A new chapter in the greatest rivalry in sports will begin this Saturday when Ohio State and Michigan take the field. For the first time since 1995, Lloyd Carr will not be coaching the Maize and Blue. Instead, Rich Rodriguez will be exposed to the greatest spectacle in college football for the first time.
Forget, for a week, that Michigan is 3-8. Forget that Ohio State is favored by 19 points. Those numbers are meaningless—this is Ohio State-Michigan.
A win for Ohio State gives them a fourth consecutive Big Ten title. A win for Michigan saves their season, and gives the program momentum going into recruiting and the offseason as they prepare for next year.
Ohio State is playing for a BCS Bowl. Michigan is playing their bowl game.
No active player on Michigan has beaten Ohio State. Ohio State's seniors are looking for their fourth pair of Gold Pants.
Fans could go on all day like this, listing story lines to focus on in preparation for the game. Instead of spitting irrelevant facts and numbers out all week, however, let's take a deeper look at something ultimately more important: This is Rich Rodriguez's first Ohio State-Michigan game.
Sure, Jim Tressel got his team fired up for the win in his first try. Lloyd Carr somehow got Tim Biakabutuka to channel his inner Barry Sanders to pull the amazing upset in his first year.
There's something those two coaches (as well as all-time greats Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler) had in common that made them successful, and it's the thing Rodriguez shares with John Cooper, the Ohio State coach whose failures against "That Team Up North" were responsible for his firing: their attitude.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The day Jim Tressel was hired as coach of the Buckeyes, he appeared at an Ohio State home basketball game and introduced himself to his new community, saying, "I can assure you that you will be proud of your young people in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the football field."
Lloyd Carr didn't quite make the public statement Tressel did, but he did establish a list of priorities for his Michigan program that stressed beating Ohio State above all else. And, it worked—Carr won his first three games against Ohio State, and ended up 5-1 against John Cooper before Cooper was fired.
Year after year, John Cooper recruited fantastic talent to the Olentangy, but year after year National Title and Rose Bowl aspirations were shattered by Michigan teams who simply valued the game more.
Plain and simple, John Cooper was fired because he treated The Michigan Game like it was "just another game," and his players reflected this passive attitude regarding the most important game of the season.
So, where will Rodriguez fit in? Will he give The Game the respect it deserves? We'll find out on Saturday. But so far, Rodriguez has not given the Michigan faithful any reason to think he knows what he is in for this Saturday.
Like Tressel, Rodriguez addressed his new fan base at a Michigan home basketball game soon after he was hired. Everyone in attendance knew what Tressel had done, given the same platform, seven years before.
Rodriguez was not only supposed to introduce himself to Michigan fans; he was supposed to welcome himself to The Rivalry in a big way. In front of him were thousands of Michigan fans who had suffered through Jim Tressel's powerful 6-1 domination of Lloyd Carr, and these fans wanted some sign that change was coming.
So what did Rodriguez do? Nothing. "I'm not going to make predictions," Rodriguez said. The most he could definitively say to his Maize and Blue audience was that Michigan would "play hard and they will play physical" next year.
Swing and a miss.
As time has gone on, and Michigan's season has become worse, Rodriguez has still not given Michigan fans a valid reason to think he respects the magnitude of The Ohio State Game.
After losing a school-record eighth game to Northwestern this past weekend, Rodriguez said this about The Game: "If we play well and happen to win, it wouldn't salvage the whole season."
If you know nothing else about Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Jim Tressel, or Lloyd Carr, know that none of them would have ever uttered that sentence.
Michigan is down this year. There's no way around it. There's only one more game on the schedule, and it's The Big Game, so everything else that has happened to Michigan this year is irrelevant for a week.
A win over Ohio State doesn't just dampen the blow of Michigan's worst year ever; it eliminates it. Michigan's players know it. Michigan's fans know it. Until Michigan's coach realizes it, however, and changes his approach accordingly, Michigan doesn't have a chance.
A new chapter begins this Saturday for the greatest rivalry in sports, but unfortunately for Michigan it's going to sound a lot like the end of the last chapter.
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about 1 month ago
RR is a mental case. When trying to explain to outsiders the importance of the Ohio State/Michigan game I've used the illustration that if OSU goes 0-11, but beats Michigan the last game, it good year.
You're dead on with this article. If RR doesn't understand before kickoff on Saturday, he'll sure know when time runs out on the clock.
5*, POTD
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Michael!
about 1 month ago
I wasn't even born when 1968 happened...but I know it did happen. All Ohio State fans better know it happened. And whether these players were alive or not, Tressel and the staff had better make sure THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 1968.
Like you said, this is THE GAME. It mends and heals poor seasons. It gives bragging rights. It helps recruiting. Its sets the tone for next season.
My Buckeyes have to address this game with the same fire and urgancy that they have the past 7 seasons. I don't give a damn what Michigan's record is, Ohio State needs to come out with a matched intensity...because 1968 can happen again if you don't follow your history. Because Michigan is looking for ANY kind of good momentum to build on.
Good article, and I would agree that I'm not quite certain that Coach Rodriguez gets the magnitude of this game.
from about 1 month ago
1968??? Ohio State won the national championship in 1968. What are you talking about? You must be referring to 1969 when Ohio State was known as the best team in college football history, and Bo beat Woody in their first meeting. That was 1969.
from about 1 month ago
typo...I meant 69'.
from about 1 month ago
is that alright with you that I made a typo there Jeremy???
from about 1 month ago
Forget the typo, I know what you're saying. I completely agree, and 1969 or 1995 will never just be random years in this rivalry. Ohio State doesn't have quite the teams we had back then, but the point is the same - anything is possible.
from about 1 month ago
Typo times 3
from about 1 month ago
thanks for correcting me Jeremy...I don't know what I'd do without your all knowing self to help me.
about 1 month ago
This might be Michigan's bowl game but even beating OSU this week does not save their season.
4-8 is pathetic for the so-called, self-proclaimed, best team of all-time in the history of college football.
How many of those national titles and nearly 900 wins came before 1930 when there were only a handful of schools that even had football teams?
I don't see DICKrod and scUM beating OSU this week but even if they somehow did, their season is not saved. THE RIVALRY has certainly been watered down by OSU's 6/7 run and the current condition of the Michigan program.
There are probably less college fans (non-OSU/non-Michigan fans) than ever before who won't watch the game this year b/c, at least for now, in the words of John Cooper, it is just another game...
from about 1 month ago
At this point, the season is all but lost for Michigan. What are rivalries all about? Of course this win saves Michigan's season.
Remember a couple of years ago when Ohio State closed their Men's Basketball season at home against an undefeated, top-ranked Illinois team? Remember how Ohio State approached that game, since they couldn't go to the NCAA Tournament? Multiply those feelings times infinity, and you'll see why this will save Michigan's season.
from about 1 month ago
on the contrary,if UM wins it will make the pains of this season dissapear.While the record will still look bad us UM fans can feel MUCH better about it.
from about 1 month ago
Ummm about the wins after 1930,we are 3rd or 4th most winning program since WWII.So to answer your question a lot of them have come after 1930.5 NC have been after 1930...that is out of 11.Nice try though.OSU still trails us in....EVERYTHING! well except convicts,we are far behind in that category.U have us in individual awards but that isn't something to boast when it is a team sport.
from about 1 month ago
Jordan, you're wrong buddy
If you go back to about 1914, OSU has more wins and less loss than scUM and I'm talking overall W/L records, not OSU vs scUM
from about 1 month ago
How many titles does SCum have 1942-2008?
I do believe it is as follows:
OSU = 7
scUm = 2
from about 1 month ago
Michigan has 3 titlse since 1942('47,'48,'97).I was talking overall wins and losses too bud.If you go back to 1914 i gurantee UM still has more wins...oh wait they do.Since 1914 to 2007 UM is 677-245-16 that's a 72% win percentage.OSU on the other hand from 1914 to 2007 is 659-229-35 a win percentage of 71%. Nice try care to take another shot.UM had 11 seasons w/o a loss in that span.OSU had only 8.Both schools had 17 10+ win seasons in that time period as well.Maybe u should know what u are saying before u say it next time ok.
from about 1 month ago
My math may be different than your math.
UM 677-245-16 = 685/938 = .730
OSU 659-229-35 = 676.5/923 = .732
from about 1 month ago
Crayton,
i did it by dividing wins by total games.I did not add the ties into the wins.Since ties are not wins they should not be counted into the W's.
from about 1 month ago
In calculating winning %, ties counts as 1/2 a win
You need to recheck the overall records from 1915-2008 (not 1914) OSU has more wins and less losses
If you can't correctly figure it out, I'll post it when I have more time and don't forget to include 2008 thus far...
from about 1 month ago
Dude u told me to check from 1914.Now that you are wrong you want me to check 1915.Even if i check then we will still have more wins.Yes,OSU will have fewer losses.But OSU played less games and had more ties.While at the same time we hold the edge in the most improtant category WINS!!!1914 or 1915 make up any year in that period we still have more wins.Keep trying.
from about 1 month ago
I'll include the 2008 season once it is finished so there is the final record that can be added on.face it OSU didn't leap frog UM in wins till about WWII.Since 1930 you have 4 more wins and 20 fewer losses i believe but have played in i think 11 less games or around there and have i think 10 ties more or so.That coming from an OSU site.
about 1 month ago
As a Michigan fan, I can only hope that we have all read RR wrong and that the struggles this season have been because the Maize & Blue have been totally focused on that team to the south (and I do not mean Toledo). Maybe the comments of RR have been to downplay the rivalry and not give bulletin board material to their upcoming opponent.
And, as one who grew up in the state of Michigan, I can only hope that the Lions turn THEIR season around and make the playoffs. (This second hope seems as likely as the first!)
from about 1 month ago
That's entirely possible, but in the history of this rivalry that hasn't been the most successful strategy.
I must say, the fact that you have abandoned ship in favor of the Lions is pretty hilarious. I'm sorry - next will has to be better for you.
Thanks for the comment!
about 1 month ago
A public ranting by a coach is no indication of how seriously he takes his rivalries. You mentioned John Copper but how about Pete Carroll? He has the same mantra, “every game is important” or “we take this game like any other game”, but he does win his rivalry games. You can’t judge the intensity of a coach in a locker room from his nonchalant behavior in public.
Give RR a break. I think RR would revive this rivalry.
Go Bucks!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comment. All I really have to say in response is that John Cooper won some a lot of big games with that attitude as well. There's something about this that is just different. This isn't USC-Notre Dame or USC-Cal. This is Ohio State-Michigan, you may get sick of OSU and UM fans singing that all week but there is some truth to it.
about 1 month ago
What kind of car does Jim Tressel own? A Lloyd Carr, of course.
Ideally, football teams have coaches who understand the importance of rivalry games. That's why it's great having Dantonio here in East Lansing, he knows who the fans and players want to beat every season. Jim Tressel gets it too. Every game is important during the season, but the Michigan game is the most important.
I don't think Rodriguez understands the importance of the rivalry yet. Until you've spent time in Big Ten country and seen one of these games, it's pretty hard to understand just how big it is. Maybe he'll get it eventually, but no way he does this season. He's going to get blown out this weekend.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comment, and I agree. This was one of the reasons why RichRod's hiring was so surprising. Bringing in a coach with no experience at all in The Game? Risky.
about 1 month ago
Good article. RR has down played the rivalry a bit but then again those outside of Big Ten country aren't as familiar with the importance of it. If he doesn't get it now he will eventually. Oh and something you might want to correct inyour article is Ohio State is playing for their third Big Ten Title not fourth. Penn State won it in '05 and a win won't give it to them Michigan State also has to beat Penn State.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the heads-up, but Penn State and Ohio State actually shared the title in '05 - both teams had records of 7-1. They were going for their third straight outright title, but will have to settle for a shared title should they beat Michigan.
about 1 month ago
I think if RR doesn't understand the rivalry yet he will this week.With all the festivities each school has during this week it will be hard not to realize it's magnitude.Despite what people think he i not a complete idiot.Besides how could he not know of the importance, he has a new incentive added to his contract when he signed his extension that gives him a huge bonus for beating the Bucks.Not only that here is a stat for u.Every UM in coach,since 1938, has beaten OSU in their first year.Will hitory repeat???so far this season history has had repeated.RR was the 4th straight UM coach to lose to MSU in first year.So why not...we have a shot we really do.1969 all over again.And also about RR not having a speach at the basketball game,who cares?First off he isn't the greatest public speaker in comparison to Tressel.Secondly i guess u missed his jab at the OSU fans at the game that were yelling at him.That got the UM fans going.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for your comment, but I disagree. "I hope you guys enjoy your seats up there" is a jab? Pointing out that Ohio State fans are going to have less than great seats at a Michigan basketball game is a jab? I don't think so, but you help illustrate my point even more. Those fans were salivating for Rich Rodriguez to say something, anything, to make them feel better about Ohio State. And he didn't deliver.
from about 1 month ago
True on the jab part but still it was what it was.UM fans didn't care that much IMO if he said that much,at least i didn't.Words don't equate to victory.I could care less what he says to fans and media.i care about him doing his talking on the field...by talking i mean winning.
about 1 month ago
It's too bad this rivalry game doesn't have the usual compelling storylines behind it. It's kind of like USC_Notre Dame. The problem is, you can't let your guard down...the other team will take advantage. USC learned that lesson against UCLA two yrs ago. The Bucks win, but I wouldn't be shocked if Michigan plays out of their minds.
about 1 month ago
POTD, nice work. I expect a close game, I dont think tress would have it any other way. Some snow that day would be a nice change.
about 1 month ago
They are predicting good weather for the game which doesn't help that team up north. If all goes as planned it won't be a close one, but the importance of this game negates any point spread. I'm sure it will be a hard hitting scrap as it usually is. If RR doesn't get it now, by 4:00 on Saturday he certainly will.
about 1 month ago
I'm going closer than the spread (last I saw it was OSU -23.5) but still NEVER in doubt.....
OSU 34
scUM 13
about 1 month ago
Anything can happen in The Game. Jim Tressel knows that and believe me he will make sure his players know it as well. Rodriguez may not fully know what to expect, but he knows this is an important game for his team. And though they are young, there are upperclassmen on the team who will be sure to point out to their fellow players that no one on the Michigan roster has ever beat the Buckeyes. This is their chance...
Great article, Ned. It's going to be a great game. There is no other gameday experience quite like this one.
about 1 month ago
I agree that DickRod does not seem to fully grasp the rivalry, but I think he’ll have his team ready. UM players have been hearing that they are the worse team in Meatchicken history, and there is only one thing they can do to keep any kind of dignity, but they will come up short. Buckeye’s win 27-24
about 1 month ago
Wow way to crap all over the guy before he even has a chance to prove himself against OSU. Would it really make you feel better as a fan if RR came out and said something akin to Tressel's "You'll be proud of our young men X days from now in Ann Arbor..."?
And btw, a win will not salvage the season. It would be great to go out on a high note and give a ray of light for the future, but 4-8 is just not good. A win won't eliminate the blow of this year. I guarantee you, even if we win, that all you will hear from Nov. 23 to next fall will be how bad this year was and how RR needs to turn it around.
If M loses on Sat., it will not be because "RR doesn't have the right attitude," it will be because we are starting a walk-on at QB, our defense can't tackle, and OSU is just the better team.
from about 1 month ago
Going to have to agree with this.. Give the guy a freaking chance before you say anything. Sure right now he might not understand the full magnitude of this game, but if it's two years or maybe even one year from now and he's throwing up goose eggs in terms of getting his team prepared, than I'll be ready to judge him and the way he goes about this game.
It just isn't fair to bag on the guy when he hasn't gotten the chance to prove himself. Going off what Andrew said, if it's not in Rod's personality to go out there at a Basketball game and make a statement like Tressel did then why should he? Let him coach the team and handle his business the way he wants to. If it works it works, if it doesn't, then he was a mistake. I'd at least let him do it his way, because that's why he was hired. To win and if you want to win you do it the best way you believe you can.
about 1 month ago
Ned, great article, one of the best I've read on BR. It captures the rivalry well and, more importantly, is a fresh viewpoint, not just a regurgitation of things I can read elsewhere like most BR writers do. I'm very impressed (and trust me, I'm very unimpressed with the majority of the content here at BR).
I agree with its contents as well (which is not a prerequisite for me being impressed). RR, despite being just a few hours away at WV, just doesn't seem to get it. The head coach at Michigan (as well as OSU) has many roles. One of them is to be the spokesperson for the program and to deliver to the fan base what they need. Your donations from boosters depends on it. Your recruiting depends on it. Sure, you can tell your players differently behind closed doors, but the state of Michigan expects you to make this a huge deal and you darn well better do it. The state of Ohio expects you to as well, for that matter.
Until he gets it, I agree that he is in trouble. This game already shouldn't have been close (24 points or so), but I'm thinking it could become an epic blowout if Michigan doesn't match the intensity of OSU's superior athletes. How about 44-3 with Beanie running for 200 yards and 3 TDs (he does love this game -- he gets it)?
from about 1 month ago
Thanks a lot for the comment, Joe. I'm glad you liked it, and I appreciate you took the time to tell me.
about 1 month ago
I think a lot of people don't give him enough credit when it comes to the learning curve. I completely agree with the fact that he should've been out in the open with beating OSU. But I have a feeling he says a lot more behind closed doors than everyone thinks.
Should he say more with the media? Probably. There isn't much you can really say. "Yeah, we'll kick their ass!" Might inspire some fans. But he's learning. I hope he learns more in the coming years, but we'll see.
from about 1 month ago
I don't know if you caught this, Jeff, but Rodriguez said something today that may not exactly inspire his fans. He said, "It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature. You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.' " I'm not really going to delve into that one at the moment, but I think that's pretty revealing.
Thanks for the comment.
from about 1 month ago
I agree with you that's not a very good thing to say, especially with ESPN. But it's obvious he's kept his frustrations in all year long and, well, from what we saw after Purdue not even Rich can hold them in. It happens.
about 1 month ago
Another stat that may be worthy to note is his record against West Virginias rival, Pitt. With a far inferior opponent he was 3-2 (this is from memory, someone correct me if I'm wrong). If he couldn't take a rivalry in his home state seriously, I have doubts he'll have a chance against a fired up Buckeye team. This would also seem to dispell any theories that he's getting these guys fired up behind closed doors. Unfortunately it looks like we're entering a dark period in this rivalry.
from about 1 month ago
That's another great point. Despite what Mark May will tell you, The Backyard Brawl is not Ohio State-Michigan, and Rodriguez's struggles in that game have to worry Michigan fans a little bit.
Thanks a lot for the comment.
about 1 month ago
Dickrod tells scUm fans to "GET A LIFE"
I don't have the link but I believe it came from a story in the Sporting News and it WAS a direct quote!!!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I just saw that on ESPN.
About Michigan fans: "It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature. You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.' "
from about 1 month ago
As a UM fan i say good for him.Not gonna go over well with alums which are the only ones that really matter since the UM heads listen to them over fans any day....but who cares he still isn't goin anywhere.he is right some UM fans need to quit crying and seriously get a life.This coming from a UM fan.
about 1 month ago
For some reason I can't reply to comments. But the easiest way to balance the OSU vs. UM win percentage argument over the life of the colleges is to look at the span of 1891 to 2007. UM has official football records dating back to 1879 and OSU has records back to 1890, but I can't find indiviual records from 1890 so we'll start at 1891 where they overlap. This eliminates the BS argument about UM playing inferior competition, because starting in 1891 the level of competition can be assumed to be equal. Win percentage for UM from 1891-2007 is 74.5% and for OSU it's 71.8% based on UM being 845-278-35 in that span (including any bowl/playoff games) and OSU being 804-300-53 over the same span (also inclusive of any postseason play). And 2008 makes it closer but UM still has a mildly significant advantage in win percentage.
from about 1 month ago
Tim, I'm not sure where your W/L/T #'s came from but they aren't accurate at least OSU's aren't
All-time, OSU, INCLUDING 2008 has 807 wins....you have them with 804 without 2008's 9 wins thus far so your #'s as I said are not right.
about 1 month ago
for those that think RR is bad and what not and say he has no grasp of the rivalry read this:It's an interview with SENIOR DT Terrance Taylor before film session yesterday:
There will be plenty written about what Taylor had to say – some of it insightful, some mildly provocative. He consistently maintained that in the long run, Rich Rodriguez will get the job done, and those who still have a candle lit for Les Miles, etc., can blow it out.
"There is nothing you can do about it," Taylor noted, when asked what he'd tell those who might have wanted a different coach. "He's signed his contract. Deal with it, and things will get better. This is Michigan. We're going to bounce back."
Taylor did admit the getting-to-know-you process continues for Rodriguez and Michigan. One doesn't become Lloyd Carr-level immersed in Michigan history in 10 months.
"I'm sure he appreciates it," Taylor said of Rodriguez's grasp regarding Michigan-Ohio State. "But it's a different feeling when you're down there and you see it. When I first got here and I watched film on Ohio State, I was like, 'Yeah, what's so special about that?' And I got there and it was like, 'Why do I hate these guys so much?'
"I didn't understand it. Then we lost, and it was like, I can't wait until next year, when I get the chance to play. The environment is nasty, uncensored. It's just a fog of different kinds of emotions. Like where is all this coming from? How come I didn't feel this way last week?
"You understand it. It's like this rivalry is going to be here no matter what. If you leave, you graduate, it's still going to be here, and people are going to be talking about it. It goes way back. You just don't want to be part of that loss category."
Further, Taylor insisted, Rodriguez is learning much more intimately what being where he is entails.
"It's understanding fully what Michigan tradition is," Taylor said. "It's not that he doesn't understand, but after a couple of years, it grows on you. It kind of changes you.
"It's not only just games. We are Michigan. It grows on you – it grew on me. I got here and I really didn't understand as a freshman."
That includes the sometimes lauded, sometimes scoffed-at notion of the "Michigan Man." Taylor doesn't scoff anymore. He does recall a time when he almost shrugged it off.
"I remember the first time Coach Carr asked me if I wanted to be a Michigan Man. I'm like, 'Yeah, sure, I'll be a Michigan man,'" Taylor said, his voice betraying a total lack of conviction and understanding.
"Now it's like, I'm a Michigan Man, no matter what happens. I love Michigan. I don't care what happens. If you think you're better than me, you're crazy. I know you would die to get a chance to be where I'm at right now.
"Losing season, no matter what. Go around and take a poll – a lot of people wanted to come here. It's just understanding. The only way you can understand something that's so big is with time.
about 1 month ago
McGuffie & others set to transer
Source www.MGOBlue.com
from about 1 month ago
u wanna be more specific on your link cause i don't see anything on Mgoblue.com that says anything about transfers.yes there are McGuffie transfer rumors.Guess what that rumor was started by the same guy that said we had hired kirk ferentz from Iowa but turned out false.McGuffie is going nowhere.If he does oh well i wish him well.We have a huge stable of RB's so we will live.We did lose reserve WR Zion Babb but oh well he didn't do anything anyway.I've heard Stonum was leaving but that is most likely false.He isn't stupid enough to lose his $500,000 scholarship that gives him the sole rights to the #1 jersey.He is the only WR on the team that can get the number but if he leaves then 2010 commit ricardo Miller can have it.From what i see from him so far he looks as if he will be most deserving of it in time anyway.We will lose people but so what it happens.It just means we are eliminating the weak,survival of the fitest i believe it the term.We will have dedicated players that are tough as opposed to these players we have that are playing that are soft and aren't fully commited.UM still has more wins btw just to throw that out there.
about 1 month ago
The MOTHER of ALL Rivalries
http://blockonation.com/OhioState-Michigan
Check it out -- It's AWESOME!
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