COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's lacrosse team will host the third-annual "Showdown in the Shoe" in Ohio Stadium prior to the football team's spring game, Nick Myers, Ohio State men's lacrosse head coach, announced Wednesday. Set for April 24, 2010, the lacrosse Buckeyes will take on Air Force in an ECAC Lacrosse League matchup before the football team takes the field for its intrasquad game.

In the inaugural "Showdown in the Shoe" matchup in April 2008, Ohio State downed Denver (20-13) in front of a then- NCAA regular-season and on-campus record crowd of 29,601. Last season, the Buckeyes and Notre Dame broke the mark when 30,192 filled the stands by halftime of an eventual Irish win (14-8). Fans continued to file into the stadium throughout the game, reaching upwards of 80,000 by the end of the lacrosse contest en route to the football spring game setting its own national attendance record of 95,722.

Myers looks forward to playing in front of another great Buckeye crowd and appreciates the support from the Ohio State Department of Athletics for the event.

"I would like to thank athletics director Gene Smith, associate athletics director Heather Lyke and head football coach Jim Tressel for the opportunity to take part in this record-breaking doubleheader for the third year in a row," Myers said.

"Our student-athletes truly appreciate the opportunity to play in front of thousands of Buckeye fans in Ohio Stadium, one of the most revered stadiums in all of sports. We are excited to give many fans of the Scarlet and Gray one of their first introductions to the game of lacrosse. Coach Tressel has gone above and beyond to support the Buckeye men's lacrosse program and the growth of the sport by welcoming us into the stadium before the spring game."

Tressel welcomes the chance to share the field with the lacrosse program. "Any time we can help showcase one of our great Buckeye athletic teams, such as our partnership with men's lacrosse for the spring game, it's a great opportunity for the public to see the best of Ohio State," Tressel said.

Lyke, who oversees the men's lacrosse program as an associate athletics director for sport administration, is excited for lacrosse student-athletes to again have the opportunity to run onto the Ohio Stadium field in front of cheering Buckeye fans.

"We are looking forward to this memorable event for our student-athletes to compete in front of what we expect to be another attendance record for men's lacrosse," Lyke said. "What is unique about our premier lacrosse game is we get to host it on our campus in Ohio Stadium, one of the most special venues in the country, with tens of thousands of Buckeye fans cheering on the Scarlet and Gray. We appreciate the support the football program gives our lacrosse program in many ways, as this is definitely one of the highlights of being an Ohio State lacrosse student-athlete."

Ticket information for the "Showdown in the Shoe" and the Ohio State football spring game will be released at a later date.

2009-07-23