The Fighting Irish saw Elliott as a defensive back. He wanted to run the football, picked Ohio State and knows he made the right call. His national championship ring testifies to that.
A victory at 1 p.m. Friday in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., would reinforce Elliott’s conviction.
“This is a great matchup,” Elliott said. “Two very historical teams, two teams with a great pedigree. It’s great that we get to play these guys in this bowl game.”
Elliott also talked Tuesday in a press conference at the Camelback Inn about his car accident on Sunday in Columbus. He was cited for driving with a suspended license, driving with no operator’s license and for failure to control. His status for Friday’s game against Notre Dame is unchanged. He will still play.
“First and foremost, I wasn’t aware my license was suspended,” Elliott said. “I’m doing everything I can now and my dad is doing everything he can to get that handled and get my license back. I’m just glad no one was injured and everyone was all right. That’s the most important thing to me. It was a scary situation. I’m just trying to put it behind me and focus on this game.”
Series history: Ohio State and Notre Dame will play for the sixth time. This is the first matchup in nine years, and fans will have to wait only another five for a two-game series between the programs.
Twenty years ago, however, the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish played for the first time since 1937. Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell played in that game for Ohio State as a junior nose guard.
“Growing up in Columbus, being an Ohio State fan, recruited by Notre Dame, having similarities, it was something special,” Fickell said.
Behind 207 yards rushing and two touchdowns by Eddie George, No. 7 Ohio State routed No. 15 Notre Dame 45-26 at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes trailed 20-14 midway through the third quarter. Fickell had 10 tackles.
Starters out: Before his team began practice Tuesday at Scottsdale Community College, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said starting cornerback Devin Butler will miss the Fiesta Bowl after breaking his foot in practice Monday and starting safety Max Redfield was sent home because of a violation of team rules.
Sophomore Nick Watkins will start for Butler at cornerback, Kelly said, and Alter High School graduate Nick Coleman, a freshman who has appeared in all 12 games, mostly on special teams, will be in the mix as well.
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