updated 3:47 a.m. ET Jan. 2, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. - Of course, the questions kept coming at Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith.

He had to expect the subject of his indiscretion a year ago would rise again and again as the fourth-ranked Buckeyes prepare to play No. 5 Notre Dame on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl.

Smith patiently and politely answered all the inquiries at media day Friday. His responses varied, but the theme was the same.

“As far as last year’s bowl game, that’s in the past,” he said. “I don’t think about it at all because what happened in the past made me who I am today. This year’s team is the focus now, sending these guys out with a win.”

Smith was suspended for last season’s Alamo Bowl and the first game of this season for accepting $500 from a booster.

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“He let the team down,” split end Santonio Holmes said.

Yet this should not be seen as a game of redemption for the quarterback, coach Jim Tressel said.

“When you’re talking about Troy, I don’t think you ever think you use words like that,” Tressel said. “I mean, that’s over, and I think he’s done a great job of handling his adversity. This is game No. 12 of 2005 as far as I’m concerned.”

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Smith wasn’t needed in the Buckeyes’ 33-7 pounding of Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl, and Ohio State handled Miami of Ohio 27-6 without him in this season’s opener. But he came off the bench against Texas a week later to throw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Holmes and had the Buckeyes ahead 22-16 through three quarters before the Longhorns rallied to win 25-22.

Since then, Smith has been magnificent. He’s topped 300 yards in total offense three times. He’s thrown for 14 touchdowns and run for 11. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior from Cleveland has 1,940 yards passing with just four interceptions, and is the team’s No. 2 rusher with 545 yards in 123 carries.

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