Ohio State isn't going to forget the semifinal loss to Clemson this offseason.
It was clear from players' comments even immediately after the game that the Buckeyes would be using the defeat as motivation all offseason, but head strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti took it to a new level.
Meeting with the media on Wednesday, Marotti told reporters there is "no doubt" that he plans to use the Fiesta Bowl loss as a motivator during offseason workouts and practices, and that he's even posted the score of the game on a sign hanging in the weight room, as a constant reminder.
Mickey Marotti on whether they use the Fiesta Bowl loss as motivation: "No doubt."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) January 22, 2020
He says there's a sign with the score in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center weight room.
This isn't the first time Ohio State's clung to a specific score as motivation during the offseason. After the Buckeyes' loss to Florida in the 2006 national championship game, the team notoriously changed the password to the lock at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to 4114, to remember the 41-14 blowout defeat.
Ohio State responded by making the national championship game once again the following season, but losing to LSU. The Buckeyes will be looking for a better result this year.
