COLUMBUS -- That psychology class Luke Fickell took as an undergraduate student at Ohio State nearly 20 years ago has provided some foundation for the Buckeyes' coach in the months of turmoil and the past week of media frenzy that have been a constant companion of his program.
Despite the distractions, which had to be the equivalent of a hailstorm pounding on a metal roof, Fickell called for disciplined attention to a single issue -- the game. In the days and hours leading up to Saturday's clash with rival Michigan, Fickell sneered and snorted as the off-topic questions kept coming at him, and he preached mind control.
"It really comes down to 'what are you thinking' and 'where is your mind.' That's the one thing we talked about that you have to be able to control," Fickell said.
"If you can control your mind, you've got a chance. Our bodies will do pretty much anything our minds put in it, especially at 18-to-22 years of age. To me, this is about controlling your mind."
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Fickell will only hope that the underdog Buckeyes can seal off the blitz of reports about his successor already waiting in the on-deck circle, and the ominous cloud on the horizon as the NCAA gets closer to pronouncing Ohio State's sentence for the tattoo and memorabilia escapade and other transgressions.
"I don't care what the situation is," Fickell said. "We're going to stress the football game. That's what the most important thing is. It's about the game. That's what we've talked about since the day we walked into [fall] camp."
During the season, Fickell has been the model of composure in his mid-week and post-game dealings with the media, never failing to pay rigid allegiance to his basic mantra -- concern yourself with only what you can control and close out the rest. He stayed with that posture when talk of Ohio State's seven-game winning streak in the series came up.
"It doesn't matter who has won 10 times in a row or who has won back and forth, the rivalry is the rivalry," Fickell said. "The history is there. It's about the Ohio State-Michigan game, regardless of the situation."
According to a multitude of media reports, Fickell will either be unemployed or working for Urban Meyer early next week, but Fickell was especially prickly when that subject was raised again following his mid-week radio show.
"I'm going to have enough respect for this football game to make sure it's about this football game," Fickell said. "I know there's a football game Saturday ... and [I] will be there."
Senior running back Dan Herron followed his current coach's advice and stayed on the topic of Michigan. Three previous battles with the Wolverines have left a distinct impression on Herron.
"They're always going to play their best game against us," Herron said.
Contact Matt Markey at: mmarkey@theblade.com, 419-724-6510 or on Twitter @MattMarkey.
First Published November 26, 2011, 5:00 a.m.
