Despite bowl ban, Ohio State to go all out this football season

Columbus, OH, United States (4E Sports) – A bowl ban will not deter the Ohio State Buckeyes from going all-out and showcasing their talent this season, with sophomore defensive back Bradley Roby calling it a “redemption year”.

“We know last year we didn’t have that good of a year. So this year we’re going to come out and show everybody why we’re Ohio State,” said Roby after the Buckeyes’ first practice session under first-year coach Urban Meyer.

The Buckeyes will face Miami (Ohio) in their season opener on Sept. 1.

“The goal is to go 12-0,” junior running back Carlos Hyde said. “Even though we can’t go to a bowl game, we’ve still got to go out there and play with a chip on our shoulders (and) let the world know who the Buckeyes are this year.”

Roby described the Buckeyes’ first practice under Meyer “crisp” with both the offensive and defensive units making plays. He said coaches were “on” the players, suggesting a sense of urgency felt throughout the program to bounce back from the program’s first losing season since 1998.

“It was totally different than with Coach (Jim) Tressel. The whole intensity. It was more urgent. More intensity,” Roby said.

“You could tell that guys definitely knew what they were doing,” Defensive lineman Garrett Goebel said. “I haven’t watched the film yet, but it didn’t seem like there were a lot of mental mistakes. That’s always good.”

“We came out executing (Friday),” Hyde said. “We had a better feel (than in the spring). It felt good. It was sharp today. Braxton was completing passes. He was looking pretty good.”

The NCAA penalized Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and additional penalties for violations that started with eight players reportedly taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

The NCAA alleged that then coach Jim Tressel was tipped to the violations in April 2010 but didn’t tell anyone even after the athletes got caught last December but were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

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