True freshman defensive back already making an impact
By Caleb Troop
September 25, 2008
As Ohio University’s defense took the field Saturday against Northwestern, Travis Carrie was just trying not to think too much.
In only his fourth college game, Carrie had moved into the starting lineup, and he could feel the pressure around him.
“I was real nervous,” Carrie said. “I didn’t want to make a bad play.”
With the Bobcats up against an undefeated Big Ten opponent, Carrie did not have much time to soak up the atmosphere of his first college start.
Carrie got involved right away, making the Bobcats’ first tackle of the game. Then he made the next one, and as the game progressed, the numbers starting piling up.
By the end of the day, Carrie had collected 11 total tackles and one interception in the Bobcats’ 16-8 loss.
“As he got his feet on the ground out there and calmed down a little, he became a really good football player,” Ohio Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Burrow said.
True-freshman starters are rare in college football, but Carrie never expected to spend his freshman year watching from the sidelines. He always hoped to play as a freshman, but when the coaches talked with him about getting more playing time, he was still uneasy.
“I kind of was iffy about it,” Carrie said. “But once I got in there, and they started putting me in there a lot more, I started learning the defenses.”
Carrie had seen the field in the Bobcats’ previous games, but not as much as he did against Northwestern. The coaches moved him into the starting lineup because he has good speed, and they wanted to use that to counter Northwestern’s spread offense.
The Bobcats will continue to use Carrie as a nickel back, especially against teams that spread the field and like to pass, Burrow said.
“He continues to do what he did Saturday,” Burrow said, “he’ll continue to be the guy that’s in there.”
Carrie comes to Ohio from the West Coast, where he went to California’s De La Salle High School, a perennial national power in high-school football.
During his time with the team, he has worked alongside experienced players in the secondary such as Michael Mitchell and Steven Jackson.
Older players have helped him along, Carrie said, and the coaches hope he takes notice of the way those experienced players prepare.
The time Mitchell puts in during the week to study film and read game plans, Burrow said, makes a big difference on Saturdays
“When he (Carrie) sees guys like that,” Burrow said, “it certainly inspires him to prepare like that also.”
Carrie was not the only Bobcat who put up big numbers for the Bobcats’ secondary. The Bobcats’ defense forced five turnovers, led by Mitchell’s two interceptions. Jackson also had 13 total tackles and an interception, earning him honors as the MAC East Player of the Week.
“We’ve done a lot of good things on both sides of the ball,” Burrow said. “It’s frustrating we don’t have a win to show for it.”
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