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Game Thread THE GAME: Ohio State 42, Michigan 7 (Nov. 22)

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Blade
Article published Tuesday, November 18, 2008
One to remember: Buckeyes' lopsided win in 1968 is series oddity
Ohio State players, led by quarterback Rex Kern, go onto the field to celebrate a 50-14 victory over Michigan.
( ASSOCIATED PRESS )

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - In a wide historical context, 1968 was a volatile year. Johnny Cash was live at Folsom Prison, the Tet Offensive took place in Vietnam, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Richard Nixon beat Hubert Humphrey in the presidential race and the Beatles released the White Album. In the Ohio State-Michigan football rivalry, the 1968 season produced an anomaly - a 50-14 win by the Buckeyes that is one of the most lopsided scores that this, the Big Ten's version of the Hundred Years' War, has seen. They don't often take one another out behind the woodshed for a good, old-fashioned whuppin' like that. Legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, who displayed his hatred for Michigan out on the front porch for all to see, called the rout that took place 40 years ago "the best victory we ever had." Hayes went on to say that his team came very close to being flawless on that November day in Ohio Stadium. "We said that if they ever put it together [offense and defense] ... and both played well the same day ... then we would have something. This was it," Hayes said. The Buckeyes had a couple of All-Americans leading the way up front on the offensive line with David Foley and Toledoan Rufus Mayes, so Hayes was able to have his team do what he liked best - run the ball down the opponent's throat. Although Ohio State trailed 7-0 early in the game, and led only 21-14 at the half, the Buckeyes buried their rivals with a 29-point second half. Quarterback Rex Kern directed the offense, and fullback Jim Otis scored four touchdowns as the Buckeyes rushed for 421 yards. The defense was led by a couple of sophomore stars in the making in Jack Tatum and Jim Stillwagon. "Ohio State just exploded in the second half, and created a lot of breaks. For those two quarters, they probably played as close to perfection as you're going to see," OSU football historian and author Jack Park said. "Jack Tatum made a big play in the second half, and everything seemed to be going Ohio State's way. The second half of that game was about as good a half as Ohio State has ever played."
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Blade
Article published Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Glory days 'in the past' for UM
Wolverines to be huge underdogs
By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
ANN ARBOR - Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has never shied away from offering stark and sometimes stunning revelations about his Wolverines. The latest of these forays into just what is wrong with UM came yesterday during Rodriguez's first press conference leading up to Saturday's game against archrival Ohio State. What got the first-year coach Rodriguez going was a question that referenced the following statistic: Wolverines coaches are 10-1-1 in their first games against the Buckeyes - a trend the oddsmakers have stated emphatically will not continue. "You ever see the movie [The] Lion King?" Rodriguez began. "That monkey hits the lion over the head, and the monkey says what did you do that for? Doesn't matter, it's in the past." Huh? "There was a time when [the Wolverines] put that winged hat [on], and you come out of the Big House, and that was probably worth 10 to 14 points right there," he said. "That ain't the case anymore." The Wolverines' eight losses this year are a school record and there is no bowl game on the horizon for the first time in 34 years. With out-of-town media in Ann Arbor yesterday because Ohio State week has arrived,
Rodriguez was predictably asked to rehash all that has gone wrong. "Everybody wants to know when we're going to win more games?" he said. "When we deserve to win more games, we'll win more games. Simple as that." And this.
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Dispatch

Buckeyes ready to forget the past
Seniors don't want to ruin their record against Michigan
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 3:18 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Coach Jim Tressel declared yesterday that No. 10 Ohio State is taking nothing for granted Saturday against Michigan, even if the Wolverines are 3-8 and in the throes of their losingest season. Tressel's boss, OSU president E. Gordon Gee, rubber-stamped the declaration. "I think this is the greatest rivalry in college football, and I think that's what makes this particularly dangerous this time around," Gee said. "I think the people can assume too much.
"When it comes to a rivalry, every rulebook should be thrown out. Everything that you're thinking should be thrown out. This will be a great football game, and we will be in for a titanic struggle, I believe."
Gee put a wager on the 105th renewal of The Game, and in doing so referenced an anecdote about late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, whose dislike for all things Michigan was legendary.
"If we lose, I will buy gas in Michigan," Gee said.
For the seniors, something more tangible is up for grabs: another pair of gold pants, the small charm that is awarded to every Ohio State player on a team that beats Michigan. Fourth-year seniors such as linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins already have three pairs. Fifth-year seniors such as tight end Rory Nicol and defensive tackle Nader Abdallah have four.
They have known nothing but success against Michigan. Under Tressel, Ohio State is 6-1 against the Wolverines, the lone loss coming in 2003.

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What's it like to lose to Michigan?
"I wouldn't want to know," Jenkins said.
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Dispatch

Bob Hunter commentary: Success vs. Michigan starts with Tressel

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 3:17 AM
By Bob Hunter


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


As hard as it is to imagine Jim Tressel on Rt. 23, getting his gray sweater vest dirty while he's pushing his car over the state line and into a gas station in Toledo, there's still something about him that says this Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is end-of-the-world important. The coach's Michigan mentality was obvious even after Ohio State's game Saturday at Illinois. He made it clear he didn't want to talk about a possible Rose Bowl bid, an at-large bid to another Bowl Championship Series game or even a Big Ten championship. It was now Michigan week. All that mattered was Ohio State-Michigan.
For anyone who has moved to Columbus recently, this can be a hard sell. Michigan is an Indiana-like 3-8, and the Buckeyes have beaten the Wolverines four years in a row and six of the past seven. They are 20 1/2 -point favorites, so the oddsmakers see this game as just another thriller with Purdue or Northwestern, a day to watch football if it's too noisy in your house to take a nap.
To his credit, Tressel knows better, which should be consoling to the worrywarts in his football congregation. It's difficult to gauge what that's worth exactly, whether his feel for the game is worth one touchdown, one field goal, one blocked punt or one lucky bounce, but it seems clear that it's worth something.
There is an element to this game that involves more than talent. Although it's tempting to say that it's luck -- coach John Cooper's Ohio State teams had some close calls and bad breaks that might have easily avoided his 2-10-1 record against Michigan -- Tressel's approach must be some kind of factor.
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Dispatch
Injuries dog Wolverines
Starting QB Threet, RB McGuffie might not play vs. OSU
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 3:06 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The bad news keeps coming for Michigan. Even at full strength, Michigan would be an underdog Saturday at Ohio State. Yesterday, coach Rich Rodriguez revealed that the Wolverines would likely be without quarterback Steven Threet.
Threet was injured against Northwestern after missing a win over Minnesota the week before because of a concussion.
Rodriguez said in his postgame news conference that Threet suffered head and knee injuries. Yesterday, he said Threet's injury was instead a slightly separated shoulder.
Rodriguez described Threet as doubtful but held out hope he might recover quickly.
"We're really going to see how he can respond in the next 48 hours," Rodriguez said.
Threet was not one of the 10 players made available to the media yesterday morning.
Threet has completed 51 percent of his passes with nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Backup Nick Sheridan, a former walk-on, is completing 48.7 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and five interceptions. In the 21-14 loss Saturday to Northwestern, Sheridan was a dreadful 8 of 29 for 61 yards. He was 18 of 30 for 203 yards against Minnesota.
"I'm not sure we could pinpoint exactly what changed from Minnesota to Northwestern," Sheridan said. "It's a few plays here and there that can get you out of rhythm and stunt drives. It's just a matter of being consistent."
Rodriguez had mixed news about the status of his running backs. He said he expects that junior Brandon Minor will play but freshman Sam McGuffie might not. Minor missed the Northwestern game because of several injuries, the most bothersome a sore shoulder.
"I am playing (Saturday)," Minor said. "It's O-State. You've got to play against them."
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Dispatch
November 17, 2008

Tressel highlights: Michigan edition

Just returned from three hours at the Ohio State practice facility, where there were lots of words spoken and not a whole lot said, if you know what I mean!
The actual news nuggets were rare. Here were a few:
Jim Tressel said Ray Small may be available for the game. He has been suspended for the past two weeks for repeated violations of team rules. That could have a positive impact on punt returns, but with OSU passing 10-15 times a game, whether he plays or not should not affect the offense much.
Nickel back Jermale Hines is the only player that appears iffy, injury-wise, to play Saturday. He hurt a leg against Northwestern, made the trip to Illinois, but did not play. Hines has had a very good season, but Tyler Moeller filled in admirably last week, so this is not a huge deal, either.
Tressel said he had not heard anything about QB Terrelle Pryor jawing with Illinois fans after the game (it was more like the fans jawing and Pryor pointing and smiling). He clearly would rather not have any hint of an incident, but he didn't sound too concerned. I was right there when it happened, and believe me, it was harmless -- nothing more than what happens everywhere in America when fans scream at opposing players and coaches as they run off the field. Pryor didn't do anything out of line. He was just having fun with it.
Oh, and of course, everyone professed their admiration for how fine a Michigan team it was. (Chuckle, chuckle). They keep playing, Tressel said. I always find that funny....what's the alternative? Walking off the field in the middle of a game? I know what he means, but that particular cliche humors me.
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Link

U-M seniors get last crack at Ohio State ? Win would help struggling team


By Dan Strawser
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
? November 18, 2008

ANN ARBOR ? The Michigan football team is going to need another bus for all the extra baggage it will be taking to Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.
This season, the Wolverines (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten) lost eight games for the first time in 129 years of football.
Michigan has lost four consecutive times to the Buckeyes, a streak that's happened only two other times in 104 meetings.
U-M has never lost five straight games to Ohio State (9-2, 6-1).
"You can't sit here and guarantee a win, but these guys, all-in-all, we understand the full importance of this game," said fifth-year senior Mike Massey, who's from Brecksville, Ohio. "We know how much it could mean to our senior class with what we've gone through. I think all the young guys do, too, and how much it could mean for the season and for the coaches.
"You know, we don't have a bowl game, so this is our last game of the season. This is the last opportunity for us to go out and have a great week of practice. This is the last of everything, you know, not having a bowl week. We haven't had that before since I've been here, so I think it's heightened everything even more than it already is just playing Ohio State. This is it for us. So I guess this is our last shot, and everybody's going to give everything they have. I'm very confident."
First-year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he has a constant reminder of how important the rivalry is between U-M and Ohio State.
"First day I got on the job, somebody sent me a 'Beat Ohio State' button, and it's sitting next to my phone," Rodriguez said. "I see it every day."
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CPD

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel unsure whether senior quarterback Todd Boeckman will get any playing time against Michigan

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel on Monday told a story about a Senior Day when he had so many seniors, he started 11 of them on offense and "then on play two, it was back to the rest of the group."
Whether senior quarterback Todd Boeckman will find the field Saturday on his Senior Day against Michigan, Tressel isn't sure.
"Well, we haven't talked about that, although we're not very deep into the week," Tressel said. "I'm not sure that that's in the cards here, but I haven't really talked about that."
There were nine seniors, and only seniors, brought out to speak with the media on Monday, but Boeckman, the co-captain who was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Terrelle Pryor in the fourth week of the season, wasn't one of them.
That was understandable. Whether Tressel chooses to call on Boeckman when it matters Saturday will be an interesting conclusion to a tough year for the quarterback who was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last year.
"That's not really my decision and I don't really have an opinion on it," co-captain James Laurinaitis said about the prospect of Boeckman playing. "I've learned in my career here that I really don't have opinions on things I can't control."
But he went to talk about it, finally concluding that he thinks Boeckman would want to play.
"I have so much respect for Todd. And he has handled the whole situation the whole season with unbelievable class, and I think he'll handle this week the same way. You don't expect anything less from him," Laurinaitis said. "He's a guy that truly loves this university, loves this team, and has tried to make every opportunity to help Terrelle with anything he's needed, and he'll do the same this week.

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CPD

Ohio State win would move OSU ahead of Michigan in all-time Big Ten standings

Posted by Rich Exner/Plain Dealer November 18, 2008 07:59AM

There is more on the line Saturday for Ohio State than a share of the 2008 Big Ten football title.
A victory over Michigan would move the Buckeyes into first place in the all-time Big Ten football standings.
Michigan enters Saturday's game with a slight advantage in winning percentage (72.4 percent to 72.2 percent) all-time. A Buckeye victory would move Ohio State in front (72.283 percent to 72.282 percent).
Use this search form to find Big Ten football season records for each school, and year-by-year Big Ten standings since the beginning of the league in 1896.
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be ready for anything...

the Vulvarene is a wounded animal.... desperate....

treat every kickoff like it will be onside

every punt like a fake

every fourth and one as a post pattern

Every hand off like it will be pitched back to the quarterback.

so, all silver bullets to the ball, but keep your head up!

On D, they might blitz twelve guys, who knows???

they are crack addicts without a fix

dominate!
 
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