The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - As Ohio State counts down the days to its showdown with top-ranked Miami in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the man who brought most of the Buckeyes' top players to school is busy bouncing his granddaughter on his knee.John Cooper is the odd man out in Ohio State's surge to the national championship game.

Two years after his 13-year tenure ended with a messy firing, Cooper works part-time as a college scout for the Bengals and occasionally does color on national cable telecasts of games.

His heart is still with the Buckeyes, however. That's understandable, since 18 of the 22 starting spots are filled by players he recruited, signed and coached.

"I wish those guys luck," Cooper said. "They're doing a nice job. They're well coached. They're not making mistakes. I take great pride in the fact that we left them some good talent, but I'm not trying to get any credit for what they've accomplished this year. Absolutely not."

Cooper and his wife, Helen, still live in the sprawling house they built in suburban Upper Arlington. Their daughter and son-in-law live next door, giving the grandparents that much more opportunity to spoil 21/2-year-old Olivia.

"It's been a blessing," Cooper said. "I'm doing a lot of baby-sitting. My daughter is expecting another baby, so I've got three women in my life now and another one on the way. I'm trying to be the best father I can, the best husband I can."

Cooper was fired by OSU after going 8-4 two years ago. Buckeyes athletic director Andy Geiger said Cooper's 2-10-1 record against rival Michigan, and 3-8 mark in bowl games, were not reasons for the dismissal.

Geiger said the program was spiraling out of control. In the weeks leading up to Cooper's final game as head coach, a 24-7 beating at the hands of unranked South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, one Buckeye was declared academically ineligible with a 0.00 grade-point average and several others got into scrapes with the law.

Cooper had two years left on his contract. With a record of 193-83-6 at Tulsa, Arizona State and Ohio State, he was hoping to be allowed one more year to reach 200 wins before stepping into the shadows. He never got the chance.

"John Cooper is a good man," Geiger said recently. "John did a lot of good things here at Ohio State. He in a way is part of this football team because he had a hand in most of these guys being here. For anybody to be in denial about that or to try to take that away from him, that's not right."

The Buckeyes are now Jim Tressel's team. He was hired out of Youngstown State to bring a collegial feel to the program. Under Cooper, at times it appeared to be a feeder system to the pros.

Most of the players recruited by Cooper are still loyal to him.

"You can't bash coach Cooper, in my eyes anyway," OSU offensive lineman Ivan Douglas said. "His record wasn't the best against Michigan, but you can also look at all the other games that he won for this university. He was definitely a good coach."

Linebacker Cie Grant said he could understand why Cooper has been shoved into the background by the Buckeyes' success.

"The fans and people outside don't really know what goes on in here," Grant said. "I can see as a fan that it would get frustrating year after year losing to your rival. I don't think it was all coach Cooper, though. We talk about the team so much. It was all on the team, from the coaching staff to the players."

Cooper shows up occasionally at Ohio State functions. He has been spotted in the press box during football games. He appeared at a charity fund-raiser last summer and sat near Tressel.

Geiger said he hasn't spoken to Cooper at length.

"I say hi when I see him," Geiger said. "I'm sure I'm not his favorite person."

Cooper is working on New Year's Eve as a commentator on the Silicon Valley Classic bowl game between Fresno State and Georgia. He's looking forward to being home in time to watch most of the games on Jan.1 and thereafter.

Cooper no longer has to guard his emotions.

"I'm not as uptight as I used to be. I'd be lying to you if I told you that," he said with a laugh. "I watch them and get excited like all the other fans."