COTTON BOWL : OHIO STATE 28, TEXAS A&M; 12 : Notes : Spielman Feels Like a Kid on Touchdown

For Chris Spielman, the Cotton Bowl made him feel like he was 9 years old again.

Spielman, a unanimous choice as the game’s outstanding defensive player, broke open a tight game by intercepting Kevin Murray’s pass and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown in a 28-12 Ohio State victory over Texas A&M; Thursday.

“I got (an interception for a touchdown) in my very first football game, when I was 9 years old,” Spielman said. “I remember I intercepted an out-cut and took it in for 6 (points). That was the last one.”

Spielman’s return for a touchdown came on Texas A&M;’s first possession of the second half and gave the Buckeyes a 14-6 lead.

He said he recognized the offensive set, then relied on his instincts.

In addition, the 6-2, 232-pound junior All-American linebacker intercepted another pass to preserve the victory and had 11 tackles.

Spielman finished with 105 solo tackles this season, breaking Tom Cousineau’s school record. His 24-yard interception return for a touchdown was the first in the Cotton Bowl since a 10-yard scoring return by Holt Rast of Alabama in 1942--also against Texas A&M.;

Ohio State also made fashion points with their dashing red footwear and the natty sideline attire of Bruce.

The Buckeyes came out wearing red shoes, which were ordered earlier in the season but arrived this week. Ohio State rover Sonny Gordon said the players voted to wear the new footwear in Thursday’s game, replacing their regular white shoes.

“We just wanted to be a little flashy,” Bruce said.

The last time the Buckeyes wore red shoes was in the 1976 Rose Bowl. Bruce said the red shoes may become a permanent part of the Ohio State’s uniform. He said some players felt the shoes provided an emotional boost and they want to wear them again.

Bruce, who usually wears a jacket and a baseball cap, wore a charcoal suit, gray shirt, black tie and a black fedora with a scarlet feather.

“Rick Bay (Ohio State’s athletic director) had been challenging me to wear a tuxedo, but I didn’t want to go that far,” Bruce said.

“I didn’t tell anyone but my wife I was going to do it, and she looked at me funny,” Bruce said. “But I’ll have to think about it seriously, if I’ll make it a permanent thing.”

Texas A&M; Coach Jackie Sherrill said the outfit made Bruce look thinner and said he should consider wearing it in future games: “You ought to wear it more often if it helps you win games like that.”

Quarterback Jim Karsatos, who graduated from Ohio State a month ago, completed 10 of 21 passes for 195 yards. He said he planned on savoring the victory with a week of vacation.

“I am sure going to enjoy Acapulco now,” he said. “Then I’ll have to go to work somewhere.”

Somewhere could be the National Football League because Karsatos figures be chosen in the NFL draft.

Karsatos became only the third quarterback in school history to surpass 5,000 yards for his career. He might have produced bigger numbers Thursday, but he was benched in the second quarter in favor of Tom Tupa, who completed 3 of 8 passes for 23 yards.

Karsatos said he didn’t like being sidelined, but Bruce didn’t second-guess himself.

“I announced before the game that we would play Tom Tupa in the second quarter,” Bruce said. “He deserved to play some today, and I stick by my decision.”

Karsatos returned at the start of the third quarter and played the rest of the game.

Sherrill said he is not interested in succeeding Ray Perkins as coach at his alma mater, Alabama. Perkins resigned this week to become coach and general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sherrill said he had informed the university president of his intention to remain at A&M; “as long as he wants me to stay.”

Thursday’s win enabled Bruce to break a seven-year streak of 9-3 records. His team finished 10-3, the best Ohio State record since 1979, when the Buckeyes were 11-1.

It was also Ohio State’s fifth win in its past six bowls, the only loss being a 20-17 setback against USC in the 1985 Rose Bowl.