All That’s Missing Is a Leather Helmet

PHOENIX â€”  Don’t bother looking for Chris Gamble on the Ohio State sideline during Friday night’s Fiesta Bowl because, except for quick pit stops, he won’t be there.

“Drink a little bit of water, and I just go right back out there,� he says.

Gamble is the Buckeyes’ starting wide receiver ... and cornerback.

He also returns punts and kickoffs.

This is no gimmick to get a star-starved player some extra film for NFL scouts. Rather, as the Ohio State coaching staff figured out midway through the season, keeping Gamble on the field was the best way to win a national championship.

Everyone talks about how you need speedy guys from Florida to beat teams from Florida, right?

Well, Gamble, who arrived to Columbus from the Sunshine state, gives the speed-challenged Buckeyes two starters from Florida in one uniform.

Ohio State is hoping that’s enough to keep pace with Miami in Friday’s national title game.

Gamble was a fine receiver, mind you, but not fully utilized on a Big Ten team that was built to run the ball.

So why not play him on defense too?

Ohio State threw Gamble out on the field against Cincinnati in September and he responded with an interception on the first play.

By season’s end, you couldn’t drag this lanky sophomore off the field. He has started the last five games at receiver and cornerback and has become a throwback player on a throwback team. In fact, it’s a wonder Gamble even bothers wearing a face mask.

Years ago, of course, two-way players were the norm in college and the pros, but were weeded out as the game became more specialized and sophisticated.

Players have since dabbled at double duty -- it helped Charles Woodson win the Heisman Trophy at Michigan.

Yet, no one in recent times has done it the way Gamble has.

In the last three games, he has logged more than 100 plays on offense, defense and special teams, including an incredible 128-play effort against Illinois.

Safety Michael Doss calls Gamble the team’s “Deion Sanders factor.�

Not surprisingly, after he made his first two-way start against Penn State, on Oct. 26, Gamble went home and slept for about 16 hours.

As a receiver, Gamble has 29 catches for 430 yards, but he has made the most impact at cornerback, leading the team with four interceptions.

His 40-yard interception return for score was the difference in a 13-7 victory over Penn State and he made another key interception in a 10-6 victory over Purdue.

“It’s a lot of running, lot of conditioning,� Gamble says of his two-way duty. “But I’m all right. Long as I drink a little water, I’m fine.�

Mark Dantonio, the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, says Gamble’s offensive skills give him an advantage on defense.

“He’s also a receiver, so he knows that end of the game a little bit, what people are trying to do against him,� Dantonio said.

Friday, Gamble will be assigned to stop speedy Hurricane receiver Andre Johnson.

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Some Miami players just can’t wait until game time.

Question to receiver Johnson: Do you think you’re faster than Ohio State?

Johnson: “I don’t know. I don’t know how fast they are. They look like a fast defense. We’ll find out when we play against them on Thursday.�

Unless there’s a warm-up we don’t know about, Andre, the Fiesta Bowl game will be played Friday.