Ohio State Fires Cooper

C O L U M B U S, Ohio, Jan. 2 -- Ohio State confirmed today it isreplacing John Cooper after 13 years as head coach, the day afteranother bowl loss by the Buckeyes.

Athletics director Andy Geiger said at an afternoon news conference today that the university will begin looking for a new coach immediately.

Geiger said the decision did not hinge on whether Ohio State wonthe Outback Bowl but out of concern over discipline,competitiveness and player academics.

However, he said, “I was dismayed by things that happened inand around the Outback Bowl. The game itself and some of theincidents, or non-incidents, that happened during the week.

“It’s really in the best interest of this program to move on,” Geiger said.

Team Turmoil

The decision came a day after Ohio State’s 24-7 loss to SouthCarolina in the Outback Bowl. The Buckeyes were favored against ateam that had gone 0-11 a year ago and was the only unranked teamplaying in a New Year’s Day game this year.

In the weeks before the Outback Bowl, an Ohio State playerquestioned a captain’s leadership abilities, the leading rusher washeld out of the starting lineup for missing the first practice inTampa, and one offensive lineman sued another for $50,000 in thewake of an on-field fight in the spring.

Cooper’s Ohio State teams went 111-43-4 and finished second inthe final AP poll in 1997 and 1999.

His tenure was the second longest for an Ohio State footballcoach, exceeded only by Woody Hayes, who went 205-61-10 in 28seasons with the Buckeyes. Only Hayes won more games at Ohio Statethan Cooper.

But Cooper’s Buckeyes also struggled in big games. Cooper wasjust 2-10-1 against archrival Michigan and 3-8 in bowl games. Sixtimes in his 13 years, the Buckeyes closed out their season withconsecutive losses to Michigan and in a bowl game.

Buckeyes Were Successful — Except in Bowls

Cooper became Ohio State’s 21st head coach on Dec. 31, 1987.