In the moments after the Ohio State-Notre Dame dream matchup in the Fiesta Bowl became official, the mutual admiration society quickly developed a full head of steam. The coaches on both sides immediately started throwing bouquets each other's way, and the praise and plaudits won't likely subside until they kick it off on Jan. 2 in Tempe.
The Buckeyes, in the Bowl Championship Series for the fourth time in eight years and back in the Fiesta Bowl for a third time in the last four years, fired the first floral salvo. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he admired the job done by his Notre Dame counterpart, Charlie Weis, who brought the Fighting Irish back to national prominence after a number of down years.
"Charlie and his entire staff have done a great job," Tressel said. "When you go to a place, you have to be fortunate if you inherit a group that is very interested in succeeding. When they have not had as much success as they would have hoped, there is a natural plus that you can build upon. Then, of course, you have to have good staff and good players and get a few bounces."
The Irish (9-2) came within a whisker or two of running the table in their first season under Weis, the former NFL offensive sage. Their only losses came to Michigan State, 44-41 in overtime, and to No. 1-ranked and two-time defending national champion Southern Cal, 34-31.
Notre Dame finished near the top nationally in a number of offensive categories: passing, fourth with 334.3 yards per game; total offense, 10th with 489.1 yards per game; and scoring, seventh with 38.2 points per game.
"If you just look at their numbers, they have scored a lot of points and they have been explosive," Tressel said about Weis' Irish. "He's obviously managed the transition very well. Sometimes you go in and you have to suffer a little bit before people understand your mission, but you can tell by the players they have on the field, they have great motors and they really get after it."
Weis, a 1978 Notre Dame graduate who owns four Super Bowl championship rings from his NFL days, has not been in South Bend a full year, yet he has Notre Dame in a BCS game for the first time since 2000. Weis spent the past five seasons as the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, and played a vital role in New England's victories in the Super Bowl in three of the last four years.
"I've had the good fortune to watch Ohio State several times this year," Weis said. "There are a number of things that stick out, especially that very dominant defense, and a very exciting offense. They definitely have a few dynamic skill players, and I know they're well-coached. We have great respect for Ohio State."
Weis said the Buckeyes (9-2), named as a contender for the national championship in the preseason, are balanced and potent. A 3-2 start knocked Ohio State out of the running for the Rose Bowl national title game, but Weis quickly points out that those two Ohio State losses came against the very best - No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Penn State.
"We know the opportunity in front of us, and the challenges of playing a team the caliber of Ohio State," Weis said. "I know they have a physical defense and they're explosive. And their passing game just got better as the year went on."
Tressel, who turned 53 yesterday, said he might have a little more detailed familiarity with Notre Dame at this point, since he saw the Irish on game films of Notre Dame playing Michigan and Michigan State as he prepared Ohio State for those two Big Ten opponents
"We've had a chance to study them a little bit, and learn from them a little," Tressel said. "We played Michigan State after they did, and we played Michigan after they did. Notre Dame is very, very sound, and very creative. We'll have a chance to watch the whole picture now, and we expect to see a great football team, and face an exciting challenge."
Contact Matt Markey at:
mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.
First Published December 6, 2005, 2:20 p.m.
