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Game Thread Game Eleven: Ohio state 25, Michigan 21 (final)

Despite being a Buckeye, few, if any, do a better job of covering Michigan than Orr. I can honestly say I disagree with only one thing he wrote this week (that Breaston is a major deep threat).
agreed, he does a fantastic job. Not sure where he got the idea that breaston is a deep threat. I've only seen parts of some of the televised games, and Breaston has dropped a lot of bombs that landed right in his hands.
 
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scUM will be saying this again come Saturday around 4:00...

rightnowwesuck2bj.jpg


BTW, when you send your "special gift" to scUM today flush twice... it's a long way to Ann Arbor!
 
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Hawk saves emotion for rivalry
By Jon Spencer


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Ohio State's A.J. Hawk dives into the end zone on Saturday after a Northwestern fumble during the second quarter of the Buckeyes' final home game of the season inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus. <!--ADDITIONAL PHOTOS--><!--MAIN FACTS BOX--><!--ADDITIONAL FACTS AND PHOTOS--><!--RELATED PHOTO GALLERIES--><!--RELATED MULTIMEDIA ASSETS--><!--RELATED EXTERNAL LINKS--><!--RELATED ARTICLES--><!-- TOPIX RELATED ARTICLES --><!-- SOURCE CALL TO SET JAVASCRIPT VARIABLES --><!-- Get Related Links from Topix --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--// preset the variables to keep from getting js errors if the get content failsvar topixcats = [ ];var topixcrawled = 0;// Retrive js variables from topixvar topixcats = [];var topixcrawled = 1;//--></SCRIPT><!-- SCRIPT FOR PRESENTATION OF HEADLINES. The values below can be modified --><STYLE type=text/css><!--.topix-head { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: #00000}.topix-affil { font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; color: #000000}--></STYLE><!--Important: Make sure to update the var topixID= with your site's TopixID--><SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--var topixID=7075;if ( topixcats.length > 0 ){ document.write('
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You won't catch Troy Smith watching a Lifetime movie, but even the hard-boiled quarterback got wrapped in the group hug that squeezed the life out of Northwestern and brought closure for Ohio State seniors playing in their final home football game.
"I felt something today I never felt on the field," Smith, a fourth-year junior, said after the Buckeyes' fifth straight win Saturday. "Today I wasn't a senior, but these are the guys I came in with and I took it to heart. As soon as they announced Rob Sims' (name), I lost it. And when they announced Nate (Salley), I just lost it. It really touched me.
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</TD><TD width=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"The funny thing about it is, I've only got seven (games) left in the 'Shoe. You spend all this time playing around, (the end) comes up on you fast. It comes up on you real fast."
LeBron's game jersey has never gotten as damp as some Buck eyes in the locker room before and after their retro-style rout of the one-time Big Ten doormat.
"It was tough ... a lot of guys were crying," senior linebacker Bobby Carpenter said.
Senior safety Nate Salley, voted the Buckeye most likely to break down, tried to hold it together in front of his locker.
"(Cornerback) Mike Roberts was sitting right next to me, saying, 'oh, that's the last time you're going to take your shoes off and this is the last time you're going to do this ...' giving me a hard time," Salley said.
Always stoic linebacker A.J. Hawk was having none of it. The senior All-American from Centerville knew there was too much unfinished business left to start having career flashbacks and emoting like some weepy guest on Dr. Phil.
His dwindling days as a Buckeye didn't hit Hawk nearly as hard as he hit Northwestern tailback Tyrell Sutton, separating tailback from ball and driving the freshman phenom from the game in the third quarter with a hand injury.
"I don't think it really can (hit) until you're actually done and you have no games left because we still have a big Michigan game left," Hawk said. "That's the biggest thing on my mind.
"But it is special, seeing your parents out there on the field (for Senior Day ceremonies). To see my mom cry, it didn't really affect me too much because she's been crying for about six months thinking about this day."
Judy Hawk has plenty of company. No disrespect to Hawk's understudies, but OSU fans light a candle whenever they think of the Buckeyes fielding a defense without No. 47 as the centerpiece.
Coach Jim Tressel, who always lives in the moment, has a hard time believing a better linebacker has ever worn scarlet and gray. Northwestern counterpart Randy Walker said he's never seen a better player in 30 years of coaching. The folks who present the Butkus Award to the nation's top linebacker last week named Hawk one of three finalists for an honor that has gone to only one other Buckeye -- Andy Katzenmoyer in 1997.
He's about to become a two-time first-team All-American, joining a select group of linebackers at OSU: Ike Kelley, Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau, Chris Spielman and Steve Tovar.
There's a reason Hawk's image is most prominently displayed on the cover of this year's Ohio State media guide and why he was the last senior introduced to the crowd of 105,181 Saturday.
"I just want people to think I played hard every day; that I didn't take plays off," Hawk said. "That's all I've ever tried to do, since I was a little kid."
It's not hard to see why Hawk has endeared himself to Buckeye Nation. After scooping up a blocked punt and scoring the knockout touchdown Saturday, he tried to trade the TD for a couple of missed tackles on Northwestern's only touchdown drive.
"It's hard to put them behind you," he said. "It's easier for me to remember bad plays than good plays."
That's why Hawk can't see past the loss at Michigan two years ago to celebrate the two victories he has been part of in the storied rivalry. A 35-21 drubbing in 2003 cost OSU a shot at a second straight national championship. A loss Saturday to the Wolverines will deny the Buckeyes at least a co-Big Ten title and eliminate them from the BCS bowl picture.
Who has time for warm and fuzzy reflection when everything is riding on this weekend?
"As A.J. said, you feel a little incomplete because you've got a huge game coming up," Tressel said. "You want to save a little bit of emotion for that one."

Originally published November 14, 2005


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11/14/05

OSU bowl plans very much TBA


Monday, November 14, 2005 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman had extra motivation when he returned from back spasms in the first half Saturday to help drive the offense as the Buckeyes stormed past Northwestern, 48-7.

"My mind-set was to go out there and just do my job," Pittman said. "That's the only thing I can I do so we don't go back to the Alamo Bowl."

You'd think Pittman wouldn't mind a return trip to a city practically named for him, but for weeks Pittman has been crusading against going back to San Antonio, home of the bowl that gets the fourth choice of Big Ten teams. He doesn't want to think about the Buckeyes as a fourth choice.

He shouldn't have to worry.

It wasn't the Buckeyes' win that virtually eliminated the chances of that happening, but the loss by Wisconsin on Saturday that should allow Ohio State to fall no lower than the bowl that gets the Big Ten's third pick, the Outback Bowl in Tampa.

And it was hard to ignore the two gentlemen in orange blazers at Ohio Stadium on Saturday who were there on behalf of the Orange Bowl.

The Buckeyes control some of their bowl fate. A win against Michigan would at least tie them for the Big Ten title with Penn State. But even a co-championship leaves a lot up in the air when it comes to holiday travel plans:

A BCS automatic bid: If Ohio State wins and Penn State loses to Michigan State, the Buckeyes would be outright Big Ten champs and qualify for a BCS bid to either the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar bowls. If USC plays Texas in the Rose Bowl, the order of selection for the bowls would be Fiesta, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, with the ACC champ tied to the Orange Bowl and the SEC champ tied to the Sugar.

If, as expected, Notre Dame finishes with nine wins and among the top 12 teams in the BCS standings, the Irish would be an attractive selection with the Fiesta's first pick, especially since OSU has played in the Fiesta two of the past four years. Ohio State would then be a popular pick to go to the Orange Bowl for the first time since New Year's Day 1977, with Miami the likely foe.

A BCS at-large berth: If Penn State and Ohio State both win, the Buckeyes, up to No. 9 in the latest AP poll, would remain a candidate for one of two at-large spots in BCS bowls. They would be guaranteed an at-large spot only if they were in the top four of the BCS.

A Notre Dame team that wins out is a near-lock for one spot. At this point, the other contenders include one-loss teams like Virginia Tech, Oregon and Alabama.

Alabama's loss actually hurt Ohio State. The Crimson Tide probably won't play in the SEC title game. If they beat Auburn to end the regular season, they'd finish as a one-loss traditional power bouncing back from some tough times, with fans likely hungry for a major bowl.

But as an Orange Bowl rep noted after taking in the spectacle that is a home game Saturday in Columbus, no bowl can ignore the possibilities of what Ohio State has to offer.

The Capital One Bowl: This bowl, with the top choice of Big Ten teams not in BCS bowls, would love to get the Buckeyes in Orlando for the first time since 1996 if Ohio State beats Michigan, hoping the BCS passes on OSU.

"Obviously the Big Ten would like to get two BCS teams," said bowl spokesman Brett Sowell, "but selfishly for us, it would be better."

If Ohio State loses to Michigan, the rallying Wolverines, with the same record as the Buckeyes, would probably be chosen here, since performance in the final five games of the season is one of the many selection criteria.

The Outback Bowl: With the next choice after the Capital One Bowl, Ohio State would be a probable pick if it loses to Michigan. The Buckeyes lost to South Carolina in Tampa after both the 2000 and 2001 seasons. But if Michigan blows out the Buckeyes, Wisconsin, in the final season for coach Barry Alvarez, could be chosen, even though the Badgers would finish one game behind Ohio State in the conference standings.

That's not likely. But that would leave the Alamo. And that wouldn't make Pittman very happy.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4748.
 
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11/14/05


<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>The Game - A History

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Ted Ginn's punt return vs. UM in 2004

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Steve Helwagen

Date: Nov 14, 2005

This year marks the 102nd edition of the wonderful Ohio State/Michigan rivalry. What makes the rivalry so great? Many would say the rich tradition and the huge games the teams have played over the past. Come along with us as we take a look back at the rivalry that so many simply refer to as "The Game".
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They have a standing date, usually at high noon on the third or fourth Saturday in November. (This year, of course, it’s the third Saturday of November at 1 p.m.)
The location rotates between two of college football's most revered venues, Michigan Stadium and Ohio Stadium.
The nation, courtesy of ABC, is usually watching. (Although this year, it sounds like the West Coast will have to fend for itself.)
Of course, we are speaking of the Ohio State-Michigan series, which was named as the greatest sports rivalry of the 20th century in balloting conducted on ESPN.com.
Yes, Ohio State-Michigan was ahead of Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier, Duke-North Carolina, Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell, Canadiens-Maple Leafs, Jack Nicklaus-Arnold Palmer and Yankees-Red Sox on the continuum of sports' top head-to-head match-ups.
This year will mark the 102nd meeting between the Buckeyes and Wolverines on the college gridiron. The feelings of enmity and respect continue to flow on both sides of this tradition-laden rivalry.
"To me, Michigan is the team you set out at the beginning of the year to beat," said two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, whose OSU teams posted a 3-0-1 record against UM from 1972-75. "Certainly, you want to win them all, but that is a special game. It is our rival. We want to play a great game against the University of Michigan.
"It's at the end of the year and you have all year to improve to be at your best by the time you come to play the Michigan football team."
Former OSU head coach Earle Bruce was an assistant under Woody Hayes for seven seasons before leading the Buckeyes to a 5-4 mark against Michigan as the head coach from 1979-87.
"If you don't win the Michigan-Ohio State game, that's a problem," Bruce said. "You're not going to be recognized for too much success. We've had 11-1 and 10-1 football teams that lost to Michigan and they're not even mentioned in the second breath."
With 101 previous meetings, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry ranks 17th among the most-played rivalries in Division I-A history. Michigan leads the all-time series 57-38-6.
"It is hard to believe there are other ones that are longer, but this one reached 100 (last) year," said renowned OSU football historian Jack Park, author of "The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia". "They have played every year since 1918. The only reason they didn't play between 1913-17 is because Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1913.
"Michigan had withdrawn from the Big Ten and the Big Ten did not allow any of its members to play Michigan. Finally, Michigan rejoined the Big Ten in 1918 and resumed the series with Ohio State.
"Now, it is Ohio State's longest continuous series. Ohio State had played Illinois every since 1914. But because of the Big Ten schedule with 11 teams, they didn't play Illinois last year or this year."
The Game, as the rivalry has become known, was moved to the final week of the regular season in 1935. Since then, it has had a major impact on the Big Ten championship race -- and, in many cases, also the bid for the Rose Bowl -- no fewer than 42 times.
Make it 43 times – Ohio State can win a share of the Big Ten championship this season with a win in Ann Arbor. Michigan can also get a conference title with a win and a Penn State loss at Michigan State. In fact, if Penn State loses, OSU is guaranteed a share of the conference title win or lose.
On 20 of those 42 previous occasions, the teams have decided the title between themselves.
Since 1927, the teams have been so evenly matched that neither side has enjoyed anything more than a four-game winning streak. In fact, in the last 11 meetings in which one team came in unbeaten, that team has left unblemished just five times (OSU in 1979 and 2002; Michigan in 1971, '92 and '97).
On 18 occasions since 1936, The Game has matched teams both ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll. OSU's record in those games is 8-8-2, although Michigan has won the last six times that has happened (1976, '77, '80, '86, '97 and last year).
On three occasions, both teams have been unbeaten. Those were 1970 (OSU won 20-9), 1973 (a 10-10 tie) and 1975 (OSU won 21-14).
With an NCAA record crowd of 112,118 for the game two years ago in Ann Arbor, the total attendance figure for this series -- at least since Ohio Stadium opened in 1922 -- moved past the seven million mark.
This year's game will mark the 55th time in 83 years that the game has sold out, including the last 37 in a row.
Although Michigan enjoys a 19-game lead in the overall series -- think about that: OSU has to win the next 19 games just to even the series, and the earliest that can happen is 2023 -- there are other ways to twist the numbers.
If you deduct UM's 13-0-2 advantage in the first 15 games of the series, the Wolverines have just a 44-38-4 edge.
And, over the last 50 years, the teams are deadlocked at 24-24-2.
You look at the coaches who have had the most success in The Game. On the OSU side, everybody looks to Hayes. He was 16-11-1 against Michigan. His is by far the best mark against UM among any of the six former OSU coaches who lasted at least five years on the job.
On the Michigan side, most see Bo Schembechler as the standardbearer. But he was just 11-9-1 against Ohio State. Fielding Yost, who benefited from UM’s early dominance, was 16-3-1 against OSU. Fritz Crisler was 7-2-1. Current UM coach Lloyd Carr would get to third on the list of UM coaches against OSU with a win in this year’s game. He would improve to 7-4.

With Park's assistance, we will navigate through the most meaningful moments in the first 100 OSU-Michigan games, a span covering 107 years.
Michigan Dominates Early Years
Ohio State and Michigan met for the first time ever on Oct. 16, 1897, at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan, in its 18th season of intercollegiate football, prevailed 34-0. OSU was fielding just its seventh team.
OSU again visited Michigan in 1900, playing the Wolverines to a scoreless tie. A year later, OSU hosted Michigan at Ohio Field for the first time ever, falling 21-0. In 1902, UM dealt OSU an 86-0 drubbing, the school's worst loss ever.
This would be a recurring theme as Michigan never lost in the first 15 meetings between the schools.
"Michigan outscored Ohio State 369-21 in the first 15 games and you have to remember that in some of those games touchdowns were only worth four or five points, so it's really even worse than it sounds," Park said.
OSU did not score its first points against Michigan until their sixth meeting, still a 31-6 UM rout. The feat was so remarkable, however, The Detroit News blared a headline, "Ohio Scores on Michigan."
OSU ended 22 years of frustration with its 13-3 win over UM on Oct. 25, 1919. The Buckeyes won with a touchdown off a blocked punt and another on a 42-yard run by star Chic Harley.
"I think it started to become a big deal early on, although Ohio State lost 13 of the first 15 games and the other two were ties," Park said. "Ohio State's first victory in the series was 1919, the 16th game in the series. Chic Harley played one of the finest games of all time and Ohio State won 13-3.
"There were 25,000 fans at Michigan that day at old Ferry Field. There were 5,000 Ohio State fans there that day. That was quite a win. With that loss, Michigan was 3-4 that year. That was Fielding Yost's only losing season at Michigan."
Yost tipped his hat to the winners that day, visiting the OSU dressing quarters to congratulate the Buckeyes.
183525.jpg

OSU vs. Michigan in 1922
Ohio Stadium Era Begins
It was the exploits of Harley that led OSU to build massive Ohio Stadium. The Horseshoe-shaped stadium opened in 1922, and Michigan was on the docket for the stadium dedication game.
But UM, behind star and later coach Harry Kipke, spoiled the dedication game with a 19-0 win. An overflow crowd of 72,500 attended the game. The loss spoiled OSU's modest three-game winning streak in the series.
The 1926 game, won by Michigan 17-16 after OSU missed a late extra point, still stands as the only game in the series decided by a single point. An announced record crowd of 90,411 attended the game as the Buckeyes attempted to remain undefeated.
A year later, UM opened Michigan Stadium. Ohio State played the dedication game there on Oct. 22, 1927, but the Wolverines prevailed 21-0 before a capacity crowd of 84,401.
As the country moved into the Great Depression, even college football was not immune. The Game had been averaging crowds of 75,000 or better. But in 1932, just 19,500 could afford tickets to see Michigan win 14-0 in Columbus.
Better times were coming, though, for the nation and Ohio State. Francis Schmidt took over as the OSU coach in 1934 and proceeded to see his teams rip off four straight shutout wins over UM from 1934-37 (34-0, 38-0, 21-0, 21-0).
"Francis Schmidt had great success against Michigan, winning his first four years," Park said. "That is one of only two four-game winning streaks over Michigan, and they shut them out all four years. The other time was from 1960-63 with Woody when Michigan was really down at that time."
Schmidt was credited for starting the tradition of awarding a pair of Gold Pants -- a tiny pendant -- to members of OSU teams that defeated Michigan.
Michigan gained a measure of revenge in 1940 as All-American Tom Harmon ran for three touchdowns, passed for two more and kicked four extra points in a 40-0 win in Columbus.
UM's next two trips to Ohio Stadium did not go quite as well, though. With former Massillon High School coach Paul Brown at the helm, OSU defeated UM 21-7 in 1942 on its way to clinching its first national championship. Les Horvath and Paul Sarringhaus each threw and caught TD passes in the win.
Two years later, OSU denied UM a piece of the Big Ten title with an 18-14 win.
"There were two games in the 1940s that stood out," Park said. "In 1942, the win helped Ohio State win its first national championship.
"Then, the 1944 game was the first time the Ohio State-Michigan winner would be the outright Big Ten champion. Ohio State won 18-14 in a game where the lead changed hands on all five of the touchdowns. Les Horvath was outstanding that day. He scored the winning touchdown and went on to win the Heisman Trophy."
Michigan blasted OSU 58-6 in 1946, Paul Bixler’s only year as the OSU head coach. That remains OSU’s worst loss in Ohio Stadium history.
One of the most memorable games in OSU history occurred in 1950 as the Buckeyes hosted Michigan in the Snow Bowl. A paralyzing blizzard and near-zero temperatures gripped central Ohio. But 50,503 showed up to see Michigan win 9-3.
The Wolverines won despite running for just 27 yards and never completing a pass. The teams punted a combined 45 times in an effort to win the field position battle. OSU led 3-2 late in the first half on a Vic Janowicz field goal. But UM blocked a Janowicz punt and recovered it in the end zone for what would be the winning touchdown. OSU was denied a Big Ten title and head coach Wes Fesler resigned his post under fire weeks later.
"The Snow Bowl game never should have been played," Park said. "Ohio State really had the better team. They should have won big over them. Michigan was having a bad season, yet they beat Ohio State. Northwestern upset Illinois that same day, opening the door for Michigan to go to the Rose Bowl."
183526.jpg

Paul Warfield against UM in 1961
Hayes Era Comes Next
Ohio State had been through four coaches in just the 10-year period between 1941-50. It had earned the nickname as the Graveyard of Coaches.
But Hayes, the coach at Miami (Ohio), stepped into the vacancy and became a legend.
"Woody Hayes was pretty successful against Michigan," Park said. "It took them 27 years to beat him two years in a row. He was 16-11-1 against them. Michigan only won eight of the first 25 games he coached against them."
Hayes' first OSU team fell 7-0 in Michigan in 1951. But they rolled 27-7 in Columbus a year later. Then, in 1954, OSU secured a national championship and moved toward a perfect 10-0 season with a 21-7 win.
This dramatic victory saw the OSU defense mount a huge goal-line stand with the game tied at 7-7 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dave Leggett then drove OSU 99-1/2 yards the other way for the go-ahead touchdown. Howard "Hopalong" Cassady tacked on an insurance score late in the game.
A year later, OSU blanked UM 17-0 in Ann Arbor to repeat as the Big Ten champions. Cassady had 146 yards and a score in that win.
OSU's Dick LeBeau scored a pair of touchdowns in his team's 31-14 rout of the Wolverines in 1957, a win that propelled the Buckeyes to another national title.
OSU defeated Michigan 23-14 in 1959, capping the only season where the schools played where each side ended the year with a losing record (UM was 4-5; OSU was 3-5-1).
Hayes twisted the knife in Ann Arbor in 1961, leaving his starters in late in the game to blow out the Wolverines 50-20 and earn another conference crown. The joke was on him, though, when OSU's faculty council turned down the Rose Bowl bid, saying football was simply becoming too big at the school. The decision triggered riots on campus.
OSU and Michigan managed just one Big Ten title between them -- UM's 1964 crown -- from 1962-67.
In 1968, an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 85,371 and 10,000 more watching on closed circuit in Ann Arbor saw the Buckeyes rout UM 50-14. Jim Otis had 142 yards and four touchdowns for the second-ranked Buckeyes, who advanced to the Rose Bowl and moved a step closer to another national championship.
A year later, a Hayes protégé named Glenn "Bo" Schembechler made the jump from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan, replacing longtime coach Bump Elliott.
183521.jpg

Schembechler and Hayes
OSU came into the 1969 game in Ann Arbor looking for a school-record 23rd straight win and, although it could not go to the Rose Bowl due to the no-repeat rule, a likely second consecutive national title.
But Michigan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history. Fullback Garvie Craw scored a pair of touchdowns in his team's 24-12 win over the Buckeyes before a Michigan Stadium-record crowd of 103,583.
The win was the first blow in what would become known as the "Ten Year War" between Hayes and Schembechler.
"It really was a great rivalry before Hayes and Bo Schembechler came along," Park said. "But it is hard to think any series had the build-up, impact and emotion connected to those 10 years between 1969-78.
"The Big Ten was really weak other than those two schools. They were fighting it for a chance at the national championship every year. Bo was a protégé of Woody's and he defeated Ohio State in his first game, breaking Ohio State's all-time winning streak of 22 games."
OSU got its revenge in 1970, winning 20-9 behind the steady play of quarterback Rex Kern and a strong defense that limited UM to just 155 yards. The win sent the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl and earned them a piece of another national title.
"In 1970, they met for the first time when both teams were undefeated and untied," Park said. "I think that 1970 game may have been the biggest. Year in and year out, it is hard to think of any bigger, maybe last year's game with a lot at stake. There was a book 'One Game Season' and that was pretty much what it was."
OSU's 10-7 loss at Michigan in 1971 was not remarkable, particularly with OSU finishing the year 6-4. But it was marked by huge outburst from Hayes after UM's Thom Darden intercepted a pass intended for OSU's Dick Wakefield. Hayes stormed on to the field asking for a pass interference penalty. Instead, he was penalized. He retreated to the sideline, where he ripped up down markers.
Griffin's four years at OSU came next. In 1972, UM was 10-0 and pointed toward the Rose Bowl. But OSU mounted two huge goal line stands in a 14-11 win, marked by Griffin's 30-yard TD run. OSU advanced to the Rose Bowl instead.
When asked why he didn't attempt a field goal either time his team threatened, Schembechler replied, "We should have scored from the 1."
The 1973 game marked the second time the teams met with unbeaten records (10-0 each). UM's Mike Lantry missed two field goals in the final two minutes of what ended up a 10-10 tie. Big Ten athletic directors voted the next day to send OSU to the Rose Bowl, sending Schembechler into a rage.
Soccer style kicker Tom Klaban booted four field goals a year later as OSU nipped UM 12-10 in Columbus. Because OSU had lost an earlier game at Michigan State, the ADs had to vote again, and again they sent OSU to Pasadena. This marked the only game where OSU defeated UM without scoring a touchdown.
In 1975, the top-ranked Buckeyes rallied from a 14-7 deficit to win 21-14 and claim a fourth straight Rose Bowl. Griffin’s 31-game string of 100-yard games was snapped, but his brother, defensive back Ray Griffin, had 14 tackles and the interception that set up the game-winning score. Hayes called the win "the greatest game I've ever coached."
It would also be the venerable coach's last win over UM, which would post three consecutive wins over the Buckeyes (22-0, 14-6, 14-3). Hayes was fired after the 1978 Gator Bowl loss to Clemson.
Park put that whole period of time in proper perspective.
"Between 1968-80, over those 13 seasons Michigan only lost five games in the Big Ten to teams other than Ohio State," he said. "Ohio State only lost five games to schools other than Michigan in the Big Ten.
"In that same period, they were 6-6-1 against each other. Think about that -- each team lost to more to each other than they did to the rest of the Big Ten combined. Those two teams were so evenly matched -- and they were so much better than the rest of the league."
Bruce Takes Over
Bruce came on the scene and led OSU to an unbeaten regular season in his first year on the job in 1979. That feat was capped by an 18-15 win in Ann Arbor. That win has come to be known far and wide as the "Buckeye Block Party" as Jim Laughlin blocked a UM punt and Todd Bell returned it for the winning score.
Quarterback Art Schlichter was carried off the field in Ann Arbor two years later after engineering a 14-9 win over the Wolverines. Schlichter scored two touchdowns, including the 6-yard game winner behind a key block by fullback Vaughn Broadnax.
OSU clinched a Rose Bowl bid in 1984 with a stirring 21-6 win over UM in Columbus. Keith Byars scored twice in that win.
Two years later, brash UM quarterback Jim Harbaugh guaranteed victory and delivered it as the Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes 26-24 in Columbus to steal the Rose Bowl bid.
"We're going to be jacked up and we're going to win," said Harbaugh, who threw for 261 yards. Tailback Jamie Morris added 210 yards on the ground to blunt OSU linebacker Chris Spielman's 29-tackle effort.
The 1987 game was marked by Bruce's firing on the Monday prior to the game by OSU president Ed Jennings. Athletic director Rick Bay resigned in protest. Bruce was permitted to coach the UM game and the team, just 5-4-1 after a crushing loss to Iowa, responded. Sporting "EARLE" headbands they upset UM 23-20 in Ann Arbor. Bruce was carried off the field.
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Earle Bruce gives a locker room speech after the win in 1987
Cooper Comes Next
Ohio State went after Arizona State's John Cooper in large part because he had led the Sun Devils to a win over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.
Unfortunately, Cooper rarely recaptured that magic in his 13 years as the OSU coach, going 2-10-1 against UM.
Michigan reeled off four straight wins to greet the almost instantly embattled Cooper. A 13-13 tie in 1992 -- called one of OSU's "greatest wins" by then-president Gordon Gee -- saved Cooper's job.
A year later, though, OSU went to Ann Arbor at 9-0-1 and in search of the Rose Bowl bid. But UM played inspired football and blanked the Buckeyes 28-0.
Cooper punched a blackboard at halftime of his team's memorable 22-6 win over the Wolverines in 1994 in Columbus.
But that only set the stage for three more defeats, all with either Big Ten, Rose Bowl or national championship implications on the line.
In 1995, UM tailback Tim Biakabutuka rolled for 313 yards in his team's 31-23 upset of the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes, who were 11-0 coming in. UM was fueled by comments from OSU's Terry Glenn, who said, "Michigan is nothing."
The stakes were the same a year later as 10-0 OSU hosted Michigan. But OSU cornerback Shawn Springs slipped on a pass coverage, allowing a 69-yard TD pass from Brian Griese to Tai Streets in a 13-9 Michigan win. UM's inspiration for this game came from, of all places, Bruce, whose stirring Senior Tackle speech before 20,000 at Ohio Stadium was broadcast live -- right into the hotel rooms of the UM players.
The Rose Bowl bid was on the line in 1997, but Michigan, riding the three-way play of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, pulled out a 20-14 win on its way to a national title.
The Buckeyes finally got the monkey off their back in 1998, defeating UM 31-16 to claim a piece of the Big Ten title. Quarterback Joe Germaine threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, while David Boston -- whose own comments about Woodson before the 1997 game got him in hot water -- had 10 catches for 217 yards and two TDs.
But two more disappointing losses (24-17 in 1999 and 38-26 in 2000) rounded out Cooper's stay as the OSU coach.
All told, Michigan denied OSU five Big Ten titles, four Rose Bowl berths and legitimate chances at three national titles in Cooper's 13 years.
"I think part of it was mental," Park said. "Some of those Michigan teams were very, very good. A break or two just went their way. In some cases, Ohio State was almost beaten before they played the game.
"In the 1995 game, they spread us out and Tim Biakabutuka just ran wild. The real sad one was the 1996 game. Michigan should not have been on the same field with Ohio State. Ohio State was up 9-0 at halftime on three field goals. That's where the game was lost. They had a first down at the 2-yard line and ended up kicking a field goal.
"I'm sure they were pretty pumped up in the Michigan locker room at halftime. Then, they came out and scored to cut the lead to 9-7. I think most Ohio State fans knew at that point that Michigan was going to win the game."
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Jerry Rudzinski against UM in 1998
Tressel Sets The Tone
OSU turned to Youngstown State's Jim Tressel to replace Cooper and, on the day he was introduced as the coach, appeared at halftime of the OSU-Michigan basketball game at Value City Arena.
He told the crowd: "I can assure you, you will be proud of our young people in the classroom, in the community and, most especially, in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Mich., on the football field."
Tressel's team backed up the talk as the Buckeyes upset UM 26-20 to deny the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten title.
But that was part time compared to the 2002 game, where OSU rallied for a 14-9 victory that sent the Buckeyes to the national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl.
"I think one way Jim Tressel is like Woody Hayes is that he really points toward certain games," Park said. "He has never told me that, but that is just my opinion. Hayes always pointed toward the Michigan game. He knew you can't get a team sky high every Saturday.
"That might have been part of the problem in the 1990s. They maybe tried to treat it as just another game.
"I think Tressel made the point from the time he was introduced at the Schottenstein Center with his '310 days' speech. He sent the message right there that this is going to be a high priority for us."
Two years ago, Michigan cruised to a 35-21 in the historic 100th meeting between the two schools. Quarterback John Navarre threw for two touchdowns to Braylon Edwards, while Chris Perry rushed for two scores as well. The win gave UM an outright Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth.
Last year, Michigan already had the Big Ten title clinched when it visited OSU. But the Buckeyes, behind a career day by Troy Smith, upset Michigan 37-21. Smith threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 145 yards and a score.
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Carmen Ohio amidst the craziness of the 2002 celebration
<SUP>One Man’s Opinion
Nobody asked, but here is my list of the top 10 Ohio State-Michigan games. Here goes:
1. 2002: Ohio State 14, Michigan 9 -- Others can disagree, but I think this was the biggest win in the history of Ohio Stadium. OSU finally got the UM monkey off its back and became the first Big Ten school to play in the Bowl Championship Series national title game.
2. 1968: Ohio State 50, Michigan 14 -- OK, it was lopsided, but how many times do you get a chance to hang 50 on UM and move a step closer to a national championship? That’s what you call a dream day.
3. 1970: Ohio State 20, Michigan 9 – Some say this should be No. 1. Buckeyes got revenge for 1969 loss in Ann Arbor and clinched Rose Bowl bid.
4. 1950: Michigan 9, Ohio State 3 – The renowned Snow Bowl, won in a blizzard by UM almost as a fluke.
5. 1969: Michigan 24, Ohio State 12 – Woody Hayes had to give the devil – in this case, former protégé Bo Schembechler – his due after UM snapped OSU’s 22-game winning streak. One of the biggest upsets in Big Ten football history.
6. 1954: Ohio State 21, Michigan 7 – Great goal line stand preserved tie in fourth quarter. Win helped lead to school’s second national title.
7. 1942: Ohio State 21, Michigan 7 – Paul Brown’s troops upset favored UM and won Big Ten, national titles.
8. 1973: Ohio State 10, Michigan 10 – Two unbeatens play to a standoff. How God intended it, I’m sure.
9. 1979: Ohio State 18, Michigan 15 – Dramatic Buckeye Block Party win in Ann Arbor.
10. 1975: Ohio State 21, Michigan 14 – Late rally sends OSU to fourth straight Rose Bowl.
Others Of Note: 1944 (OSU 18-14; Les Horvath wills OSU to win), 1955 (OSU 17-0; maybe OSU’s best defensive showing ever), 1972 (OSU 14-11; Buckeyes mount two great goal-line stands), 1986 (UM 26-24; an incredible ride; Jim Harbaugh guaranteed victory), 1987 (OSU 23-20; Earle Bruce’s last stand); 1998 (OSU 31-16; Germaine-to-Boston lethal); 2001 (OSU 26-20; Jim Tressel wins debut).
The Great Traditions
The Ohio State-Michigan game has spawned its own set of traditions for the Buckeyes, including:
· Gold Pants – Francis Schmidt came up with the idea in 1934 of awarding players on OSU teams that defeat Michigan with a pendant depicting a pair of gold pants. “They put their pants on one leg at a time,” Schmidt reasoned.
· Senior Tackle – This tradition began in 1913 where seniors hit the blocking sled one last time before the final game. Since the Michigan game became the final regular season game in 1935, this tradition has typically fallen a day or two before The Game.
· Tunnel of Pride – This tradition began for the 1995 OSU-Notre Dame game, but has continued for every OSU-Michigan game in Ohio Stadium since. Former players form a tunnel for the team to pass through on its way to the field.
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Brought over from my post on the GBW board:

10. Your stadium (I'll be nice). Hilarious that someone is suggesting our stadium looks like a toilet seat. Horseshoe or "bowl" shaped stadium... hmm...
9. Michigan cheering - easily the quietest big stadium in the US. They cheer when they are winning but become fairly silent when struggling.
8. Desmond Howard - makes a lot of sense to sing Hail to the Victors on top of Ohio Stadium when his alma mater just got dismantled earlier that day in a much worse fashion
7. Bob Griese - shamelessly biased in the way he calls a game
6. Helmets - if they are so great, how come nobody copied them? Every other good design style was copied.
5. Academic excellence - UM has elite requirements for students, but not for athletes, yet no one grasps this simple concept.
4. Back to back rose bowl sweatshirts - michigan fans parade around in them with pride. I guess our standards may be different, but choking twice in a row isn't something I want to bring up.
3. Lloyd Carr - always finds something absurd to complain about (like the bomb search last year since they got there too late to be searched at the hotel; ironically Carr is a beloved figure in Ohio b/c his teams always underperform)
6. Being overrated - been proven statistically to be one of the most overrated teams every year.
2. Ancient NC's - thumbing their noses at other schools thanks to 1 NC in the modern era of football (also since Hayes coached at OSU). Way to go on winning all of those titles back when there was far less competition.
1. Stubborn arrogance. Mocking you constantly when they are winning, and clutching to tradition when they aren't.
 
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