Ohio State's John Cooper was shown the door after the Buckeye's embarrassing showing against South Carolina. As a 5-point favorite, Ohio State lost 24-7. Cooper was 3-7 in Bowl games and his teams didn't seem to get up or be prepared for post-season, or many big games, for that matter. In addition to the South Carolina debacle, Cooper's team was a 4-point favorite in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl and lost to Tennessee, and a 16-point favorite in the 1990 Liberty Bowl and lost outright to Air Force 23-11. He had well-documented trouble beating Michigan, but two embarrassing and shocking defeats stand out. A late-season 28-24 home loss to Michigan State in 1998 where Ohio State was unbeaten, #1 in the nation and a 28-point favorite. And in 1996, the Buckeyes were unbeaten and as a 17-point home favorite, lost to Michigan 13-9, blowing a 9-0 lead. Ouch. Double-Ouch.
Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger said the decision to fire Cooper did not hinge on whether Ohio State won the Outback Bowl but rather out of concern over discipline, competitiveness and player academics. He added: "I was dismayed by things that happened in and around the Outback Bowl - the game itself and some of the incidents, or non-incidents, that happened during the week."