Two college programs looking to improve their lot give the 2009-2010 men's college season a rousing start as Navy travels to Ohio State to play Friday night.
For both teams it's time to start getting back to where they expect to be. Navy missed the national playoffs in 2008 and lost in the opening round in 2009. Ohio State has missed the national playoffs the last three seasons, after a streak of four appearances dating from 2003-2006.
OSU will enter the game full of questions. Being on the quarter system they hardly know anything about their new recruits, and instead will front up with returning players who have been in preseason training.
"It's always tough to start out the way we do," said OSU coach Tom Rooney. But, he said, the team needs to know what level it has to play at.
Playing in the Midwest won't do the job. That region has not performed well of late at the national playoffs, and there are nationwide murmurings that the Midwest just can't cut it. Ohio State wants to change that.
They will do so, however, without one of their most promising players. Former USA U20 standout Nate Ebner has chosen to play football. After impressing the Buckeye coaching staff with his athleticism, Ebner has opted for the gridiron in the hopes of securing a scholarship. It's a loss for the rugby program, and an opportunity.
It's natural for young athletes to rely on a star, said Rooney, and his players were in danger of doing that. Often such players step up their game when the person they rely on isn't there. With Ebner having been injured for much of 2008-09, they've had practice.
As for Navy, head coach Mike Flanagan brings back a very experienced squad. He has virtually his entire forward pack returning, and most of the backline as well, although some were reserves, they are still experienced.
"We've recruited well, too," said Flanagan. "We got some crossover guys who aren't playing football anymore. So it should be interesting."
This is the first game for Navy, also, and Flanagan stressed to his players, "there are no gimmes."
Navy comes into Columbus accompanying their football team, which plays Ohio State on Saturday. It's what they call a "warrior weekend" and the Navy rugby players will stay the extra day to cheer on their football colleagues.
"The football team has been supportive of us and what we're trying to do," said Flanagan. "So when we get the chance we want to show them support, too. We're glad we can do this together on the road."
The rugby game kicks off 6pm at Fred Beekman Park at Ohio State.
