PHOENIX – Urban Meyer and his Ohio State football team stepped off their chartered jet to the sounds of a mariachi band and cheers from a huge throng on the airport tarmac here early Monday as they arrived to begin final preparations for the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson on Saturday.
For Meyer and the Buckeyes, there was a sense of déjà vu; they arrived to plenty of fanfare a year ago before going on to beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. But this trip has a different twist.
“We’re here for a reason,” Meyer said.