Buckeyes are in need of a boost in confidence

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

It’s easy to be a team leader when everything is going well.

Except this hasn’t been the best of times for the youthful Ohio State Buckeyes, who are now relying on their upperclassmen to offer some guidance heading into the discouraged team’s game on Saturday against Colorado (1-2).

For a team used to being among the nation’s elite — the Buckeyes had been in the Associated Press Top 25 for 103 consecutive weeks until dropping out of the most recent rankings — the 24-6 loss at Miami on Saturday night has required a history lesson from the veterans.

“This happened two years ago when we lost to USC — and we even lost to Purdue that year — and yet we went on to win the Rose Bowl,” center Mike Brewster said. “We know there is a lot to play for this year. We need to get after it this week, get back on the right track and get ready for the Big Ten because we want to get to Indianapolis [for the conference championship game] still. That’s our goal.”

To do that, the Buckeyes not only have to clean up a lot of personnel issues and lingering problem areas in all facets, but also must have their most experienced players show the way to the glut of youngsters who have been forced by graduation and suspensions into playing pivotal roles.

After several years of being a national contender, Ohio State (2-1) is suddenly just another team coming off a disappointing loss. Interim coach Luke Fickell believes that the players must be told that things will work out despite this rocky patch.

“We have such an incredibly high standard for those guys and we preach it, then all of a sudden when something [bad] happens it’s such a letdown to them that it’s hard,” he said.

He said when Miami scored on its first two possessions, the first set up by Lamar Miller’s 54-yard burst on the first Hurricanes play from scrimmage, it was as if the Buckeyes didn’t know how to react.

“It was almost like, wow, you could see the youth,” Fickell said. “They were shell shocked they scored that easily, instead of responding.”