National title still hasn't sunk in for Hartsock

"It will never completely sink in," he said. "You know those little books at Bob Evans that say what happened in what year and all that? I'm gonna be in one of those."

Hartsock addressed a record crowd of more than 400 well-wishers at the annual dinner of the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce. He graduated from Unioto High School.

"I feel very honored to be part of this community," Hartsock said. "I really believe it's a place on the rise."

In a hour-long address, Hartsock described his life and career at Ohio State as "an amazing ride" which began with a challenge.

"I had a basketball coach who just said to the team one day -- 'Someone's gotta do it. Why not you?' That really had an impact on me," he said.

Another mile on that ride came when Ohio State athletics director Andy Geiger spoke at an alumni function in Chillicothe while Hartsock was still in high school.

"My dad told me he was coming and that we were going," said Hartsock. "I wrote a letter telling him about how I wanted to play football at Ohio State."

After graduating from Unioto, Hartsock fulfilled his dream to play for the Buckeyes.

"I was just so happy to get on the team ... I still remember the first time I saw an Ohio State jersey with my name sewn on it. I must've looked at it for 15 minutes just thinking about that," he said.

And Hartsock is absolutely overwhelmed about the fact that he plays for a national champion.

Also in the speech:

-- On Head Coach Jim Tressel's prowess on a combine, which he helped teach his coach to drive during a team function at the Hartsock farm last summer. "(Tressel's) usually so much in control, but -- if I hadn't grabbed the wheel -- he would've taken into the woods," he said, with a laugh.

-- On the now-infamous pass interference call in the Fiesta Bowl drew the biggest laugh of the night, when Hartsock said of the official's delay in throwing the flag: "He took so long to throw that thing. He could have knitted a yellow hanky and thrown it in that much time."

-- On his offsides penalty in the first overtime, which was brought up by his father, Tim: "Hey, I'm a finely tuned athlete on a hair trigger."

-- On the rabid nature of OSU fans: "You know, the University of Miami doesn't even sell out all its home games. Heck, Ohio State could field three dogs and a cat and get 100,000 people at the games."

He also accepted proclamations from Ross County Commissioner Frank Hirsch and Chillicothe Mayor Margaret Planton, both of which made Thursday "Ben Hartsock Day" in the area. Chamber Executive Director Marvin Jones presented Hartsock's fiancee, Amy Lykowski, with a gift of thanks.

Originally published Friday, January 24, 2003