Cooper Gives Nod to Jackson

By MIKE DOWNEY

Dec. 31, 1996 12 AM PT

Stanley Jackson will start at quarterback.

He got the news Monday before practice from Ohio State Coach John Cooper, who then told the media: “If you watch us line up today, you’ll see Jack under center. It’s not etched in stone. But if we were playing today, this minute, yes, Jackson would start.”

Jackson was grateful, saying, “Everyone wants to start.”

After going 10-0 as a starter, Jackson did not start the Michigan game, which Ohio State lost. The team averaged 42.6 points in games Jackson started. In the 13-9 defeat to Michigan, with Joe Germaine starting, the Buckeyes did not score a touchdown.

“Joe will play,” Cooper said of the Rose Bowl. “First series, second series, fifth series, don’t worry. Joe will definitely play. I just haven’t got the rotation down yet.”

Many believe this will be the All-America offensive tackle Orlando Pace’s last collegiate game.

How eager is he to play it? “I wish we could play it five minutes from now,” Pace said.

And how big a hurry is the 330-pound junior in to turn pro? His coach isn’t sure, but Cooper did say, “For my sake, my wife and kids hope he comes back.”

Who will Michigan root for--its Big Ten brothers from Ohio State, or any team that plays Ohio State?

Says Cooper: “I think it’s divided. Some of them would root against us if we were playing Russia.”