COLUMBUS -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel presented the national championship trophy to the university's president on Saturday night, then showed once again that he was already thinking about the Buckeyes' chief rival.

Tressel, most of his coaching staff and around 35 players were introduced at halftime of Ohio State's men's basketball game against No. 15 Indiana at Value City Arena. They received a rousing standing ovation that lasted for several minutes.

After presenting the crystal football emblematic of the national championship to Ohio State President Karen Holbrook, Tressel said to a sellout crowd, "Let's remember: We need all of you in 315 days to head to Ann Arbor!"

Tressel had said similar words two years ago on the day he was hired as Ohio State's coach after John Cooper was fired. His first team went 7-5 but this year the Buckeyes capped a magical 14-0 season with a 31-24 double-overtime victory over defending champion Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.

"Our motto at Ohio State is 'Do Something Great,' " Holbrook said. "Everyone of us here ... knows you did something great."

Quarterback Craig Krenzel, selected as the outstanding offensive player in the national championship game, thanked the crowd for their support.

"We hope our efforts and accomplishments are enough to satisfy everyone's hunger," Krenzel said. "Now we want to do it again next year."

The Buckeyes return all but five players who started the Fiesta Bowl.

Defensive lineman Will Smith also thanked the fans as the crowd chanted, "De-fense! De-fense!"

Tressel presented the trophy after saying he spoke on behalf of "the greatest coaching staff in the nation, the greatest band, the greatest cheerleaders, the greatest fans and the greatest team in the nation."

Originally published Monday, January 13, 2003