Pirate Galaxy » years ... sometimes its not very pretty, it

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett was beaten out by Cardale Jones last year in one of the most intriguing training-camp quarterback races in the nation. Now, he is Ohio States undisputed starter and leader of a team thats reloading after the departure of 16 starters.Barretts value to the team cant be overstated. The Buckeyes fortunes likely will ride on the 21-year-old Texans ability to recapture some of the magic from the 2014 national championship season.With a freshman likely starting at tailback -- no more Ezekiel Elliott to carry the offensive load -- and a stable of unproven wide receivers, the Buckeyes will look to Barrett for guidance and big plays. Hes a junior, but on this team hes one of the veterans. Hes been chosen a captain for the second straight season.Last year we had a lot more older guys, of course, and this year Im trying to help the younger guys get into our standard of how we play here at Ohio State, Barrett said, and make sure that they understand we dont have rebuilding years. The expectations are not going to change because you all dont have experience.As a freshman, Barrett stepped up when Braxton Miller reinjured his shoulder in training camp. He led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record before breaking his leg in the last regular season game against Michigan. Jones returned and Ohio State won its next three games and the national title.Last season was unsteady for Barrett. He and Jones battled for the starting job in training camp. Jones won, only to have Barrett replace him in the eighth game. Just after regaining the starting job, Barrett was suspended for a game after an arrest for driving under the influence.The Buckeyes stumbled against Michigan State for their only loss but rebounded with wins at Michigan and in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame to finish 12-1 and ranked No. 4 in the nation. Barrett completed 19 of 31 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns and 96 yards rushing in the 44-28 win over the Fighting Irish.He did not have a great training camp last year, for whatever reason, coach Urban Meyer said. There was a lot of distraction with Cardale and with whos going to play quarterback, and he was still overcoming a pretty serious injury that took a long time to heal, so he didnt have the spring reps that he needed. He did this year, and I anticipate hell be as good a quarterback as weve had, because its his show -- he knows it and hes prepared.Barrett is 15-2 as Ohio States starter, with a completion percentage of 64.2. Hes averaged more than 220 yards per game passing and 82 yards rushing in his 17 starts and has accounted for 58 touchdowns.Whether you had a veteran team or a young team, to have a J.T. Barrett, one of the best quarterbacks in the country, somebody you trust, you respect and is a great leader -- thats where it all starts, said Ed Warinner, Ohio States co-offensive coordinator. When youve got Pat Elflein at center and J.T. Barrett, thats a great starting point.Without Elliott, a first-round NFL draft pick, the Buckeyes are going to need a sharp passing game and a go-to receiver who can get open and catch the deep ball. The two projected starters at the wide receiver spots -- Noah Brown and Corey Smith -- got some playing time in 2014 but both are returning from leg injuries that sidelined them last season. H-backs Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson -- both also coming off injuries -- have shown they can be dependable targets, but the rest of the guys are unproven.Talent, speed and athleticism will not be an issue, Meyer said. Its how they perform. Thats where J.T. is going to be so critical, because youre going to see a lot of wide eyes. A lot of those guys have not played.Barretts backup -- and 2014 taught Ohio State coaches how important backups are -- appears to be redshirt freshman Joe Burrow, although freshman Dwayne Haskins, a four-star prospect that Meyer has raved about, could push him.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy---For some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacyDevonte Graham Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. 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Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury.LYON, France -- To be one game away from the European Championship final is an achievement for any coach. Even more so for Chris Coleman.The journey to Wednesdays game against Portugal -- the first semifinal in Welsh football history -- has been an arduous one for the 46-year-old Coleman.His playing career prematurely ended following a car crash that he was fortunate to survive, while his first managerial job in the spotlight of the Premier League was terminated just as he was getting going.Five years were spent in the managerial wilderness in lower-league jobs in England, Spain and Greece, between spells of being unemployed.There are a lot of good managers out of work because there only so many jobs, Coleman said Tuesday. Two jobs running if you get it wrong, its hard to get that third one. Thats generally the rule.Many in Colemans position might have given up and pursued an easier life as a television pundit.Coleman, however, had the greatest British manager of them all as a mentor: Alex Ferguson.I was out of work for a year and my next job, which was four years after managing in the Premier League (at Fulham), was in the second division in Greece, Coleman recalled. I went there (to Larissa in 2011) on the advice of Alex Ferguson.He just told me, `Youve been out for a year, dont wait. The next one that comes up, it doesnt matter where it is -- take it. So I did. I took a chance. Its the best thing that happened to me.Coleman regained his confidence, having been fired in 2010 after struggling in the second tier with Coventry.I rethought a lot about myself, Coleman said. I got it wrong at Coventry. I can give you loads of sob stories about my time at Coventry but actually, if Im honest, I could have done better.The answer was typical of Colemans candor, a reflection of the challenges he has faced to reach the Euro 2016 semifinals with his nation.You find out a lot about yourself when you are out of comfortable environment and you are asked difficult questions and you have to find the answers, Coleman said.He faced those kinds of questions early in his Wales career, a job he inherited in tragic circumstances in early 2012 after Gary Speed took his own life.dddddddddddd The lowest ebb on the field came in September 2012 with a 6-1 loss away to Serbia early in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.I had doubts whether I was capable of doing the job after the Serbia game, Coleman recently recalled.When you embarrass the country, as Coleman remembered it, resignation seemed the only option.Coleman stuck at the job and Wales persevered with its coach through a qualifying campaign that produced three wins in 10 matches.It didnt seem to be working, but all of sudden it worked out, Football Association of Wales President David Griffiths said. He changed the philosophy. Everyone was talking about Gary Speed, but Chris has done it his way.Wales was rejuvenated inside two years as Coleman changed the teams mindset.We used to be far too honest, Coleman said at the Stade de Lyon. Anything you need to do to stay in the game, you stay in the game. I call that being street-wise, football-smart.Weve got much better at that in the last couple of years ... sometimes its not very pretty, it can be ugly. People look at it and say its negative.Its been producing positive results.With Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey leading on the pitch, surrounded by many unheralded players, Wales qualified for its first tournament since the 1958 World Cup.The squad unity has shone through in France where Wales stunned Belgium to reach the semifinals.The team spirit is real, Coleman said. It came from the darker days when it wasnt so easy for us.Colemans light touch and confident demeanor, while retaining a steely determination, certainly helps.Damnit, Coleman said, when asked at the Stade de Lyon if he was influenced by Italys three-man defense. Weve been found out!Not yet in the knockout stage.---Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports ' ' '