COLUMBUS Ohio State fans milled around campus with heavy faces last night after watching the Buckeyes lose the national title football game to the Florida Gators.
I m shocked more than anything, said David Popp, 23, a senior from Columbus. Maybe we took Florida too lightly.
He watched the game played in Arizona with about 6,000 other students and faculty on a giant scoreboard that televised the game inside Value City Arena, the school s basketball arena.
The fans, many wearing scarlet and white football jerseys, had little to cheer about and sat with looks of disbelief as the Buckeyes played their worst game of the year.
Ohio State came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 1.
Things were pretty quiet in the city following the loss, Columbus police Sgt. Kevin Corcoran said about a half hour after the game ended.
He said there had been reports of a couple trash bins on fire and one arrest for drunken disorderly conduct.
The crowd at Value City Arena erupted in cheers when Ted Ginn Jr. turned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, but it was mostly disappointment after that, with no more chants of the crowd favorite O-H-I-O .
We came out flat on offense and didn t play to our potential, said Steve Cassidy, 20, of Miamisburg. But Florida deserves it. They wanted it more.
First Published January 9, 2007, 4:55 p.m.
