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GLENDALE, Ariz - The last time the Buckeyes came here, they looked like a team that didn't belong after losing the 2007 BCS National Championship Game to Florida.

They returned Monday night for the 38th annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl hearing they didn't belong again against Texas.

Well, the Buckeyes proved they belong, but that's the consolation prize.

For the third straight year, the Buckeyes' season ended with a sour taste and it's a taste that 28 seniors will take with them for the rest of their lives.

Appearing ready to snap the bowl-game skid and show the nation that Ohio State football definitely deserved to be amongst the nation's elite, the Buckeyes watched Quan Cosby take a quick slant from Colt McCoy and dash 26 yards for the game-winning touchdown by a 24-21 count.

"We did everything but win the game," said OSU tight end Rory Nichol. "It seems like something happens that's hard to believe in every big game we play."

It appeared for the better part of three quarters to be the same ol', same ol' for the Buckeyes. Struggle on offense, kick a few field goals and hope the defense can get it done.

However, in the fourth quarter, the offense came alive and the defense was the unit that couldn't get it done.

"You want the defense to be put in situations like that at the end of the game with a chance to win the game, but we didn't make plays," said OSU three-time all-American linebacker James Laurinaitis.

The fact of the matter becomes, major college football doesn't receive any trophies or votes in polls or love from the computers for moral victories.

"Losing is losing," said OSU wide receiver Brian Hartline.

"We didn't come out here trying to prove we belonged. We had a chance to win the football game, but we didn't get it done."

That sounds like a broken record of late in big games.

It was just seven years ago when the Buckeyes won every game - big and small alive en route to the BCS Championship - and now they still beat everyone they should, but in their last five big games, they can't get it done.

"We wanted so badly to send them out in a big way," Jim Tressel said of his 28 seniors. "We just didn't get it done on the scoreboard."

Unlike the Florida, LSU and USC and even Penn State games, Ohio State watched Texas win the game and at some point, you must give credit where credit is due.

And the credit deserves to go to McCoy who showed why he was a Heisman Trophy finalist and leads many to believe the Longhorns could be number one in the pre-season polls next August with his return.

All he did was complete 41-of-59 for 414 yards and two scores. Oh, by the way, he ran for a touchdown as well.

"We've got a great appreciation for Colt just from preparing for him," Laurinaitis said.

"He's a phenomenal player and a great leader for their team."

There's little solace in that for the Buckeye Nation, which must now wait seemingly eight full months before going at it again.

However, something tells me that the first game in 2009 will still draw 100,000 plus in the Horseshoe and the players will be ready to go once again.

It comes down to the adage that tradition doesn't graduate. Let's just hope the bowl-skid tradition does come to an end.

WELCOME BACK BOECKMAN

Todd Boeckman was one of the most loved Buckeyes a year ago when he directed OSU to the BCS Championship Game. He struggled out of the gate and was eventually replaced by Terrelle Pryor as the starting quarterback.

Well, Boeckman was worked into the scheme and worked into it well for the Fiesta Bowl.

"I guess the cliche that good things come for good people is true," said Nichol. "Todd stayed the course and did a great job for us tonight."

Boeckman finished 5-of-11 for 110 yards and a touchdown, which went to Pryor of all people on a fade route.

"I am proud of what Todd accomplished tonight," said Hartline. "I am also proud of how Terrelle played. I know those two learned a lot from each other this year."

It was widely reported and believed that Boeckman would be a part of the game plan this week and he actually started the game under center with a completion to Brian Robiskie.

"Todd is a special guy," Tressel said. "Every one of us wanted to do all we could to make him part of the plan. I thought he stepped in and did a great job."

SETH'S SCOOPS

REPORTS SAID that Shaun Lane - the Buckeye who was taken from the field via the stretcher - had movement in all of his extremities. He was taken to a near-by hospital for precautionary reasons.

FOOTING was a problem for both teams during the course of the game. No fewer than five times did players slip on the natural surface when trying to make a cut.

Don't forget the Cardinals just played the Atlanta Falcons in this stadium Saturday afternoon. It took more than 400 workers to get the stadium ready for the Fiesta Bowl after the playoff game.

IT'S HARD to get a rhythm - let alone score - when you only run eight offensive plays in the third quarter.

That was the story for the Buckeyes who watched Texas score touchdowns on drives of 6:31 and 2:47. Texas had 14 first downs in the third quarter, while the Buckeyes produced nary a chain mover.

"It makes it awfully tough on your defense when you don't have a first down in a quarter," Tressel said.

Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com