Over 1,300 people attended Coach Tressel’s Spring Preview Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

The event, in its 16th year, was originated by former OSU coach John Cooper. It remains as a fund-raiser for the Alzheimer’s Association Central Ohio Chapter.

The Spring Preview was especially poignant Wednesday with news that legendary Grambling coach Eddie Robinson had died overnight after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Coach Cooper and I were talking up here (on the dais),” Tressel said. “Eddie Robinson had 408 wins. We started tallying ours up and we’re a little short between us. The impact he had on young people and his university, he was just a special guy.

“It’s fitting that we are here today combining the passion we have to support the Alzheimer’s Association with our passion for the game of football.”

There were silent and live auctions of special sports memorabilia and gift packages. A dinner for four with Eddie George at his Grille 27 restaurant near campus fetched a high bid of $2,100, while a package that included luxury suite access for 12 people for an OSU men’s and women’s basketball game next year brought $2,000.

The event also served as to honor Ohio State’s 1957 national championship team. Some of the key members of that squad, which was coached by Woody Hayes, in attendance included Dick Schafrath, Don Sutherlin, Aurelius Thomas, Galen Cisco and Jim Houston.

Of course, much of the program was devoted to previewing the 2007 Ohio State football team. Tressel was joined by a number of his assistants and several of his upperclassmen as they talked about the team, which has now completed five of its 15 spring practices.

“We feel as if we know where we are,” Tressel said. “We are only five practices into it. We will practice Thursday and have a (jersey) scrimmage on Friday. Then, we’ll take the Easter weekend off.”

OSU, coming off a 12-1 season and a berth in the national title game last year, will host its spring game April 21 at Ohio Stadium.

“I am sure for anyone who has ever played, it’s not hard getting up for the next season,” Tressel said. “Every season is so different. This is a whole new group and it will face a somewhat difficult schedule. It’s not hard to get excited, especially at Ohio State.”

Notable Comments

Here are some notable comments from the Spring Preview luncheon:

* DE Vernon Gholston on the defensive line – “We lost a great group from last year. Four guys left who were leaders. They did a good job of instilling their wisdom in me. We have a great group of guys who are hard at work. We need to go back to the basics.”

* DB Anderson Russell on his injury situation (knee) – “I came back pretty quick. I was able to do 6 a.m. (workouts). I am doing some individual work now. It’s hard right now to still be standing on the sideline. I want to get back out there, but I just have to be patient. I am out for the whole spring, but I should be ready for the fall.”

* Russell on which offensive players have surprised him – “Todd Boeckman. He’s been completing all of his passes. He makes all of his reads. I think he is doing a good job.”

* Tressel on that assessment by Russell – “He certainly is.”

* Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock on the defensive line – “We got some guys and some talent to replace what we lost. They can rush the quarterback and play the run. But the key will be to find great people to replace the leadership.”

* Heacock on the defensive tackle spot – “We have Doug Worthington inside. He was injured two years ago and had knee surgery. We think he is going to be special. Todd Denlinger is another guy to look for. Nader Abdallah was 340 or 350 (pounds), but he is now down around 300 pounds. He took the off-season seriously. He has worked hard. He was in here every day at 6 a.m., unlike the year before. He didn’t know where we were at.”

* Heacock on the defensive end spot – “We have Vernon Gholston. Lawrence Wilson looks good this spring. Robert Rose is coming on. We also have Alex Barrow from Dublin Coffman. We think we have four or five defensive ends and this group has a chance to be special.”

* New cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson on the corners – “At the corner spot, Donald Washington and Malcolm Jenkins have really done a nice job of helping my transition coming into the Buckeye family. Andre Amos is another young man who is starting to develop. Chimdi Chekwa is a very explosive player. He is starting to make a lot of plays. He is very coachable and very quiet. He is definitely coming on for us.”

* Punter A.J. Trapasso on the kicker spot – “It is a battle between Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorius. I don’t think either of them has missed a kick so far this spring.”

* Trapasso on the long snapper position – “We have a guy returning this year in Dimitrios Makridis, but he is out with a back injury. Jacob McQuaide is working with the ones and Jack Hawes, a transfer from OU, is not far behind.”

* Boeckman on the quarterback spot – “We have a big challenge ahead of is after losing Troy Smith and Justin Zwick. But I think we have three good guys with me, Robby Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton. I think we’re doing a good job on and off the field to try and help the team as much as we can.”

* WR Brian Robiskie on the receiver position – “We have myself and Brian Hartline coming back. Then we have Devon Lyons. He is a guy who has been hurt a little bit, but he looks good right now. Albert Dukes is another receiver to look for and Ray Small from Glenville is another guy who is doing a lot of things for us this year.”

* Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman on the offensive line – “We have Kirk Barton and Alex Boone at tackle. They are both very fine players returning. We also have Steve Rehring, who has a lot of experience at left guard. Ben Person is a fourth-year player playing at right guard. Jim Cordle is a third-year player playing at center. Jon Skinner is backing up at center and right tackle. He is like Doug Datish and can play any position. Bryant Browning is a redshirt freshman working as a guard and a tackle. Connor Smith is working at center and right guard. Kyle Mitchum is backing up at left guard. Josh Kerr, another redshirt freshman, is working at left tackle.”

* Tressel on the progress of walk-on Tyson Gentry, who suffered a neck injury a year ago in spring practice – “It has been almost a year since that injury. Tyson is progressing. He is still a member of our football family. He is helping Coach Hazell and Coach Peterson with the receivers and tight ends. He is working hard on his recuperation. He has tremendous support from his family. His sister Ashley just graduated from Capital. She is giving of herself to help him. He is coming along, but please continue to raise him in your prayers.”