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Plenty to play for South Carolina, Ohio State eager to prove themselves
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Don't count Lou Holtz among those who feel South Carolina has everything to gain and nothing to lose against Ohio State in the Outback Bowl. The coach and his players know the Gamecocks are in a New Year's Day game for the first time since 1946. However, that doesn't mean they have to graciously accept the role of underdog. "I think if you were looking at it from an outside point of view you'd say Ohio State should win, which is why they're the favorite," Holtz said of the first meeting between the schools. "Any time somebody should win, I guess there's probably a little more pressure. But we came here to win. If we don't, there's going to be much wailing and gnashing of teeth." South Carolina (7-4) entered the season with a 21-game losing streak and pulled off the biggest one-year turnaround in Southeastern Conference history. Ohio State (8-3) is back in a Jan. 1 game after going 6-6 in 1999 and failing to go to a bowl for the first time in 11 years. From 1994-98, the Buckeyes appeared in five consecutive New Year's games. "There are no more moral victories for us at South Carolina," Holtz said. "Playing Ohio State close is not going to be any consolation in our minds. If Ohio State plays us close they aren't going to say: `Well, we played a good game.'" Buckeyes coach John Cooper concurred. He's 111-42-4 and has won three Big Ten titles in 13 seasons at the Big Ten school. However, he's only 3-7 in postseason games. "I don't know how much pressure is on [South Carolina], but there's pressure on us," Cooper said. "There's pressure any time the Buckeyes play." South Carolina will play without leading rusher Derek Watson, who was suspended for violating a team rule. Holtz will try to replace him by platooning three or four backs, none of whom has the versatility of the Gamecocks' first 1,000-yard rusher in four years. Ohio State doesn't expect the absence of Watson to change South Carolina's game plan. "They'll run the same offense they've run all year," Cooper said. "They are not going to turn the ball over, they are going to have a great kicking game and play good, sound defense. That is how you win." Going from 0-11 a year ago to a Jan. 1 bowl made South Carolina one of the most intriguing stories in college football. Ohio State rebounded from last season's disappointment, but finished the regular season on a sour note by losing to Michigan -- dropping Cooper's record against the Wolverines to 2-10-1. The Buckeyes feel a victory in the Outback Bowl would be just as important to their program as it would to South Carolina's resurgence. "We had a terrible season last year, and this is a rebuilding year for us, too," safety Donnie Nickey said. "We try not to think of this as our last game," tight end Darnell Sanders said. "We try to think of this as the first game of the next season."
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