On Christmas Day we have to talk Santa Claus — the obscenity, not the saint. To Ohio State’s defensive linemen, the fat man is a four-letter word.
When defensive end Tyquan Lewis misses a tackle, he hears “Santa Claus.” Ditto defensive tackle Robert Landers when he blows an assignment. Not &%$@ or even @#&%. Just the jolly old elf’s name taken in vain.
“I know he’s mad when he says, ‘Santa Claus,’ Lewis said, shaking his head at the thought of hearing his position coach cuss him out in holiday style.
But here’s the thing — it is not only during December when Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson drops Kris Kringle on his players.