Jackson Doesn’t Affect Sun Devils’ Preparations

The Buckeyes’ decision to start Stanley Jackson at quarterback didn’t have much of an impact upon the Sun Devils at their Tuesday morning meeting, according to Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder.

“One of the coaches mentioned that Stanley Jackson was starting. We said, ‘Really,’ ” Snyder said. “They’re going to run their plan. . . . Really, as far as what they do, and what we see, they like to come off the ball, hit you right in the mouth, bloody your nose, whichever quarterback is in the game.”

Jackson had started Ohio State’s first 10 games--all victories--and he was benched before the loss to Michigan in favor of sophomore Joe Germaine.

Said Cooper: “We’ve been playing two quarterbacks all year, we’re playing two because one of them hasn’t distanced themselves from the other one. I’d love to have one great quarterback. I don’t understand why when you play two tight ends and two running backs, two defensive backs, you have depth. But if you play two quarterbacks, all of a sudden you have a controversy.”

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Nose guard Luke Fickell hurt his shoulder earlier in the season, and re-aggravated it during practices since arriving in Southern California. Nevertheless, the injury will not prevent him from making his school-record 50th start in today’s game, according to Cooper.

“How effective he can be, how long he can play remains to be seen,” Cooper said. “But he’ll start the ballgame and play as long as possible.”

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Count Cooper as an advocate of a post-bowl playoff game for a national championship.

“It wouldn’t bother me at all,” he said. “To have a one-game playoff after the bowl is over. To match the winner of the Rose Bowl against the winner of the Sugar Bowl, and have a true national championship.

“I’ve said that because I think there’s a lot of money left on the table by us not having a one-game playoff. You’re talking about $100 million a year.”