Ohio State ready to rebound after big loss

By: Drew Champlin | Dothan Eagle
Published: September 18, 2008

Ohio State players say that last week’s 35-3 loss at No. 1 USC won’t keep them down.

The Buckeyes, who have been to the last two national championship games but have been humiliated by southern teams in both, were blitzed again on national television by the Trojans.

The loss will likely eliminate the Buckeyes from any title consideration should they win out and no other teams finish undefeated, but players insist that loss is in the past.

“We’re hungry now,” freshman running back Dan Herron said. “We were hurting after a big loss like that, but we’re ready to go now. We’ve been working hard and going fast. We’re looking forward to playing the rest of the season. We have a lot of games to go.”

Herron will get the call if All-American running back Chris “Beanie” Wells can’t play again because of a toe injury. Wells has missed the last two games since the injury in OSU’s opener.

OSU players aren’t overlooking Troy, a team that has put a scare into nationally-ranked teams on the road in the past, but hasn’t been able to come up with that big win.

The teams kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday in Columbus.

“They’re an athletic team,” defensive back Kurt Coleman said. “We know they’re tough and that has helped us focus on this weekend.

“They’re a team that will travel anywhere to play any team. We’re going to approach this game as if it was a national championship.”

Troy also has the respect of OSU head coach Jim Tressel, who held his weekly media session Tuesday.

“They thrashed Middle Tennessee pretty good, and we all know what Middle Tennessee has done the last couple weeks ... and Troy had their way with them,” Tressel said. “Their whole personality is made up on the fact that 10 years ago they wanted to be Division I and they said their road to Division I is to go to every great stadium in America and introduce themselves to that team.”

The Buckeyes will be without 6-foot-7, 335-pound left guard Steve Rehring, a three-year starter, is out with a foot injury suffered against USC. The injury could shake up OSU’s entire offensive line.

Another announcement on Wells’ status could be made today.

According to media outlets that cover Ohio State, Wells practiced for the second straight day Wednesday.

If he can’t go, Herron, sophomore Brandon Saine and senior Maurice Wells will all get carries.

One up? Troy safety Tavares Williams said he’s already faced Ohio State with Troy on the video game NCAA Football 2009.

“We beat them like 21-13 on our season,” Williams said. “We put (wide receiver) Jerrel (Jernigan) at quarterback and he outruns all the D-linemen. We send our receivers on fly routes and get their (defensive backs) out of the way.

“That’s not going to work in real life. We can’t put Jerrel out there and expect him to outrun them. They’re too good.”