By JON SPENCER
The (Mansfield, Ohio) News Journal

PHOENIX - Seldom-used defensive back Thomas Matthews enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame Friday while being swarmed by the media after Ohio State's first practice in the desert for the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl.

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The backup strong safety from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. became the center of attention when tailback Maurice Clarett revealed Matthews was passing around fliers from a nightclub he visited in Miami over Christmas inviting fans to celebrate back-to-back national championships by the Miami Hurricanes at a party on Jan. 4.

Of course, before that can happen, the 12-0 Hurricanes must beat the 13-0 Buckeyes in their national championship showdown next Friday night in Tempe.

"I brought a couple (of fliers) back with me just to see what everybody thinks about it," said Matthews, a third-year sophomore and one of 10 Floridians on OSU's roster. "They were surprised that (somebody) already made arrangements to have a party and we haven't got the game going yet.

"We're just ready to get out there and show people what we can do."

Co-captain Donnie Nickey didn't hide his anger when asked about the inflammatory flier, which showed former tailback Clinton Portis kissing the national championship trophy after last year's 37-14 title victory over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.

"That's disrespectful," the senior free safety said. "They're already planning a party and they haven't even gotten the job done yet. Who would do that? That's overconfidence. I think they're comfortable and we're hungry.

"We can shock the world. We haven't earned respect all year but this could cement it. It makes me excited about ruining their party."

The flier had the opposite effect on Clarett.

"I kind of like it ... that's funny," he said. "That's part of the entertainment around football. We're going to try and have a good time and upset them, too.

"I don't get into all that bickering back and forth and talking trash, but I like the entertainment and everybody else talking trash. I just like to smile at it, you know what I mean?"

Clarett talked about the party supposedly being hosted by Miami players Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson and Portis, now with the Denver Broncos, but McGahee said he knew nothing about the flier as he left practice on Friday.

"This is the first time I'm hearing about it," the sophomore tailback and Heisman Trophy finalist said. "We aren't planning nothing. (The Buckeyes) can get upset all they want."

Miami center Brett Romberg wasn't surprised that such a flier was circulating.

"It's just our football players and ex-football players are very confident," Romberg said. "But we wouldn't put the cart before the horse. We're excited and confident in our ability and our ex-players are even more confident about our abilities, which is why the fliers are probably available."

The Buckeyes are more likely to draw motivation from a promise coach Jim Tressel supposedly made to the team last winter. He told them he would have his hair styled in corn rows if they went unbeaten this season.

The no-nonsense Tressel may not let his hair down in public, but apparently he would have no trouble putting it in braids if the Buckeyes stun the heavily-favored 'Canes in the Fiesta Bowl.

"We're here for business," linebacker Cie Grant said, "but it would be nice to win and keep him to his word."

Grant was under the impression Tressel would show off the new hairstyle if the Buckeyes finished the regular season unbeaten, but he was willing to extend the promise one more game.

"They misinterpreted our agreement," Tressel said as he left the practice facility at Pinnacle High School on Friday. "Our agreement was to win all of our games."

Asked if he'd live up to his end of the bargain, Tressel said, "Absolutely. I'll do it as soon as my hair is long enough. I've got to start growing it out."