PHOENIX — Ohio State has officially invaded the desert.
After coasting in on their luxurious and massive 747, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes funneled down the steps and onto the tarmac at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Ohio State touched down roughly an hour and a half after Clemson arrived at the same location.
Meyer, middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan and center Pat Elflein met the media briefly before boarding buses and heading to the team hotel.
NOTES:
- Meyer: "We're here for a reason. We're here to enjoy the sunshine and desert but most importantly to put on a good performance against a great football team in Clemson."
- Meyer said he "thinks" everybody on the team is healthy, aside from one player who did not make the trip on Monday because he is sick. That player is set to come to Phoenix on Tuesday.
- Meyer said Ohio State isn't dealing with any new injuries since the team last played Michigan a month ago: "Everybody is ready to go."
- "Throughout the recruiting weeks, we kept a couple guys home to work on position units and they did a great job. We're a better team." — Meyer
- More on improving from the Michigan game: "I think we had 11 official practices but we had many more than those with 1-on-1 work with our position coaches and the players."
- Pat Elflein said with a younger team this year as opposed to being in Phoenix last year added more to the preparation: "With a younger team this year, just relying on the leadership and the guys that have been in the Playoff before. Teaching those guys how to prepare and get ready mentally for a big game like this one coming up."
- Raekwon McMillan: "We enjoy being here but at the same time we've gotta be ready for the Fiesta Bowl in 5 days. We've got a job to do and need to get it done."
- Meyer, who has played in Phoenix times: "Being politically correct, I don't know if we're allowed to rank our favorite bowls but this is our favorite bowl."
- "I know Ohio State will be very well represented in the game on Saturday."
