Purchase Photos Story Tools: Font Size: Social Media: Tweet Like the name of the state just to the north of Toledo, the word “defend,” as in defending national champion, will not be part of Urban Meyer’s vocabulary when Ohio State’s football team reports for preseason practice today. “We don’t use the word defend. It’s a whole different year. We have 20 players who weren’t even a part of that,” Meyer said at Big Ten Football Media Days. After checking in today, the preseason No. 1-ranked Buckeyes, who have 16 returning starters from last year’s national championship team, will hit the practice field for the first time on Monday. While following up a national championship is new for Ohio State’s players, Meyer has done it twice before. Florida went 9-4 in 2007 after beating Ohio State for the 2006 national title and was 13-1, with a loss to Alabama in the SEC title game, in 2009 after winning the 2008 national title. Even though talking about defending a national championship has been excluded from the game plan, it’s obvious defending against any complacency because of last season’s success has been included. Senior offensive tackle Taylor Decker said that message has been emphasized ever since the beginning of winter workouts with strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti. “He established that right away – we’re not going to give you anything, nothing is going to be any easier than what you did last year. That’s over. …
Continue Reading: Repeating a reality but left unspoken for 2015 Buckeyes
