Arguably the most dominant coach ever, John Wooden, was full of prophetic statements, but the Wizard of Westwood whispered one of the most repeated and dignified statements of all time regarding the element of character.
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
Not to lull you to sleep with basketball catch phrases, but learning from the guy who won 10 national titles and seven in a row seems appropriate considering what the Ohio State football team has it sights set on this fall.
The Buckeyes improbably won the first ever College Football Playoff in 2014, coming out of nowhere to silence its toughest critics while toppling mighty Alabama and high flying Oregon to win it all.
How they did it was with a bone-crushing offensive line and rushing attack, stellar quarterback play from both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, fast skill players and a defense that steadily improved from Week 1 in Baltimore to Week 15 in Dallas.
It is said defense wins championships — a sentiment not muttered by John Wooden — and it was Ohio State's opportunistic and talented unit that was as big a reason as any as to why the Buckeyes were dubbed champions in Texas.
Ezekiel Elliott, Cardale Jones and company all did their part on offense, but Ohio State wouldn't have won the title if the unit on the other side of the ball completed the complete 180-degree turn Urban Meyer wanted following the 2013 season.
The 2002 squad, the most recent Buckeye team to win it all before last season, sported one of the nation's toughest and statistically best defenses ever.
In 2003, Ohio State went 11-2 with losses at Wisconsin (Lee Evans' chair route) and Michigan (the game of Chris Perry's life). Still a solid season, but the team wasn't able to bounce back from the losses it endured from the year before, especially on defense.
What's in store for the 2015 defense, and how does it line up with the 2003 squad? Let's take a look.
Defensive Line
2002 Starters: Will Smith, Kenny Peterson, Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott
Key Losses: Peterson, David Thompson
2014 Starters: Joey Bosa, Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington, Steve Miller
Key Losses: Miller, Bennett, Rashad Frazier, Chris Carter
| Team | G | PPGA | YPGA, passing (rank) | YPGA, RUSHING (Rank) | YPGA, TOTAL (Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 14 | 13.1 (2nd) | 243.1 (95th) | 77.7 (3rd) | 320.9 (23rd) |
| 2003 | 13 | 17.6 (16th) | 234.5 (80th) | 62.3 (2nd) | 296.8 (10th) |
| 2014 | 15 | 22.0 (27th) | 201.1 (29th) | 141.3 (36th) | 342.4 (20th) |
| 2015 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
The Skinny: Smith, Peterson and company were studs in front of the studs at linebacker for Jim Tressel and company in 2002, just like how Bosa, Bennett and others dominated by the time the postseason rolled around in 2014. Neither group lost too many contributors following title seasons, so it should be interesting to see how well the returning starters bode in 2015. The front seven was dominated against Michigan in 2003 to the point where the Buckeyes were on their heels all day trying to stop Perry, but overall the group's rushing defense was second best in the country that year.
Linebackers
2002 Starters: Cie Grant, Matt Wilhelm, Robert Reynolds
Key Losses: Grant, Wilhelm
2014 Starters: Joshua Perry, Curtis Grant, Darron Lee
Key Loss: Grant
The Skinny: In 2003, young players like A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Mike D'Andrea appeared prime and ready to step in and compete for snaps. D'Andrea was nagged by knee injuries that ultimately ended his career, while Hawk and Carpenter went on to solid college and then NFL careers. Curtis Grant was as big of an emotional pawn as you could get for Ohio State's 2014 unit, so replacing his passion will be key to the linebackers' success this coming season. Big-time recruit Raekwon McMillan looks ready to step in, though.
Defensive Backs
2002 Starters: Chris Gamble, Donnie Nickey, Mike Doss, Dustin Fox
Key Loss: Doss, Nickey
2014 Starters: Doran Grant, Tyvis Powell, Vonn Bell, Eli Apple
Key Loss: Grant
The Skinny: The loss of Doss, a three-time All-American, proved to be the most momentous exit for Ohio State's defense following the 2002 season. The 2014 version lost a first team All-Big Ten selection in Grant, but returns both leaders on the back end in Bell and Powell. The depth in the defensive backfield is setting up to be one of the strengths of Ohio State's entire team in 2015, just like how it was during the 2002 season.
Repeating as champions in any sport is difficult no matter how you slice it, but with how much talent is present on both sides of the ball combined with the youth at Meyer's fingertips has many thinking back-to-back national titles is a real possibility for Ohio State.
Many thought the same in 2003, but a pair of road slip-ups kissed that dream goodbye. The Buckeyes visit the Wolverines this fall, but outside of that, their toughest road contest on paper looks to be the season opener in Blacksburg, Va., against the lone team that beat them last season — Virginia Tech.
Ohio State gave up 35 points last September to the Hokies. What will Labor Day Night have in store for the group trying to stay atop the college football landscape? We'll find out in a little more than four months.
