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Urban Meyer: ‘It’s not another game, this is the Rose Bowl’

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

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Urban Meyer is in Pasadena for the first time in his long coaching career. One of the most decorated head coaches in college football history is ending his run at the “Granddaddy of them all.”

Meyer met with the media on Monday, just one day before his Buckeyes square of with Washington in the Rose Bowl. With the game being his last on the sideline in Columbus, he’s appreciating all the sights, sounds, passion and enthusiasm that comes with playing in such a high-profile game.

He also understands that this game is unlike any other he’s coached in before.

“It’s not another game, this is the Rose Bowl,” Meyer told Big Ten Network. “I will say this, the only way to enjoy the Rose Bowl is go win it. That’s our culture here, that’s not gonna change. We’re here to win the Rose Bowl but also enjoy it.”

Ohio State has not played in the Rose Bowl since 2009. That year, the Buckeyes defeated Oregon 26-17 to finish the season 11-2 under head coach Jim Tressel.

With the current culture in college football — many players sitting out bowl games if not in the College Football Playoff bracket — Meyer was concerned that some Buckeye stars might skip the trip to Pasadena. He was overwhelmed with the response he received from his players.

“The minute the word Rose Bowl came up, I was pleasantly surprised at the respect and understanding of the value of the Rose Bowl was instantaneous through our program,” Meyer said. “We follow social media on our players and I was just asking Ryan Stamper — our guy who does that — he says ‘Coach, our players are jacked.'”

The Rose Bowl has long been one of the more coveted bowl games in college football history but, like several other bowl games, has lost some of its luster with the institution of the College Football Playoff. It sounds like the game still has some significant meaning in Columbus.

Ohio State finished the season 12-1 and won the B1G title. If the Buckeyes post a win over Washington on Tuesday, it’ll be the programs first 13-win season since hitting 14 victories in 2014.

Kickoff for the Rose Bowl is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB