Football
Fans Focused on Texas; Buckeyes Focused on Miami
By John Porentas
If ever there was a setup for an upset, this is it. The Buckeyes, however, aren't falling for it.
The fever over the Texas game is reaching fever pitch everywhere in Ohio - except the OSU football locker room.
While the public is transfixed by the high-profile matchup in the second game of the season, the Buckeyes themselves claim to be firmly focused on a different game, the one that will be played this weekend in Ohio Stadium with the Miami RedHawks.

Senior LG Rob Sims
Photo by Jim Davidson

"We can't win the national championship without beating Miami of Ohio. Our goal is to be undefeated and go to the national championship. We've got to take care of business here first," said OSU offensive lineman Rob Sims.
According to Sims, the seniors on this OSU team remember the one-game-at-a-time approach that the Buckeyes took in 2002, one that earned them a national championship. Sims says that looking ahead past the opponent of the week just won't be tolerated. whether it's Texas or anybody else.
"I won't allow it, I know the other three captains won't allow it, I know the seniors won't allow it, and especially coach Tressel won't allow it, because they're really not anybody to overlook," said Sims.
"They're (Miami) a really good team. We've seen them on film and they're a really good team."
The Buckeyes are saying the right things, and when you look them in the eye, you get the impression they mean what they say; they aren't looking past Miami.
"They have a bunch of team speed, and speed kills," said linebacker A. J. Hawk. "We have respect for them as a team."
The RedHawks consider themselves giant killers, but current Buckeye tight ends coach and former Miami offensive line coach John Peterson has made sure that the Buckeyes are well-aware of Miami's tradition of knocking off higher ranked opponents.
"Coach Peterson used to coach down there and they have a wall full of Tomahawks that when they knock off a ranked team, they put one up on the wall," said OSU quarterback Justin Zwick.
"We know their tradition and that they've been there before and we're expecting a great game out of them on Saturday."
The Buckeyes expect a great game from the RedHawks. They also expect a great game of themselves.
"Hopefully we'll have a balanced attack, score a lot of points and come away with the W. That's what the most important thing is," said Zwick.
"I plan to go out there and run all over Miami. That's what we plan to do," said Sims.
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