It's here ... read on

3yardsandacloud · #1 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 05:56 PM

Well it's here. The day I love, the day I dread. The day before the Michigan game.

I love it because in less than 24 hours The Game begins. I dread it because ... well I'm still waiting. I've been waiting all week, all season, in fact, since the last Game. I get no work done this week. It's hard to concentrate. It never changes. I feel a bit sick to my stomach, nervous, edgy. The Game can't get here soon enough ... then it ends all to quickly, and I'm waiting again.

That's the unending cycle. Each year, the same as before. Oh sure, it was somewhat different once. Growing up with Woody and the boys, I came to understand the War ... the 10 Year War. (My apologies, in advance, for any offense I'm sure to cause by using terms related to war. It is not my intention to belittle or tarnish in any way those that serve our country. I simply need to use the terms that I associate with this game) Each game a battle with 2 generals prowling the sidelines. At that young age I really thought this was as close to war as one could get without guns. Everything mattered. You despised them ... they despised you. While you respected their abilities and strengths, they could be NO common ground. ALL that mattered was 60 minutes on Saturday ... only then could you determine victory or defeat in the crucible of The Game.

Enter Earle Bruce, and a somewhat older me. The day before the game is slightly different, but still no sleep. I understand that this is merely a poor reflection of real war. Many important things were still on the line. Pride, dignity, honor, class ... everything that mattered to self esteem was there for the taking. All won or lost in 60 minutes. Too long to wait, too long. This isn't about the only team that matters. It's about the only 2 teams that matter. I know it's special ... it's The Game.

John Cooper. What can I say. I get sick before the game. Seriously, I'm nauseated and sometimes I vomit. Nothing has changed. It all comes down to this game ... and the wait. The intolerable wait. It mocks me ... taunts me ... abuses me. I can't take it anymore. Nothing can quench the fire except victory. A victory that comes not often enough. The college football world has grown. There are many teams, but none that can claim ... The Game.

Today. I'm sick. Sick of waiting. I don't get sick to my stomach anymore. Well, not often anyway. The Game still means everything. After some years when I wondered if the rest of college football was gaining ground on our tradition ... I'm amazed. Nothing compares. No where does the entire year boil down to one moment. All the work, the effort, the heartache, the joy, the study ... the waiting ... all of it made worthwhile in 60 minutes. It can NOT arrive soon enough. 60 minutes later, I'll begin the wait once again.

Go Bucks ... Beat Michigan.

Here's some reading material for your wait ...

3yardsandacloud · #2 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 05:56 PM

OSU-Michigan matchups - NN of Central Ohio •FB

OSU-Michigan matchups

Buckeye Trivia

The Ohio State-Michigan series has been an even affair the last 50 years, with each program claiming 24 victories apiece with two ties.

The Series

OSU is 3-1 under Jim Tressel, but the Wolverines have won seven of the last eight meetings in Ann Arbor and hold an overall edge of 57-38-6. The two have met every year since 1918 and have ended their conference seasons against each other since 1935.

Buckeye data

Coach Jim Tressel: 48-13 (5th year/OSU); 183-70-2 overall

Statistical leaders

QB Troy Smith: 103 of 172 passing, 59.9 pct., 1,640 yds., 13 TDs, 4 INTs

TB Antonio Pittman: 1,110 yards, 199 carries, 5.6 avg., 5 TDs

WR Santonio Holmes: 42 catches, 781 yards, 18.6 avg., 9 TDs

WR Ted Ginn Jr.: 34 catches, 547 yards, 16.1 avg., 3 TDs

LB A.J. Hawk: 102 tackles, 12 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT

LB Anthony Schlegel: 65 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks

PK Josh Huston: 18 of 21 field goals, 18 of 19 inside 50 yards

Wolverine data

Coach Lloyd Carr: 102-32 (11th year/Michigan)

Statistical leaders

QB Chad Henne: 177 of 303 passing, 58.4 pct., 2,033 yds., 19 TDs, 7 INTs

TB Mike Hart: 573 yards, 122 carries, 4.7 avg., 4 TDs

TB Kevin Grady: 465 yards, 110 caries, 4.1 avg., 4 TDs

WR Jason Avant: 70 catches, 900 yards, 12.9 avg., 7 TDs

WR Mario Manningham: 20 catches, 341 yards, 17.0 avg., 5 TDs

WR Steve Breaston: 18 catches, 230 yards, 12.8 avg., 2 TDs

LB David Harris: 72 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles

CB Grant Mason: 72 tackles, 2 INTs, 7 pass break ups

PK Garrett Rivas: 17 of 23 field goal, 3 of 7 beyond 39 yards

The Matchups

Quarterbacks

In their second year at the controls, Michigan's Chad Henne and Ohio State's Troy Smith have picked it up the last month after slow starts. Smith's excuse was rustiness from serving an NCAA suspension. Henne's excuse was loneliness. He missed last year's go-to guy, Braylon Edwards. All is fine now. Henne has paired off with Jason Avant and Smith with Santonio Holmes. Smith is more mobile, but Henne has more moxie and the homefield advantage this time around. After the way he played at Penn State, Smith still needs to prove he can beat the Big Ten's elite on the road. No, Minnesota doesn't count.

EDGE: Michigan

RUNNING BACKS

The Wolverines seem to be a different team with Mike Hart at tailback. He's been bothered by hamstring and ankle injuries all season, but vows to play against the Buckeyes. Hart is a Tyrell Sutton clone and Sutton was on his way to a big game against the Buckeyes until Northwestern fell in a 21-point hole. After what happened last year, the Wolverines might be preoccupied with Troy Smith, so Ohio State's best strategy might be to pound away with tailback Antonio Pittman. He's been as good as any Big Ten ballcarrier down the stretch, topping 100 yards in four of the last five games and falling just shy (96) in the other. Because of Hart's injuries, Michigan has developed better depth. Backups Kevin Grady and Jerome Jackson have combined for 683 yards and seven scores, so Michigan can keep attacking with fresh legs.

EDGE: Michigan

RECEIVERS

The two best receiving corps in the Big Ten will be on display. Michigan's Jason Avant is vying for the Big Ten receiving title with 70 catches, complemented by freshman Mario Manningham, who had the last-second grab in the win over Penn State, and multi-threat Steve Breaston. He was Ted Ginn Jr. before Junior arrived on the Big Ten scene for the Buckeyes. Santonio Holmes, probably playing in his last regular season game Saturday, is averaging 18.6 yards per catch and has caught nine touchdowns. It's never a matter of Holmes, Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez getting open. It all comes down to Troy Smith making the proper reads and releasing the ball on time. Can he do it with 112,000 fans rooting for him to fail?

EDGE: Even

OFFENSIVE LINE

Gee, what happened to all the gripes about OSU's front five? Seemed to me all along that the perceived problems came down to an unfounded lack of faith by the coaches in tailback Antonio Pittman and too much trust in an erratic Troy Smith. The line has been solid all yearand might be able to push around a mammoth but very average defensive front. Fifth-year seniors Adam Stenavich (6-5, 321) and Matt Lentz (6-6, 311) are OL stalwarts for the Wolverines, bur right tackle Jake Long (6-7, 330) has been hurt quite a bit and can't be counted on against the Buckeyes. How well Michigan keeps Mike Kudla and Bobby Carpenter out of Chad Henne's face could be a huge factor in the outcome.

EDGE: Even

DEFENSIVE LINE

Ohio State has 38 sacks to Michigan's 18. If form holds, with the Buckeyes rattlnig Chad Henne and affording Troy Smith excellent protection, the Wolverines don't have a chance. Seniors Gabe Watson (6-4, 331) and Pat Massey (6-8, 283) look more imposing than they play. Michigan's most productive lineman has been junior Lamarr Woodley. He plays sort of a hybrid end/linebacker position and has 14 tackles for loss, including a team-high five sacks. With 6.5 sacks, OSU end Mike Kudla still has a chance to overtake Bobby Carpenter (8) and A.J. Hawk (7.5) for the team lead.

EDGE: OSU

LINEBACKERS

A huge game should sew up the Butkus Award for A.J. Hawk, if the award isn't already wrapped with his name on it. It would be nice to see Hawk score another TD and then strike the Butkus pose in the end zone, 14 years after Michigan's Desmond Howard did the Heisman stiff-arm to celebrate scoring on a punt against the Buckeyes. One problem: What's the Butkus pose? All Butkus ever did was glare and snarl. Maybe Hawk can do a chin-up off the crossbar, pulling himself up by his hair. OSU can't afford another slow start like last week, when Northwestern marched 80 yards with the opening kickoff. OSU fans will keep an eye on Michigan linebacker Prescott Burgess. He's third on the team in tackles and was Maurice Clarett's teammate at Warren Harding, the same school that produced wideout Mario Manningham.

EDGE: OSU

DEFENSIVE BACKS

OSU and Michigan rank one-two, respectively, in Big Ten pass defense. The Buckeyes have allowed a league-low seven touchdowns, but also have a league-low six interceptions. No Wolverine has more than two picks, but four members of the secondary have a pair. Cornerback Grant Mason shares the team lead in tackles with 72. OSU corner Ashton Youboty had a big interception last year and could be ready to inflict more damage after making his first pick of the year last week against Northwestern. Corner Tyler Everett looked great, showing no ill effects from the neck injury that kept him sidelined for three weeks.

EDGE: Even

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Steve Breaston. Josh Huston vs. Garrettt Rivas. The special units offer some of the more intriguing matchups. Breaston has a kickoff return TD and a 72-yard punt return for the Wolverines. Ginn has returned a punt and kickoff for TDs and has scored six times in his career on returns, including an 82-yarder that broke open last year's game with Michigan. Huston leads the Big Ten with 18 field goals and Rivas is right behind with 17. Here's the difference: Santonio Holmes and Ginn give the Buckeyes a better one-two punch on returns and Rivas has converted only three of his 10 field goals beyond 39 yards. Huston, by comparison, is 18 of 19 inside the 50.

EDGE: OSU

3yardsandacloud · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 05:57 PM

Gold pants always in style at Ohio State - NN of Central Ohio •FB

Gold pants always in style at Ohio State

By JON SPENCER
Gannett News Service

Jim Langhurst, Class of 1941, owns the distinction of being the oldest living Ohio State football captain.

He owns a Big Ten championship, having played linebacker and fullback on the 1939 team that shut out every team it beat.

He owns three varsity letters.and Scarlet and Gray-tinged memories that are priceless.

But one of gentleman Jim's few regrets over 86 years is that he doesn't own a pair of gold pants.

Now there's a sentence you'll never read in GQ.

We're not talking gold pants you might find hugging the hips of a sequin-splashed figure skater or hanging in Deion Sander's closet. We're talking about the miniature gold pants you might find dangling from a necklace or chain or socked away in a box of mementos

The charm is given to each Buckeye after a victory over Michigan. Inscribed on the pants are the year and final score.

Placekicker Josh Huston is going after his fourth pair Saturday, which would be quite a feat, even though he admits to "cheating" by getting hurt and sticking around -- with the NCAA's blessing -- for six years.

The incomparable Archie Griffin has three pairs, a 10-10 tie in 1973 ruining his shot at a complete set.

If it makes Langhurst feel any better, there are three senior classes who went through OSU during the John Cooper Era without, um, pants.

"I had to play against Tom Harmon my three years," Langhurst lamented.

That's all the explanation needed. Harmon was his generation's Michael Jordan in cleats. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1939 before winning the award for Michigan in 1940, the season Langhurst captained the Buckeyes.

"I met (Harmon) at a speaking engagement one year and told him, 'It's nice to meet you in person. I was always chasing your butt,' " Langhurst said. "He told me that he would give up his Heisman for two things I had -- a Big Ten championship and being named captain. I walked away with tears in my eyes."

It was a remark by Langhurst's coach, Francis Schmidt, that sparked the gold pants tradition in 1934. Vowing to beat Michigan, he said, "Those guys put their pants on one leg at a time, the same way you do." Schmidt started out 4-0 against the Wolverines, but then lost three straight, costing him his job.

"The rivalry was just as big back then," Langhurst said. "If you didn't beat Michigan, you were out."

Bob Thornton, one of Langhurst's dearest friends in their hometown of Willard, played fullback and linebacker on Woody Hayes' undefeated 1954 national championship team. He owns two pairs of gold pants.

"I treasure them, but I don't do anything with them other than fend off my kids who think they get them after I'm gone," Thornton, 73, joked. "Since I have five kids, I can't even give a leg to each kid."

He's willing to share, though, with his old buddy Jim.

"Tell him," Thornton teased, "he can borrow my pants anytime ... as long as he promises to give 'em back."

Prediction: Michigan 30, Ohio State 24

3yardsandacloud · #4 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 05:57 PM

Onus is on Michigan to beat Tressel - NN of Central Ohio •FB

Onus is on Michigan to beat Tressel

By DAVE PURPURA
Gannett News Service

Good morning, Buckeye Nation.

We're one day from the annual reckoning, and a single question is keeping me on edge -- is Jethro Tull a Michigan football fan?

Must be, because Wolverines fans have been living in the past for quite some time now.

Selective amnesia? Protective, more likely. Talk of Ohio State's 3-1 record against Michigan under Jim Tressel is far less soothing than the Wolverines' 10-2-1 owning of our beloved locals between 1988 and 2000 -- a streak that ended five years ago.

But to hear the Michigan fans in this office and beyond -- yes, we have to put up with them too -- the past is their best friend. They're fretting as much as we used to.

Ranked 17th, they're 7-3 and need a win and some help to clinch the Big Ten championship. If history has taught us anything, it's that combination and this rivalry are a perfect menu for one of the states falling flat on its collective face.

Just look north. Those dark blue clouds don't signal snow flurries, and isn't it unbelievable that we're thinking of those this week?

No, that's the color of pressure, if not a thoroughly morose outlook. It brings to mind a thought-provoking episode of "The Twilight Zone," in which man's hatred toward man grows so out of control that it can only be manifested in total darkness that covers areas of particular strife.

This situation is hardly as dire, but the similarities remain.

One Detroit newspaper article on Michigan this week was headlined "Tick ... Tick ... Tick ..." with a subhead "Time now for U-M to solve OSU."

Lloyd Carr groused admittance last weekend that he devotes a few moments every day to thinking of Ohio State. Kudos go out to Michigan reporters for managing to understand Carr.

It's amazing, if not satisfying. Not to live in the past, but we must remember Michigan's all-time ownership of Ohio State -- 57 wins, 38 losses and 6 ties overall. The Wolverines are 30-17-4 against the Buckeyes at home. Yet the confidence of the local and inherently displaced Michigan fans ebbs like a stream from melting ice in March.

To paraphrase a co-worker's comments Monday afternoon, "We're gonna get our butts kicked."

I remember a time when it was like that around here, for the locals instead of the treacherous infidels. Ten years ago, if you bumped into an Ohio State fan during Michigan week you'd come away with whiplash. We were so wound with anxiety and inferiority that it was like hitting a car or a deer.

Funny thing was then that based on talent alone, Ohio State should have beaten Michigan at least six times in the 1990s. Only a few of those Wolverines teams were out and out better, like the Charles Woodson-led squad of 1997 and the 1999 team that squeaked by 6-6 Ohio State by just a touchdown.

This Ohio State team is better than Michigan, but just barely. It's been fun to watch four straight 40-point performances, but remember the competition. The Buckeyes haven't beaten the two superior teams they've played, Texas and Penn State, nor did Michigan knock off Wisconsin or Notre Dame.

It did, however, benefit from Penn State's last-second absence of mind.

My take it to the bank prediction for this weekend -- Ohio State's special teams decide this one, whether on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown or a late field goal.

Let's just hope the Buckeyes don't bungle in the jungle of Ann Arbor.

Ohio State 28, Michigan 27. Go Bucks.

3yardsandacloud · #5 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 05:58 PM

Wolverines ready to strike pose against unlucky Bucks - NN of Central Ohio •FB

Wolverines ready to strike pose against unlucky Bucks

By JOSH HACHAT
Contributing Writer

The last time I wrote one of these columns, ESPN Classic showed the Michigan-Ohio State game from 1997, which might be my favorite of the duels.

If you don't remember, it was where Charles Woodson wrapped up his Heisman Trophy -- though his Heisman pose wasn't quite as good as Desmond Howard's, another good memory I might add -- and carried Michigan to a national championship.

Anyway, I wrote the column as I gleefully watched that game and two days later, Chris Perry ran all over the Muckeyes' vaunted defense in a dominating 2003 win.

Well, guess what replay was on again yesterday, Luckeye fans?

So, yes, come Saturday, Michigan will win in Ann Arbor, ruining all this Ohio Stooge vs. Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl blabber I've been hearing about.

Suddenly, the Luckeyes are a dominant team, or at least that's what the red and silver fans are saying lately. Huh?

They beat a Northwestern team Michigan also throttled -- on the road -- gave up 500 yards to Minnesota and needed a bone-headed decision by bone-headed coach John L. Smith to beat Michigan State at home.

Oh yeah, they also beat Indiana and Illinois, which could both be mistaken for junior-high teams.

So tell me again what good team Ohio Stump has beaten?

Texas? Oh wait, Vince Young might have won the Heisman that night -- thank you Bobby Carpenter.

Penn State? Whoops, I forgot that was the game Troy Smith did his best Stanley Jackson impersonation.

So that leaves zero current-ranked teams Ohio Stale has beaten this year, a trend that continues this week.

Michigan, by the way, beat Penn State, which I'll remind Yuckeye fans, didn't happen when Ohio Slump went to Happy Valley.

So, no, the Luckeyes aren't rolling along and they've already proven they can't beat top-tier teams this year.

Michigan isn't top-tier -- and I'm certainly disappointed in that this year -- but it won't matter come Saturday.

Recent history can also take a backseat in this one. Sure, Jim Tressel is 3-1 vs. Michigan, but Lloyd Carr is coaching like someone who might be on the hot seat.

The Wolverines will play with a sense of urgency, but don't mistake it with a sense of panic that Ohio Scared players showed during the glorious Cooper years.

Sure, that attitude has changed with Tressel around, but it's suddenly gone too far this year.

Anxiety and fear were initially replaced with confidence, but now it's gone to full-blown arrogance when it comes to Michigan week.

I can't say I'm surprised -- I've lived among these fans, to put it nicely, for two decades -- but this year feels even more ridiculous.

Sure, Michigan has struggled -- what team wouldn't if it lost its best player (Mike Hart) to a nagging injury -- but Saturday's win will give the Wolverines two top-15 wins -- again, two more than the Luckeyes -- the same record and a better bowl berth.

You have your odd fascination/crush with kickers, punters and sweater vests. I'll take a healthy Hart over that any day.

I'll even grant you this year's defense is good -- I didn't mention A.J. Hawk until now because I didn't want you slobbering all over this article -- but the Luckeyes have yet to beat a team like Michigan this year.

Hart, Chad Henne, Jason Avant and a steadily improving defense will see that trend continue.

So as Saturday comes and goes, new memories will joins Charles Woodson's and I can play Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" in the background.

And, yes, Sports Editor Bill Bender approves of this message.

Final Score: Michigan 24, Ohio State 20.