Buckeye fans still support their team

LIMA - Tipping back longnecks at Custer's Chateau, waiting for the start of the Buckeyes game, Al Hammond and Doug Wilson said they might be just what the Buckeyes need to pull off a win.

"Me and him have watched every game together this year except two, and we lost both," Hammond said. "Last year was the same thing, so we've got to watch it together."

Unfortunately, watching the game together wasn't quite enough. Texas beat Ohio State Monday night 24-21.

Despite the clobbering Ohio State took the past two years playing for national titles, plenty of fans draped themselves in scarlet and gray and headed to sports bars and restaurants to watch the Buckeyes play in their fourth Fiesta Bowl in the last seven years.

"You've gotta believe in your team," Wilson said, pointing out he's wearing the same buckeye necklace he wore when Ohio State won the 2002 national title.

Still, Scott Custer, the sports bar's owner, said the crowd for Monday's game wasn't quite as large as what he's seen for big games in the past.

"We've got a nice crowd here tonight, but for the national championship games we were packed," he said.

Custer suspects the Buck's recent bowl history and the economy may have kept some people home.

Sitting beside Custer, Andy Rhinock leans back against the bar and rubs his face, pondering his expectation for the game.

"Truthfully, high scoring," he said. "I don't think anybody in the Big 12 plays defense. So I think it'll be 31-28, Buckeyes."

For a small crowd, they make plenty of noise once the game starts.

Todd Boeckman's first-down pass to Brian Robiskie to start the Buckeyes first series sends people up out of their seats cheering. A few minutes later, when a third-down pass slipped through Robiskie's hands, the yelling was louder and not nearly as kind.

As the game continued, fans debated Boeckman versus Terrelle Pryor quarterbacking, marvel at Malcolm Jenkins hits and wonder aloud if they're watching Chris Wells' last game with Ohio State.

Hammond, though, thinks the difference-maker was the calm man wearing a Nike sweater vest.

"I trust in Tressel."