I have a tendency not to post too much during Michigan week – especially if it is a home game. My emotions are just too raw and I would rather keep to myself and not talk about the game. I save it all up and let it out in the Stadium. Saturday I got to do that in one of those storybook games that you only dream about. I think this game was - in its own way - even more emotional than 2002 because in 2002 it was all about tension. So much on the line and a game that was not decided until late
This year - once we got the big lead - it was right there in front of us and every play that brought us closer brought another explosion. It all built and built towards that eventual, inevitable, outcome.
But I didn’t believe it would end that way when I entered the stadium. We just had too much to overcome. Our DL had underachieved all season and was no match for the dominant Michigan OL. Our secondary was banged up and could not cover Edwards, let alone all of Michigan’s great receivers. How could this Defense possibly stop the balanced Michigan attack that also included a great RB when we had been unable to stop mediocre RBs all season? And even if we could - how do you win a game with no Offense? We couldn’t pass, we couldn’t run. You can’t beat a team like Michigan with gimmick plays, FGs and punt returns.
And the start pretty much matched my worst fears. Sure, we scored first. But a long pass that you barely get off on 3rd and 13 isn’t evidence that you have an offense. It is luck. One of those fluke plays that gets you some points, but certainly doesn’t mean you’ve found an answer for the Michigan D. Worse yet, our next two positions featured our patented three-and-outs. Then back comes Michigan, not once, but twice – marching through our D like butter. Exploiting all of their strengths and our weaknesses and showing that the game might match my nightmare scenario - perhaps the worst rout ever at their hands. I must confess (and I don’t think I am alone on this) that after the second Michigan TD, I was ready to hang it up. We were only down seven, but the writing was on the wall. Who was going to stop them? Not Mark Snyder. He hasn’t been able to make the needed adjustments all season. Still, I sucked it up and tried to believe. I had been at the Fiesta Bowl after all. I had seen miracles.
And the first miracle arrived. We stopped them. We can do it. Fantastic. Now let’s do something with the ball!
But what is this? A 59 yard punt - to the one yard line? The one yard line for a team that doesn’t have an O?
That is when I had my finest moment of the day. As folks on either side were grumbling and swearing I mustered my best false bravado and said: “You can’t have a 99 yard drive unless you start at the one.”
And so the miracles began in earnest.
For those who have not attended any home games this year you have also not seen the pre-game scoreboard animation. It is all clouds and rain and a single Buckeye nut lies on the ground. As lightning flashes players from the past are shown being absorbed into this pod. Then it grows into a tree and – using the strength of that past greatness - one by one smites our opponents, finally pulling Michigan down into the ground. And that is the way it unfolded.
A Troy Smith emerged that I had never seen before. Suddenly he could sense the pocket collapsing. He ran, not as a first instinct, but at precisely the right moment. And when he ran it was beautiful to watch. His passes were crisp and on target – hitting receivers in stride. He made great decisions. And let us not forget the fumble recovery.
The oft maligned DL gathered the strength of past OSU greats and stood toe to toe with the Michigan OL. They pressured a young QB and made him look like the Freshman he was. The secondary miraculously healed itself. The linebackers took care of the running game. Snyder somehow tapped into the wisdom of past masters and stymied the Michigan Offense. Jim Tressel morphed into an offensive genius. The crowd stayed loud and transmitted a flow of energy that was present on every play. And there was Ginn.
It was magnificent.
This year - once we got the big lead - it was right there in front of us and every play that brought us closer brought another explosion. It all built and built towards that eventual, inevitable, outcome.
But I didn’t believe it would end that way when I entered the stadium. We just had too much to overcome. Our DL had underachieved all season and was no match for the dominant Michigan OL. Our secondary was banged up and could not cover Edwards, let alone all of Michigan’s great receivers. How could this Defense possibly stop the balanced Michigan attack that also included a great RB when we had been unable to stop mediocre RBs all season? And even if we could - how do you win a game with no Offense? We couldn’t pass, we couldn’t run. You can’t beat a team like Michigan with gimmick plays, FGs and punt returns.
And the start pretty much matched my worst fears. Sure, we scored first. But a long pass that you barely get off on 3rd and 13 isn’t evidence that you have an offense. It is luck. One of those fluke plays that gets you some points, but certainly doesn’t mean you’ve found an answer for the Michigan D. Worse yet, our next two positions featured our patented three-and-outs. Then back comes Michigan, not once, but twice – marching through our D like butter. Exploiting all of their strengths and our weaknesses and showing that the game might match my nightmare scenario - perhaps the worst rout ever at their hands. I must confess (and I don’t think I am alone on this) that after the second Michigan TD, I was ready to hang it up. We were only down seven, but the writing was on the wall. Who was going to stop them? Not Mark Snyder. He hasn’t been able to make the needed adjustments all season. Still, I sucked it up and tried to believe. I had been at the Fiesta Bowl after all. I had seen miracles.
And the first miracle arrived. We stopped them. We can do it. Fantastic. Now let’s do something with the ball!
But what is this? A 59 yard punt - to the one yard line? The one yard line for a team that doesn’t have an O?
That is when I had my finest moment of the day. As folks on either side were grumbling and swearing I mustered my best false bravado and said: “You can’t have a 99 yard drive unless you start at the one.”
And so the miracles began in earnest.
For those who have not attended any home games this year you have also not seen the pre-game scoreboard animation. It is all clouds and rain and a single Buckeye nut lies on the ground. As lightning flashes players from the past are shown being absorbed into this pod. Then it grows into a tree and – using the strength of that past greatness - one by one smites our opponents, finally pulling Michigan down into the ground. And that is the way it unfolded.
A Troy Smith emerged that I had never seen before. Suddenly he could sense the pocket collapsing. He ran, not as a first instinct, but at precisely the right moment. And when he ran it was beautiful to watch. His passes were crisp and on target – hitting receivers in stride. He made great decisions. And let us not forget the fumble recovery.
The oft maligned DL gathered the strength of past OSU greats and stood toe to toe with the Michigan OL. They pressured a young QB and made him look like the Freshman he was. The secondary miraculously healed itself. The linebackers took care of the running game. Snyder somehow tapped into the wisdom of past masters and stymied the Michigan Offense. Jim Tressel morphed into an offensive genius. The crowd stayed loud and transmitted a flow of energy that was present on every play. And there was Ginn.
It was magnificent.
