One Opinion: The Browns should part company with Johnny Manziel
November 27, 2015Review: Michigan’s Reliance on Ohio Talent
November 27, 2015The Game. Capital “T,” capital “G.” There is no rivalry trophy. There is no folksy nickname. There is only Scarlet and Gray versus Maize and Blue with a pair of gold pants on the line. The 112th meeting of No. 8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) and No. 10 Michigan (9-2, 6-1 B1G) offers a number of exciting storylines. Both are still in play for the Big Ten East Title, Urban Meyer looks to go 4-0 against Michigan, and Jim Harbaugh aims to properly “revitalize” the rivalry.
Michigan leads the all-time series 58-46-6. The Wolverines unquestionably owned the rivalry’s nascent years going 13-0-2 in the first fifteen games. Ohio State has worked to balance the ledger in the 21st century. The Buckeyes possess a three-game win streak and are 11-2 since 2001 (not counting the vacated 2010 victory). In that stretch four separate classes have graduated from UM without seeing their Wolverines win The Game. The Bucks can push that number to five on Saturday. Fun fact: Ohio State has a winning record against every Big Ten school except UM.
The Game provides a fertile canvas for scores of unique football programs.
The Game provides a fertile canvas for scores of unique football programs. This week’s whimsical selection comes from 1968. In the foreground a Wolverine player lies prone, plucking pedals off a daisy. “We’ll win today, we’ll win today (not), we’ll win today…” The chorus goes on. Meanwhile our mischievous Buckeye has already climbed a tree in an effort to gain the high ground and launch an arboreal assault against his arch-rival. While a victimless crime, our hero may not have thought out his escape plan. Once the Wolverine realizes he is under attack he will easily be able to stand up to face his opponent head on. Still, it would be funny if it happened in real life. Ohio State won the game in question 50-14.
Senior quarterback Jake Rudock leads the Michigan passing attack. Through eleven games Rudock has thrown for 2,476 yards on 210-of-326 passing with sixteen touchdowns and nine interceptions. One of his favorite targets is senior tight end Jake Butt. Besides having a last name that will make twelve-year-olds all across Ohio giggle on Saturday, Butt has collected 566 yards along with three touchdowns in 2015. Junior tailback, and Warren native, De’Veon Smith has scampered for 621 yards and six scores during the season. Senior linebacker Joe Bolden paces the Wolverines with 67 tackles. Senior DE Willie Henry’s 6.5 sacks lead all defenders. These players and several others have assembled a year that has Michigan fans again believing in the future of the program. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is not shocked to see their success. “I’m not surprised at all. I think they have excellent players. They are well coached.”
The biggest name for Michigan may be the alum who stalks the sidelines. Michigan made a great decision by hiring Jim Harbaugh. He can coach young men, inspire them, recruit well, and perhaps most pertinent this week he understand the rivalry with Ohio State. In his four years as a player he went 3-1 against the Buckeyes and just simply “gets it.” On Tuesday night, Harbaugh visited the grave of Michigan legend (and Ohio native) Bo Schembechler, and cracked a buckeye on his plot. Michigan’s “Grave Walk” began in 1997, but Harbaugh’s addition certainly shows that The Game deeply matters to him. And regardless of what you think of That School up North at least he doesn’t derisively refer to the school as just “Ohio.”
Last week Ohio State lost a disappointing 17-14 decision to Michigan State. The Spartans survivied without an injured Connor Cook while handing OSU their first home loss since the Virginia Tech game in 2014. In the immediate aftermath, with tensions running high, junior running back Ezekiel Elliott aired some frustrations. “The coaching staff did not put us in a position to win.” He went further. “This is my last game in the ‘Shoe. There’s no chance I’m coming back.” While the decision does not surprise anyone, there is a time and a place for all things; Elliott could have chosen his words more carefully. Head coach Urban Meyer addressed those comments with the team internally and does not expect it to be a distraction moving forward. “Zeke has always been extremely loyal person, a great competitor…We had a very long discussion — he’s great — and he apologized.” I fully expect to see Elliott receive a good number of carries on Saturday.
In all likelihood the Bucks’ loss closed the door to the College Football Playoff. It would take a semi-miraculous string of events to get the Scarlet and Gray to the semifinals The biggest challenge facing Meyer this week is keeping his team focused and prepared for the trip to Ann Arbor. Ohio State cannot afford to hang their heads and let the sloppy loss to MSU haunt them. All that matters is getting a win on Saturday and before the day is over they will know whether or not they are playing on December 5.
Despite Ohio State’s loss last week, the Buckeyes are very much in play for the Big Ten East Title. The situation is as follows:
• IF Michigan State defeats visiting Penn State then Sparty wins the B1G East.
• IF Michigan State loses AND Ohio State defeats home Michigan then the Buckeyes win the division.
• IF Michigan State loses AND Michigan bests Ohio State then the Wolverines win the Big Ten East.
Ohio State and Michigan kickoff at noon and MSU-PSU will not begin until 3:30 so regardless of how the first game ends, both teams will have to wait a few hours to see if it matters. The Buckeyes need no extra motivation to win The Game. No matter who suits up for either side, echos of past matchups continue to sound. Anthony Gonzalez game-saving catch in 2005, Charles Woodsen’s punt return in 1997, “couldn’t go for three” in 1968. Tressel. Carr. Woody. Bo. The graduating seniors are all hungry for their fourth pair of gold pants. Jim Harbaugh may very well even up the rivalry moving forward, but not this year. Look for Ohio State to pull away late and secure their eleventh victory of the year. After that? We (Temporarily) Are! Penn State!
2 Comments
We have decent team playing better than expected versus a loaded team playing less than expected.
Take the talent.
The Fighting Harbaughs aren’t quite there yet. Yet. ;D
it’s 12:44PM on saturday. I just want this in writing because I think football players are mostly dumb. If OSU doesn’t change up their snap counts after the claps, they will lose big. They can get Michigan offsides at least 5 times today if they do so.