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Ohio State's 2002 national championship team reunites on 'College GameDay'

colin gay, the columbus dispatch
·2 min read

Jim Tressel, Maurice Clarett, Michael Doss and Will Allen were back on Ohio State's campus Saturday.

Prior to the Buckeyes' primetime matchup with Notre Dame Saturday night, the 2002 Ohio State football team was honored for its 20-year anniversary of winning a national championship against Miami.

"We were so proud of these guys," Tressel said on ESPN's "College GameDay." "They are so proud of what's going on now in Ohio State football. They are proud that they may have been the catalyst of getting this century going and championship football."

To former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, the championship means even more than it did 20 years ago.

"My life is in order," Clarett said. "My family is in order and now I'm able to come back and just appreciate these fans have contributed over the years and have a chance to get back with my teammates, who I haven't seen in awhile. I just love it."

During the segment, Doss and Allen unveiled a sculpture honoring members of the 2002 team that have died since the championship win: Mike Kudla, Will Smith, Ivan Douglas and Shane Olivea "

"It means a lot to our team, and to be here 20 years later, we wanted to make sure we left an impact," Doss said.

As for the ending of the national championship, where Miami's Glenn Sharpe was called for pass interference in the end zone, giving the Buckeyes a first down at the goal line, Doss doubled-down on the call.

"We got a championship," Doss said. "Those guys down south know we took care of business. They can complain all they want, but at the end of the day, we win it on the field, and that's what we did."

Ohio State football's 2022 schedule

  • Week 1: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3, in Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 2: Ohio State vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 10, in Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 3: Ohio State vs. Toledo, Sept. 17, in Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 4: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 24, Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 5: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, Oct. 1, Columbus Ohio

  • Week 6: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Oct. 8, East Lansing, Mich.

  • Week 7: Ohio State vs. Iowa, Oct. 22, Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 8: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Oct. 29, State College, Pa.

  • Week 9: Ohio State vs. Northwestern, Nov. 5, Evanston, Ill.

  • Week 10: Ohio State vs Indiana, Nov. 12, Columbus, Ohio

  • Week 11: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Nov. 19, College Park, MD.

  • Week 12: Ohio State vs. Michigan, at noon Nov. 26, Columbus, Ohio

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 2002 championship team honored on ESPN's College GameDay