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Buckeyes Not Taking Spartans Lightly
With History As Its Guide, No. 1 Ohio State Not Taking Downtrodden Michigan State Lightly
By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio Oct 10, 2006 (AP)? All signs point to a mismatch when downtrodden Michigan State welcomes No. 1 Ohio State to town Saturday.
The Buckeyes aren't buying into it, even against a team that has lost its last three games. Besides their regular classwork this week, they're getting a heavy dose of history from alumni and former players.
Twice before, a top-ranked Ohio State team has been a heavy favorite against a Michigan State squad seemingly on the skids. But in 1974 and again in 1998, Michigan State pulled off stunning upsets to ruin perfect seasons for the Buckeyes.
"What's important is you point out the facts," coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday. "The facts are that when Ohio State and Michigan State get together whether you're talking about the years we were No. 1 and got knocked off, or last year when we're down 17-7 getting ready to go down 24-7 perspective is very important."
The Buckeyes were 8-0 and topped the polls in 1974 when they traveled to East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State was a disappointing 4-3-1.
In that game, Levi Jackson's 88-yard run with 3:17 left gave the Spartans a 16-13 lead. Ohio State, which featured an star-filled lineup, including two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin at tailback, marched to the Michigan State 5 before fullback Champ Henson burrowed within inches of the goal line with 29 seconds left. Defenders took their time getting up and there was some confusion on the Ohio State sideline before the ball was finally snapped, slipping through the legs of quarterback Cornelius Greene. Wingback Brian Baschnagel picked up the loose ball and went into the end zone.
Field judge Robert Dagenhart signaled that time had expired, while head linesman Ed Scheck ruled Baschnagel had scored.
The teams went into the locker rooms and 46 minutes later after consulting with the officials Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke ruled that time had expired before the final play and that Michigan State had won.
In 1998, Ohio State was unbeaten with no team coming closer than 17 points the same as this year's team when it took on Michigan State. The Spartans were 26 1/2-point underdogs and trailed 24-9 in the third quarter before mounting a furious comeback behind quarterback Bill Burke, wide receiver Plaxico Burress and placekicker Paul Edinger to take a 28-24 lead. The Buckeyes, averaging 38 points a game, drove deep in MSU territory in the final minute but four passes by Joe Germaine fell incomplete to end the game.
"We had a great team that season. And we ended up having a great season, finishing with an 11-1 record, a win in the Sugar Bowl and a No. 3 ranking," said Gary Berry, a safety on that Ohio State team. "But that (the MSU game) is the only game I can think about, the only game I can remember. ? That was one of the best teams to ever come through Ohio State, but we lost that game and that's what haunts me."
The current Buckeyes say they'll take note.
"I just know history has a tendency to repeat itself," Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock said. "So we are going to look back and try to understand the situations of those games and try to learn from them. We'll definitely look over them."
Just a year ago, Michigan State led 17-7 and was driving in Ohio State territory in the final seconds of the half. The Spartans elected to kick a field goal on the last play of the half, but there was a substitution mix-up on John Goss' 35-yard attempt. The kick was blocked by Nate Salley, with Ashton Youboty scooping it up and returning it 72 yards for a touchdown.
The Spartans never recovered, falling 35-24 despite not permitting Ohio State to run a play on Michigan State's half of the field until there were just over 5 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State's players say they've learned from those earlier upsets and last year's close call.
"We're not going to fall apart," tight end Rory Nichol said. "We understand what's ahead of us. We're not going to walk into that stadium thinking we're bigger or better than anybody. I can't see that happening."
Berry added a fitting postscript.
"What I learned that day is that anybody can be beaten," he said.
