HIS NAME is Earle.
Bruce is also a quick study. He knows all about Ohio State, which enters today's game ranked No. 2 in both major polls. But he also knows about Marshall.
"I had reservations when I went [to Huntington] and spoke at a clinic,'' Bruce said. "I observed them. But then I went back down [last] Tuesday and watched.
"I don't think they're the Little Sisters of the Poor. They are undersized along the offensive and defensive lines, but I don't know what that means.
"They are small in comparison to Ohio State's lines. But they have talent. I particularly like their tight end [Lee Smith] and two linebackers [Mario Harvey and Kellen Harris].
"I can't watch everything, but they have talented receivers and a steady quarterback [Brian Anderson].''
Bruce remembers the last time MU played in Columbus back in 2004. It took a 55-yard field goal from Mike Nugent for the then-No. 9 Buckeyes to win by 24-21.
"How the [MU] team will play at the Horseshoe, I don't know,'' said the former coach. "If they play like they did a few years ago, it will be a game.''
Bruce, by the way, does a little radio work in Columbus these days. He works one of the pre- and post-game shows. He works a call-in show on Thursdays. Also, he's dipped into the health-care profession via Buckeye Home Care.
He remains a Buckeye. But he'll have his eye on MU's staff and his grandson tonight.
"It's a tremendously interesting coaching staff [at MU],'' Bruce said. "Coach Holliday has been known for recruiting, but he seems knowledgeable and able to lead his troops down the field.''
He's hoping Smith will, some day, be able to as well.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.
HIS NAME is Earle.
Those around Columbus, Ohio, know him as Coach Bruce.
He was polarizing as the Ohio State football coach. Charged with the brutal task of succeeding Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce coached the Buckeyes from 1979-87. He beat Michigan five of nine games, including three in Ann Arbor. He won four Big Ten titles.
Of course, he was fired.
Yet Bruce has another distinction: grandfather.
And tonight, his grandson, Zach Smith, will coach his first game in a full-time capacity for Marshall against Bruce's beloved Buckeyes.
"He's my oldest grandson,'' Bruce said. "My first. I've always been kind of close to him.''
Smith is MU's wide receivers coach. He joined Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday this year after spending the last five years as a graduate assistant for the Florida Gators.
"It's a great opportunity for him,'' Bruce said of Smith. "It's great to be with Coach Holliday and the Herd after being with Coach [Urban] Meyer. I think [Marshall] will do well. I don't know if it will be this year, but they'll do well.
"[Smith] has a good football background.''
Ya think? All Grandpa did was compile a 154-90-2 record in his career. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. Smith then coached at Florida under Meyer, one of the nation's most successful mentors. Now, he's with Holliday.
"He has a great passion for the game,'' Bruce said of his grandson. "He loves the game. I was close to Urban and he told me [Smith] would be a good coach. He said [Smith] is a smart guy who learns quickly.''
Bruce is also a quick study. He knows all about Ohio State, which enters today's game ranked No. 2 in both major polls. But he also knows about Marshall.
"I had reservations when I went [to Huntington] and spoke at a clinic,'' Bruce said. "I observed them. But then I went back down [last] Tuesday and watched.
"I don't think they're the Little Sisters of the Poor. They are undersized along the offensive and defensive lines, but I don't know what that means.
"They are small in comparison to Ohio State's lines. But they have talent. I particularly like their tight end [Lee Smith] and two linebackers [Mario Harvey and Kellen Harris].
"I can't watch everything, but they have talented receivers and a steady quarterback [Brian Anderson].''
Bruce remembers the last time MU played in Columbus back in 2004. It took a 55-yard field goal from Mike Nugent for the then-No. 9 Buckeyes to win by 24-21.
"How the [MU] team will play at the Horseshoe, I don't know,'' said the former coach. "If they play like they did a few years ago, it will be a game.''
Bruce, by the way, does a little radio work in Columbus these days. He works one of the pre- and post-game shows. He works a call-in show on Thursdays. Also, he's dipped into the health-care profession via Buckeye Home Care.
He remains a Buckeye. But he'll have his eye on MU's staff and his grandson tonight.
"It's a tremendously interesting coaching staff [at MU],'' Bruce said. "Coach Holliday has been known for recruiting, but he seems knowledgeable and able to lead his troops down the field.''
He's hoping Smith will, some day, be able to as well.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.
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