COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Buckeyes are headed to South Bend to face Notre Dame in a game OSU and Fighting Irish fans have had circled for nearly 30 years. The last time the Buckeyes traveled to Notre Dame was 1996 when John Cooper was the head coach of the Bucks. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio State football team last traveled to Notre Dame in 1996, beating the Fighting Irish 29-16

  • John Cooper was the coach then and remembers the game like it was yesterday

  • Cooper says the talent he had on that 1996 team was one of the best he ever had

  • Cooper's advice for Ryan Day is simple, don't let Notre Dame be better than they are

John Cooper remembers that day 27 years ago like it was yesterday.

John Cooper shares his notes from the 1995 and 1996 wins over the Irish. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Dimitrious Stanley returned the opening kickoff 85 yards," he recalls.

Cooper led the Buckeyes to two wins over the Irish, one at home in 1995 and one at Notre Dame Stadium the next season.

Cooper remembers the talent he had on those teams and all the teams he coached. 

“We didn’t have a good team we had a great team," Cooper said. "Ohio State won’t ever have better players than that, I’m telling you right now. We won the game because we were better than they were. I wasn’t a better coach, we had better players than Notre Dame.”

Cooper and his teams beat the Irish both in Columbus and in South Bend. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

And it’s memories from teams like those that has him sticking around Columbus.

“I’m going to be buried here," Cooper said.

Greeting players and coaches around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. And feeling grateful for his time as a Buckeye.

And it’s memories from teams like those that have him sticking around Columbus.

“I’m going to be buried here,” Cooper said.

Greeting players and coaches around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. And feeling grateful for his time as a Buckeye.

“That’s why you coach at Ohio State,” Cooper said. “Every one of us coached here. Every one of us are in the hall of fame and that guy, Ryan Day, will be in the hall of fame one day.”

Cooper points out the All-Americans he coached while at OSU. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

So what’s his advice as the last Ohio State football coach to bring the team to South Bend to Coach Day?

“Don’t make them better than they are,” he said. “You’re playing Notre Dame, but don’t make Notre Dame better than they are. You’re probably going to play a couple of teams later on that are better than Notre Dame. You play Michigan later on. You’re going to play Penn State Later on. Don’t go up there scared to death. If we make a mistake, we’re going to get beat. We’ve got better players than Notre Dame’s got.”