By: MATT MARKEY (ToledoBlade.com) -

COLUMBUS - With the weather in an especially cooperative mood, last year’s Ohio State spring football game drew a national record crowd of 95,722. Although 80 degrees and a long bath of sunshine do not appear to be in the cards this time around, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel still expects to see Ohio Stadium packed with fans tomorrow.

“Football is fun to watch, and with our kids, people want to see if they are getting any better,” Tressel said.

“They think about football around here every day of the year.”

The Buckeyes conclude their month of spring football practice with their annual Scarlet & Gray Game, which this year has taken on a new hue. It will be “Scarlet, Gray & Pink” with both teams wearing pink-numbered jerseys to help raise funds for cancer research. The jerseys will be auctioned on the OSU athletics website after the game. The cluster of events planned for the day begins with the “Walk for Stefanie” in honor of Stefanie Spielman, the wife of former OSU All-American linebacker Chris Spielman. Her very public decade-long fight with breast cancer ended last November with her death at age 42, but the effort to raise money to support breast cancer patients and research continues in her name. The Spielmans have raised more than $6.5 million for that cause.

“I wear his number proudly, and I’m glad to do so,” said OSU’s current No. 36, senior linebacker Brian Rolle, who will also wear pink and white shoelaces in the game.

“We’re all very proud to support Chris and his family and this great cause. He’s a guy that helped start the great linebacker tradition here, and I’m just proud to wear his number.”

The “Walk for Stefanie” starts at 9 a.m. on the South Oval of the Ohio State campus, with registration an hour earlier. At 11 a.m., the Ohio State men’s lacrosse team takes on Air Force in Ohio Stadium in the first part of a unique double-header with football started several years ago.

Last year’s “Showdown in The Shoe” lacrosse game set a national attendance record with a crowd of 30,192. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the country on the high school and college level, with more that 200 colleges and universities adding lacrosse programs over the last 12 years.

“To play in the most historic stadium in the world, in my opinion, in front of so many fans in scarlet and gray - there will be a special intensity for the game,” Ohio State lacrosse coach Nick Myers said.”It’s a special day for our program, certainly.”

The spring football game starts at 1:30, with the five-time Big Ten defending champion Buckeyes split into Scarlet and Gray teams. The seniors were divided into two camps earlier this week, and they then drafted the underclassmen by position to fill out the two rosters for the game. Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, part of the senior group on the Scarlet team, said the spring game offers a festive atmosphere and a way to celebrate after a month of intense work.

“I think the spring game is more of a fun thing for everybody, with the chance to get out there and finally get to compete again,” the Central Catholic graduate said.

“Everything’s magnified in a situation like that, and when you pack the stadium, guys take it seriously. Everybody wants to win.” St. John’s Jesuit grad Jack Mewhort, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman for the Buckeyes, will play for the Gray team.

Linebacker Andrew Sweat, safety/linebacker Tyler Moeller, and defensive back Travis Howard will not play because of injuries.

“We’re excited that this game is being played for the Spielman family,” Tressel said. “The Spielman family has made such an impact and Stefanie was very courageous. Our guys feel such a connection to the family.”

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