COLUMBUS - If Ohio State beats Cincinnati on Saturday, don't count on coach John Cooper blowing out 100 candles on a cake at midfield.

With a 99-34-4 record in 12 years with the Buckeyes, Cooper doesn't get misty when he thinks about what others call a milestone.

''I'm proud and happy that I've lasted that long, hopefully, to win 100 games,'' he said. ''But I'm not here counting, let me put it that way.''

In his frequently up and occasionally down tenure with the Buckeyes, the native Tennessean has come close to winning a couple of national championships. He also has come close to being fired at least that many times.

Cooper has taken Buckeyes teams to the No. 2 spot in the final polls in two of the last three years, yet still hasn't captured the hearts of many of the fans. After the Buckeyes lost to Miami 23-12 in the Kickoff Classic, those naysayers repeated a common refrain: ''He can't win the big one.''

The 62-year-old Iowa State graduate has not been forgiven for his 2-8-1 record against archrival Michigan and a 2-8 bowl record with the Buckeyes.

Yet his team swept both of those games last year - the first time that's happened since he's been in Columbus - and he has made No. 12 Ohio State a fixture in the Top 25.

His job was in jeopardy after several losses to Michigan and a couple of tough bowl defeats, including a surprise to Air Force in the 1990 Liberty Bowl. He flirted with leaving to take the LSU job a few years ago, but was lured back with a multiyear contract that features rollover years for victories in those ''big games.''

He is close to signing another contract that will pay him more than $1 million a year, including ancillary agreements that include TV and radio shows and other responsibilities.

No one questions that he has rejuvenated a program that was declining under Earle Bruce, who was let go in a messy firing at the end of the 1987 season.

There are still occasional academic and legal problems with his players, but for the most part Cooper has restored the luster brought to Ohio State in Woody Hayes' 28 years as head coach. Only Hayes, with a 205-61-10 record, has won more games with the Buckeyes, and only Hayes and John Wilce (16 seasons) have longer football tenures at the school.

A hundred wins may not be his goal, but Cooper is looking at another round number. His career record, encompassing 23 years as head coach at Tulsa, Arizona State and Ohio State, is 181-74-6.

''I look more at the big picture,'' he said. ''I know how many games I've won at this point in my career. I'm thinking more and more about trying to win 200. Part of that is it doesn't take too long.''

He said he has no desire to challenge the win totals of some of his peers.

''I'm not going to hunt down (Joe) Paterno or (Bobby) Bowden or LaVell Edwards,'' he said. ''They've been at it a lot longer than I have.''

Cooper and his wife of 42 years, Helen, live in a huge home he built on a quiet, leafy street in suburban Upper Arlington. His daughter Cindy has a law degree, recently married and is building a home next door. His son John Jr., who played for him at Tulsa, also lives and works in Columbus.

Cooper said he hasn't contemplated retirement.

''I feel good. I've got good young players in the program,'' he said. ''If I wasn't coaching, what would I do? I'd have to get a job.''