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OSU running back downplays attention, nurses injured wrist
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Feb 18, 2008
Ohio State running back Chris ''Beanie'' Wells walked into the Dapper Dan Club of Akron's annual youth charity banquet Sunday afternoon with two noticeable characteristics.
One was the uneasy smile he flashed as he viewed the room full of people at Tangier and the other was the cast on his left hand and wrist.
It's little secret that Wells had issues with the wrist and said so before OSU's second consecutive loss in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans last month. Then he revealed that he'd played with a broken bone for the entire season, but didn't mention the possibility of surgery.
''It was broke all season,'' he said Sunday, ''but I don't know exactly what was wrong with it.''
He said that the cast will be off in a couple of weeks and participating in spring football shouldn't be a problem.
With spring practice still several weeks away, Wells said, he's concentrating on his studies, family and enjoying the calm before the storm of cheers that comes with playing in one of the country's most recognizable football programs. He's been able to put last month's 38-24 loss to LSU into a proper perspective — mainly in the rearview mirror.
''It was devastating, but at the same time, it was a blessing for us to get back to that moment, playing in the national championship,'' he said, ''and I'm hoping we'll get back there next year. You just have to roll with the punches. Football games — you're going to win some and lose some.''
It's quite possible that the Buckeyes, who will be a team with significant experience on both sides of the ball, could be poised to make another run at the national championship next season.
Just after last month's game, key players — James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Brian Robiskie among them — passed on entering the NFL Draft.
Many experts have the Buckeyes ranked in the top three in their preseason polls.
Wells said that he hadn't had the opportunity to glance at any of those. Nor is he taking note of the most prestigious award in college football — the Heisman Trophy.
After the season he had in 2007, Wells will be a leading candidate for the award.
In 2007, Wells rushed for 1,609 yards on 274 carries for 5.9 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns. Still, he brushes aside talk of the Heisman.
''No, that's not something I'm really focused on. I'm just taking it one day at a time,'' he said.
His focus was on what was happening Sunday night. The uneasy smile comes from shyness, but it wasn't difficult to see in that smile and hear in his voice that being named Dapper Dan's Sports Person of the Year meant something to him.
''It's a great honor and it's always good to get to come back home,'' Wells said.
The club recognized other local athletes. They included Kelsie Ahbe of Green, for soccer and track and field; Dru Jones of Wadsworth for football, wrestling and baseball; Nick Jones of Woodridge for baseball and football; Juliana Libertin of Archbishop Hoban for soccer; Alex Loftin of Stow for baseball and football; Ramel Mitchell of Firestone for basketball; Kara Murphy of St. Vincent-St. Mary and the University of Akron for basketball; Brianna Segerson of Walsh Jesuit for basketball and soccer; Nick Thomas of St. Vincent-St. Mary for football; and Jeremiah Wood of Central-Hower and the University of Akron for basketball.
Steve Marks, founder of the Road Runner Marathon, received the William Schlemmer Award for Meritorious Service, and the William Falor Award for Career Achievement went to retired Green coach Elden McVicker and Dan Boarman, current coach of St. Vincent-St. Mary.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz.
Ohio State running back Chris ''Beanie'' Wells walked into the Dapper Dan Club of Akron's annual youth charity banquet Sunday afternoon with two noticeable characteristics.
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