Coach Martz put the game in our hands today, and we came through,

They were always on Ryan to get meaner, to get tougher. I think it worked.

[Examining a photo of the 1992 Stewart Middle School football team, Ryan Pickett’s eyes brightened when he located the chubby youngster in the No. 53 jersey.] I’ve been playing ball since I was a little...

There’s been speculation all year about it, hanging over our heads whether it was going to happen or not. Martz was our leader. Hearing all the rumors, it kind of bothers you.

It’s nice going against somebody bigger than me for a change, because I’m bigger than most offensive guards. He’s way bigger than me.

I didn’t know what was going on.

No touchdowns – that’s the best thing about the day. I think we had a great red-zone defense. The reverse thing happened to us last week.

You just feel like you’ve got the 13th man out there. So that’ll help us out a lot. It pumps you up.

I didn’t know he’d come back that quick and be so effective. It was huge for him. And he has great confidence now. He’s playing so well.

Losing three starters, that definitely didn’t help. But … we get our backs to the wall, we’re supposed to stop them. We didn’t do a good job of that, obviously.

It does take awhile to find yourself. The older I’m getting, the game is slowing down each year. Now … yeah, it feels good.

They’re getting up quick, so we’re not on double-teams as long, and that’s enabled us to make more plays.

[Several Ohio State coaches surrounded him and the speaker phone was engaged when an anxious Pickett, then 18, dialed up his parents from Columbus.] I told them, ‘I’m going to Ohio State,’ … And there...