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Players see different, more focused team set to earn respect vs. SEC
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Friday, Dec 14, 2007
COLUMBUS: If Ohio State made a movie about this year's football season, it would be called Same Time Next Year.
After watching the dice roll their way as they sat at home during the Thanksgiving Day break having completed their 12-game schedule, the Buckeyes (11-1) find themselves in a recognizable position — in the BCS National Championship Game.
This year, however, the junior-laden team finds itself in the role of decided underdog against the Southeastern Conference's Louisiana State Tigers (11-2).
Last year's OSU team, which included Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith and wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, marched through its schedule and on to Glendale, Ariz., as expected to face the Florida Gators in the BCS title game. What the Buckeyes didn't plan on was the 41-14 thumping they received from the Urban Meyer-coached Gators.
Nor could anyone have predicted the derision that has come with this season's record and appearance in the championship game, mostly because of a perception that the Buckeyes are there only because of a weak schedule and luck. The Buckeyes have heard the constant refrain.
''We try not to pay attention to what anyone is saying because it's just someone's opinion,'' linebacker James Laurinaitis said.
Of course, that isn't always realistic, and the criticism and opinions have made an impact on the team, running back Chris Wells said.
''Of course I feel like we don't get the respect we deserve,'' Wells, a Garfield High graduate said. ''We're the underdogs in this game, but it's something we just have to take in stride. We just have to work harder and prepare for this game.''
It might be personal for the players, but Coach Jim Tressel said they also need to represent the Big Ten Conference, given that the league has taken its share of hits this year.
''I think you really carry the flag of your conference regardless of which bowl game you're in,'' he said. ''That's one of the fun parts about the bowl games . . . in most cases you get two good conferences with one of their real good teams facing one another, and there's no doubt about it, you're playing for your own group, without a doubt, but you're playing for your conference as well.''
Ask his players, however, and that chomp that the Gators took out of the Buckeyes in January still causes pain, leaving this team with something to prove.
''It's not just for national reputation. It's for (the media). It's for our parents. It's for everyone that's done playing here. Everyone that wants to play here,'' wide receiver Brian Hartline said.'' It's not all about our team. It's a bigger picture. I think a lot of the guys on the team realize that.''
Complacency blamed
But if the Buckeyes are to be successful against the Tigers, they have to play as a focused unit, Laurinaitis said.
''I think last year's team was totally different than this year's team. I think that complacency was an issue maybe last year. I think we were satisfied with everything that we had accomplished,'' Laurinaitis said. Everyone was saying that Michigan-Ohio State was for the national championship, and there shouldn't be a rematch of those two teams.
''I think we thought we had already played the best team,'' Laurinaitis said. ''We went into that game, and I don't think we had the same focus and drive, and kind of thought we were invincible a little bit. This year, we have a different mind-set.''
Tackle Kirk Barton said he sees a team with an altogether different personality, partially because it absorbed a loss to Illinois during the regular season.
''It's a different year. We're a different team. We're different from last year,'' he said. ''Hopefully we're learning from our mistakes right now, and I think we are because we've had some pretty good practices so far.''
'A shot at redemption'
Still others, Wells among them, look at the game as an opportunity to polish a name that has had mud flung at it.
''It is a shot at redemption, honestly, because we're playing an SEC team,'' he said. ''Not just from last year but from all of the SEC teams we played here at Ohio State because we're 0-8 against all of them. It's redemption for all of us that are here now and past players.''
Tressel doesn't want this to be a game about breaking from the past, however.
''I don't know if I embrace redemption. I embrace the opportunity we have to play the best we can play. But I'm not exactly sure what redemption is,'' he said. ''This is 2007. I guess if we got to play again in 2006, you could have that thought. This happens to be 2007, and we want to do the best we can.''
Ultimately the Buckeyes have no problem with being at the same place in a different year. What they want is a happy ending — just as in most movies.
George M. Thomas can be reached atsportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
COLUMBUS: If Ohio State made a movie about this year's football season, it would be called Same Time Next Year.
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