Buckeyes at home in Arizona

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Sure, things are different here for the Buckeyes than their home in Columbus.

The air is dry. The sun is always shining. The green grass and bulky trees have been replaced by dirt and cacti. And it hardly rains muchless snows this time of year in the desert that is Arizona.

But one thing has become apparent : Ohio State has practically made it an annual tradition to play out here, and it shows. This is the Buckeyes' fourth trip to the Fiesta Bowl in five years, and they won the previous three games.

The familiarity of playing in the same environment has been more than noticeable. If you need directions to anywhere in the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Glendale area, don't ask a local.

Ask someone on the Ohio State staff. Or a Buckeyes beat writer. They've been everywhere here more than once.

At Ohio State's press conference this morning, OSU Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith said he more than enjoys the desert. It's become a home away from home, he said.

What does Smith like best out here? The weather for sure, he said. The luxury hotel is high on his list, too. The star-treatment it also a nice perk. But Smith said nothing beats the west coast tradition like an IN-N-OUT Burger.

"Oh man, it's a fresh burger," Smith said this morning. "It's perfect. I mean, they toast the buns. They toast the buns...We need to get some of those back home."

So much for the low-carb diet.