The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Simple banquets with hundreds of fans mingling with football players used to be the typical way Ohio State celebrated its national championship. Not this year.

The university expects thousands of scarlet-and-gray clad fans to attend today's 45-minute pep rally at 1 p.m. in Ohio Stadium to celebrate the Buckeyes' double-overtime win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

The 1942 championship team had defeated the Iowa Seahawks in a season with no bowl game. About 600 fans attended the annual appreciation banquet in the men's gym.

Back then, people had war, and not football celebrations, on their minds.

"We won the national title and what happened shortly thereafter is that most of us had to go into military service," said Charles Csuri, a tackle on the '42 Buckeyes. "Of course, we were very proud of what had happened, but no big deal was made of it."

Ohio State also won championships in 1954, 1957 and 1968.

"I don't remember anything at all. I think maybe we had a banquet afterward," said Thomas Dillman, who played center and linebacker on the 1954 team that beat Southern Cal 20-7 in the Rose Bowl.

Dave Foley, who played on the offensive line in 1968 and was a captain, said the team was honored at halftime of a men's basketball game 10 days after its 27-16 win over USC in the Rose Bowl.

"There were no ticker-tape parades," he said. "We got a round of applause during halftime of a basketball game. Maybe I got called on to say something, basically, that it was a great experience and thanked the fans for their support, and then we went on with life."

Dirk Worden, a captain on the 1968 team, said he expects today's celebration will be "off the charts." The Ohio State band will perform "Script Ohio" in the 101,568-seat stadium, and speakers are to include coach Jim Tressel and players, university President Karen Holbrook and Gov. Bob Taft.

"I think a lot of it is just the fact that fans have waited so long and had so many heartbreaks," Worden said. "Plus, the way these kids won was fabulous."

If you go

What: 14 & Oh, Ohio State football national championship celebration.

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus

When: Gates open at 11 a.m. Ceremony begins at 1p.m. and should last 45 minutes.

Seats: Free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking: Fans can park free in most lots and garages on campus, but are encouraged to take shuttles from west campus lots. All parking lots must be exited by 3p.m.

TV: Noon-2 p.m., Ohio News Network

KENTUCKY

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker coach Mike Archer has resigned to take a coaching job at Kentucky, Archer and the Steelers said Friday.

The NFL team announced Friday in a statement that Archer had resigned as linebackers coach to become defensive coordinator for the Wildcats.

Tony Neely, a Kentucky football spokesman, would not comment on the Pittsburgh statement, citing university hiring regulations.

"We hope to have an announcement on a new defensive coordinator sometime next week," Neely said Friday.

Archer, 49, joined the Steelers staff in March 1996, spending seven seasons as linebacker coach.

Previously, Archer served at Kentucky as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach during the 1993-95 seasons under then-coach Bill Curry. He was associate head coach during the 1995 season, Neely said. Kentucky was 11-23 during the three seasons Archer was with the Wildcats.

"The Kentucky position and the fact I will be there with my two children, both of whom will be attending the university, is a big plus, as my family is very important to me. I look forward to the challenge of college football," Archer said in Friday's statement.

Archer's son, Jeff, is a baseball player at Kentucky.

WASHINGTON STATE

Outland Trophy winner Rien Long intends to skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Coach Bill Doba disclosed the plans of the All-American defensive tackle to The Spokesman-Review on Friday.

Long notified the NFL this week but could switch plans, Doba said. Under NCAA rules, Long has until midnight tonight to change his mind and return for his senior season.

NOTRE DAME

The school has landed two top recruits, including tight end Greg Olsen, the brother of Irish freshman quarterback Chris Olsen.

Olsen, a 6-foot-6, 245-pounder, committed to the Irish on Thursday, a day after defensive back Tom Zbikowski, a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back from Arlington Heights, Ill.

The ccommitments commitments are good news for Irish fans, some of whom thought Notre Dame's recruiting efforts were on a downward spiral, particularly after top running back prospect Reggie Bush chose USC over the Irish.

Notre Dame Coach Tyrone Willingham cannot comment publicly on the recruits until signing day Feb. 5.

SENIOR BOWL

Southern California's Carson Palmer, Texas' Chris Simms and Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury, all playing for the South squad, bring their 31,000-plus career yards passing against the North All-Stars in today's game for senior NFL prospects.

Iowa State's Seneca Wallace and his North teammates at least won't be blinded by the spotlight on the North side.

"That's how we are, and that's how we like it," Wallace said. "We understand they've got all the big-name guys over there. We've got some big-name guys, too."

Palmer is the biggest name, a Heisman Trophy winner who led USC to an 11-2 season and Orange Bowl victory.

Likely to be one of the first two quarterbacks picked in the NFL draft in April, he ignored the people advising him to skip this game because he had little left to prove.

"It's fun to come out here and have contact with guys you watch on TV every Saturday," Palmer said.