Columbus, OH

Ohio is counting on one of its favorite sons, coach Urban Meyer, to deliver and help the Buckeyes bounce back from last year's disappointing campaign.

"Am I ready for this?" said Meyer, five days before his coaching debut with the Buckeyes against Miami (Ohio) Saturday. "We'll judge that probably in the next week, or next two weeks, next two years."

"That's the kind of neat thing about where I'm at in my career. I don't care. I want to work on getting this team ready for Miami of Ohio. Everything I've got. I'm not worried about what's the legacy, what's this, what's that," Meyer added.

Meyer replaced Jim Tressel, who resigned after he failed to penalize eight players who took a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

Tressel was tipped of the incident April 2010 but he allowed the players to participate in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

For that, the NCAA penalized Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban, a penalty that Meyer will have to live with this season, aside from the bad memory of a 6-7 record last year.

"It's going to be an emotional time. Very much so," Meyer said, referring to Saturday's opening game.

After a one-year sabbatical from coaching, Meyer admitted that he needs notes to keep his face in the game. "I have to do that because I'll be coming out of my shoes a little bit," added Meyer, who signed a six-year deal worth $24 million with the Buckeyes.

Calling it a redemption year, several Ohio State players have promised to go all-out and showcase their talent this season, despite the bowl ban.

"We know last year we didn't have that good of a year. So this year we're going to come out and show everybody why we're Ohio State," said sophomore defensive back Bradley Roby.

"The goal is to go 12-0," junior running back Carlos Hyde said. "Even though we can't go to a bowl game, we've still got to go out there and play with a chip on our shoulders (and) let the world know who the Buckeyes are this year."