Yes, after last Monday night's game I stayed away from this space purposely.  The Disintegration in the Desert proved a bit hard to digest for a myriad of reasons, but there's little sense in rehashing them.  It's best to just thank the Buckeyes for the ride this year and deal with what's going on around the team.

Well, gee, George, what might that be?

Well, considering that other than Troy Smith, who is graduating, Anthony Gonzalez, Ted Ginn Jr. and Antonio Pittman are all coming out as juniors.  That's gotta leave Coach Jim Tressel wondering who the heck is going to be scoring for him next year.  Yeah, that's a good question.  That will sort itself out in spring practice, I assume.  We shall see, but Bucks fans should probably forget any dreams of a national championship sprint for the next couple of years. But no one should begrudge the three above for pursuing NFL dreams, because they have to believe they've done everything they could to get the Bucks over the top.  All of them, however, should find success playing on Sundays.

What I'm going to be interested in seeing, however, is where they fall.  The only sure-fire first round pick the experts claim is Ginn.  I can believe that, but he may not have been the best receiver on the Buckeyes' roster coming out.  The NFL loves speed and he's got that to spare, but Gonzalez may actually be the better receiver.  Reports say Gonzalez is just as fast as Ginn, but he's also savvy, comes through in the clutch and has reliable hands. Reports say that he would fall to the second round.  With all due respect to those suffering from a case of Homeboyitis (those who want the Browns to draft Troy Smith), I'd take Gonzalez before him, but of course the Browns have too many glaring needs to ever consider drafting yet another receiver in the second round. And they'd best not be casting their eyes on a quarterback either, no matter how attractive and popular he might be.  It's football, not public relations.

Pittman is an interesting case.  He's projected as a second or third rounder.  With Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson coming out, he's going to fall a wee bit further down the draft ladder unless he blows the scouts and execs away with a stellar workout.  We shall see.  If nothing else, this off season is setting up to be an intriguing experience.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Yes, I heard the Buckeyes talk about the pent-up frustration and just wanting to get things over, but that was a heck of a way to come out of the gate with Ted Ginn Jr. going 92 yards for a TD.  Of course as it showed on Florida's subsequent return, that could work against you as well as the Gators got a decent return also. 

 Update:  It's clear that on Florida's opening drive they're only going to take what the Buckeyes give them and Urban Meyer isn't going to have a problem switching things up as you can see with Tim Tebow getting a carry.

Then on the TD one of the Buckeyes DBs cheated up, leaving Dallas Baker uncovered.  The Bucks D should settle down and play after that.  If you remember the regular season, however, they always gave up points early then proceeded to calm.

 Update II Bucks First Drive:  It's too early in the game to call anything crucial but for the Gators to come out and stop the Bucks' offense on the opening drive only builds momentum for the defense and entire team.  And now they're going to compound things with dumb penalties.  Here's the reality of the situation, about the only thing that can stop the Buckeyes is the Buckeyes.

Update III Florida's Second Drive:  So right now, it's apparently clear that one team showed up in the fist quarter at least as Florida continues to drive down the field.  You want to talk about a momentum shift.  Here it is.  The Buckeyes came in with all the cred in the world, yet here in the first quarter they've given up 14 primarily because of a short field and two dumb penalties.  I wrote a couple of times that they ran the risk of becoming Miami - the team they beat in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl - if they didn't play to their abilities.

Update IV OSU's Second Drive:  You would know that they put me in a section next to a bunch of liquored up Gator fans.  I'm not in the pressbox.  I'm in the spill over media area.  Impressive return by Gonzalez and it's needed too because you know that after that opening kick off the Gators will not be kicking to Ginn again.  This drive is where the Buckeyes just might have to go Woody Hayes on the Gators.  Establish Pittman.  Establish the fact that their O-line is more powerful than their D-line.  Pittman's first down was essential.  Smith loses 10 yards on a sack.  Think that doesn't weaken any momentum that first down gave the offense?

What's that I said about dumb penalties? You think they'd be debating that long layoff between the Michigan game and whatever bowl game the Bucks end up in again?  I do.  Is there a rust factor here? Three dumb penalties and a rare Troy Smith interception says that it doesn't hurt.  And where are the O'line that he thanked in his Heisman speech?

Update IV Florida's Third Drive:  You think that Urban Meyer skipped the Michigan and actually may have studied film from the Northwestern game when Ohio State was hit more than a few times deep and over the middle?  They're giving up chunks of yardage that way and it highlights a glaring weakness the team has had all year.   And it's quite obvious OSU didn't study up on the trickeration.  I don't know if they thought the Gators would come out using reverses the entire game, but the D's heads are not into this game.

Quarter break:  Without a doubt that was the worst quarter of football that the Ohio State Buckeyes have played all year.  There's no offensive flow.  They're borderline comatose out there.  The strength of this team was supposed to be in its veteran leadership.  Well these fifth year seniors - Smith, Datish, Pitcock, Richardson - had best step up real soon or this will have been for naught.

Update IV Florida's Third Drive (continued):  Three for three.  Three possession three touchdowns.  So far the Buckeyes offense left their game back on Nov. 18. 21-7.

Update V OSU's Third Drive:  OSU finally shows some semblance of life with the official's help. Hartline gets a 13-yard grab and a penalty is tacked on.  Troy Smith takes off when the pass isn't there and he may have to do more of that.  And like I said, it's time to go Woody Hayes - start off by pounding the ball, do you really think they expect that? Pittman TD …NUFF SAID.

Update VI Florida's Fourth Drive:  Here is where the defense needs to step up and tighten it up.  The rust had better been shaken off after giving up 21 points.  Someone said something to Aaron Pettrey as he sends a kickoff through the end zone.  The Buckeyes are showing the ability to press Leak. Although he's not made a mistake yet, he did throw 13 picks this year for Florida.  You hit him and you might be able to rattle him. This is a pivotal third and five situation.  The Bucks either make a statement or this becomes a shootout and you don't make a statement with shoddy tackling, they had a chance to prevent the first down.  All right, someone said something to the defense.  That's the best they've looked all night.

 Update VII Buckeyes Fourth Drive:  Smith misses wide on a throw, but the scary part is that he had the entire left side of the field open to run.  I realize that he wants to be a passer, but he cannot be afraid to pull the ball down and run with it if it's there - and he won't be likely to have that much room to rumble again.  A third and 10 and he misses wide. 

Update VIII Florida's Fifth Drive:   Apparently the Gators D won't have to worry about Ted Ginn any longer, apparently he's done.  The Gator placeckicker is mediocre at best, yet he splits the uprights - an ominous sign?

Update IX Buckeyes Fifth Drive:  That's not exactly what was meant by ground it out.  Are you kidding me?  Fourth and less than a yard on the Bucks 31 and we go for it?  What lunacy is that?  I realize that you have a high-powered offense, but that is akin to admitting that you're desperate to build momentum - any momentum.  It also puts a defense that has been less than stellar so far with their backs against the wall.

Update X Florida's Gift:  I can't even call that a drive because any reasonable person would have to question Tressel's decision to go for it on fourth down that deep in your own territory.  There's 1:47 remaining in the half.  If the offense needs to put some points on the board to go into the locker room with any sort of momentum.  Right now Big Mo is on Floriday's side - even more so with that fumble by Smith.

Update XI Florida's Second Gift:  I don't see the confidence, nor do I see the swagger.  What I do see is this team killing itself.  There's little doubt about that and we may very well have watched the game be over right there as Florida scores again.  QB Tim Tebow baited the Bucks into thinking he was going to run only to pull up and throw it. 

The brual reality:  Outcoached.  Outplayed.  That's the only way to put it.  The Bucks showed a lack of discipline on Florida's first two drives getting flagged for 15-yard penalties.  Troy Smith has been harassed for the better part of the half and with his willingness to hold on to the ball until his receivers spring free, he's getting hit.  On at least two occasions he had little but wide open field in front of him.  The Buckeyes had the opportunity to take charge of this on the ground, but have persisted in throwing the ball.

Tressel blew that label of being too conservative into tiny little pieces with that ill-advised fourth down call in the Buckeyes own territory forcing the defense that hadn't performed thus far to hold back the Gators, to their credit they held them to three points.  But what of most of the rest of the half?  Meyer and his coaching staff exposed those holes that everyone thought to be there this year, especially in the passing game.

You play football for four quarters, however.  If Florida had a substantive run game, I'd say this was over - but they do not.  Is this over?  Maybe.  We'll see if Tressel and his staff can adjust and if his players wake up.

 Florida offense: 220 total yards.  Buckeyes:  73.  Florida 34-14.  Remember the 2003 Fiesta Bowl?

You can tell a coach is getting antsy when he opens a press conference with the lines:

"I don't know what else to say except that we've received terrific treatment as always." So said Jim Tressel in his last pre-game press conference before tomorrow's big rumble in Glendale, Ariz. Those words alone suggest he's ready to get this thing over. I know the players have been ready to go for some time, they said as much during the media day in Columbus last month.

Any reasonable football fan would have to wonder how a 51-day layoff would effect the team and even Florida has been idle for more than a month. Fun, fun fun. That begs another question. Has the time lapsed between the end of the season and now led fans to have a ho-hum attitude? You couldn't say thate judging from those that attended the Buckeye Bash at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But if you look at the on-air advance play on the host network, FOX, there isn't one-tenth the build up we've seen in other games. Remember the game-of-the-century hype for OSU vs. Michigan just this past November? Instant classic they said?

I think that part of the collective yawn that there appears to be out there comes courtesy of a belief by many that the Buckeyes will systematically dismantle Florida. I am going to repeat this one more time. Remember the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Folks said the same about the Miami Hurricanes. We all know how that ended.

There are significant differences, however. Ken Dorsey was no Troy Smith, he lacked the toughness, mentally and physically, that Smith possesses to spare. This Buckeyes team has too many weapons. Rushing? Antonio Pittman with Beanie Wells backing him up. At receiver? HAH!! Although Dallas Baker, Jemalle Cornelius and Percy Harvin are impressive, if Smith can't hit Ginn, he'll hit Gonzalez. If he can't hit Gonzalez, there's Roy Hall. What, no Hall? There's Robiskie. No Robiskie? Hartline. 'Nuff said.

If there is a weak link, and they've heard this all year, it's the Bucks' defense. This is likely where the game will be won. You have to know that University of Florida Coach Urban Meyer has been studying the film from the Michigan like a teen-ager watching The 40 Year Old Virgin for the 50th time on DVD. Like any football game it's simple. They control the line of scrimmage (along with minimizing the effect of trickeration) and OSU wins.

By now everyone knows that Urban Meyer, the University of Florida's head coach, is a native of Ashtabula, Ohio.  But there's something more relevant about his success.  He's become another branch in a solid as an oak coaching tree - joining the likes of Shula, Noll and, yes, Tressel.

More important he realizes those Ohio roots are important.  He especially remembered the time he spent working with Coach Earle Bruce:

"Everything we do ties into building tradition, the Gator Walk, singing the fight song with the student body.  All those type of things i learned first at Ohio State."

I never knew what a spaceship looked like while on the ground - until yesterday at the media circus for the Tostitos BCS Championship Game. That's what University of Phoenix Stadium looked like from the outside. Or for you Star Wars geeks think of those round buildings at Mos Eisley (you know the wretched hive of scum and villainy). Either way it was hideous. But looks can be deceiving - very deceiving because from the inside it was impressive.

But I digress. Friday was the first day that we got to see both teams up close. And the first thing that struck me - NCAA football, a multi-billion dollar business - is in the hands of a bunch of guys who can barely shave. Well that's not entirely true. They don't exactly run it, but if you consider that without them there is no show then you can see my point. That's why statements this week by Anthony Gonzalez in which he endorsed some form of compensation for college athletes isn't completely wacko.

Despite the fact that they were so young, I was kind of in awe of some of these players - on both teams - and their ability to field questions and answer them with reasonable skill - especially Percy Harvin and Brian Robiskie. Harvin apparently got into trouble on the field while he was in high school and arrive at the University of Florida with a slight rep. As for Robiskie, his father Terry was recently fired by the Cleveland Browns from his position as wide receivers coach.

I may not agree with Harvin's assessment of his situation:

‘’I was put in some tough situations it was a lot of news people who took the stuff they heard and wrote about it,’’ he said, ‘’and didn’t really know the inside story. So when I came here, a burden just got off me. It was a clean, fresh beginning for me and my moms.’’

However, I don't know the entire story either. So hey, who am I to judge?

As for Robiskie, you can read his comments in a story from Marla Ridenour. He could have very easily blown off the questions and refused to address the issue, but he acted like a pro.

I'm coming to the conclusion that this sportswriting gig is a lot of hurry up and wait. The objects of our obsessions make us hurry up, then make us wait endlessly to get what we need. In some instances - like today - it was worth it.

It was during that wait mode that I checked out a left coast delicacy that I didn't need - In -n- Out Burger. I read it was a favorite of some Buckeyes players. Now I know why - heaping amounts of beef and suitable amounts of greasy stuff. Yup, the arteries will pay for that one. In the brief time I was gone, however, one of those little nuggets popped up in the form of OSU Athletic Director Gene Smith. He was holding court outside the team's super duper secret practice facility.

What was the topic of the day? Well there were several, but the one that kept coming up was that monster contract that Nick Saban - the Larry Brown of football - agreed to with the University of Alabama today. Eight years? 32 mill? Think ADs at Big Boy Football Schools aren't sweating those dollars?

For the record, Coach Tressel downplayed Saban's money grab (yes, that's harsh, but if he knew his heart wasn't into coaching the pros, he should have kept his butt at LSU) and he doesn't expect much of an influence. Of course he can say that because if his team wins Monday he's in the driver's seat as far as contract negotiations.

"Probably not. We didn't have a budget of $4 million for the entire athletic department (when he first started,)" he said. "I don't think it will have a ripple effect. There aren't that many positions yet to fill, and there will be as many people saying, 'Oh, that's crazy we'll never do that' as there will be people who feel they have to keep up with the market."

If you say so, coach.

Yeah, it's my second day here in Scottsdale and at least I am coherent.  I couldn't say the same for yesterday.  Not even close.  I was just cruisin' a little.

But today was a day to get to the heart of the matter. My colleague, Marla Ridenour, got to hit up the Buckeyes in interviews.  Me?  I got the Florida side of things.  Not a bad assignment consdering there were plenty of decent quotes to come from the exercise.  They should appear in Friday's paper.

This is where my further education into the realm of sportswriting continues.  For those of you who've not been paying attention, catch up already.  I used to wax poetic about film.  Well I wrote about movies, but there was little poetry to worry about.  At any rate, another lesson I've learned since entering this universe - sportswriting is a lot like sports.  In what ways?  It follows thusly:

Patience:  You must have this quality to get your "in" as it were.  Apparently in today's sportswriting environment this is essential.  Why?  Because it gives you the ability to sit wait…and wait…and wait…and wait some more while coaches and athletes coiff their hair.  This happened to me today while waiting for the Florida Gators as they went through a full workout and drills after field practice that would make them, well…late.

Mental tenacity:  If you don't know why this is necessary or like sports read above.  Or take into consideration how  teams and indviduals respond to adversity.  Something goes wrong you, either brush yourself off and get back up or you turn into Al Bundy of Married With Children fame.  I apparently possess this quality because I ably stuck it out until Florida's players and coaches made an appearance.

Conditioning:  This is most important.  You have to be at least in pretzels-and-beer shape to be able to dash from subject to subject to get those minimal quotes you need to build a story around.  No, it doesn't involve being stuck in a buffet line, although that is much preferable.  It does, however, mean that you have to have all senses on the look out so that you can dash about on a moment's notice and to get a quote worth using.

Positioning:  Couple this with conditioning and this is probably the most important element of covering sports. Why?  Because when you get your three minutes of time with a star athlete, you have to be able to manipulate your body like a snake to be able to get your recorder close enough to an interview topic's puss to get audible audio.  The problems you might incur?  Well if you're not used to lifting weights, be prepared to have your arm change to spaghetti before your eyes.  Then there's the chance that a TV camera will inadvertently nip your ear while Joe-Good-Looking-TV-Guy tries to get his bit of coverage.

By it's all said and done, I might deserve a Pulitzer or the Heisman.

Yes, I'm out in Phoenix working a dream assignment.  Pity I had to travel.  I hate travel.  I'd rather…I'd rather…I'd rather root for Michigan than travel, especially by airplane.

No, I'm not a wuss, but ever since coming to the Akron Beacon Journal I've always believed I'd cheated death.  As some of you know (and many of you don't care), I used to write about movies for the paper and on a blog. At the ABJ, I travel occasionally.  Prior to getting here?  Oh, try 35 to 40 weekends a year for four years covering movies.  The trips to New York City I never minded.  New Yorkers are close to Midwestern folks.  But those five hour flights to Los Angeles to deal with Los Angelenos, many of whom are as sincere as a politician up for re-election, got to be a bit much.  I always expected the plane to tumble out of the sky.  Yes, I know, what a pleasant thought.

But, intrepid individual I am, I ventured forth.  It's the FREAKIN' NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.  How could I not be up for it.  Well there's the packing for one.  Some out there think that this is an extremely glamorous job.  You try carrying around a backpack that weighs 50 lbs because it's filled with every electronic gadget essential to doing your job.

Considering this is the first time I'm covering such an event, I had little idea what to pack for day work and night work, so I packed like a woman, taking half my wardrobe.  Yes, I felt ridiculous because no it isn't exactly manly to trek through major airports with more than one suitcase and a carry-on.  I refuse to say, however, what I did have.

For Bucks fans out there, I flew on the same plane as Anthony "Gonzo" Gonzalez's uncle.  It was easy to pick him out because Anthony has that distinguished nose and so does his uncle.  That was a give away…along with the No. 11 jersey and the name "Gonzalez" embroidered on the back.

Check-in went surprisingly well and I made up for sleep I lost packing and organizing stuff for while I was gone.  Passed on the Continental Airlines Cheerios breakfast.  The plane went through some turbulence, an always enjoyable experience that's right up there with changing a poopie diaper.

It didn't help that I popped in my copy of We Are Marshall (for those of you looking for an easy score with reward money from the FBI for video piracy, forget about it- it's a legit copy).  Here's a tip for those who actually think about what they watch on a plane - movies about plane crashes don't make you feel better when going through turbulence.  Big surprise, huh?

But here.  I'm safe and I'd always heard how beautiful the southwest is.  Now I see why.  I'll be blogging, writing and doing whatever strikes my fancy to cover this event.  Hope those of you who read, enjoy.

The great thing about writing about sports is that when sportwriters don't know for sure, they get to speculate.  You know, throw something (I won't say what) against the wall.

For instance this little item from Matt Hayes of the Sporting News:  It seems that the Cleveland Browns would make a major play for Jim Tressel should the Berea native wins against the Florida Gators next Monday.

I have one question: why would he want that gig?  He arguably has one of the top five collegiate jobs in the country, his contract will be torn up should he win his second national championship in five years and my bet is that OSU will make him the top paid coach in the country (provided Nick Saban doesn't take Alabama's ridiculous, desperate offer).  Yes, let's leave a program that you've returned to glory for what? Dealing with the potential many spoiled athletes in the NFL?  Sorry, but I doubt it.

The professorial Tressel has always struck me as a teacher who loves working with younger athletes - I could be wrong - and leading them down the right path.  Some take to it - such as his Heisman Trophy winning QB Troy Smith - and others - such as former running back Maurice Clarett - don't.  But a lot of the guys in the NFL think they already know it all.  Braylon Edwards are you out there?

And should, for some inexplicable reason, Tressel find himself tempted by the NFL, I offer some advice: cast your eyes southward to Miami and look at Nick Saban, a guy perfectly happy with coaching in college but allowed a big checkbook and his ego to sway him.  The result: he misses the kids and now may leave the Miami Dolphins in a coaching lurch to go ride the Crimson Tide of Alabama.

Forget it, Tress.  OSU was always your dream job.  Keep living the dream.

Yes, it's late.  But it's been a rough day and I'm just now getting to writing about yesterday's bowl games. I've been writing stuff for a special section the ABJ will run this week related to the Ohio State Buckeyes' appearance in the BCS Championship Game and I've been getting my traveling necessities together because I will be blogging for a week during the festivities in Phoenix.

But yes, I checked out many of yesterday's games and wow, will miracles never cease, I have some observations about what my ever-weakening eyes saw on the tube.

Rose Bowl:  You know who Michigan Wolverines running back Michael Hart reminds me of?  Pick any one of the offensive stars on those powerhouses John Cooper wasted during his tenure as Buckeyes head coach.  Hart has mouth to spare and I had to laugh when announcer Brent Musberger mentioned that the talented running back planned to return to the Big House simply so he has the pleasure of beating Ohio State University.  Nothing like beating up on a program when it's down (as the Bucks are expected to be), but for some odd reason, I suspect OSU will still show up for that one.  Perhaps, just perhaps, Hart should have concentrated more on beating the USC Trojans.  He had 47 yards on 17 carries. Ahem…yeah, OK.

Fiesta Bowl:  This may be sacrilege to say in the Buckeye State, but last night's Fiesta Bowl was the greatest ever.  No, not just because the Oklahoma Sooners got their heineys kicked.  Well, OK, that had a lot to do with it. But because Boise State Head Coach Chris Petersen pulled everything out of his playbook to win that game. The hook and lateral for a score? Sweet.  Passing on kicking an extra poin to go for two in overtime.  Sweet!  Even sweeter?  Using the Statue of Liberty to get the two points.  It's games and situations such as those that show you why college football can be so much more entertaining than the NFL.

Capital One Bowl:  Hey Browns fans, hopefully there was your future left tackle on display on the tube Monday as Joe Thomas and the Wisconsin Badgers bulled their way to a victory over the "faster" Arkansas Razorbacks in the Capital One Bowl.  Or heck, I'd even like it if they considered trading down in the first round for more picks if they have confidence in how Penn State's Levi Brown will develop as a pro.

Rose Bowl redux:  You know they say that you should always cheer on your conference rivals when they are playing another conference in a bowl game.  Sorry, but I can't do it.  I'd be a liar if I said I didn't take unabashed glee in the spanking that U of M took in the Rose Bowl.  Anybody still think they're the second best team in the country?  Thought not.  And what of their coach Lloyd Carr?  Can't beat OSU and can't win bowl games.  D'OH!!!  Think the Michigan alumni aren't frothing at the mouth?  What a pleasant thought.

Sugar Bowl:  Yes, I know it's being played tomorrow night, but I can only dare to dream that Notre Dame will suffer the same fate as Michigan.  Remember the speed on display in last year's Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.  Yea, well, it's gonna be like that - again.  Fire bomb away Golden Domers.