No. 1 and ready for the challenge

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Bucks confident they can win national title

BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Michael Wiley will be the Buckeyes' starting tailback this season, but he must limit his fumbles. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

At Ohio State, the aim is always the same.

"To win a national championship is always our goal," said OSU junior cornerback Ahmed Plummer, the former star quarterback from Wyoming High School.

If the Buckeyes do win it all, it will be the first time in 30 years. Memories of 1968 still resonate along the Olentangy River.

Some years, the goal of a national title is more realistic than other years. This year, it's not only realistic, it's expected.

The Buckeyes are the consensus preseason No. 1, and they will waste no time testing that ranking: they open Saturday at No. 11 West Virginia.

"I think we have to take the same approach we've been taking since I've been here and not put too much pressure on ourselves, and just go out and play," Plummer said. "We have the talent. If we put forth great effort and don't think about the hype, we'll be all right. The only place to win is on the field. You can't win it by talking about it or worrying about it."

The Buckeyes have almost everybody back and a schedule that is in their favor: No. 13 Penn State, No. 23 Michigan State and No. 5 Michigan all travel to Columbus this year.

Michigan is 8-1-1 against Ohio State in Cooper's tenure.

"As a player, anywhere you go in Ohio you're going to hear that question: 'Why can't you beat Michigan?' " Plummer said. "That's something else we just have to do, instead of talking about it or worrying about it."

If you're wondering what day to get the pot roast out of the freezer to begin thawing it for the big party, here it is: On Nov. 21, the Wolverines come to Columbus.

"We need to win that game," OSU coach John Cooper said. "We need to do a better job, we need to make plays, coach better, play harder or whatever."

The Big Ten is now part of the Bowl Championship Series. With a perfect season, the Buckeyes would be assured of an opportunity to prove they are No. 1.

"Whether we're the best team in the country or not, I don't know," Cooper said. "I like our football team. I like their attitude, their work ethic."

OSU returns 17 of 22 starters from last year's 10-3 team that lost to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.

The Buckeyes' opening game in Morgantown, W.Va., against the beast of the Big East is one of OSU's toughest openers in years.

"(But) it's not like all of a sudden we're No. 1 and people are going to be up for us," Cooper said. "I don't know if we've ever caught anybody on an off day when we've played them. Everybody we play I'm sure has us underlined."

West Virginia coach Don Nehlen said Ohio State is "probably the best personnel team that's ever come into this stadium. They have blue-chip players at every position."

The returning starters include wide receivers David Boston and Dee Miller, defensive backs Damon Moore and Antoine Winfield, offensive guard Rob Murphy of Moeller High School and All-America Andy Katzenmoyer. The quarterback job is now exclusively Joe Germaine's.

Last year, sharing the starting role with Stanley Jackson, Germaine completed 61 percent of his passes. He was third in the country in passing efficiency. In his Ohio State career, Germaine has thrown for 3,040 yards and 31 touchdowns.

"I'm ready to accept this challenge," Germaine said. "I'm really excited to get this thing going."

There are good running backs to choose from: tailbacks Michael Wiley and Joe Montgomery and fullback Matt Keller, who has packed on 40 pounds since coming to Ohio State.

College football observers love Wiley. With Pepe Pearson graduated, Wiley figures to have a starring role. A year ago, he rushed for 588 yards -- second-best among the Buckeyes, behind Pearson's 869 yards -- for a 5.6-yard average and six touchdowns.

Wiley also caught nine passes for 83 yards and returned 13 kicks for a 26.5-yard average -- including a 100-yarder. When he wasn't running, he was throwing, completing 3-of-4 option passes.

Cooper likes Wiley's big-play ability: "This guy's a rocket. This guy can hit the home run."

Murphy and Katzenmoyer (the Lombardi and Butkus Award winner who is the heart of OSU's top-ranked defense) must pass their summer-school classes to be eligible. They say they will be; the announcement will come Friday or Saturday, Ohio State said.

Murphy suffered a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery after the second game of the season last year. He returned two games later, then aggravated the injury late in the season and missed another game but played against Michigan.

Then he went down early in the Sugar Bowl. The junior left guard had knee surgery in January.

"I honestly feel now I'm physically stronger after getting over the knee problems," Murphy said. "And mentally, this is the best I've ever felt. I feel I can line up against anyone and dominate them."

The Buckeyes' kicking game is outstanding: punter Brent Bartholomew averaged 45.2 yards last season, the fourth-best mark in school history. Placekicker Dan Stultz has a powerful leg.

The offensive line will under the coaches' microscope. The line helped compile OSU's gaudy per-game average of 30 points and 406 yards. But it also allowed 47 sacks.

"We'll have a more physical unit -- or else we'll have some new faces in it," offensive coordinator Mike Jacobs said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.