So big you could fit the Rose Bowl inside AT&T Stadium, site for Wednesday’s Goodyear-sponsored Cotton Bowl. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Day one of Cotton Bowl buildup relatively quiet as Dallas gets ready for its piece of the CFP quarter-finals. But ‘Big D’ is not to be overlooked. Big is as big does.
Arlington, TX – They spent the weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington painting the field and putting the first of the finishing touches on the biggest spectacle of the four College Football Playoff games that will usher in the new year.
Minster Bank proudly sponsors the best in area sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Because, nobody does anything bigger than Dallas, sorry about your luck, Rose Bowl. You could fit the Rose Bowl inside ‘Jerry’s World’, otherwise known as AT&T Stadium. The building is so big that you have to go a Texas block away to get it all in one photo, even with a fish-eye lens.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA and Ohio State sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
The Rose Bowl is just that, a bowl-shaped stadium. AT&T, by contrast, is six decks high (seven, depending on how you count the upper deck). The elevator ride is so intense that some claim that it’s as close as you can come to Heaven on earth in this life. And just as expensive. Tickets, even in the upper deck, for Wednesday’s Ohio State-Miami game are going for heavenly prices.
Tickets in section C110, row 1 (center stage) are priced online for $45,000 a piece (Stub Hub). And, hey there, don’t miss out. As of noon Monday there were only 65 of those tickets left.
And Monday, on player availability day, Cotton Bowl officials were doing their best to justify the old saying that everything is bigger, and better, in Texas.
Logan Services, in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, proudly sponsor the best in area sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.com.
But so much for talk, and two more days of pre-game media hype over which Ohio State – the pre or post-Indiana Buckeyes – and which Miami, a team that’s eerily similar defensively to playing Indiana. Which is apt to show up for a shot at playing the winner of Georgia and Ole Miss (Sugar Bowl) on January 8 (Fiesta Bowl)?
Jeremiah Smith answers questions during the players press availability on Monday in Arlington, Texas.
On Monday Ryan Day, his coaches, and the entire roster were on hand to answer the same questions from the same media that’s hounded them since beating Michigan and losing to Indiana over how prepared they are to defend their 2024 national title.
Day did his diplomatic best, as did his most of his players. Bulletin board material from player interviews (rash declarations of ego) was as rare as a sale on cowboy boots at the Lucchese store.
“We’re just ready to play someone other than ourselves,” said offensive lineman Luke Montgomery. “We tell our own defense that it’s nothing personal, but we’re really ready to see somebody besides them on the other side of the ball.”
Freshman running back Bo Jackson added with a courteous smile, “It’s important to do your preparation for a game this big. But it’s time to play. We’re ready.”
The Arbogast family of dealerships proudly sponsors coverage of Ohio State football on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Kicker Jayden Fielding quietly deflected any questions or concerns about pressure and the missed kick that cost Ohio State a fourth quarter tie in the Big Ten Championship game with Indiana. He, instead, lauded his specialist teammates, snapper John Ferlman, and holder Joe McGuire.
Kicker Jayden Fielding explains the complexities of place kicking during Monday’s press conference.
“It’s a team effort,” smiled Fielding. “And John (Ferlman) and Joe (McGuire) do the best job they can. It’s a lot tougher than most people realize because the snap has to be good, the hold has to be good, and it has to happen in 1.25 seconds.”
He went on to say that rarely has he been asked about made kicks off bad snaps…but admitted that there are a lot of kicks made on less-than-perfect attempts. It’s simply part of the job. Impressively, he’s been successful on 84.2% of his field goal attempts this year (16 of 19).
But, you’re only as good as your last kick…ask Younghoo Koo (New York Giants), who recently missed the football altogether.
Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline handled a committed line of questioning about his duties and distractions since accepting the head coaching position at University of South Florida three weeks ago.
“There’s no distraction,” insisted Hartline, whose most revealing answer came in response to an off-the-cuff question about investing with a central Ohio money management company, whose manager is his long-time friend and next door neighbor.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.
“Josh Pick?” laughed Hartline, relieved with the break in the line of questioning. “Josh Pick? How would you know him? Yeah, Josh is a great guy.”
Questioning completed after approximately an hour, the Buckeyes were visibly relieved to board the buses for lunch and a practice session later in the afternoon at an area high school.
“You get anything new?” a fellow writer asked an associate as they packed to go back to the media hotel.
I didn’t hear a response. At this point, any new angle to write is as rare as finding a stadium bigger than AT&T.
A stage bigger than Dallas.
Tickets more expensive than $45,000.
And still…no sale at Lucchese!
Wilson Health/Orthopedics proudly sponsors the best in area sports and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Press Pros.