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Best of the best A look at some of the key players, coaches for No. 1 USC NBCSports.com

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Tressel, the son of a legendary Ohio small-college coach, has never coached in high school or the pros. His stops along the way to the capital of football-mad Ohio included Akron, Miami (Ohio) and Syracuse before he was hired by Bruce to coach quarterbacks in 1983.

After three years with the Buckeyes, Tressel became the head coach at Youngstown State in 1986 and in 15 seasons led the Penguins to four I-AA national championships. When John Cooper was fired after the 2000 season, Tressel beat out former Ohio State player (and Minnesota head coach) Glen Mason for the Buckeyes’ job. Since then he has gone 75-16, winning the 2002 national championship and losing in the title game each of the past two years.

“Jim Tressel is a card player; you never know what he has,” Holtz said. “He plays it very close to the vest. But still he’s very confident, very smart.”

His players say Tressel never wavers, never falters.

“He tries not to change his persona or his preparation because he feels like we should take the same precautions for every game,” cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. “But when big games come, he puts emphasis on doing all the little things right and making sure that guys are focused and enthused about what we’re trying to get done.”

One in La-La Land, one in America’s heartland. They are perfect fits for their schools and their cities.

“They both have a commitment from (their administrators) and a belief system about the way things should be done,” Alberts said. “They’re consistent.”

Two coaches, two paths, two personalities.

“They are very different,” Holtz said. “But they arrive at the same place.”

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