It is upon us once again. It does not seem that long ago that rivals Michigan and Ohio State were playing for a berth in the BCS title game, does it? Seems like it was just yesterday I was watching Cold Pizza at work the day before The Game, when that sick feeling came over me. Bo had collapsed and was taken to the hospital. It sounded bleak and when they went to a live report with Dana Jacobsen ( Michigan grad, oddly enough) just before noon, you just knew. Bo was gone. The day before arguably the biggest contest ever between the 2 bitter rivals. It was surreal.
They played the next day in what was a tremendous game. Back and forth with all the emotion of the rivalry, plus Bo's death and the right to play in the BCS title game. The Game will probably never see the circumstances surrounding last years's game, but they will still play Saturday. And it will be almost as fun as the week leading up to The Game.
I don't need to tell you these schools don't like each other. At all. You may disagree, but this rivalry is bigger for Ohio State than Michigan. Michigan doesn't like Ohio State, but Ohio State lives for Michigan week. Last year there were actually students at the library in Ann Arbor when #1 was playing #2. Think ANYONE in Columbus didn't have their eyes and ears on The Game? Who knows what it is, but this may speak to the fanbases also. Michigan fans are more reserved, and are a little conceited. Buckeye fans are exuberant and passionate. The Big House is not loud at all for having the largest seating capacity in all the land, partly because of the way it was constructed. The Horseshoe is incredibly loud and is known for being a pain in the #### for visting opponents. Maybe you disagree, but this guy says this means more for Buckeye fans than Wolverines fans.
Dude, quit rambling, get to the rules! Alright here we go. This week is one of the funnest of the year for me. Message boards, blogs, sports talk radio, I can't get enough of it this week. So as a Wolverine fan, these are my rules for the week. How serious am I being? You decide.
ALLOWED
I can take that much more joy when my fantasy quarterback, Tom Brady, torches the Buffalo secondary led by Ashton Youboty and Donte Whitner. Sure, it's a day after The Game, but this rivalry isn't just Saturday, it's year round.
I can hope Desmond Howard strikes a Heisman pose whenever he encounters Robert Smith at ESPN this week.
I can dream that Charles Woodson gets teammate A.J. Hawk suspended by presenting him with a rose this week, and Hawk goes nuts because of it.
I am allowed to look up any meaningless fact about this rivalry if it benefits any argument of mine this week. I am allowed ( and encouraged) to just leave the words Cooper, 1969, Biakabatuka, Elvis, Desmond, Bo, Woodson or anything I want on any pro-Buckeye post this week. Likewise, I expect many Troy Smith, Archie and Lllllllllllllloyd Carr comments in return.
NOT ALLOWED
The word Bucks is out this week. If person A asks me for ten bucks and person B asks me for ten dollars, person B clearly wins. Person B is a Wolverine fan and knows how to speak correctly. And also shower.
The color red is out. I may root for the Red Wings, but I have to say, " Go Wings!" not "Go Red Wings". This also means no Target, wearing red clothing, ketchup, pizza or stopping at red lights or stop signs. Red is in a lot of things, I'll stop now.
No Buckeye gear around me. I live about 100 miles west of Ann Arbor and the sight of Buckeye gear makes me cringe. This week if I see any bumper sticker, flag or apparel with tOSU on it, all bets are off.
Last, but certainly not least. If I or any Michigan fan encounters one of those Nuts claiming it's THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, you DO NOT let that slide. A proper response could be this:
"THE Ohio State University sure did get THE #### kicked out of them in THE national championship games last year."
I know you can do better than that, give it a try.
I'm an idle bystander, but based on the number of fans on this blogsite of the persuasion opposite from yours, you have done an admirable job of holding your own against their onslaught! I really enjoyed your words.
Where are your cohorts? You're kind of the lone Blue voice in the wilderness.
Nice to see ya bloggin again! OSU 2nd loss coming up this Sat. Geaux BLUE!!!! Have a question for ya? Has the Rose Bowl ever had a 3 loss team play in the GrandDaddy of all bowls? If not there is always a 1st for everything. Blue by Two, two touchdowns that is!
Hoit, even the worlds sports reporters, people who get paid more tham me call this the greatest sports rivarly around. We didn't, maybe your fans didn't, but's it's been called that for so many years.
You want to say that since your team hasn't been too good beating Ohio State and now Appy St is your biggest rival.
Notre Dame is everyones rival, so don't count on them. It's alway been OSU / Michigan. Can't escape. You say it ten thousand times and believe it, it still is what it is. It's bigger than you and me.
I think though in the days comming or years, that with conference re-alignment, global happenstances, poisoness gas, things might change. Until then, get back on your wagon cause the Buckeyes are coming to put a 48 - 17 whipping on ya.
I think myself the greatest rivarly in the world is England / Holland in soccer. They kill people over that. No dumb car fires and dumpsters. Whole stadiums go up, people get crushed. This is tame compare to European ####
They will come around later in the week Dwindy. Thursday and Friday is going to be creative on here. I'm clearly outnumbered, but it takes that many OSU fans together to come up with something creative, kind of sad.
Hope you're right cajun on your prediction, I'd be most pleased. Not sure about 3 losses in the Rose Bowl Game, great question, good to see you.
Marty my man, this is bigger for you guys. There isn't much to do in Columbus, except live for the Buckeyes. Ann Arbor is near Detroit where all our professional teams are doing well right now. Just saying that a Michigan fan has more options and doesn't throw their whole life into this week. Some of us do, but not as many as Ohio State fans.
There is no way Marty. I got Big Blue 31-20. This will be what was predicted in the beginning of the season, Michigan's offense healthy and rolling, Bucks are vulnerable right now.
Those soccer fans are an interesting bunch, glad we don't throw flairs and stuff at each other!
Marty, Brazil vs. Argentina is pretty crazy too. England vs. any European soccer power is a bitter rivalry. That being said, I'm looking forward to OSU-Michigan. Put it this way, winner gets to enjoy a week in sunny California in late December-early January.
It's going to be a sad day when the clock strikes 0:00 in the fourth quarter of the national championship game.
Hoit, hopefully, the game will mean less to UM fans come Saturday, and perhaps a few of the players will be caught thinking about the Lions or Red Wings (I'm allowed to say Red Wings right?). This week my friend, the whole state of Michigan , which I "don't dive a )$&@ about (sorry had to do it), better care about this game more or your boys Henne, Hart, and Long will take an 0-4 to the pros.
BTW, fans in Columbus actually have 6 pro teams to care about - Bengals, Browns, Indians, Reds, Cavs, and Blue Jackets.
Born and raised in the great state of MEE-CHI-GAN. Had a one year stint in Indianapolis where I grew to love all things Hoosier and watched the Colts bring home a Super Bowl trophy. My primary teams remain the Tigers, Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Wolverines and I wouldn't trade any of them. Still follow NASCAR, but it's not the same without the black number 3. My favorite sport by far is college basketball. I'll watch pretty much any game between November-Febr uary and March is the pinnacle of it all with the MADNESS. It can't be beat.
