It seems many college football fans and media members consider the Buckeyes a bunch of overrated chokers who cannot compete with the nation’s best teams. They’ve come to that conclusion because Ohio State has played poorly in four nationally televised games during the last three seasons.
But Tressel doesn’t feel any personal pressure to deliver a win when the Buckeyes (10-2) take on Texas (11-1) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5.
“If we do, that will be wonderful. It won’t change my life,” Tressel said. “If we don’t, that will be disappointing, but it won’t change my life. You might write some bad things about me, but I’ll get over it. So, no, I don’t feel pressure.”
The players are well aware that most of America has little respect for them.
“We’re always a great program and we have great talent,” safety Kurt Coleman said. “The last two years, we haven’t shown up the way we needed to. I think this year it’s a whole new team. We’re going to play Texas and it’ll be a great game. I think we’ll be able to change the perception then.”
The case against the Buckeyes begins with the 2006 national title game, which Florida dominated in pounding Ohio State 41-14. With a cocky, talented lineup that included Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith, the Buckeyes were actually favored going into the landslide loss.
Then came last year, when the Buckeyes muddled through a mediocre schedule, losing their final home game to Illinois. They were No. 8 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings after the setback, but then all the tumblers started to fall into place for them. As one team after another in front of them lost, they climbed to No. 1 in the final BCS rankings, earning a spot opposite a two-loss Louisiana State team in the national championship game.
However, the Buckeyes fell to 0-9 against Southeastern Conference teams in the BCS title game, losing 38-24 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score might indicate.
The disappointments kept coming this season.
Ohio State faced only two teams comparable in talent and lost both times. The fifth-ranked Buckeyes were humiliated 35-3 in a highly anticipated showdown in Los Angeles against then-No. 1 Southern California on Sept. 13. They were without top rusher Chris “Beanie” Wells, who was out with a foot injury, but were badly beaten in every facet after taking a 3-0 lead.
They came back to win their next five games to get back to No. 10 in The poll, only to lose at home to then-No. 3 Penn State 13-6. In that game, Ohio State had difficulty moving the ball because of the inefficiency of freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor and a conservative game plan.
So the Buckeyes enter the Fiesta Bowl as an afterthought. Their opponent is a team that some consider the best in the country. No wonder oddsmakers have tabbed the Longhorns as 8½-point favorites.
The Buckeyes say they are tired of all the putdowns and slights.
“They’re saying that this Fiesta Bowl is the final time for us to get blown out and how it will not be much of a game,” Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso said. “But I think people will be surprised how hard we will come out."
