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OSU-UM Rivalry Up Close: Antwerp's Bryan Gray in his senior season with the Buckeyes

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By BRUCE HEFFLINGER

hefflinger@crescent-news.com

COLUMBUS -- Bryan Gray will enter "The Horseshoe" for the final time on Saturday. Sad as that may be, few thought he would ever enter it.

The 2004 Antwerp graduate transferred to Ohio State after his freshman year at Toledo with one motivation - to be a walk-on with the Buckeyes.

"Honestly I had no idea in high school that I would want to play football in college and would never have imagined my life the way it is now," admitted Gray, who didn't even play organized football until the eighth grade. "However, I have been an OSU fan for awhile and that definitely had a lot to do with it."

The experience has been enormous for the 6-2, 285-pound defensive lineman, including the opportunity to dress for two national championship games.

"That experience was very enjoyable," Gray related. "I enjoy visiting other parts of the country that I have yet to go to. As far as the game-day atmosphere, I would say it's pretty impressive, especially at the surrounding areas because of the sheer amount of people that flood into the city just for the game-day experience."

Even so, Gray says playing Big 10 games is even better.

"As far as the actual game goes, I don't think it's as exciting as playing other places in the Big 10 because it's more enjoyable to be in a one-sided atmosphere. Either at home or away in a big stadium, the crowd is loud and that makes it more exciting."

And nothing compares with the atmosphere when the Buckeyes and Michigan go at it, no matter the record of the teams.

"I think Michigan is a scary team this year because they have pretty much nothing to lose," Gray said. "They remind me of OSU's team in 2004 which was the underdog in the matchup. It will be important for us to come out strong and not take them lightly. It's easy to overlook a team that doesn't have a good record but any team can beat any other on any given day. That's what makes football great."

Michigan week is like no other leading up to game day.

"It's an exciting week and I feel our coaches embrace that fact," Gray explained. "They go as far as to make the scout team players tape their helmets to mimic Michigan's helmets.

"As far as practice intensity, it goes down a bit because this late in the season it is more important to keep players healthy and fresh."

Gray, who points to last year's Michigan game as a top highlight for him on the field, has played in three games this year - Youngstown State, Michigan State and Northwestern.

"I really haven't had the opportunity to play as much this year as I did last year," Gray noted. "I got hurt during the middle of camp with a high ankle sprain which somewhat hurt my chances of seeing consistent playing time. Also, we were in less close games last year which also could be a reason why."

Another difference this year is the fact a shot at playing in the national championship game is out of the question.

"USC was a better team at that point in the season and it was fairly evident from watching it," Gray said of the first of two losses the Buckeyes have encountered this year. "The Penn State game was a little more frustrating because it felt like we really let that game go."

But a win on Saturday would give the Buckeyes a share of the Big 10 title.

"Sure, things haven't worked out as well as we hoped, but great athletes play for respect and you don't gain any respect by losing to teams you should beat," Gray pointed out. "As far as our goals (now), it is to win out and let the powers-to-be decide what bowl game we'll go to. Our main goal is still alive and that is to win the Big 10 again which we will share if we beat Michigan."

Although Gray is down to his final two games wearing an Ohio State uniform, there are plenty of memories and friendships he has obtained along the way.

"My off the field highlight would have to be going on the bowl trips and forging friendships that I will have for hopefully the rest of my life," Gray said.

One such friendship is with senior Todd Boeckman, who was replaced as the starting quarterback early this season.

"In the past year I have really become good friends with Todd and I really feel for him because of the situation," Gray explained. "I think as a team there weren't too many people that agreed with his replacement but what can you do? That is a coach's decision. I really think Todd has rebounded from it and continued to be a very good team leader and I haven't heard him complain at all."

Gray will graduate in March and is currently in the application process of medical school. He also plans to train for two months and participate in Ohio State's Pro Day.

"I believe I have the physical characteristics to be noticed and if someone sees me and is interested I would definitely entertain a possibility of trying out for a NFL franchise," Gray said. "If no one is interested, it is really not a problem because my ultimate goal is to become a distinguished doctor and, if that is my destiny right away, I am ready for it."

And his days as a Buckeye will become a distant memory.

"I don't have any regrets about my time here," Gray said. "Maybe I could have done more on my own to get me over the hump and make it hard to be ignored. However, everything is a give and take between football, school and the relationships you have. Through everything I have remained focused on school because that's what's going to set me up for the rest of my life. That's one thing I don't regret, making football take a backseat to my academics.

"What I'll remember most about being a Buckeye is simply all the friends I have made along the way, many of which I will try to stay in contact with for the rest of my life. In the end, that's what really matters. The memories of playing in 'The Shoe' will start to fade after awhile, but the relationships you forge will be with you as long as you allow them to be.

"They tell you that you won't know how bad you will miss football until you are done with it," Gray continued. "I'm one to think that I won't miss a lot of the things that we do. What I will miss the most are all the players I have spent so much time with over the past three years. It's sad to think that even though I have a lot of friends on the team, some of them I will not see much after we're done. That's the aspect of football I know I will miss the most."