Holmes at home in Ohio
SKI'S SCOOP
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Nov. 22, 2006

Forget the rivalry, forget the history. When it came to playing in Cleveland, Santonio Holmes, needed no motivation.

“I was pumped up the entire game,’’ said Holmes, a former Buckeye standout return man/wide receiver. “When I got a chance to go out for warm-ups, the fans behind us started chanting O-h, and I was hitting them with I-O, So I was good to go.”

Interestingly enough, it was a Michigan product, Braylon Edwards, who almost ended the Steelers hopes of victory and defense of their Super Bowl title.  

“ When I saw him there, I was scared, because I know what kind of a player he is,’’ Holmes said. “ I played against him for three years, and know the talent he has. And when he came up short I was so happy. I was the first person out on the field because I was so excited he dropped the ball.”

Call it Buckeye love for the Wolverines.

Unlike Edwards, Holmes, with a little extra adrenaline, came up big when called upon. The former Buckeye may have been outgained in yardage by his counterpart from up north, but it was his touchdown, the first of his career, a 20-yarder from Ohio native Ben Roethlisberger that got things rolling for Pittsburgh and turned the tide of the game.

“I guess he was motivated by the Ohio State win,’’ Roethlisberger said during his press conference following the contest.

“Man it was a great feeling, a great welcome back to Ohio,’’ Holmes said. “I didn’t know whether to spike the ball, or to celebrate, I was just thinking what Hines Ward told me to hold on to that first ball, and not spike it, I just ran back to the sideline, but it’s a great feeling to get six points.”

Holmes also was feeling good when he tuned into the “Big” game as soon as the Steelers rolled into Cleveland Saturday afternoon. Admittedly, he was itching to be in Columbus, but not as a fan.

“Man I wanted to be there so bad,’’ Holmes said. “Honestly, I wanted to be there on the side with those guys catching the ball. Those guys fought their butts off, and wanted more, just like we did today.”

While he plays with one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, you could tell the affection he felt for Troy Smith, a man who contributed greatly to getting him on the fast track to the NFL, while he was a Buckeye.

“I came in with Troy, and I knew the type of potential he had, “ Holmes said. “Even when he was on scout team, he never ever wanted to throw an interception. He would get mad at us if we tipped the ball, he hates interceptions, and that’s how he’s played the past three years.”

Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn is still mentioned as a Heisman candidate, but Saturday, Smith pretty much locked up the award, with his 316-yard and four-touchdown performance against No. 2 Michigan.  It was the second time this year that he had engineered a win against the No. 2 team (OSU beat Texas 24-7 on Sept 9.)

Holmes agrees.

“Hands down,’’ said Holmes with a smile on his face. “I think Troy deserves the Heisman. He’s been playing consistent all year, making big plays. He hasn’t thrown many interceptions, and that’s the sing of a good quarterback, not turning the ball over and completing passes, and those are things he has done all year.”

Holmes said that he hadn’t had a chance to talk with his former teammates, but planned on making some phone calls as soon as he got back to Pittsburgh.

Two weeks ago, Holmes made a bold prediction that the Buckeyes were going to beat Michigan. Asked now if he thought the Buckeyes would win the national title, he had just two words.

“No doubt.”