Football
Tank a Blocking Tiger in OSU Backfield
By John Porentas

A lot of you are probably way too young to remember this, but in 1964 the Esso Oil Company ran a very successful ad campaign encouraging their customers to "Put a Tiger in Your Tank." That ad campaign is long-gone, but In 2007, the Ohio State Buckeyes did something vaguely similar. They put a tiger named Tank in their backfield. When they did that they got a high-octane blocker that is intent on extending the mileage that OSU running backs cover this season.

Tyler "Tank" Whaley got the starting nod at fullback last Saturday in OSU's blowout win over Northwestern, and in many ways Whaley's start was about as unlikely as it is that many of you remember that old Esso ad from the sixties.

Whaley started his OSU career as a walkon offensive lineman, specifically a center. At under 5-10, most people said Whaley was too small to play offensive line in college, not to mention in a high-profile program like Ohio State. Somebody forgot to mention that to Whaley.

Whaley competed like...well...a tiger, and earned the respect and admiration of his teammates. He also caught the eye of the OSU coaching staff who recognized his toughness and determination and began looking for a way to get him onto the football field.

Tyler "Tank" Whaley

Whaley worked at center until last season when somebody came up with a great idea, to move Whaley to fullback from center, a position where he might actually be able to get onto the field and demonstrate his ability to run people over, something that he is not only good at, but enjoys.

"You kind of pay your time, you do some scout team, you get better at the things you do, and eventually you kind of pay your dues," said Whaley.

"Once you find that little thing that you're good at and the coaches see that, they (the OSU coaching staff) know how to get you out there and get those opportunities to excel at what you're good at."

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What Whaley is good at is slamming into people wearing a uniform different from his, and there's almost nothing Tank would rather do in the hopes of allowing an OSU running back to get downfield. He did just that as an offensive lineman, but now at fullback, he's able to do it in a little different way, a way that brings a smile to his face.

"I've always said that taking a 10 yard sprint then hitting somebody is definitely better than locking up right off the bat," said a grinning Whaley in comparing blocking as a fullback to blocking as an offensive lineman.

"That's the biggest change is getting that 10 yard sprint. Believe me, if I can get my 265 pounds going it's a great collision if I can hit somebody like that. It's a lot more freedom. It's fun," Whaley said.

Whaley's idea of "fun" was on display when Beanie Wells went 37 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern. Beanie never got touched on the play, and Whaley was a big part of the reason why. He got one of those 10 yard sprints going and slammed himself into the last Wildcat linebacker that had a shot at Wells. The linebacker stopped dead in his tracks, and Wells sprinted untouched to the endzone.

"It was the outside backer and it was a simple iso play," said Whaley.

"The line made some good blocks and some good reads and I opened up and my fit was how we practiced it all week, I just fit it into him (the linebacker) and tried to keep my feet moving and drive him back and before I knew it Beanie was already 10 yards past me."

It was a textbook block on a textbook play. It's was also the stuff of dreams for Whaley.

"Probably my favorite moment was the last game, getting the start at fullback and Beanie's touchdown run," said Whaley.

"Then of course I fielded the kickoff before half time and got about 10 yards. A lineman getting to carry it 10 yards even though it was to run out the clock on a kickoff return, it was great."

Whaley enjoyed his kick return, but understands his role, and relishes living up to his nickname.

"My job is run over people, so if somebody wants to call me Tank I figure that would be about the best nickname I could have," Whaley said.

"It's been wonderful. I just wanted to get in there and lead the way for Beanie and all those other great tailbacks we have."

OSU fullbacks have one carry over the last two seasons, that one coming last weekend when Dionte Johnson got a carry late in the game. Stan White caught some balls last year, but never got a carry from scrimmage. Whaley says that blocking is his thing, but admits that a carry from scrimmage, just one, would be icing on the cake, but is more than satisfied with his role even if that carry never comes.

"That would be awesome if I could get one," said Whaley.

"Dionte got one carry, so that was good. At least we got somebody in there that's getting some. We know our main role is to get in there and clear the way for all the great tailbacks we have and that's what we're going to do," Whaley said.

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