Wednesday, November 19, 2003
The Buckeyes and their 26 seniors savored the moment after beating Purdue.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- A few seconds after Ohio State senior quarterback Craig Krenzel had sung "Carmen Ohio" for the last time, he watched the rest of the Buckeyes head back to the locker room.
But he waited. He wasn't ready to leave.
"There were a few of us that stayed down on the field a little longer than usual," Krenzel said. "We just kind of looked around and let it all soak in. It's our last game in the 'Shoe.' "
And even though the Buckeyes won -- beating Purdue 16-13 in overtime -- Krenzel wasn't quite sure how to feel.
"It's kind of a sad day, and you knew it had to come to an end sometime," he said. "[But] to have it end like this couldn't be any better."
16-0 at home
Over the past two seasons, Ohio State has gone 16-0 at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes have finished undefeated at home 30 times, but Saturday's win marked the first time they've done it back-to-back since 1983-84.
"When you've been someplace for so long, it almost feels like a second home," said senior defensive lineman Tim Anderson. "Obviously, I think we're all a little bit sad that we'll never walk into that stadium to play again, and walking into the locker room and all those things.
"We've been undefeated in the Horseshoe for the last few years, and we made a game to remember tonight."
Ohio State and its 26 seniors have not lost a home game since Nov. 17, 2001, when eventual Big Ten-champion Illinois defeated the Buckeyes, 34-22. Ohio State since has won eight straight Big Ten games at home.
"I just think it was a great experience," said senior defensive lineman Will Smith. "In my four years of being here, we went from being an average team to being a great team.
"We've been a lot of places and seen a lot of people. Coming back to end on this note, undefeated in the past two years, is great."
Down to final play
And, like so many others, the game came down to the final play.
Ohio State, which is 4-0 all-time in overtime, has won both of its overtime games this season -- beating North Carolina State in three overtimes in September.
The Buckeyes also have won 11 of 12 games in which the outcome was decided by 7 points or less -- the only loss coming earlier this season at Wisconsin.
"We have a lot of faith that if we play as hard as we can, good things will happen," Tressel said. "We lost a tough one earlier that was tight, but our guys just keep going."
And, like so many times before, the Buckeyes held on.
Two games to go
OSU still has two games left -- including Saturday's 100th Ohio State-Michigan game -- but the graduating seniors made sure their last home game was a winning one.
"It's been a great stay and I'm going to miss the 'Shoe," Smith said. "I'm going to miss you guys and I'm going to miss Ohio State University."