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

1. 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.
2. I can hope Desmond Howard strikes a Heisman pose whenever he encounters Robert Smith at ESPN this week.
3. 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.
4. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.  
4. 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.

GO BLUE!