By Rusty Miller
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - These are the dog days of Ohio State's spring workouts, with the players looking forward to the end of a month of collisions with teammates. Yet the Buckeyes' kick scrimmage on Friday has taken on a flavor all its own.

The GameDay crew from ESPN will be on hand to enliven what would normally be a dull day limited to punting, place-kicks, returns and blocking.

Ohio State's players have taken notice.

"There's going to be guys standing by coach Tressel on the field to get on TV," fullback Branden Joe said. "It'll kick the scrimmage up a couple of notches."

Usually a kick scrimmage is interesting to only two groups of people: coaches and kickers. Just about everyone else on the team takes off their helmets and works on their suntans.

A typical kick scrimmage goes something like this: Two lines form on the field, the ball is snapped and kicked, there's a short runback, and the coaches yell at the players while the ball is tossed back to the center. That scene is repeated over and over and over.

Many people not involved in kick scrimmages don't have a clear understanding of them.

"I don't even know what it is," quarterback Craig Krenzel said with a laugh. "I don't know anything about it."

Still, ESPN will bring its full on-camera GameDay crew including host Chris Fowler and commentators Lee Corso and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit.

Defending national champion Ohio State will be the fifth and final stop on the GameDay crew's tour of college campuses this spring. They have already traveled to practices at Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Penn State and Iowa.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz wore a microphone during the Hawkeyes' workout on Thursday. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will be interviewed but will not have a microphone on throughout the practice.

The gates of Ohio Stadium will open at 1:30 p.m. to the public. Practice gets under way at 3:30 with the kick scrimmage starting an hour later and lasting for an hour. A university spokesman said a large crowd of spectators was expected, although no one can predict how large because this is uncharted territory for both Ohio State and ESPN.

Tressel said his players will get a charge out of a practice that is usually a snoozefest.

"I'm sure they'll be excited about that," he said. "They always like having the media here and to have a chance to showcase themselves a little bit. Anytime they get into Ohio Stadium they get a little excited."

Tight end Ben Hartsock said Friday's workout won't be as stirring as a game but will be more spirited than a typical practice.

"You get the atmosphere of having a big-time show there," he said.

Portions of the practice will be taped and shown during two SportsCenter segments later in the day. ESPN will profile running back Maurice Clarett and will take a look at those who have followed in his footsteps by enrolling at Ohio State early so they can get a head start on other freshmen recruits.

An ESPN spokesman said GameDay's spring tour was a response to fans who seek college football news throughout the year, not just during the autumn.

Joe said ESPN's presence was another indication of how many people follow Ohio State, particularly after winning the national title.

"They're bringing the GameDay crew - just to watch a kick scrimmage," he said, shaking his head. "A lot of people are interested in what's going on here, that's what that's telling me."

Scarlet and Gray game tickets are still available for $5 each. They can be purchased at the Schottenstein Center, by calling (800) GO-BUCKS, or by visiting www.hangonsloopy.com.