Battered Buckeyes tackle their demons

Here's Ohio State's motivation in this crazy, mixed-up season: Nine months ago only one team showed up in the BCS national championship game.

The Buckeyes spent a long, painful night being schooled by it.

OT Alex Boone still hasn't fully recovered from the BCS embarrassment. (Getty Images)

"We overlooked them," offensive tackle Alex Boone said of Florida. "We said, 'We've got Troy (Smith) and Teddy (Ginn Jr.) and we've got all these great superstars. We handle this.' We couldn't.

"It's a different experience when you come away from a game like that. You don't think too highly of yourself."

Boone, not exactly an All-America performer himself in that 41-14 loss to the Gators, knew exactly the implication of his words. In fact, he was just getting warmed up.

"I'm still not over it," the junior added. "I never will be. That's kind of one of the games that sticks in your head for a really long time. I don't think the team has gotten over it yet."

Ohio State got back to No. 1 this week, quicker than it could get back its self-esteem. Maybe that's college football these days. If South Florida can get to a BCS bowl before its 12th birthday, then the Buckeyes can fix things on the fly. But, gosh, it's still painful especially after what Boone suggested.

Poll When will OSU lose its first game? 28% They won't!   13% Saturday vs. MSU   7% Nov. 3 vs. Wisconsin   22% Oct. 27 at Penn State   5% On Nov. 10 vs. Illinois   19% Nov. 17 in the Big House   6% In the BCS Championship Game   Total Votes: 14215

Ohio State played the game in its heads before it kicked off on the field, resulting in the second-largest margin of victory in the history of the BCS title game.

Coach Jim Tressel reminded the staff and players that they were 0-1 in 2007 coming into the season. Running back Maurice Wells admitted over the summer that "0-1" was part of the access code to get into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Before security codes, Woody probably would have torn down a few doors.

"Overconfidence," Boone said. "We thought we were No. 1. We knew we were No. 1. We went in and they showed us they were No. 1. Their speed, how physical they were and how smart they were ..."

Boone gave voice to what a lot of observers were thinking the night of Jan. 8. Not only was Florida better -- and by extension the entire SEC -- the best Big Ten team in years believed it without finishing the job.

"In reality, that's the thing I'll remember the most in my Ohio State career," said right tackle Kirk Barton, a team captain. "I really don't remember any of the wins. I remember losing to Texas. We lost to Penn State in '05. Those are the games that teach you life's lessons.

"The biggest thing is you get knocked out. You have to get off the mat for Round 2. This season is kind of like Round 2."