COLUMBUS - As the shroud of mystery over the injury to Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells remained in place for a fourth straight day, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel jokingly urged the faithful to concern themselves with other things, say, meteorological in nature.

After Tressel was reminded over and over again during a news conference yesterday that Wells' status is a huge issue in Ohio, he suggested there were more pressing matters to deal with.

"Tell them to worry more about Gustav and Rita, and those kinds of things," a smiling Tressel said, alluding first to the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast on Monday. In the second reference he likely meant Hurricane Hanna, which was churning off the eastern tip of Cuba yesterday afternoon. Rita hit the Gulf Coast three years ago, inflicting more than $11 billion in damage.

"Beanie's going to be fine," Tressel added.

Fine enough to practice this week?

Wells did not practice yesterday or Monday.

Fine enough to play against Ohio University on Saturday?

"We wouldn't play him if he doesn't get some work," Tressel said.

Is the injury a sprain? "Don't know."

Describe the injury - do you know anything about it? "I really don't."

Who will replace Beanie if he is out? "Don't know."

Now that the details are clear, Tressel did say the 6-1, 237 pound Wells was listed as "doubtful" on the early trainers' report yesterday, but that Wells had told Tressel he "felt great."

Wells got hurt on a first-and-goal play from the 2-yard line in the third quarter of Saturday's 43-0 win over Youngstown State. Just as he took the handoff from quarterback Todd Boeckman, Wells appeared to stop abruptly to cut outside, then had his feet come out from under him. He fumbled as he hit the ground, and immediately recoiled in pain, clutching his right foot.

After going to the locker room for X-rays that Tressel said showed no fracture, Wells returned to the sideline late in the game, limping and wearing a protective boot. Tressel said that after a series of treatments, Wells has improved significantly.

"I think every time the trainers see him, he seems better," Tressel said. "I happened to see him in the training room and he was saying how wonderful he feels. Now, that was a lot different than when I saw him on the field that day. He wasn't expressing how good he felt then, so, yeah, there's been a big change."

Tressel did not give any further details as to the specific nature of the injury, but did say it did not appear to be something that would keep Wells out for an extended period of time. After hosting Ohio University this Saturday, the third-ranked Buckeyes travel to Los Angeles the following weekend for a showdown with No. 1 Southern California.

"I can't even think of the word, if I've even heard some fancy word for, you know, 'his foot's hurting'. A lot of times you hear like brachial plexus and all this stuff. It used to be, you know, my shoulder's hurting me, now then it became a brachial plexus. I'm still back in the 'his foot hurts' era," Tressel said. "I have no idea what the MRI said. I wouldn't know an MRI if it was here."

Tressel said he would not keep Wells out of Saturday's game in order to save him for USC, even though the Buckeyes find themselves a huge favorite against Ohio. Ohio State's last loss to an in-state team: 7-6 to Oberlin in 1921.

"You'd love to have him for every game," Tressel said. "Would we make a flat-out decision as to play or not play him simply on what lies ahead a week from now? No. Because if all of a sudden the guy is dying to play and you don't let him play, there's a little seed of doubt in his mind, and in others' minds, 'oh, I wonder if,' so if he's ready, he goes."

Tressel said the ultimate decision on whether Wells plays against the Bobcats will likely be made later in the week, and will involve three parties. Wells will be asked how he feels, and the training staff will have its input.

"I have the third vote," Tressel said. "The player - I haven't found too many of those guys [who won't say they want to play]. The medical people have a major vote, and how you practice has a little bit to do with it. I'll have that third and deciding vote, I guess."

Beanie or no Beanie, Tressel said the Buckeyes won't modify their offensive approach. They will rely on Brandon Saine, Dan "Boom" Herron and Maurice Wells to fill the role.

"We can't change our offensive game plan with the change of one or two people, even if it's our tailback," Tressel said. "Brandon Saine, Mo Wells, Danny Herron - they run the same plays that Beanie Wells runs. They know how to run them. In a perfect world, all three of those guys will carry the mail."

Following the Youngstown State game, Ohio State junior wide receiver Brian Hartline expressed confidence in that trio, and in the ability of Beanie Wells to fight through injury. Wells played last year with nagging ankle and wrist injuries, and had the most productive sophomore season in Ohio State history.

"We've got a lot of great running backs, so if Beanie can't go, we know those guys can step in and do the job," Hartline said. "But I won't count Beanie out. He's a tough guy, a competitor, and he'll fight to get back in there."

Contact Matt Markey

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