Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/616353
GAME PREVIEW: OHIO STATE BY LOU SOMOGYI ATTITUDE: WHO WANTS IT MORE? Other than for a game with the na‑ tional title implications, the most im‑ portant theme we always emphasize in bowl outings is which team wants to be there more than the other? From the outside looking in, one would think Notre Dame might have the edge in that department. An unbelievable 21 seasons have passed since the Fighting Irish last won a major bowl game, the 24‑21 victory versus Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1994, to finish 11‑1 and No. 2 in the country. This Fighting Irish unit should be hungry to end that drought and prove it belongs with anyone in the country. Conversely, as the defending na‑ tional champion and a preseason fa‑ vorite to repeat its title run, the Ohio State Buckeyes might view not playing for it all a letdown. They were on their way to the four‑team College Football Playoff again with a 10‑0 start — un‑ til the stunning 17‑14 loss at home to Michigan State Nov. 21. Anger ema‑ nated from the program, including star junior running back Ezekiel Elliott rip‑ ping the coaching staff publicly for its play calling. That anger was channeled positively in a 42‑13 stomping of archrival Michi‑ gan the following week in hopes of still being able to make the playoff field. Recovering from major disappoint‑ ment at the end of the regular season or in a conference‑title game is a dif‑ ficult endeavor no matter how proven the head coach is. Examples include Alabama's Nick Saban and even Ohio State's headman, Urban Meyer. In 2008, Alabama lost late to Flor‑ ida in the SEC championship game, knocking it out of the BCS national title game. The Crimson Tide were so unin‑ spired to play Utah in the Sugar Bowl, it quickly fell behind 21‑0 en route to losing to the Utes. A similar case happened in 2013 when a "kick six" return by Auburn in the regular‑season finale prevented Alabama from playing Florida State for the national title. Saban's crew was TOP STOrylineS On Dec. 9, senior defensive lineman Adolphus Washington was suspended from playing in the Fiesta Bowl because of a solicitation charge. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE