The Buckeyes have Big
Goals for 2008
Losing two National Championships in a row is tough and
getting to a third should be difficult. But Ohio State
enters 2008 picked by many in the media to return to the BCS Championship game.
The team is preparing to make a run for the Big Ten title and the National
title once again.
By Steve Patterson
One Step at a Time
Fourth year
wide receiver Brian Robiskie feels the team is focused on each step of the
season but is aiming to win the Big Ten title outright for a third consecutive
time. “There has been a lot of hype, but first and foremost we are focused on
winning another Big Ten championship. Everything else, we just need to take one
step at a time.” Robiskie told the media during the annual Fall Media Day.
Tight End Brandon Smith
acknowledges that the team wants a third shot at the BCS title in January. “Of
course every year our main goal is to win the national championship, but we
also want to win a third-straight outright Big Ten title.” Smith said about
getting to the Orange Bowl and Miami
Florida in January.
On Beanie Wells’
Shoulders
The team’s
ability to repeat as Big Ten champs and make it the National Championship will
rest largely on running back Chris Wells who returns for a third season after
putting up over 1,600 yards as a sophomore. “It’s incredible. I feel so much
better as a running back and as a runner.” Wells told everyone about his
condition this year compared to prior years where injuries nagged him early.
“We have
potential to go back to play in the BCS title game. Nobody on the team thinks
we’re guaranteed to go. We know we need to work hard for it. We know we have
potential and maybe we can make it back this year.” Malcolm Jenkins told the
media about the work ethic that will be required to repeat what they
accomplished last year.
Target on the Back
Senior
Linebacker Marcus Freeman knows that every team will be coming after them hard.
“I think this team has the potential to win every game it plays, as long as we
stay focused and keep our eyes on the goal. We have to get out there and prove
ourselves again. We’re excited about our position, but at the same time we have
a pretty big target on our back.” He said.
The team
has a lot of senior leadership and Maurice Wells has been in the program long
enough to experience the good and the bad times. “Our strength is all the
experience we’re bringing back. Our weakness is that we’ve been to the national
championship twice and lost twice. That’s always going to be in the back of our
minds and the voter’s minds. We have to get over the hump.”
* Portions courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com
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