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Familiar haunts

Ohio State is back in the national title game, and the returning starters are among those trying to shake Gator ghosts of last year.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis says last year's loss to Florida is not a factor: "This is a new game, a new team."

NEW ORLEANS

For the Ohio State Buckeyes defense, the memory lingers and always will.

"I still think about it," linebacker James Laurinaitis said Saturday morning. "It's something in the back of your mind."

"Looking at the scoreboard and seeing them celebrating is something we'll remember the rest of our lives," added linebacker Marcus Freeman. "We definitely weren't impressed with the way we left the season."

Losing 41-14 to Florida in last year's Bowl Championship Series national title game will have that effect. But to a man, the Buckeyes say they haven't clipped and displayed pictures in their homes or lockers of the Gators hoisting the crystal trophy.

Such material, they insist, isn't necessary to motivate the Buckeyes (11-1), ranked No. 1 as they were this time last season, as they prepare for Monday's BCS finale against LSU (11-2) in the Superdome.

"I don't think this is a redemption game or (one of) revenge or payback," said Laurinaitis, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, Butkus Award winner as the nation's top linebacker, and consensus All-American. "If you're not motivated just to be in the national championship game, if that's not enough, I don't know how you get pysched up.

"... And it's not like we have to go out and win this game because we lost last year's title. This is a new game, a new team."

Well, that's true enough, but the new faces on the field for the Buckeyes do have a shared experience from Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. - chasing Gators and not catching them, or not catching them quickly enough- are back on the biggest stage. And again, the opponent is from the SEC. The Buckeyes are 0-8 against the SEC in bowls.

"I would suspect there's internal motivation," Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said of the embarrassing loss a year ago. "To say that it's not would be wrong."

That, however, was more evident in the offseason than the past few weeks and days as the Buckeyes realized they had to get faster, stronger and tougher across the board.

"A lot of people say it was (their speed), but if you really watch film, Florida just outphysicaled us," said Freeman, who along with Laurinaitis had 15 tackles in the game. "They pounded the ball down our throats. Yeah, they hit us with a couple of speed things, but Florida dominated the game that we thought we could dominate them in - a physical game."

Actually, the defensive problems the Buckeyes had against the Gators were present in the regular-season finale against Michigan. The Wolverines racked up nearly 400 yards and 39 points, only to fall 42-39 thanks to the brilliance of OSU quarterback Troy Smith, who sealed the Heisman Trophy that day.

"People said how good we were and we started to believe it and then you saw the Michigan performance and we won by a little and they ran all over us," Laurinaitis said. "And then you obviously saw the Florida performance. We came into this year saying, 'No matter how well we do in a previous week, never get satisfied; always have that hunger to get better.'"

He said you can see that in an increased effort and the stats bear that out. The Buckeyes are ranked first nationally in total defense (225.25 yards, pass defense (148.2 yards) and scoring defense (10.7 points).

"We're a defense that just flies to the ball," Laurinaitis said.

Although they had their troubles against Illinois and quarterback Juice Williams in a 28-21 loss in Columbus, it's the questions about the Florida game that come fast and furious.

"Over 365 days, you get it probably 365 (times)," cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said with a laugh. "If I look back now, it still hurts; it's still something that has a bitter taste in my mouth. But we have another chance to have a victory and get that taste out of our mouths."

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.comor (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 22:41:16]