Cincinnati remembers 2002 loss to OSU

Former Buckeye coordinator Mark Dantonio brings his Bearcats to Columbus.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- When Ohio State fans think about the most important win during the 2002 national championship season, they undoubtedly recall the stirring double-overtime victory over No. 1 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
Or maybe the overtime win at Illinois. Or repelling a late Michigan drive to win another squeaker.
None of those would have been all that "impactful" (to steal one of coach Jim Tressel's favorite made-up words) if it weren't for what happened weeks earlier in the fourth game of that season.
Struggle in Cincy
Two of Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli's passes into the end zone were dropped in the final minute and a third was intercepted by Will Allen on the last play to clinch Ohio State's 23-19 win at Paul Brown Stadium.
"It was one of those days where you were just in shock," Ohio State place-kicker Mike Nugent said. "How was this happening? It was one of those days where nothing was coming together for the team."
Yet in the end, everything did come together. Much of the magic that followed -- which ended the Buckeyes' 34-year wait for a national crown -- may not have mattered if it weren't for the tense win on the banks of the Ohio River.
"That was kind of the game that brought our whole team together," Buckeyes linebacker Bobby Carpenter said. "It set the stage for the rest of the season."
Now Cincinnati is coming to Ohio Stadium to open the 2004 season today (noon, WUAB-43), dredging up a lot of flashbacks for both sides.
"There's about 50 story lines this year," said Guidugli, back for his senior season.
It will be the first game of Mark Dantonio's head coaching career at Cincinnati. He was Ohio State's defensive coordinator in that 2002 game.
He remembers how relieved the Buckeyes were to escape Cincinnati with a win. Now he has seen how that loss affected his current team.
"That has sat with the players for a couple of years," Dantonio said. "That's not a bad thing."
Zwick under center
Ohio State, ranked No. 9 despite having only nine starters back, will unveil a new quarterback (Justin Zwick), several fresh faces and three new assistant coaches. Mark Snyder was elevated to defensive coordinator to take Dantonio's place.
"It's going to be weird to see all those guys on the other side," said Zwick, a sophomore who edged out Troy Smith for the job. Smith will still see action.
The Buckeyes have not lost to another Ohio college since a 7-6 setback to Oberlin in 1921.
"I haven't lost a home game yet," linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "I heard somewhere where Ohio State hasn't lost to another Ohio school in 80-some years. Hopefully we can keep that going."
Even Tressel approaches the opener with a degree of anxiety despite a 25-2 record over the past two seasons.
"You're always nervous. I've been nervous every game I've ever gone into," he said. "Maybe [I'm] a little bit more anxious because of the unknown."