BCS Central Blog: Buckeyes in New Orleans for National Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Monday, Jan. 7 – 7:46 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The Buckeyes are up, 10-0, with 8:22 left in the first quarter.
Click back to http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ for a feature story as the national championship game unfolds in the Superdome.
A photo gallery from all the pregame festivities is also linked to that recap.
Monday, Jan. 7 – 6:34 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Ohio State and LSU are less than an hour away from kickoff. The Superdome is packed and the OSU and LSU marching bands are blasting music as the two teams are on the field warming up.
Photos from pregame warm-ups have been added to the photo album.
Monday, Jan. 7 – 4:59 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The Buckeyes have entered the building.
Hundreds of OSU fans lined the hallway of the Hilton to cheer on the team as they walked outside to the buses. The motorcade took a slightly different route to get to the Superdome to avoid some of the congestion.
The Superdome doors are open and fans are starting to walk in. The Ohio State Marching Band just filed in.
Photos from pregame warm-ups will be posted before the game begins.
Monday, Jan. 7 – 3:29 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The Buckeyes will depart the Hilton at 4:15 p.m. today to bus to the Superdome.
The streets of down New Orleans are so jammed with people it is difficult to walk in some sections or even drive. It is a good thing Ohio State has a police escort to the Superdome or it might take 30 minutes to go the 1.5 miles north on Poydras Street. It will be quite a scene on the drive to the dome, that is for sure.
Monday, Jan. 7 – 6:12 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – It is finally Game Day.
The Buckeyes and Tigers will kick off at 8:22 p.m. ET tonight in the Louisiana Superdome in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.
The local media is saying the atmosphere in New Orleans right now is nothing short of a Super Bowl.
The Superdome’s listed capacity is 72,003. It has hosted six Super Bowls and four NCAA Final Fours.
Ohio State has played in the Superdome three times, all in Sugar Bowl appearances. In 1978, Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes dropped a 35-6 decision to Bear Bryant’s Alabama Crimson Tide. Ohio State then played back-to-back games there following the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The Buckeyes fell 31-14 to Florida State before beating Texas A&M, 24-14.
Sunday, Jan. 6 – 11:15 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – It is now less than 24 hours to kick-off of the national championship game.
The Buckeyes had a team meal at 6 p.m. and had an 11 p.m. check in. There are so many Ohio State fans swarming the Hilton that is often tough to get through hallways and lobbies. But that is a good problem!
A separate release recapping today’s events has been posted at http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/, which includes a photo album from the walk-through today in the Superdome.
Sunday, Jan. 6 – 4:36 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Through a sea of Scarlet and Gray fans lining the streets of downtown New Orleans, the team returned to the Hilton Sunday afternoon after a brief walk-through in the Louisiana Superdome.
A photo gallery from the walk-through will be posted with a separate release later today at http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/.
A highlight of the day from a fans persepective was the Buckeye Bash, held at the New Orleans Convention center. The giant room was filled with Buckeyes – perhaps 20,000 or so unofficially – who were thrilled from one moment to the next as Archie Griffin, President Gordon Gee, Director of Athletics Gene Smith and Mayor Michael Coleman spoke to the mass of Buckeye fans. They were followed by head coach Jim Tressel who, one-by-one, introduced Kirk Barton, Vernon Gholston, Dionte Johnson and James Laurinaitis. Johnson and Laurinaitis spoke on behalf of the respective offensive and defensive units and both assured the cheering crowds the Buckeyes were ready to play tomorrow night.
Each of the four players had fun throwing miniature footballs into the crowds…evidence that this team is loose and ready. The Best Damn Band in the Land then marched through the crowd and up onto the stage for a performance that was wildly cheered.
Sunday, Jan. 6 – 2:19 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The complete audio from Jim Tressel’s press conference this afternoon has been linked to this page.
The Buckeyes are now getting on the four busses at the Hilton to head to the Superdome.
Sunday, Jan. 7 – 1:42 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Jim Tressel is now at the podium in the last press conference before the Buckeyes and Tigers kick off Monday night in the national championship.
LSU coach Les Miles met with the media from for 30 minutes prior to Tressel entering the room. The two coaches then posed for pictures with the national championship trophy.
After Tressel concludes his press conference, the Buckeyes will bus to the Superdome for an hour walk-through.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – 8:14 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans is rockin. In a scene that resmembles a home Ohio State football game, the streets around the Convention Center and the Hilton are lined with Scarlet and Gray clad fans and block parties. The weather warmed into the 70s Saturday, making the whole downtown area and French Quarter a bustling area.
A separate release has been posted at http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ recapping today. A photo album from media day today is linked to that release.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – 4:18 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The team has returned to the Hilton and it was evident on the bus ride back that New Orleans is starting to fill up with LSU and Ohio State fans.
Many RVs are already parked in various city parking lots and tailgaters are enjoying the nice weather.
Saturday morning, the Ohio State marching band, cheerleaders and many other members of the athletics department arrived in New Orleans and have joined the group.
When the final bus arrived back at the Hilton, OSU President Gordon Gee was on the sidewalk outside the hotel doing a TV interview.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – 1:17 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Check out the audio files linked to the top of this page to hear what senior fullbacks Trever Robinsin and Tyler Whaley thought of media day.
The Buckeyes are now on the practice field at the Saints facility. The first 20 minutes of practice was outside and now the team has moved back inside, where “The 12th Man” is waiting.
What is “The 12th Man?” It is electric and about six feet long and four feet wide. It is a crowd noise simulator and will make it so loud on the indoor field that the players will not be able to hear each other.
Saturday, Jan. 5, 11:57 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Media day is over at the Superdome and the Buckeyes are en route to practice at the Saints indoor facility.
A behind-the-scenes look at media day with senior fullbacks Trever Robinson and Tyler Whaley will be linked to the blog soon.
Photos from media day will also be posted soon.
Saturday, Jan. 5, 8:50 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – It is media day at the Superdome and the Buckeyes will depart the Hilton at 10 a.m. LSU is having its media day there now.
No doubt most fans have heard and read soundbytes from the players during past media days, but what else happens at media day that does not make the newspaper? Check back this afternoon to hear from senior fullbacks Trever Robinson and Tyler Whaley to find out the rest of the story of what media day is all about.
Friday, Jan. 4 – 10:23 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Click back to http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ for a feature article on the Ohio State academic support staff that is here in New Orleans this week working with the team. Winter quarter classes began for Ohio State Thursday.
Also check out a separate article recapping today’s events in New Orleans. A photo album from today’s practice is linked to that recap.
Looking ahead to Saturday, it will be media day in the Superdome. LSU will have the floor from 9-10 a.m., followed by Ohio State from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The entire team will be made available for the media, while Jim Tressel, Todd Boeckman, Vernon Gholston, Dionte Johnson, James Laurinaitis and A.J. Trapasso will be spread out on separate risers.
The Buckeyes will then practice at the Saints facility at 11:30 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 4 – 7:53 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – It will be the Ohio State defense in the press conference later this morning. Defensive coordinators Jim Heacock and Luke Fickell, safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, linebacker Marcus Freeman and defensive lineman Doug Worthington will begin answering questions at 9:30 a.m.
The Buckeyes will then practice at Tulane at noon, weather permitting. Otherwise, the team will return to the Saints indoor facility.
LSU is practicing in the Superdome at 11:45 a.m. and then has its press conference at 2:45.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – 2:09 p.m.
METAIRE, La. – The Buckeyes are currently practicing inside at the New Orleans Saints facility in Metaire, a suburb of New Orleans.
Former Buckeye Will Smith, who plays defensive end for the Saints, stopped by practice and talked with the defensive line between drills.
Photos from practice, along with quotes from this morning’s press conference, will be posted later today in a separate release at http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – 10:32 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Pictures from this morning’s press conference have been added to the photo album.
The Buckeyes are currently en route to Tulane to dress for practice. It is a 20 minute drive from the Hilton downtown to Tulane. It will then be a 10 minute drive to the Saints practice facility.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – 9:44 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The press conference has concluded and it was a cold two-block walk back to the Hilton. It is warming up in New Orleans today, but it still not over 50 degrees yet.
The Buckeyes depart the Hilton at 10:20 a.m. (CT) this morning for practice. They were originally scheduled to practice at Tulane University in New Orleans, but because of the cold temperatures and wind, the team will dress at Tulane but then bus to the New Orleans Saints indoor practice facility.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – 9:01 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS – It is a busy day for the Buckeyes in New Orleans today and it begins with a press conference at the Mariott a couple blocks away from the Hilton.
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, offensive tackles Kirk Barton and Alex Boone, wide receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie and running back Beanie Wells are currently being interviewed by more than 100 media members covering the national championship game.
Photos and a link to the complete audio will be posted later today.
Wednesday, Jan. 2 – 11:16 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – Check out http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ for a recap of Ohio State’s arrival in New Orleans Wednesday along with a photo album of the decorated busses that are carrying the Buckeyes around the Big Easy this week.
Wednesday, Jan. 2 – 9:23 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The Buckeyes held a team meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CT), marking the official beginning of their on-site game preparations. Many of the players traveled from their homes and some were delayed because of the winter weather hitting the Midwest today.
Later this evening, check out OhioStateBuckeyes.com for a recap of Jim Tressel’s press conference from earlier today.
Thursday morning, an 8:30 a.m. press conference will include offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, offensive tackles Alex Boone and Kirk Barton, wide receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie and running back Beanie Wells. The Buckeyes will then practice at 11 a.m. at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Wednesday, Jan. 2 – 3:22 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS – The Buckeyes have arrived in New Orleans and are settling into the Hilton Convention Center. It is a chilly 42 degrees, but a bright blue sky awaited the travel party upon landing.
Coach Jim Tressel held a spirited press conference when the travel party arrived at the Hilton. The nearby Marriott is serving as the press center this week and will host the rest of the press conferences this week.
The team and travel party is mingling around the Hilton waiting to check into their rooms. The University of Georgia travel party was also using the Hilton and the hotel staff needs the afternoon to prepare all the rooms after the Bulldogs checked out this morning.
Photos from this afternoon at the Hilton have been added to the album.
Wednesday, Jan. 2 – 9:53 a.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State equipment truck was loaded up and departed Monday and Wednesday it was the official travel party’s turn.
Most of the Buckeyes are flying to New Orleans from airports near their hometowns, but the rest of them joined the support staff on one of two planes that are taking off this morning.
“BUCKEYE 1” has just pulled away from the gate. Aboard are the remaining players, coaches and their families and several administrators. “BUCKEYE2” is set to depart at 10:15 a.m. and will carry about 70 others, including the equipment managers, academic support staff, administrators, ticketing staff and athletics communications.
WBNS 10-TV was on hand to cover the travel party departing Columbus and Angela An interviewed Gene Smith (photo has been added to album).
Monday, Dec. 31
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football equipment truck was loaded Monday and departed for New Orleans. The team is scheduled to leave Wednesday and will hold a press conference in New Orleans upon arrival.
Check out photos of the equipment truck being loaded at the link above and follow the Buckeyes all week at BCS Central at OhioStateBuckeyes.com for press conference and practice coverage, including photos, videos, stories, national headlines and more.
