By: Toledo Blade staff – LOS ANGELES – It did not take long for the oft-repeated question to come up. For the Ohio State Buckeyes, it is their version of Groundhog Day or dj vu all over again. One of the first inquiries sent Kurt Coleman’s way after the Buckeyes faced the media in Southern California sought an explanation from the OSU senior safety as to why the Buckeyes have been unsuccessful in the last three bowl games – two National Championship games and last season’s Fiesta Bowl. Coleman, one of the Ohio State captains, indicated the past would not haunt the Buckeyes as they prepare to face Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Friday. “We don’t feel any more added pressure than what it usually is for a game,” Coleman said. “We want to get this win just like any other team. And we know what’s at stake. We’ve lost the last three BCS games: We know what the record is.” Coleman tried to emphasize that each season is a separate experience, and each edition of the Buckeyes has its own identity. He said a lot more is made of Ohio State’s recent struggles in bowl games than the topic really deserves. “This game is totally different, and we have a totally different team from the past,” Coleman said. “We’re excited to be playing in the Rose Bowl, and I think we’ll be able to rise to the challenge.”ROSE POLL: Buckeyes senior defensive lineman Doug Worthington has been a part of Ohio State teams that have played in two national championship games and in the Fiesta Bowl. His Rose Bowl experience just started on Christmas night, but already Worthington ranks it right up there with the big ones.

“Playing in the Fiesta Bowl was great, but there’s nothing like the Rose Bowl with the type of tradition they have,” Worthington said. DUCKS WORK: Oregon coach Chip Kelly is not concerned about his team getting dizzy in the bright lights and media glare that comes with playing in the Rose Bowl and experiencing Los Angeles.Kelly said his team has felt the pressure a number of times. “We have been in a lot of big games,” he said. “We played USC at our place. We played Cal at our place – we played nationally ranked teams whether it’s been on the road or at home. We had to win the last two games, which included beating Arizona in double overtime, and we had to win the Civil War [over Oregon State].” LONG WAIT: While Ohio State laments the four long years it has been since the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, Oregon coach Chip Kelly reminded everyone of just how long it has been since an Oregon team had won in the Rose Bowl.

“We get a chance to finish on a high note, and do something that our school hasn’t done since 1917, which is win the Rose Bowl,” Kelly said. Oregon beat Penn State 14-0 in that game. Ohio State’s last Rose Bowl win came in its most recent appearance – in the 1997 game when the Buckeyes beat Arizona State 20-17.

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