Laurinaitis, McCoy had different experiences in 2006 game

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - James Laurinaitis' memory of the last time Ohio State and Texas played football before Monday's Fiesta Bowl match-up is detailed and encyclopedic.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy's recollections of that game, a 24-7 OSU win in 2006, are shorter. His answers about that night are understandably a little more terse.

Laurinaitis was ushered into prominence in college football during that game his sophomore season when he intercepted a pass and forced a fumble during the Buckeyes' win over the defending national champion Longhorns in Austin.

McCoy was a redshirt freshman, starting a year sooner than expected after Vince Young left for the NFL after his junior season.

"I remember everything about the experience of being down in Texas," Laurinaitis said.

"I can remember the music that was playing. I can remember the atmosphere, I can remember the fans in their hats. I can remember the cheerleaders."

Laurinaitis, a senior, goes into the Fiesta Bowl as a three-time All-American. McCoy, a junior, was the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting and holds Texas records for passing yards in a season and career and in victories by a Longhorns QB.

He was 19 of 32 for 154 yards, with one touchdown and one interception against OSU in 2006.

 "What I remember most from the Ohio State game is Laurinaitis picking me off. Coach (Mack) Brown kind of jokes with me all the time about how that is what started his All-American campaign," McCoy said. "I think both of us have grown and come a long way since that game."

That interception was the first of McCoy's college career.

 "I would say that I have grown a lot. I've overcome a lot of things. I've been blessed to be able to have two more years to play successfully. I know I have become a lot better player than what I was then. At the same time, Laurinaitis can say the same thing," McCoy said.

Laurinaitis agrees the 2006 Texas game changed things for him. And not just in terms of making All-American teams.

 "My dad (former professional wrestler Joe Laurinaitis) said to me after the game, ‘Everything is going to change from here on out,'" he said. "I didn't really get what he was saying, I didn't really think it would. I thought I still had a lot more to prove."

In fact, Laurinaitis went into the 2006 game against Texas thinking he needed to prove he could do his job well enough to stay in the lineup.

 "I remember going down to Texas, I was wondering if I would lose my job because, if you remember, we didn't play very well against Northern Illinois the week before and gave up something like 200 yards rushing. Larry Grant was breathing down my neck for playing time.

"It's a little bit full circle," he said about playing Texas this year. "But it's two different teams and two different moments in life."