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OHIO STATE linebacker James Laurinaitis never met Mark Twain, but they expressed similar thoughts although one was talking about his teammates and the other referred to a comet.
When noting he had been partly influenced by other Ohio State juniors returning for their senior year, the popular Buckeye told Ken Gordon of The Columbus Dispatch that they (the junior players) "promised we would come in and leave together."
That brought to mind Twain's comment.
"I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835," noted Twain. "It is coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.'"
When Twain died April 21, 1910, the comet was visible for a short period before "leaving."
The OSU players, however, usually are likened to stars rather than comets. It's especially a bright note that Laurnaitis followed his heart rather than his bank book balance as it's no secret that most National Football League mock drafts tabbed him as a high first-round draft pick.
In a statement issued this week, the All-America linebacker noted that he received a lot of great advice from those close to him, including "his parents, close friends, former players and through prayer.
"I knew the right decision for me was to follow my heart and figure out what's important to me right now," he added. "That's the decision to remain at Ohio State, have a great senior season and graduate with my degree in communications next year. I am very satisfied with that decision."
He also pointed out there are a lot of things that money can't buy, and among those things are the experiences of a senior season.
Laurinaitis in the first paragraph of his statement mentioned his intention to stay for his senior season "to complete my schoolwork and football career." It's interesting that he mentioned schoolwork first.
Perhaps it isn't too surprising that the winner of the 2007 Butkus Award and 2006 Nagurski Award opted to remain at OSU.
When Media Day was held last August, I did an informal spot check of what the OSU players considered their favorite traditions.
I thought Laurinaitis gave the best thought-out answer. His reply was: "That's a tough one, because there are so many. There's the gold pants and there's everything like that, but honestly, I think just the family atmosphere."
He went on to mention the tradition of former players such as Cris Carter, Eddie George, Archie Griffin and Jack Tatum standing on the sidelines in big games and emphasized that past players love and care about the program "just as much as when they played here -- maybe more."
Noting that a lot of people care about the program, the 2007 Butkus Award and 2006 Nagurski Award winner said, "A lot of people admire coach Tressel and the way this program is being run on class, and to be a part of that is truly something really special and something you carry for the rest of your life."
It's easy to see where Laurinaitis probably gets some of his athletic ability as his father, Joe, is a former professional wrestler. Being consensus All-America as a sophomore and junior, he was the 2007 Big Ten defensive player of the year and first team all-Big Ten in 2006 and 2007 and was a 2007 Lombardi, Nagurski, Lott and Bednarik Award finalist.
Athleticism, however, isn't his only outstanding quality as the articulate player also is an Academic Big Ten honoree.
His mother, Julie, visited him during the weekend, and he told The Columbus Dispatch that she had made a list of pros and cons, and that made him comfortable about staying for his senior year.
With Laurinaitis' decision, it means that the team will have 18 starters this fall, the most returnees that head coach Jim Tressel has had at OSU.
Defensive end Vernon Gholston was the only junior who opted to enter the NFL draft.
Other players deciding to remain despite being serious contenders in the draft, in addition to Laurinaitis, are:
? Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, a Thorpe Award semifinalist and second team All-American who will be a fourth-year starter in the fall. A first team all-Big Ten for the last two years, he has 136 career tackles and seven interceptions.
? Linebacker Marcus Freeman, an Academic Big Ten honoree who led the Buckeyes with 60 solo tackles in 2007. Second on the OSU team with 95 tackles, he is on the second team All-Big Ten.
? Offensive tackle Alex Boone, second team all-Big Ten in 2007 and a third year starter at left tackle. He has 22 career starts for OSU and is considered a difference maker on a talented offensive line.
? Wide receiver Brian Robiskie, a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist who led the Big Ten at 17.7 yards per catch and led OSU in 2007 with 50 catches for 885 yards. Named to the first team Academic All-America, he is an Academic Big Ten honoree.
Another outstanding returnee will be running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, who was voted the Ohio State team MVP for 2007. Wells, who'll be a junior this fall, was named to the first team all-Big Ten and also is an Academic Big Ten honoree.
Pokas can be reached at timesleader@timesleaderonline.com