COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just in case there was any chance that the importance of coach Urban Meyer’s oft-repeated mantra wasn’t sinking through, Ohio State added one more visual reminder this offseason to drive the point home. Spanning one side of the end zone all the way around to the other in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the Buckeyes installed new, individual banners for every position. Complete with bold letters for each group and spruced up with pictures of players who have thrived there since Meyer arrived, each winning at least a division title and most of them earning at least a shot in the NFL, the familiar “nine units strong” message is not-so-subtly delivered again on a field where the team obviously spends plenty of time. Ohio State famously lived up to that standard a year ago and won a national title. Meyer is quick to point out the Buckeyes delivered only six units capable of playing at a championship level two years ago, when they came up short in the Big Ten title game. The importance of every position doing its job is just about impossible not to grasp on any visit to Ohio State headquarters — either verbally or visually. “We don’t have team goals, per se,” Meyer said. “We want to compete for a championship in November, OK. But what we really want is to be nine strong…
Continue Reading: Nine units strong: These positions could make or break Ohio State’s repeat chances
