“I can assure you that you will be proud of your young people in the classroom, in the community and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.”
Those were the words Jim Tressel spoke during halftime of an Ohio State-Michigan basketball game on January 18, 2001 in Columbus, Ohio. He was not lying to the crowd either when he made that speech.
The Tressel-led Buckeyes not only went on to succeed greatly in academics, but they also won nine of the next ten meetings against Michigan. Most recently, the 37-7 dismantling of Rich Rodriguez’s squad that proved too much for the Wolverines coach to overcome and retain his job.
It’s amazing how quickly a dynasty can fall.
By now, we’ve all heard the reports of Terrelle Pryor, along with other current and former Buckeyes players, selling autographed memorabilia for tattoos, drugs and cash. It was then reported earlier this week that Pryor has also been seen with as many as eight different vehicles during his time in Columbus.
The ongoing NCAA investigation and looming punishments for Ohio State have already proven to be too much for Tressel to overcome. He resigned as head coach this past Monday. Not only does it tarnish the legacy he had at Ohio State, but it also puts serious concerns as to what the future of the football program at Ohio State will look like.
However, for fans at the University of Michigan, the real question is, what does this mean for the future of the Wolverines?
Brady Hoke was introduced as the 19th head football coach in Michigan history on January 11th. He made it very obvious from the get-go that he was not and never will be a fan of Ohio State. He even refuses to call it by its proper name. Typically referring to it as, “that school in Ohio.”
The hiring of Hoke put an end to a tumultuous three year relationship between Rich Rodriguez and Michigan, which led to an overall record of 15-23 and 0-3 versus Ohio State. It also gave fans hope for the future. Hope that Michigan will be able to dominate the rivalry with the Buckeyes as they did when they were 13-4-1 in the 18 previous seasons prior to Tressel’s arrival.
There is no better chance to regain that dominance then right now. Hoke brings a “Michigan Man” back into Ann Arbor, which is something Wolverines faithful have wanted since Lloyd Carr announced his retirement. Along with that, he brings proven coordinators Al Borges and Greg Mattison, who both bring great experience to the Michigan sideline.
While it will not be easy implementing a new scheme at Michigan, they will not be forced to implement that change while being under the scrutiny of the NCAA and the rest of the college football community.
For the Buckeyes, the same can ‘t be said. That is why now, more so than any time in the previous ten seasons, is the time for Michigan to make their move back to the top of the rivalry with Ohio State.
Photo Courtesy of Gregory Shamus
*This article was written by me and can also be seen on www.bigtensportswatch.com*
There is no rivalry. When was the last time UM beat OSU? I'm sure similar articles were written when Rodriguez was hired.
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ReplyDeleteI'm assuming then you didn't consider it a rivalry when Jim Tressel was hired?
Because, Michigan was 12-3-1 in the 16 matchups prior to his arrival in 2001.
Also, you do understand that before Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan, four of Michigan's six losses to Ohio State were by six points of less.
With all that said, I'm going to say your comment is ridiculous and you should probably have facts before speaking next time.
It's just that a majority of UM fans are hypocrites (not saying that you're one of them). They want to discredit every thing that happened under Rich Rodriguez.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to MSU: Michigan fans are saying "you beat the worst Michigan team in 50 years, what's the big deal." Well I ask you this, will you guys be celebrating a victory over OSU this year, or is not a big deal because it was the worst OSU team in 10 years? It's a double standard.
I didn't discredit everything that happened under Rich Rodriguez. I think that it was a terrible three year part of Michigan's great history.
ReplyDeleteAs for MSU, make no mistake in the fact that I don't like that school and have no respect for that program. I never have. It's not because I'm a Michigan fan either.
Mark Dantonio is a phenomenal football coach, but he needs to stop being so sensitive. Mike Hart OWNED MSU. He never lost to them and said that they were the little brother. Dantonio said he wasn't going to discuss it, and then personally attacked Hart. Then, Brandstatter disagrees with Dantonio's comments about Tressel and Dantonio talks about who is Jim Brandstatter and all this other BS. Shut up Dantonio. Learn how to take criticism like a man and shut up.
They have beaten us fair and square the last three seasons, but I am SO sick and tired of hearing them act like they are all of a sudden a better program and a more national recognizable team because of it. They're not. If you have a problem with that, remember that Michigan won the seven previous meetings before Rich Rodriguez.
I never have said, and never will say a win is discredited because somebody was having a down year. A win is a win is a win. No other way to explain it.
Has MSU been the better team the last three seasons? Yes. However, everybody has been the better team the last three seasons it seems.
Finally, here's another reason why MSU fans bother me. Mike Valenti is a GREAT host on 97.1 and I love listening to him. But, did you notice when Michigan owned MSU this past season in basketball and was in the NCAA Tournament, there was all of a sudden a "Unity Council"? And we were all supposed to root for each other? Oh wait, now basketball is gone and there goes any Unity Council and Michigan sucks, MSU rules. It just defines a typical MSU student/fan. Let's all be friends and root for each other when MSU is the team down, but when it is UM down, hell no, let's bag on them all day!
Dantonio is in your guys heads, and you can't deal with it. I love it, when was the last time that MSU had a coach that had the whole UM fan base riled up. Dantonio doesn't put up with any BS from the blue wall and UM program. Learn to deal with it. Pride comes before the fall.
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