Dec. 06--INDIANAPOLIS -- The affection between the head coaches in the Big Ten title game was on full display Friday.
Ohio State's Urban Meyer gave Gary Andersen's wife, Stacey, a hug before Meyer's news conference. And Andersen warmly greeted Meyer's teenage son, Nate, and joked that he should attend Wisconsin.
Andersen worked under Meyer for just one season, during Utah's perfect 2004 season, but the two grew close.
"I love Gary," Meyer said. "By the time midseason rolled around, he was one of my top guys, a guy I would close the door and lean on quite frequently. Obviously he is one of the best in the business."
After one season as head coach at Southern Utah, Andersen joined Meyer's staff as defensive line coach.
"It was great," Andersen recalled. "We never lost a game. So when you go undefeated, there's not much adversity you face. It was a great learning experience."
The top thing Andersen took from the experience was the need to organize six months ahead.
"When I looked at the calendar, I knew what was going to happen in April," he said. "There were no surprises."
Meyer is 5-1 against former assistant coaches: 3-0 against Tim Beckman (Illinois), 1-0 against Andersen and 1-1 against Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) while at Florida.
Front and center: If Wisconsin struggles to run the ball Saturday -- normally a foolish suggestion -- it will be because of issues on the offensive line.
Center Dan Voltz, a Barrington High School product, has an ankle injury that could sideline him.
"We sure hope he plays," Andersen said. "There's no one tougher. ... Those five (linemen) have been together this whole year."
Losing Voltz could be a significant problem because his backup is starting left guard Dallas Lewallen. Wisconsin's third- and fourth-string centers are out for the season with injuries, so the team might take the redshirt off Michael Deiter, an Ohio native listed at 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds.
"He has traveled with us all year," Andersen said. "We're prepared to play him if need be."
Keeping up with Jones: Andersen said he does not expect Ohio State's offense to change with a new quarterback. Cardale Jones will make his first college start in relief of the injured J.T. Barrett.
Based on the few film clips he and the defensive staff could evaluate, Andersen said: "We came to the conclusion that this man is very, very capable of running their offense, doing a great job of putting the ball into the hands of their playmakers.
"He's a big, strong kid that can throw the ball very well. He has shown great speed, jumped over people, run through people. He's definitely an issue to get on the ground, similar to the young man (Mitch Leidner) we played last week at Minnesota."
No rest for the weary: Asked what he's like the night before a big game, Meyer didn't fake it.
"A nut job," he said. "I don't sleep very well. I just keep walking around, staring at the players' eyes. Even when they think I'm not watching them, I'm watching them. I'm insane about that.
"I want to make sure when the foot hits the ball tomorrow night at 8 o'clock (EST), our guys are well-prepared, hydrated, properly rested. At this point in my career I enjoy it, but it's not easy."
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
