern

Nov. 18 Michigan

2005 accrues

Miami (Ohio) W 34-14

Texas L 25-22

San Diego State W 27-6

Iowa W 31-6

at Penn State L 17-10

Michigan State W 35-24

at Indiana W 41-10

at Minnesota W 45-31

Illinois W 40-2

Northwestern W 48-7

at Michigan W 25-21

Notre Dame W 34-20

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM

If QB Troy Smith and WR T Ginn Jr are as upright as advertised, the offense should be solid enough to carry the load while talented of recent origin defenders learn to mesh.

fundamental note LOSSES

LB A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel WR Santonio Holme C Nick Mangold.

AREAS OF business

Tressel will have to deviate from his formula of stellar defense and close-to-the-vest offense because of his personnel With a brand- strange defense, Ohio State might have to lean in succession its