STAYING FOCUSED
Despite uncertainty about his future, Barnes says his attention is on Utah
LOS ANGELES — Matt Barnes is only 35 years old, but when he was asked about the stress of this Ohio State season, he pointed to the gray hair around his temples.
“It's been, particularly early on, a tumultuous year,” he said.
Barnes began the season as OSU'S secondary coach. When the Buckeyes' defense was torched early in the season, coach Ryan Day took away play-calling duties from Kerry Coombs and gave them to Barnes. Ohio State's defense improved until the calamity in Ann Arbor, where Michigan dominated the Buckeyes in a 42-27 victory.
Day acted quickly afterward, nabbing Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to become the defensive coordinator starting Jan. 2.
Where does that leave Barnes and the other defensive coaches?
Barnes said he has put on his coaching blinders and is concerned only about Saturday's Rose Bowl matchup against Utah.
“Right now, I'm just trying to go win this game,” Barnes said. “If you watched Utah on tape, you know how much work it's going to take to try to get that done. Sometimes I can be obsessive, and I really just
obsessed about this game and trying to give our kids a great opportunity to go win it.”
But he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t wonder about his future, right?
“Yeah, talk to my wife,” he said with a laugh. “She’d tell you I’m not human at all. She wishes maybe I would change some more diapers or do some more dishes or something like that, but I can’t get away from the film. I’m really just trying to focus on Utah.”
Knowles has met with Ohio State players as a group. Barnes said he had one “very brief ” face-to-face meeting with Knowles in which they didn’t discuss whether Barnes would be retained or what his role might be.
“I can tell right away he’s an exceptionally talented and intelligent person,” Barnes said. “Seems like a great guy. The nature of our conversation did not go that long. He had a bunch of meetings, and I’m running to try to get practice organized and things like that. So have not really had those conversations.”
Barnes said it hasn’t been uncomfortable for the current coaching staff to prepare for the Rose Bowl despite the uncertainty about the future. Even if Knowles and Day don’t plan wholesale changes, one coach has to leave for Ohio State to remain at the Ncaa-mandated limit of 10.
“I can see from the outside looking in (how it would seem awkward), but we’re all professionals,” Barnes said. “We understand how this business works.
“Just as a film junkie myself, what little bit of Oklahoma State I had a chance to watch, it’s an exciting defense. He does an outstanding job. I’m excited for the future of our program defensively.”
Barnes has drawn praise for his work with the defense under difficult circumstances.
“He’s a great coach, and he’s a great football mind,” junior defensive end Zach Harrison said. “He’s a great motivator, and guys want to play for him. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for coach Barnes.”
Added bullet Ronnie Hickman, “He does a great job of teaching and explaining things to players. A lot of coaches do things in different ways, but one thing I like about him is his ability to explain something to his players. I’m looking forward to being coached by him in the future as well.”
Hickman said he has been given no indication whether that will happen.
Barnes made it clear he’d like to stay. Barnes has already bounced around plenty in his career. He and his wife, Christina, have a 1-year-old son, Henry. Stability would be nice. So would the chance to learn from
Knowles, he said.
“I’m a film junkie,” he said. “I’m an X’s and O’s guy. I’m at Ohio State because I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some great coaches that I stole everything from. In almost 15 years in coaching, I don’t think I’ve had an original idea. I don’t have enough ego to say, ‘Well, this is mine.’ I don’t. I steal from everybody that I think does a good job. (Knowles) has done an exceptional job. I love Ryan Day. I love Ohio State. I love Columbus, Ohio. I love our players. So I’d certainly love an opportunity to remain here.”
Bill Rabinowitz covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at brabinowitz@dispatch.com or on Twitter @brdispatch.