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

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by shetuck

mmmkay... I guess what you're trying to say is: F*ck M*ch*g*an!!!

If we must distill the matter to its essential components, that would be an acceptable albeit oversimplified means of abbreviating the point being made.

[ant80]

Originally Posted by JonathanXC

The moment the Buckeyes start looking at Michigan on the schedule, and just chalking it up as an obvious W, that's the moment we go backwards and start losing this game again.

Truer words have never been uttered before.

edit: And oh yeah. [censored] scUM.

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

...If we must distill the matter to its essential components, that would be an acceptable albeit oversimplified means of abbreviating the point being made. ...

Mongo sez distill = good!

Mongo like distilled matter.

[shetuck]

ESPN: Fearless predictions, tOSU vs TSUN

Fearless predictions: Big Ten rivalry games
July 30, 2008 9:41 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

[...]

1. Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 22 -- Rich Rodriguez will have Michigan on track by this point, and the Wolverines could do some serious damage after Oct. 4. This game will be closer than people think, a sign of things to come in this rivalry with Rodriguez coaching Michigan. But Ohio State's defense will be too much for the Wolverines, and Beanie Wells eventually will wear down a talented Michigan defensive front. A special-teams touchdown or a touchdown off a turnover could seal it for the Buckeyes. Prediction: Ohio State 24, Michigan 17

cont'd...

[redbenn]

Originally Posted by shetuck

ESPN: Fearless predictions, tOSU vs TSUN

psunitwit3 (1 hour ago)


penn state will easily dominate OSU

espn's commenters are so insightful... i'm glad i rarely visit that site anymore

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by redbenn

espn's commenters are so insightful... i'm glad i rarely visit that site anymore

Goose, gander... ESPN doesn't exactly elevate the bar on expectations for well reasoned analysis either.

[BuckeyeNation27]

but their site is damn easy to navigate.

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation27

but their site is damn easy to navigate.

Right... that's why a half hour later I'm still looking around trying to find Rittenberg's blog ranking the Big Ten Defenses (because I could have sworn he didn't call TSUN's defense "talented" in that piece).

Pr icks!

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by redbenn

espn's commenters are so insightful... i'm glad i rarely visit that site anymore

mhennessey8411 (1 hour ago)
these are all good rivalry games, but none of them will compare to Ohio State coming into Camp Randal this year.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by BB73

Anybody assuming a win needs to refresh their memory about the 1969 game. The year before, tOSU scored 50 in the "couldn't go for three" game. The Buckeyes were ranked #1 and one win away from back-to-back National Championships in The Game, since the 'no repeat' rule for the Rose Bowl would keep them home for the holiday as only one Big Ten team went bowling back then.

A rookie head coach for TSUN won The Game 24-12, preventing Woody from winning consecutive NCs. RR may not know all of the history behind the rivalry, but he has already had players from Bo's 1969 talk to the team.

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." - Edmund Burke

Sorry, my friend, but Bo Schembechler fully knew and embraced the magnitude of The Rivalry, while DickRod thinks it's "just another game". Schembechler also knew how Woody coached, having spent years on the OSU staff and being mentored by Woody. Throw in the "revenge factor" and the fact The Game was played up in the Pig House, and you can see that there isn't much similarity other than the fact The Game this year will have an established, highly successful OSU coach going against a rookie UM coach.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Sorry, my friend, but Bo Schembechler fully knew and embraced the magnitude of The Rivalry, while DickRod thinks it's "just another game". Schembechler also knew how Woody coached, having spent years on the OSU staff and being mentored by Woody. Throw in the "revenge factor" and the fact The Game was played up in the Pig House, and you can see that there isn't much similarity other than the fact The Game this year will have an established, highly successful OSU coach going against a rookie UM coach.

For now. If Michigan does win, you guys will definitely be sick of hearing the comparisons to 1969 no later than 48 hours after the final whistle, and they won't all be from Michigan fans.

[BuckeyeNation27]

Thank God we won't have to worry about that, then.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Say what you will about this being a trap game and not overlooking the rival, but this game is much more likely to draw comparisons to 1968 than to 1969.

[generaladm]

Tressel > Cooper. Bo > Lllllloyd > Moeller > DickRod.

If the Buckeyes go into The Game undefeated (or maybe 1 loss), there will be only one thing standing between them and the NC game. This year's Game will mean as much or more than any year. You can look to history for precedent, or you can talk of overconfidence by a team that has won four straight, but the players on the field will determine the outcome of The Game. In 1969, it was the "Super Sophomores" turned juniors, who knew nothing but success (freshmen were not allowed on the field then). 2008 will be the "Super Seniors", who have played against the best, and have one more chance to show that they are the best. UM's coach in '69 was a future legend who knew OSU's program, and Big Ten football, from the inside. '08's UM coach comes from a weaker conference, where he had some success running a system which cannot be utilized this year. There will likely be several records on the line; 5 wins over UM, 3 outright Big Ten championships, 4 BCS CG appearances, etc. While there is always a chance for an upset in The Game, I have more trust in this year's team than any team in my lifetime. These Buckeye Seniors came back for one reason, to win every game. On August 30th, YSU will be the most important game of the season. On November 22nd, UM will be the most important game of the season.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by generaladm

These Buckeye Seniors came back for one reason, to win every game. On August 30th, YSU will be the most important game of the season. On November 22nd, UM will be the most important game of the season.

In other words, each game is equally important? You can't achieve all those goals you talked about without winning them all. So that's what it sounds like to me. And it also sounds pretty similar to what RR is saying.