Ohio State vs. Michigan

[Ed. Note: TennisWorld is proud to present a little offbeat, duelling football commentary by two of the greatest women to ever be obsessed with the game. Ladies, may the best team win! ]

In Tressel We Trust

It’s Saturday, November 23, 1996.

You are 13 years old and you wake up early, nervous with anticipation.  At noon, you will enter the Ohio Stadium - a historic 1922 landmark known as "The Shoe" for its resemblance to a horseshoe - and personally witness your first Ohio State/Michigan game, live.

Your parents have given you the greatest gift and sign of love they could offer –  tickets to the game so that you and your older brother can attend.  Meticulously, you prepare for the game; nothing is left to chance.  Decked out in scarlet and gray, you have not forgotten the little details: a buckeye necklace, Ohio State beads, and Block O decals for your face.

You clutch the ticket bestowed upon you, by your parents, and follow your brother into the stadium.

As you approach your seat, you look around and feel secure. You know that you belong here, in this stadium.  You've been properly raised to respect this moment and all that it represents.  Like the fellow 94,000+ Buckeye fans around you, you revere Woody, cherish Archie, and most of all, hate that dreaded School Up North.

You know that the proper way to address the school is THE Ohio State University, and the proper way to address the band is The Best Damn Band in the Land. Hearing the chorus of "Hang On Sloopy" prompts you to yell O-H-I-O. You dream of Dotting the I in Script Ohio and you treasure the buckeyes that fall from the trees that line the Olentangy River.

As kick-off approaches, you feel butterflies in your stomach.  The first notes of the band give you goosebumps, the sight of the Ohio State football team send shivers down your spine, and the Ohio State sendoff to its seniors bring tears to your eyes.  The noise – deafening, the tension – palpable, the passion – unrelenting. You rise with the rest of the Buckeye Nation and all of you, with one strong voice, try to will Ohio State to victory.

You feel your will start to break and Ohio State’s season slip away when Shawn Springs slips and falls to the turf, leading to Tai Streets streaking down the sideline for a touchdown.  You watch a juggernaut of an offense fail to score a touchdown.  Final Score: The School Up North 13, The Ohio State University 9.

You feel as if you can’t breathe – disappointment and pain crush you.  You fall in line with the other members of the Buckeye faithful and dejectedly trudge from the Stadium.  Ohio State will go on to win the Rose Bowl and finish the year ranked number two in the country, but for you, the season is a failure.  Ohio State lost to Michigan; nothing else need be said.

Listening to the radio in the car, silent as a tomb, you become incensed when you hear Ohio State’s head football coach, John Cooper, claim that the Ohio State/Michigan game is a game like any other.  A game like any other?  It is not a game; it is THE GAME.  Ohio State has a coach who believes that THE GAME is.. just a game?

And, upon hearing that statement, you learn to dread the month of November.  At the end of every regular season, save two, you feel nothing but bitterness.  Each autumn as the leaves change colors, you try to convince yourself this year will be different.  Alas, the result seems to be the same – regardless of whether Ohio State is favored or the underdog, THE GAME invariably ends in a loss.  It is the end of 2000 and John Cooper’s record against Michigan stands at 2-10-1.  Two victories in 13 long years.  You are weary, tired, emotionally spent and, most of all, you wonder when the agony will end.

Relief finally appears to be in sight.  After a dismal year for the team both on and off the field, Cooper has been dismissed from Ohio State.  You wait with bated breath upon the announcement of the new head coach.  When word reaches you that Ohio State has hired Jim Tressel, your initial reaction is one of shock, disbelief, and confusion.  Jim Tressel?  Who is Jim Tressel?

In January of 2001, Jim Tressel is introduced to the Buckeye nation at halftime of the Ohio State/Michigan basketball game.  Your interest is piqued; you turn up the volume on the television.  Then you hear words so beautiful, they literally make you gasp;  they are the balm and tonic that your battered spirit has needed for the past 13 years.  In one breath, Jim Tressel proclaims "I can assure you that you"ll be proud of our young people, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan."

With that statement, all the doubts you had toward Jim Tressel disappear.  A warm feeling of satisfaction rolls over you.  A sly smile crosses your lips.  Jim Tressel knows how many days until THE GAME.

For the first time in years, you have a sense of optimism and hope for the month of November.  You grasp and recognize the significance of this momentous occasion, and can hardly contain your excitement.  Ohio State has not simply hired a new head coach; they have hired a Buckeye.

As Michigan has learned since, that makes all the difference.

-- AmyLu

A-Maize-ing Blue

For those of you that don’t already know it from my “Go Tigers!” posts, I’m from Michigan.  I was born and have spent most of my life here, so Michigan sports teams are my faves.  I feel I’ve been pretty blessed during my lifetime with some darn good teams to root for (okay, not the Detroit Lions.. still hoping for a miracle there).

In the state of Michigan, different areas are loyal to our two largest colleges -- the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.  Much of north and west Michigan prefers Michigan State.  Michigan was the favorite in my hometown, which was very obvious given the fact that one of the local school fight songs was “Hail to the Victors”.

There was no question which team I was born to root for, when it came time for college football.

My main introduction to Michigan football was through one of my older brothers.  He would feed me little details like candy.. ”Did you know that the Michigan Wolverine's helmet is one of the most envied in all of college football? It's that Cool.”  Being young at the time, I accepted all of his trivia as fact, of course.  One time, my brother yelled “shush!”, and informed me that “God” was speaking!

He was referring to the great Bo Schembechler, Michigan’s former head football coach, who was being interviewed on TV at the time.  (I’m sure AmyLu has her own special memories of Bo, as I have of Woody Hayes – and by the way, I would sure like to know what the heck a buckeye is and can it be sautéed in butter?)

Here's a short little story about Bo.. My sister and I were living, at one point, in Ann Arbor and she worked at a popular restaurant there as a hostess.  One evening, a small group walked up and a gentleman stepped forward to give the party's name. “Schembechler," he said, and began to spell it out for her benefit.

My sister immediately responded, “Oh, I know how to spell it, sir!” That chance encounter was a big deal, no – a HUGE deal.  Bo Schembechler is one of those bigger-than-life sports heroes and you don’t forget a meeting with him.

Those lucky enough to get their hands on tickets to a Michigan game will tell you that it’s a fantastic experience and never to be turned down.  The University of Michigan Stadium, better known as “The Big House”, is just a big bowl jam-packed with crazed fans.  The reason for the nickname is because the stadium has the most seats of any college football stadium (107,501) and intends to stay that way.  In fact, the university is known for adding seats every now and then to hold off an attempt by another university (Steggy: such as Tennessee? ;) to overtake them for that distinction.

I’m not sure I can provide a technical reason as to why I think Michigan will win the big showdown against Ohio State.  Rather, I’d like to describe it in my terms.

The game between Ohio State, ranked #1 in the country, and #2 Michigan will decide which team will play for the National Championship (the winner) or the Rose Bowl (the loser).  However, because these teams have been so far ahead of the pack this season, there may be a remote chance that both the winner and the loser go to the National Championship!  I’m not sure that’s ever happened before in the history of college football.

Michigan started the season underrated by the press pundits, and it still is; an overwhelming majority of analysts are predicting that Ohio State will win tomorrow.  However, Michigan has managed, for the most part this season, to “get it done” against most of their opponents.  The standout match-up this year was against Notre Dame, where the Wolverines played a powerful, dominant game.  Perhaps this performance could be a preview of things to come on Saturday?

Michigan has a terrific defense, which will be key to defeating the Buckeyes.  Wolverine quarterback, Chad Henne, is a sure bet to give the Buckeye defense plenty to worry about.  Ohio State has a phenomenal offense and, as an added bonus for them, no team can dominate the way they have this season without a good defense. Ohio State is going to be just as motivated as Michigan and, when you have two great football teams with opposing strengths and weaknesses, it’s the team that raises its level who will walk away with the victory.

Whatever the outcome, I’m sure there will be hundreds of thousands of frazzled fans glued to their TV sets. More than likely, many will be self-medicating to get through it! This is THAT kind of rivalry, folks.  To those of you who decide to tune in out of curiosity – enjoy.  GO BLUE!

-- Tari