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Ohio State players rooting for Oklahoma
Hopes are high that the Sooners will beat Missouri, sending the Buckeyes to the BCS title game.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
> Will you be rooting for Oklahoma?
COLUMBUS — Ohio State's Jim Cordle normally wouldn't allow himself to be seen in another team's attire, but the junior center is making an exception for the party he's hosting for the Big 12 championship Saturday.
"I bought a Sooner shirt," he said with a grin.
Extras
Offensive tackle Kirk Barton said he couldn't afford to shell out for new garb, but he might have opted for something in crimson and cream if his budget wasn't so tight.
"Obviously, I'm an Oklahoma fan this week," he said, "and I'm sure everyone else in Ohio State Nation is, too."
The Buckeyes are ranked third in the BCS standings and will play for the national championship in New Orleans on Jan. 7 if Oklahoma beats No. 1 Missouri or Pittsburgh knocks off No. 2 West Virginia.
While Pitt is a heavy underdog on the road, Oklahoma is actually a three-point favorite, which is why the Buckeyes' hopes are so high. But Barton doesn't like the feeling of having to depend on others.
"It's frustrating," he said. "We had it in our grasp and let it slip out."
The Buckeyes dropped from first to seventh in the BCS standings after a late-season loss to Illinois, but their national title dreams were revived after Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas and LSU all suffered setbacks.
At worst, OSU will play in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl, likely against resurgent Southern Cal.
"It's a win-win situation because as a kid growing up, you dream of going to the Rose Bowl," linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "If (the BCS championship) doesn't fall into our laps, I'm not going to be sitting there with my head down, going, 'Dang, we were so close.' I'll be like, 'Hey, we get to play in Pasadena.' "
Mindful of their flat showing against Florida in the title game a year ago, OSU coaches decided to give the players less of a break before starting bowl workouts. Last year, the team took two and a half weeks off. This year, just one.
The Buckeyes began intense conditioning and weightlifting Monday and will begin practicing in pads Friday.
"One thing they've been emphasizing is making sure we start early and work hard," linebacker Marcus Freeman said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or
at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com
.
Big 12 championship
Who: Missouri (11-1) vs. Oklahoma (10-2)
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
TV: ABC (WKEF Channel 22)
Comments
By Danny
December 1, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
While playing for a national championship is the ultimate goal, it sure would be nice to see Ohio State & USC.
By Bob
November 28, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
I hope both Missouri and WV win just so we can avoid another tour of the Buckeye Bandwagon with all the obnoxious, in-your-face, over the top fans who never watched college football until Tressle showed up.
By JRG
November 28, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Oklahoma beats mizzou. Buckeyes Play for NC. End of story.
By Harry the Horse
November 28, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
Pittsburgh Beats W. Virginia 24-21 in a shocker ! Missouri beats Oklahoma 31-28. Ohio State vs. Missouri in the BCS game in New Orleans. Ohio State has never lost to a Big 12 team in a bowl game (5-0). Ohio State beats Missouri 27-14 and wins the National Championship!! Eat your hearts out Florida, LSU, USC and all the pompous fans in the SEC !!
By Tiger in Ohio
November 28, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Nutbag…
I am sorry, I guess basketball doesn’t count at OSU. So not including the basketball loss to Florida last year, it would be only two losses in the National Championship Game this year.
Hey, I can’t deny the facts on Mizzou’s past. But I like my team’s chances this year better than OSU’s.
Look on the brightside, playing USC in the Rose Bowl will better prepare OSU for next year’s matchup w/ them. Next year will be OSU’s chance - MIZZOU will be back big as well. Cheers!
By Nutbag
November 28, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Tiger in Ohio…
Three national championship game losses in a row? Are you predicting the Bucks to get there again next year, or are you just ignorant of recent CFB history? Hard to tell coming from a fan of a team that hasn’t played a game in January in 40+ years…
By Bob540
November 28, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
Any way it goes, I’d just like for Ohio State to finish with a bowl win. I don’t think Ohio Sate has looked like the best team in the country (but who has?), but I think they would stand a better chance vs. West Virginia in the championship game than in the Rose Bowl vs. USC. I want the entire Big Ten to have a resurgence this year and win their bowl games, whatever those are.
By steveinkc
November 28, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
I will not root against the Mizzou Tigers. I hope they win and play in natl championship game. I would love to play USC and beat them in Rose Bowl…don’t thin America wants to see us in NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!! Now if Pitt beats West Virginia the that is a whole nother deal!!!
By patrick
November 28, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
I asm really 50-50 on the subject. I would love to see our boys as BCS champs, but also OSU hasn’t played in the rose bowl in a long time and I would really like to see them play in it again. And that is why I am torn.
By David
November 28, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Would love to see an OSU- West Virginia match-up
By SEC Fan
November 28, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
As much as I would love the see the Bulldogs rip tOSU a new one in a bowl game, I don’t think GA should be eligible for the BCS Title game. If you don’t win your conference, how can you possibly be held up as the best in the country?
By Tiger in Ohio
November 28, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Careful what you wish for Buckeyes - can your egos handle three consecutive National Championship Game loses? Then again, USC will love to see you guys in the Rose Bowl. Best bet is to hope for a Rose Bowl lose and look ahead to the next two years when you will be much more competitive.
MIZZOU-RAH!!!
By Dale In Georgia
November 28, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
It would be great if both the Sooners and Panthers win. Then, we could have another Big Ten/SEC rematch…our Buckeyes against the Bulldogs—the team that slipped by the Gators this season. It would be a great opportunity to make up for letting our conference down last time around and continue to illustrate where football is really played. Then again, who is to say Kansas and the rest of the top ten BCS teams are not better than Georgia.
By Randy
November 28, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
if ohio state does make it the question is will they blow it agin probably not they are most likely looking for revenge for last year and to think we started the season ranked 12 then eventually to 1 and were probably going to be ranked number 2 or even 1 at seasons end so forever and always GO BUCKS!!!
By Steve
November 28, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this
Go Sooners. I believe Oklahoma is a better team that Mizzouri and they will beat them Satuday night. Also want everyone to remember that West Virginia isnt a lock to beat Pitt. That is a rivalry game and you never know what will happen, Pitt has pulled the upset in the past and beat a much better West Virginia team. I know one of the teams will lose and Ohio Satate will go to New Orleans and win the championship. GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Barbara Danley
November 28, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
Boomer Sooner. I’m an OU (that’s University of Oklahoma, not our friends in Athens) grad school alum and have a son at Ohio State so of course I’m a double cheerleader this Saturday for Oklahoma. Everyone switch one week to Crimson and cheer on the great Sooners. Whatever happens, roses are no consolidation prize; it’s a great bowl game.
By El Presidente
November 28, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this
Dang Skippy!!!!!! Oooooooooook-La-Homa, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain, And the Sooners defeat, Mizzou oh how sweet, and the Buckeyes move on to New Orleans!!!!!!
By Wynne
November 28, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this
GO OHIO STATE WHICH EVER BOWL YOU PLAY IN OHIO STATE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST.
By Dan
November 28, 2007 6:45 AM | Link to this
Don’t get your hopes too high. We have been here before in 1998. Things looked good when Kansas State lost to A&M and UCLA lost to Miami,Fla., but it all crashed when Tennessee beat Miss. State. Mizzou is a very good football team and will be looking for redemption from an earlier loss that Oklahoma won by virtue of a couple of turnovers. I think Pitt has avery good chance of beating West Virginia in this traditional rivalry. They bring an excellent running game to the table.
By rick whitacre
November 28, 2007 6:05 AM | Link to this
go sooners, two out three talking heads on espn predict ok to win also go bearcats.
By rick whitacre
November 28, 2007 6:05 AM | Link to this
go sooners, two out three talking heads on espn predict ok to win also go bearcats.