Game Thread THE GAME: #1 Ohio State 42, #2 Michigan 39 (11/18/06)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

COMMENTARY
The Game, not Ball State, on Michigan?s mind
Sunday, November 05, 2006
TODD JONES

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. ? Someone hanged Brutus Buckeye in effigy from a tree near the south end of Michigan Stadium yesterday.
The specter of Ohio State was hanging everywhere else around the Big House.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr never once mentioned the Buckeyes, and his players tap-danced around the topic of playing Ohio State in 13 days for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game and control of the Milky Way galaxy.
"We can talk about that next week," mammoth offensive tackle Jake Long said with a sly grin.
The men in maize and blue, however, didn?t need to speak about OSU to make it clear how much The Game is on everyone?s minds here.
Michigan?s distraction showed in the disjointed and dispirited manner in which the Wolverines, 10-0 and ranked No. 2, beat Ball State, a 33?-point underdog who lost to Division I-AA North Dakota State earlier this season.
The Wolverines dropped passes, had eight penalties, committed two turnovers that gave Ball State nine points, put the second-string defense in too early and then had to bring the starters back in after giving up two long plays that nearly melted away second-half leads of 31-12 and 34-19.
"It was a little scary," Long said. "This was like a reality check for all of us."
Ball State lost 34-26, but credit the visitors for scrapping enough to nearly extinguish the unprecedented anticipation for the first matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the Ohio State-Michigan series.
The Cardinals, down eight points, actually had the ball 2 yards from the Wolverines? end zone with less than three minutes to play, but they didn?t score.
Carr sounded like Kevin Bacon yelling "Remain calm, all is well," in Animal House as a riot ensued in the streets near Faber College.
"I?m not concerned at all," Carr said, pointing out how his team ran for 352 yards, gained a total of 507 and limited that mighty power, uh, Ball State to 37 rushing yards.
Carr was in a glass-half-full kind of mood, saying the near-meltdown would be "good for our team," even though it came one week after an unimpressive 17-3 win over horrible Northwestern.
"I don?t think we?ve taken a step back," Carr said.
Although Carr talked about the importance of beating Indiana in six days, his recent handling of his team shows how much he?s pointing to the Nov. 18 game in Columbus.
He played receiver Mario Manningham about a dozen plays yesterday to help him shake off rust from missing three games after surgery on his right knee. The sophomore, who drew mighty cheers every time he took the field, is expected to start against Indiana.
Carr admitted he changed practice routines last week and went lighter in workouts to help the Wolverines mentally and physically because they showed fatigue against Northwestern.
"I think we?re going to be healthier than we?ve been in a long time," he said.
All the better to try to beat Ohio State, winners of its past two ? and four of the past five ? games against Carr.
Yet letting off the gas pedal last week nearly backfired yesterday.
"Everybody was having too much fun out there instead of having hard-nosed, getafter-them practices," Michigan quarterback Chad Henne said.
Henne, who had an interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, ripped his team?s mind-set. "People are reading too many press clippings about themselves and about our team," he said.
And everyone here is thinking about Ohio State ? even if the Michigan coaches and players won?t acknowledge it.
"It?s on the tip of everybody?s tongues and on everybody?s minds," said Harlan Huckleby, a Michigan tailback from 1975 to 1978. "We?ve got to get back to beating Ohio State. None of the previous things you?ve done matter if you lose that game, man."
Hype is already hanging in the wind, just like Brutus Buckeye.
[email protected]

 

[osugrad21]

Blade

Article published Sunday, November 5, 2006

WOLVERINES NOTEBOOK
An OSU-UM rematch unlikely

By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

ANN ARBOR - Barring a major upset, No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan will be fighting one another on Nov. 18 for the right to play in college football's Bowl Championship Series national title game, held in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8.
And until the Wolverines had to squeak by Ball State 34-26 yesterday, chatter was constant of the possibility of a Wolverines-Buckeyes rematch in the desert. Experts of the complicated BCS system have said there is a chance the two rivals could meet in a back-to-back setting if the Wolverines lose a close one in Columbus in two weeks and the right one-loss schools suffer a second defeat between now and the end of the regular season. As enticing as it might sound to watch UM and Ohio State smack each other around twice in one season, at least one bowl game representative at Michigan Stadium wasn't so sure Wolverines-Buckeyes II would be best for college football. Steve Horrell, Life Director for the Fiesta Bowl and committee member for the national title game, said the two weeks of games after UM and Ohio State first play need to be settled before he would endorse a rematch. "It depends on the landscape of college football at the time," Horrell said. "From our standpoint, we want to make sure the matchup we have makes sense and gives the game a real national championship feel this year. We want there to be a clear-cut national champion." Of course, it's really up to the BCS computers, not Horrell. But after barely getting by a Cardinals team that is just 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference, UM might have lost some of the voter support it would have needed to survive a loss to the Buckeyes. WHO'S THAT MAN?: Wide receiver Mario Manningham was back on the field after sitting out the last three weeks rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee. Manningham, who entered the game with 24 catches for 527 yards and nine touchdowns, didn't have any catches in his limited playing time. UM coach Lloyd Carr was just happy to have No. 86 back in uniform. "The goal was to play him 8 to 10 plays, and we did that," Carr said. "I think he'll be ready to go next week." Tight ends Tyler Ecker (ankle) and Mike Massey (shoulder) dressed but didn't play. RIVAS TOPS: Senior UM kicker Garrett Rivas broke running back Anthony Thomas' school record for career scoring with a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, giving him 339 total points. Thomas now plays for the Buffalo Bills. HART PASSES LYTLE: Running back Mike Hart passed Rob Lytle (Fremont Ross graduate) for sixth place in UM history with 3,398 rushing yards. Hart ran for 154 yards and a touchdown against Ball State. TOUGH DAY: Ball State safety Erik Keys intercepted UM quarterback Chad Henne and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 9-7 lead late in the first quarter. The last time the Wolverines had trailed in a game was Sept. 23 against Wisconsin, when the Badgers scored on their opening drive. The 26 points were the most UM has allowed all season.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Michigan likely to focus on Indiana, not Ohio State
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Posted: November 5, 2006

Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan shouldn't have trouble focusing on Indiana this week.
After the second-ranked Wolverines held off Ball State for a 34-26 win Saturday, they acknowledged the hype about the Ohio State game distracted them.
"It's a reality check to all of us," offensive tackle Jake Long said. "We were close to losing, the closest we've been all year.
"We all have to refocus."
Michigan has only one more game -- at Indiana -- before the much-anticipated matchup Nov. 18 on the road against the top-ranked Buckeyes.
It's a safe bet the Wolverines (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) will take the Hoosiers (5-5, 3-3) seriously after not doing so against the five-touchdown underdog Cardinals.
"They might have thought they were on cruise control on the way to Ohio State," Ball State linebacker Brad Seiss said. "But our goal was to take it to the fourth quarter, and we did that. If things could have gone a little differently for us, we could have shocked the world."
Mike Hart's first fumble in two years and Chad Henne's interception that was returned for a score gave Ball State a 9-7 lead, which was just the second deficit Michigan has had this season.
The Wolverines gave up a 54-yard TD and a 62-yard pass that led to the Cardinals (3-7, 3-3 Mid-American) pulling within eight points midway through the fourth quarter.
With a chance to tie the game with a TD and a 2-point conversion, Ball State quarterback Nate Davis threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal with 2:46 left and couldn't connect on a final-play heave from midfield.
Michigan acknowledged it did not focus earlier in the week on the Cardinals, merely a decent team from the Mid-American Conference.
"I think guys thought this was a blow-over game," Henne said. "Ball State played their hearts out, and it showed if we relax any bit, any team can beat us."
Even the Hoosiers, who could ruin the regular-season finale between Michigan and Ohio State in what might be regarded as the biggest game in one of sport's greatest rivalries.
Indiana beat Iowa 31-28 last month but has been routed in some games, including its 63-26 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.
"It will be a good test for us," Michigan receiver and return specialist Steve Breaston said. "It makes us get back to being focused. You can't overlook Indiana because I know they have been waiting for this game."
The Wolverines' wait to get wide receiver Mario Manningham back ended against Ball State.
Manningham played sparingly as a reserve and didn't catch a pass, but his presence was welcomed by cheering fans and teammates after he missed three-plus games with a knee injury.
"He's right where he needs to be and he'll be ready to start," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "He makes a big difference in how we're going to be defended."
Manningham caught nine touchdowns in the first six games of the season, then needed minor knee surgery after being hurt Oct. 7 against Michigan State. He said, "Yeah," when asked if his knee felt good after playing Saturday.
"It was great just to see him back on the field, running and showing his speed out there," Henne said.
Henne's mood changed when he discussed how the game against Ball State ended.
After Davis threw just wide of Dante Love in the end zone, the Wolverines had an opportunity to run the clock out, but only gained a first down and had to punt.
Ball State had possession at midfield with 16 seconds left and after two incomplete passes, Davis' throw into the end zone was intercepted by Ryan Mundy.
"What hurt me the most was not being able to finish the game with the ball in our hands," Henne said.
Defensive end LaMarr Woodley said it reminded him a little bit of last season, when Michigan failed to close out games and finished 7-5 -- its worst season in two decades.
"Last year, we lost the game," he said. "This year, we won."
The victory was Michigan's 10th of the season, giving Carr double-digit wins for the sixth time in his 12 seasons and for the 25th time in program history -- a total that trails only Alabama's 28 years with at least 10 wins.

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

Football

Buckeye/Wolverine Stat Comparison
By John Porentas

​

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Buckeyes, Wolverines still on collision course
JASON LLOYD, Morning Journal Writer
11/06/2006




CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Jay Richardson knows all about close games. As a redshirt freshman in 2002, Richardson watched nearly every game late in the season go down to the final minutes. So to him, watching Ohio State hang on against Illinois Saturday, 17-10, was just like old times.


''I think the guys were just a little spoiled,'' Richardson said. ''They were used to beating up on teams ... blowing guys out.

''I was telling some of the younger guys ?This is just what you needed. It's not always going to be like that. You're going to have some tough games.' I remember back in 2002, this would've been a big win for us -- 7 points.''

The Buckeyes weren't the only top team to struggle on Saturday. Michigan couldn't close out Ball State, which trailed at one point, 31-12, only to cut it to 34-26. The Cardinals had a chance to tie with a first-and-goal in the final minutes, but couldn't convert.

It's probably not a coincidence that the top two teams in the country struggled on the same day against inferior opponents. It's November, Big Ten teams have now played 10 straight games without a week off and both teams are limping and tired.

The Buckeyes played without left tackle Alex Boone and they're without starting safety Anderson Russell for the rest of the regular season. Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock just returned to the lineup on Saturday.

Michigan just welcomed back Mario Manningham from knee surgery and right tackle Reuben Riley after he missed a game with injury. Starting tight end Tyler Ecker hasn't played in a month.

''It's late in the season,'' Richardson said. ''Guys are beaten up and tired and maybe looking ahead and not worried about the task in front of them. That's going to happen. As long as you get out with a win, just like we did, just like Michigan did, then you live through it.''

Some of the Michigan players admitted that perhaps the buildup from the impending clash with Ohio State on Nov. 18 started to take a toll against Ball State.

''I think that is a lot of the reason why we weren't focused,'' Michigan quarterback Chad Henne said. ''Coming into the game, people were reading too many press clippings (about Ohio State).''

Players from both teams have been peppered with questions about that game for the last month, since both Michigan and Ohio State have continually trashed opponents -- that is, until Saturday, when both teams were in danger of going to overtime despite entering as overwhelming favorites.

''I don't know what ?overwhelming favorite' does for us,'' coach Jim Tressel said. ''It doesn't spot us any points or get us any first downs. So what does it say that we got taken against the wall? Everybody can get taken against the wall.''

Perhaps thinking about fatigue over a long season and the fact his defense rarely gets a break, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr pulled his starters with Michigan ahead, 34-19 and just over 10 minutes left in the game. It backfired immediately when Ball State's first play was a 64-yard completion. Soon, the Cardinals were in the end zone and Michigan was in a fight for its unbeaten life.

Carr went back to his starters on Ball State's next possession, but the Cardinals still drove down inside the 10 before faltering. Carr was asked if he tried pulling his starters too soon.

''Had we lost the game,'' Carr joked, ''you all would've had a good time with that one.''

Now both Ohio State and Michigan have just one landmine left to navigate: Ohio State plays at Northwestern Saturday while Michigan travels to Indiana. Neither the Wildcats nor Hoosiers seem capable of spoiling the much-anticipated 1 vs. 2 game, but then again, Northwestern just won at Iowa on Saturday and Indiana is much improved. And if Ball State and Illinois can throw a scare into Ohio State and Michigan, anything is possible.

''You need those tests,'' tailback Antonio Pittman said. ''It wouldn't be a good season without a test like that. That was the test we'd been expecting for weeks. Iowa was supposed to give us a test like that, but it's the Big Ten and any team can get beat.''

 

[ytownbuckeye]

i fuckin hate michigan! anyone with me?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

City, OSU prep for The Game
Plans to empty trash bins, restrict parking aim to curb unrest after Michigan contest

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




As Ohio State football fans count down to the Michigan game, city and university officials are gearing up for crowd control.
They plan to make this year?s postgame different from 2002, when the Buckeyes also went undefeated and there were riots after the Michigan game.
Last night, Columbus City Council members were given details on how city and university officials plan to combat problems.
In 2002, drunken fans set cars and couches afire and continued causing problems until early that Sunday morning.
This year, trash collectors will go out three times the week of the game to clean out Dumpsters and garbage cans of anything that could be used for fires the night of the Nov. 18 match-up, Public Service Director Henry Guzman said.
"We?re going to use a police escort, so to speak," Guzman said.
Cars blocking trash bins, for example, will be towed.
And unlike 2002, trash collectors will be asked to keep an eye out for any homes with couches on the porches, Guzman said.
If trash collectors spot a couch, they are asked to call code-enforcement officers. More than 200 citations have been issued since a citywide ban on porch couches began 17 months ago, said Development Director Mark Barbash.
The crackdown on open containers that started on campus after the 2002 riots will be enforced just as heavily off campus the weekend of the game, Safety Director Mitchell Brown said.
And there will be a ban on parking on some of the city streets where problems have been particularly bad, he said.
Details on which streets will be prohibited for parking will be announced next week, Brown said.
The enforcement is being coupled with public-service announcements from some of Columbus? notable public figures, said Dawn Tyler Lee, of the university government liaison office.
Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Ohio State University President Karen A. Holbrook will encourage Buckeyes to be the "best fans in the land."
"Cheer for the team, not against the opponent," Griffin says in recorded messages that will start airing soon.
In other business last night, the City Council approved financial incentives for Skybus, the new Columbus-based airline. The airline was given three tax breaks, including a 10-year, 75 percent property tax abatement.
The Port Columbus airline, which will start flights next year, was granted a 50 percent income-tax break for seven years on the new jobs it creates. The company also will receive a 65 percent credit on its corporate tax, Barbash said.
The council also approved paying a lawsuit settlement with Steve Sloan, a former city dump-truck driver. The city fired Sloan in 2004 after he used all of his sick time for a back injury and was still unable to return to work, said Alan P. Varhus, assistant city attorney.
At the time of his firing, Sloan was on workers? compensation. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that employers can?t put employees in the position of having to choose between workers? compensation and their job, Varhus said.
The council agreed to pay Sloan $130,000, which reflects roughly what he would have made during the past two years, Varhus said.
In zoning matters, City Council unanimously denied a request for a zoning variance that would have allowed a two-bay automatic carwash at 5510 N. High St.
TDH Investment sought the variance. More than 50 Clintonville residents showed up to oppose the idea, saying the business was too small for the lot and would cause traffic problems and bother neighbors. [email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
This version of The Game could be a first

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




Despite being the top two teams in the national polls, Ohio State and Michigan are proponents of the tired phrase "take it one game at a time." Yawn if you want, but if they each take one more winning step Saturday, they will make Big Ten history.
It would be the first time the conference would have two 11-0 teams. That the two ? pegged to meet Nov. 18 in Ohio Stadium ? are 10-0 at the moment is no common occurrence, either. The only other time that happened in the Big Ten was 1904, when Michigan finished 10-0 and Minnesota went 13-0.
Michigan plays at Indiana (5-5) on Saturday and Ohio State plays at Northwestern (3-7). The Buckeyes aren?t taking anything for granted in terms of that 11 th win, senior defensive end Jay Richardson said, because everyone saw how hard Illinois (2-8) played during OSU?s 17-10 win on Saturday.
"We knew we were going to get their best shot," Richardson said.
Illinois was down 17-0 going into the fourth quarter, but when the Illini kicked a field goal for the first points against the OSU defense in almost two weeks, there was a change.
"You could kind of see it in their eyes, they had a little momentum going, they were starting to feel like maybe they had a shot to win," Richardson said.
Speaking of energy

If Northwestern took notes of the way the Illinois defense attacked the OSU offensive front, the Buckeyes might be in trouble, or at least the running game could be. Antonio Pittman gained just 58 yards, and though that?s not his lowest output of the season (48 against Michigan State), it was by far his lowest average (1.81) as a starter, since he had career-high 32 carries.
Every time he looked up, there was a dark blue horde headed his direction.
"I was frustrated by it a lot, but you?ve got to keep on going with your game, and as a running back you have to continue to be patient, no matter what?s coming at you," Pittman said. "Eventually you?ll break one. One play it looked like I could have had a seam, but I was tackled by a shoestring."
Reverse payoff

One member of the Illinois defense was rewarded for his efforts yesterday. The Big Ten named linebacker J Leman its defensive player of the week. He had 19 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, including an 8-yard sack. He also forced a fumble as the Illini held Ohio State to a season-low 17 points and 224 yards of offense. ? Tim Schafer played in place of Alex Boone (knee) at offensive left tackle at Illinois, and Schafer is listed No. 1 at the position on the depth chart released by Ohio State this week.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

COUNTDOWN TO OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN: 11 DAYS
Near-loss still has the Wolverines howling


Tuesday, November 07, 2006 Jodie Valade
Plain Dealer Reporter
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Michigan won its 10th football game Saturday, and not a single loss mars its record. The Wolverines are the No. 2 team in the country. Their defense ranks among the best in the nation, and their rushing defense is so good it smothers opponents while allowing a scant 30.3 yards per game.
This is, apparently, all news to the Michigan football team.
"We've just got to go back and get refocused, concentrate on our next game and put that one behind us," offensive lineman Alex Mitchell said Monday, bowing his head.
"I definitely think it was a little bit of a wake-up call for us," cornerback Leon Hall said, sighing.
"We didn't have our best day," safety Jamar Adams said mournfully.
When Michigan scampers away with a 34-26 near-loss to the Mid-American Conference's Ball State, and when No. 1 Ohio State looms in just two Saturdays, there are few positives in a narrow victory, it seems.
And when the Wolverines show glimpses of a secondary that is less spectacular than the rest of the dominating defense, it's important for them to declare that everything is a team effort.
Nothing is as it seems in the land north of Ohio State territory.
A victory is not to be celebrated, and peeks at a few chinks in the armor are not to be dwelled upon.
There were plenty of positives in a victory that still needed explanation Monday, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
Receiver Mario Manningham returned, and Carr was encouraged by the dozen plays he was in the game. Tight end Mike Massey (St. Ignatius) will return this week, Carr said. The rest of the team feels a bit more of a spring in its step after a game in which starters received much more rest than usual.
So they will chalk up the Ball State game as one that almost was overlooked -- even by Carr, who allowed his team to practice in shoulder pads only last Wednesday, a day that typically is a full-pad, full-contact day -- and vow not to do that again.
This week is Indiana, and then comes Ohio State.
"Everyone's focused and fired up," offensive lineman Jake Long said. "We want to play perfect. We want to get better and really get strong for the last stretch of the season."
Getting perfect includes tuning up a secondary that yielded 250 yards passing to Ball State -- 2 yards from the most its allowed this season. Two big Ball State completions of 54 and 62 yards burned two inexperienced Michigan cornerbacks late in the game, and made the final outcome closer than anyone expected.
Which is why the celebrated Michigan defense suddenly has a sign of weakness: the secondary.
"A lot of people are trying to say that, but we're a team," Adams said. "As defensive backs, we take pride in stopping the run, too. We all work at it. It's not, This group does that, and that group does this.' We're a team."
The Wolverines' pass defense ranks only sixth in the Big Ten, allowing 211.2 yards per game. The defensive line, however, is the part Carr calls the best he has coached in 12 years at Michigan.
"Hey, we're still undefeated," Adams said. "We're still 10-0. We've still got smiles on our faces."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4654

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

After letdowns, Michigan and Ohio State look to straighten up
Nos. 1, 2 survive parallel universe of competitive underdogs
By JON SPENCER
For The Advocate



COLUMBUS -- The force may be with No. 1 Ohio State, so No. 2 Michigan has summoned strength from beyond the football galaxy for their Nov. 18 showdown in Ohio Stadium. Patrick Stewart -- a.k.a. Capt. Jean Luc Picard in the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" -- served as guest conductor when the Michigan marching band played the theme from "Star Trek" at halftime last Saturday.
He then delivered his signature line from the series, urging Michigan to "boldly go and beat the Buckeyes ... make it so, No. 1." Like the good captain, the Wolverines got caught looking ahead and nearly squandered a 31-12 lead before using a defensive stand inside their 10-yard line to preserve a 34-26 victory over 3-6 Ball State.

After taking the opening kickoff 80 yards in 14 plays and jumping in front 17-0, Ohio State fell into the same trap, needing the recovery of an onside kick in the closing minutes to secure a 17-10 victory over 2-8 Illinois.
While Wolverines defensive end LaMarr Woodley faced reporters with tears in his eyes, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and OSU counterpart Jim Tressel were probably toasting their good fortune.
They know they have their 10-0 teams' undivided attention again.
"We've always said the Big Ten is a long eight-week battle, and we're 10 weeks through it," Tressel said. "Hopefully, we can learn from what we didn't do well and we'll grow from it. We've got guys I think are willing to look at themselves and see where we go from here."
Carr practically invited the close call by playing his second-team defense most of the second half until Ball State was on the verge of tying the game.
"Had we lost the game ... you would have all had a good time with that one," he said, joking with the media.
The Wolverines gave up more points to Ball State than they had their last three opponents -- Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern -- combined. Chad Henne threw an interception return for a touchdown, and tailback Mike Hart, who went 666 carries without fumbling, got stripped on a play where the ball bounced out of the end zone for a Ball State safety.
"Everything that happened was good for our team," Carr said. "They had to fight. I think they realized at the end that this was a game in jeopardy, that they had control of and let it get away."
Ohio State appeared to be cruising to its second straight shutout until the fourth quarter, when mistakes started to pile up. After a pass interference call set up a field goal, the Illini drove 80 yards in 10 plays to close within 7 with less than two minutes to play.
The Buckeyes were outgained 233-224 despite a nearly 13-minute edge in time of possession and had to settle for a draw in the turnover battle (2-2). Until Saturday, OSU's smallest margin of victory was 17 points.
It felt more like 2002, when the Buckeyes won seven games by seven points or less, including two in overtime, en route to a 14-0 finish and the national championship.
"Guys like Troy (Smith) and I have been in battles before," said center Doug Datish, speaking for his fellow captain. "This year, guys haven't been in battles that we've seen in the past. Anytime you can come out of a battle with a win, everybody grows up a little."
Guarding against complacency has been the biggest test for the Buckeyes the last six weeks. In that regard, the once highly-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes have helped Tressel do his job. Iowa was stunned by Indiana the week before OSU hosted the Hoosiers and last week handed 2-7 Northwestern its first Big Ten win of the season.
No chance now of the Buckeyes taking the Wildcats lightly Saturday in Evanston. "Even if teams are playing terrible, we know they're going to play their best against us," guard T.J. Downing said. "We prepare for every game like it's going to be a dogfight. If it's not, we just seal the deal and go home."

 

[TexasBuck]

News from the Associated Press
Carr expects WR Manningham at full strength at practice
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Monday he expects wide receiver Mario Manningham to be a full speed at practice Tuesday in preparation for his first start in more than a month Saturday at Indiana.

Manningham, who leads the team in receiving (527 yards) and ranks second among Michigan players in touchdowns (9), missed three games after undergoing knee surgery Oct. 10 before seeing limited action in Saturday's 34-26 win over Ball State.

The sophomore playmaker hasn't started since Oct. 7 against Michigan State.
"We got exactly what we wanted," Carr said Monday. " We wanted to play him eight, 10, 12 plays. I think he got 13, 14 maybe, and he ran very well. The main thing for him was he got to play."

Carr also said that the No. 2 Wolverines should again have depth at tight end, with Mike Massey expected to return from an injury while fifth-year senior Tyler Ecker continues to heal. Both dressed Saturday, but did not play.

Tailback Kevin Grady's status remains in question after the sophomore missed the Ball State game with a bruised shoulder. Grady has rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns this season. "Kevin has indicated he's a lot better, but until you get out there, you really don't know," Carr said.

Notes:@ Tailback Mike Hart's streak of consecutive carries without a fumble lost remains intact thanks to a NCAA rule. Hart fumbled against Ball State, which resulted in a first-quarter safety. But because the safety led to Michigan retaining possession and punting, the fumble cannot be classified as a fumble for loss. Hart has now had 688 straight carries without a fumble.

 

[mooktarr]

i fuckin hate michigan! anyone with me?

I don't hate them. I hate losing to them.
I love beating them.:osu:

 

[mooktarr]

News from the Associated Press
Notes:@ Tailback Mike Hart's streak of consecutive carries without a fumble lost remains intact thanks to a NCAA rule. Hart fumbled against Ball State, which resulted in a first-quarter safety. But because the safety led to Michigan retaining possession and punting, the fumble cannot be classified as a fumble for loss. Hart has now had 688 straight carries without a fumble.

Is ESPN in league with the NCAA now? This sounds exactly like something they would do.

 

[jwinslow]

Ball security is the measure of a great RB, not whether or not the opposing team recovers the fumble. I'm pretty sure Hart fumbled another time this season but UM recovered it.

 

[BuckeyeGanoosh]

IMHO, Hart is no better than Antonio Pittman. They both run behind solid OL's, and both are quick and strong. I mentioned in a previous post that OSU has had trouble with the quick, but not the strong. We've managed to shut down all the so-called "big" backs this year, and Garrett Wolfe and the two quick backs from texas gave us the most trouble. Ohio State's offense will also dictate how many carries Hart gets. Tsun won't be able to keep running if tOSU is up by two touches at any point in the game.

I thought it awfully strange that the "strengths" of both teams were neutralized this week, either by ultra-conservative offense a la tressel, or a porous second half defense by Tsun. I don't want to think that both teams are playing possum for the other to see, but damn it's strange. If we see the same kind of games against NW and IU, I'd have to say it's gameplan.

It's funny that our Bucks are so powerful this year, that we are speculating purposeful offensive woe for the tsun to witness instead of calling this an "off-game". We are so confident in the offense that we are leaning towards a tresseleque conspiracy theory of sorts as reasoning for the weak ball movement. Since 2002, I quit caring about "style", just as long as we win. I just didn't expect the trend to happen THIS season. We're going to smoke tsun on our own turf, and it's gonna be sweet.
:osu: