The change in helmet color is what stands out on the Ohio State uniforms for the Michigan game that will honor the 1942 Buckeyes' team. Watch video
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's the helmets.
That's what caught linebacker Brian Rolle's eye about the special Pro Combat uniforms the Buckeyes will wear against Michigan on Saturday.
"The helmets are awesome," Rolle said. "I love our gray helmets, but those red helmets kind of stick out."
The Buckeyes started the trend of wearing these promotional Nike uniforms for one game -- the Michigan game -- last season. Bill Jones, the OSU associate athletic director for external affairs, said Monday that the Buckeyes won't be taking part in this uniform switch forever. He said Nike will continue to move it around to other schools, but Ohio State may agree to another two years of doing it.
Last year at Michigan, the Buckeyes wore white helmets with white jerseys. This year's look features scarlet helmets, scarlet jerseys, gray pants and gray socks.
The uniforms are intended to honor the 1942 national champion Ohio State team, with "1942" written on the gloves and a bronze star on the back of the helmet to honor the service of team captain Charles Csuri, who was recognized for his heroism in the Battle of the Bulge, and other Buckeyes from that team who went off to World War II.
Several members of the 1942 team will be at Saturday's game and help form the tunnel when players run onto the field.
"The 1942 team was just an unbelievable group of guys to be able to go and win a national title and then say 'I'm going to defend our country,'" senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore said. "To be able to represent them is almost a higher task than what's been put ahead of us in football. That group of guys were just unbelievable human beings."
Adams award: Left tackle Mike Adams was named the Buckeyes' offensive lineman of the week for his play against Iowa, and when the coaches looked at the game, they thought the junior more than held his own against Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, a future first-round draft pick.
"Mike did a great job," head coach Jim Tressel said. "There were one or two times that Clayborn flushed us, but, Mike Adams played a good football game."
According to Tressel, OSU offensive line coach Jim Bollman said Adams did as well against Clayborn as any offensive lineman this season.
"I can't say enough about how proud I am of Mike Adams battling Clayborn every play," junior center Mike Brewster said. "He's a great player and Mike went out there and he played his butt off."
Tressel said playing next to senior left guard Justin Boren has helped Adams this season, and Boren has seen a different player.
"Mike has come full circle," Boren said. "If you would have asked me a year ago I wouldn't have ever said it to the media, but I had my doubts about him. He was a big guy and had a first-round draft pick body but he could never quite put it together. He comes in this year and is totally dominating.
"He is a totally different player. He is doing awesome and I am really proud of him. I think he is more mature. He came into preseason camp with a great attitude and he is just taking care of business."
Injury update: Tressel said he does not expect freshman defensive back Christian Bryant to return for this game. Bryant is still recovering after surgery to remove an infection in his foot and should be back for the bowl. Tressel said quarterback Terrelle Pryor's right shoulder was fine after taking a hit Saturday and Tressel said there were no other health issues.