Unstoppable
OSU
beats Michigan; Tressel 5-1 vs. scUM
Ohio
State beat Michigan
Saturday 42-39.
The defenses were both atrocious. It didn’t
feel how the OSU-Michigan game should feel. There wasn’t a defining moment, and the Buckeyes spent the game holding
off comebacks.
OSU played about as poorly as they’ve
played this year. They turned the ball over three times. They let up in the second half. Troy Smith had two turnovers deep
in the in Buckeye territory. Michigan benefited from OSU’s
bad turf and from many instances of bad officiating. And Ohio
State still won.
The Buckeyes dominated the stats –
yards were 503 to 397. First downs were 24-17 in favor of the Buckeyes. Pittman had better yards per carry than Hart. And
even though Michigan was pumped up, Ohio
State dominated the first half. The OSU team was tied all year from having
to hold up the #1 ranking all year, with all the pressure.
This game could have been a much bigger
Buckeye victory. OSU could have put up 50.
But in my opinion it didn’t have
the magical feel of the 2002 game. This isn’t how Ohio
State vs. Michigan
is supposed to feel. The defenses have kept that rivalry sacred. Three of the last four years the defenses have let us down.
It wasn’t 2002, but it was special.
The biggest crowd in Ohio Stadium history. Tressel 5, Carr 1. OSU 12-0. Outright Big Ten Champions. Not even the national
champions could claim that.
And I don’t want to see the
excitement die. Next week in downtown Columbus, I expect to
hear a hearty IO in response to my OH. Because, we have proved once again that Michigan
still sucks.
