The Warrior General
Posted on 11/22/2002 8:08:53 PM PST by anncoulteriscool
Woody, Bo fueled Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
By Rusty Miller The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The last time Ohio State won a national championship, Woody Hayes wasn't taking chances.
A coach who fancied himself a general, Hayes sent his starters back in for the final minutes of the 1968 game with Michigan, even though the top-ranked Buckeyes were ahead 44-14. He later said he didn't feel comfortable against powerful offenses without his team scoring 50 points.
And after fullback Jim Otis scored with 1:23 remaining, Hayes went for two points - on a pass, no less. When asked why he went for two, Hayes reportedly said, "Because we couldn't go for three!"
Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, a former Hayes assistant, never forgot or forgave his old boss. The next spring, a sign in the Wolverines' dressing room said, "What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. Those that stay will be Champions!"
During the 1969 season, Ohio State was winning with ease, and Hayes called his top-ranked Buckeyes "probably the best team that ever played college football."
They took a 22-game winning streak into Ann Arbor for the season finale, and Michigan pounced. The Wolverines shut down the triple option, and the Buckeyes ended up throwing six interceptions in Michigan's 24-12 victory.
"This is the greatest victory in the history of the world!" Michigan fullback Garvie Craw said.
And another chapter was added to this glorious rivalry.
When the second-ranked Buckeyes (12-0) and 12th-ranked Wolverines (9-2) meet for the 99th time Saturday at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State will be looking for another shot at a national title. This time, a win over Michigan would send Ohio State to the Fiesta Bowl to play in the BCS national title game on Jan. 3. So once again, it's simply "The Game."
ESPN.com rated the 10 greatest rivalries of the 20th century recently. Ahead of Ali-Frazier, Red Sox-Yankees and Chamberlain-Russell was Michigan-Ohio State.
"When you grow up in Ohio, it's kind of in your blood," former Buckeyes linebacker Chris Spielman said. "It's a game that means so much. When you lose, it is devastating and stays with you all year. When you win, there is no feeling like it. You are on air until you play them again."
This is a rivalry where ordinary players become heroes.
"When you have a great rivalry, it has a focus like nothing else ... no one forgets what happens that day," said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. "That's what legend and tradition is all about."
A former walk-on, Todd Plate was almost an afterthought on the 1989 Michigan team. Used sparingly as a fifth defensive back, Plate broke up a sure touchdown pass just before halftime and intercepted passes to set up Michigan's last two TDs in a 28-18 victory.
Ohio State was ranked second and Michigan was 13th, when the teams met at The Big House in Ann Arbor on Nov. 17, 1979.
With the Wolverines ahead by three points and just over four minutes left, Michigan punted deep in its own territory. Little-known linebacker Jim Laughlin blocked the punt, and Todd Bell recovered and ran 18 yards for the winning TD.
"If you don't win the Michigan-Ohio State game, that's a problem. You're not going to be recognized for too much success," said Earle Bruce, who coached the 1979 Ohio State team. "We've had 11-1 and 10-1 football teams that lost to Michigan - they're not even mentioned in the second breath."
The Game is also about characters.
Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh predicted victory in 1985, and backed it up. Ohio State wide receiver Terry Glenn said before the '95 game that he didn't think Michigan was any good; the Wolverines beat the second-ranked Buckeyes 31-23. Michigan's Desmond Howard returned a punt for a TD in the '91 game, struck a Heisman pose in the end zone and won the award three weeks later.
Yet it was Schembechler and Hayes who stoked the fires of the rivalry.
Schembechler, a native Ohioan, stocked his roster with homegrown players, so the game frequently pitted teammates and friends against each other.
Hayes once said that he ran out of gas while on a recruiting trip and pushed the car south on I-75 rather than spend his money on gas in That State Up North.
For one Saturday in November, almost everyone in Michigan or Ohio has a rooting interest. No one is neutral. Everything stands still.
"This is a big game and there's a lot at stake for both teams," said Ohio State linebacker Cie Grant. "When you throw it into a rivalry game, this is probably one of the biggest weeks in Ohio State history. I'm just glad to be a part of it."
The Game
A look at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
No. 12 MICHIGAN (9-2) at No. 2 OHIO STATE (12-0)
Series: Michigan leads, 56-36-6.
2001 Game: Ohio State won, 26-20.
First Game: 1897 (Michigan won, 34-0).
Trophy/AKA: The Game; The Big Game; The 100-Yard War.
Stakes: With a win, Ohio State shares Big Ten title with Iowa, and keeps alive hopes of first national title since 1968. Michigan can improve its bowl choices - and ruin Buckeyes' season.
Rivalry Note: With a win, Jim Tressel can get to 2-0 against Michigan, matching the victory total of predecessor John Cooper in 13 years (2-10-1).
Historical Nugget: Thirtieth anniversary of Nov. 25, 1972, defensive struggle in which No. 9 Ohio State upset No. 3 Michigan, 14-11. Wolverines failed to score on first downs at Buckeyes 1- and 5-yard lines in the second half.
Go Blue!
And since this season is a washout for us(At least Bobby Williams is gone), I'm thankful that basketball season is finally upon us!!!
I got married to my first wife the day of the game in 69. Half her relatives were from Ohio and alf from Michigan. The Ohio relatives came to town and were bad-mouthing Michigan all morning and predicting a 50 point win because it hadn't been a very good year for Michigan up to then. When the game came on, nobody wanted to leave and go to the reception. By the time the game was over nobody on the Ohio side was speaking to the Michigan side and vice versa. By the time they got to the reception, they were practically killing each other. It took them about 6 or 7 months to get on speaking terms again.
I'm a MIchigan Fan but used to root for the Spartans unless they were playing Michigan. That was until about 5 years ago when a new employee to our office was a hge Spartan fan and also the most obnxious human being I ever came across. Know I love to see State lose just to watch this jerk suffer. State has one good thing going for it though. The school doesn't have nearly as many leftist on campus as at Michigan. H'mm, maybe I should sitch loyalties.
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