National Title Game: OSU vs UF

[Style]

Ohio State didn’t lose that game on Jan. 8. The Buckeyes lost it on Dec. 30.

That is when players gathered in Arizona to begin preparation. Up to that point, insiders say Ohio State’s practices in Columbus were crisp and intense. They had focus.

Between Christmas break and Dec. 30, Ohio State lost its edge. The players arrived in Arizona as if they were on vacation. They soaked in the limelight. They enjoyed themselves and had fun.

They lost their focus.

Offensive Coordinator and line coach Jim Bollman called the team together once and tried to get them back. The coaches sensed they had lost their players. They sensed they believed the headlines.

Once 19-, 20-, 21- and 22-year-olds are lost, it’s difficult to convince them to come back.

“We always talk about you get as your work deserves, and we didn’t deserve to be the champions,” Tressel said after the game. Read between the lines.

The team didn’t work hard enough in the final week of the season to win. The Buckeyes lost their edge. They believed everything Miami had in 2002, when Ohio State pulled the upset.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=330060&Category=17

 

[chiefwahoo]

Not surprising after a 51 day break between games. Another reason why college football drives me nuts.

 

[James]

Not surprising, Arizona deffinitly has some hot spots as far as partying and stuff like that goes, Scottsdale...Glendale..you put a bunch of star college athletes down there for a little over a week...football takes a back seat and college aspirations come out.

 

[cavincali]

Do you guys that live in the east coast not have teh fast food chain known as "In and Out Burger" ?

I was watching a pregame deal on fsn ohio and Troy Smith was talkn about how good the hambergers are, and they are, but I was laughn my ass off at the thought that there isnt a in and out back east.