My first Ohio State-Michigan memory is from 1987, when Earle Bruce had been fired and the Buckeyes went up north and won it for their lame-duck coach.
Buckeyeville was a wasteland after that for me. Year after year of cheering on my newfound love and John Cooper seemed more interested in selling hot tubs than beating those mouth breathers.
After losing the first four times to that team up north, Cooper orchestrated the “greatest win” in program history in a freakin tie in 1992!
There was 1993, when I was at Model United Nations talking up the team to kids from around the state, and Michigan had infiltrated some of the representatives from Toledo and Sandusky, making a 28-0 defeat all the more frustrating to bear.
Then came 1995, when OSU seemingly had a machine of an offense, including the best running back this side of Archie Griffin in Eddie George, but some guy named Tshimanga Biakabutuka decided that’d be the day he earned his NFL paycheck and ran for over 300 yards against us.
There was 1996, with a shot at another national title at stake, when the best cornerback in college football slipped on a perfectly fine field, allowing Tai Streets to catch the ball and all the glory in a 13-9 decision.
Even 1998 was tainted by the fact Cooper couldn’t beat that other team up north en route to a disappointing one-loss season with a team that had the best collection of talent I’ve ever seen.
I was at Ohio State for the games from 1997-2000, only getting one win along the way. I know what it felt like to go to Thanksgiving all those years with a dark cloud hanging over me. Sure, being around family dulled the pain, but 2-10-1 still remained.
Then came Jim Tressel with his promise, not that we’d win up there, but that we’d have something to be proud of. Boy, was he right. It began with an unexpected win in 2001 and has continued every year since, minus 2003.
Saturday proved a bit anticlimactic compared to other seasons, like 2006, when it was No. 1 vs. No. 2, but as someone who wasn’t around for Woody, and can’t remember most of Earle’s five wins in nine years against that squad, a win is a win to me!
Go Bucks!
NFL Picks
Brian’s system of picking the total score foiled him as he and Jeremiah each dialed up 13 wins, but Jeremiah was closer to the score with 55, giving him the win.
Jeremiah 13-3 (plus 1 for winning the week)
Brian 13-3
The CPA 12-4
Jessica 12-4
tgd 12-4
Grandpa 11-5
JMB 11-5
gatorbuckeye 11-5
Jack 10 11-5
Seth 10-6
Adman 10-6
tom s 10-6
bermuda funk 9-7
Howard 8-8
Big Game 8-8
Crazed Wolverine 8-8
nora peanut 8-8
mary the nurse 8-8
Kara 7-9
Overall standings
Adman 116-59 (plus 1)
The CPA 114-61
Brian 114-61
Seth 113-62
Howard 110-65 (plus 1)
JMB 108-50 (plus 2)
gatorbuckeye 108-67 (plus 1)
Big Game 108-67 (plus 1)
Kara 106-69 (plus 2)
bermuda funk 106-69
Jessica 105-70
tom s 99-62 (plus 1)
Crazed Wolverine 98-77 (plus 1)
Jack 10 97-78
mary the nurse 96-79
nora peanut 94-81
Grandpa 89-55 (plus 1)
Jeremiah 84-47 (plus 1)
tgd 69-49
Nick 47-39
Randy 9-7
NFL Week Thirteen
Tennessee (10-1) at Detroit (0-11)
Seattle (2-9) at Dallas (7-4)
Arizona (7-4) at Philadelphia (5-5-1)
San Francisco (3-8) at Buffalo (6-5)
Baltimore (7-4) at Cincinnati (1-9-1)
Indianapolis (7-4) at Cleveland (4-7)
Carolina (8-3) at Green Bay (5-6)
Miami (6-5) at St. Louis (2-9)
New Orleans (6-5) at Tampa Bay (8-3)
NY Giants (10-1) at Washington (7-4)
Atlanta (7-4) at San Diego (4-7)
Pittsburgh (8-3) at New England (7-4)
Denver (6-5) at NY Jets (8-3)
Kansas City (1-10) at Oakland (3-8)
Chicago (6-5) at Minnesota (6-5)
Jacksonville (4-7) at Houston (4-7) Pts. ______
Make your picks by using the “Comments” section under the headline.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Tennessee, Dallas, Arizona (Hey a team going east has to win sometime.), Buffalo, Baltimore, Cleveland, Green Bay, Miami, Tampa Bay, NY Giants, San Diego, New England, NY Jets, Oakland, Chicago, Houston 33 pts.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Tennessee (10-1)
Dallas (7-4)
Philadelphia (5-5-1)
Buffalo (6-5)
Baltimore (7-4)
Indianapolis
Green Bay (5-6)
St. Louis
New Orleans (6-5) at Tampa Bay (8-3)
NY Giants (10-1)
Atlanta (7-4)
Pittsburgh (8-3)
NY Jets (8-3)
KCity
Minnesota (6-5)
Houston (4-7) Pts. 47
November 26th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Tennessee (BIG!)
Dallas (ouch!)
Arizona
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Green Bay
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
San Diego
New England
NY Jets
Kansas City
Chicago
Houston (45pts).
November 26th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Tennessee
Dallas
Arizona
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Indianapolis
Carolina
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
Atlanta
New England
NY Jets
Oakland
Minnesota
Jacksonville Pts. __45____
November 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
tennessee
dallas
arizona
buffalo
baltimore
cleveland
carolina
miami
tampa bay
new york giants
atlanta
new england
new york jets
kansas city
chicago
jacksonville 42 points
November 26th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
titans
cowboys
eagles
bills
bengals
colts
packers
dolphins
saints
’skins
falcons
steelers
broncos
chiefs
vikings
texans (64)
November 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
C-Nice with 14 points in 13 minutes of play the other night… in case you were wondering.
Tennessee
Dallas
Philadelphia
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis — Braylon drops NFL record 19 passes… Crennel assures fans of Week 14 win
Green Bay
Miami
New Orleans
NY Giants
Atlanta
New England — Scott Zolak strikes
NY Jets
Oakland
Minnesota
Houston — 46
November 26th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Tennessee
Dallas
Philadelphia
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Carolina
Miami
New Orleans
NY Giants
San Diego
Pittsburgh
NY Jets
Kansas City
Minnesota
Jacksonville Pts. __38____
November 26th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Titans
Cowboys
Cardinals
Bills
Ravens
Colts
Panthers
Dolphins
Bucs
Giants
Falcons
Patriots
Broncos
Raiders
Vikings
Texans 35
November 26th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Lions
Cowboys
Eagles
Bills
Bengals
Browns
Packers
Rams
Bucs
Giants
Falcons
Patriots
Broncos
Raiders
Vikings
Jags 50
November 26th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Lions
Cowboys
Cardinals
Bills
Ravens
Colts
Packers
Dolphins
Bucs
Giants
Falcons
Steelers
Broncos
Raiders
Bears
Texans 70
November 26th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Titans
Cowboys
Eagles
Bills
Bengals
Colts
Packers
Dolphins
Bucs
Giants
Chargers
Patriots
Broncos
Chiefs
Vikings
Texans 34
November 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Tennessee
Dallas
Arizona
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Green Bay
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
San Diego
New England
NY Jets
Oakland
Chicago
Jacksonville 47
November 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Adman’s Picks:
Ten
Dal
Ari
Buf
Bal
Ind
Car
Mia
NO
NYG
Atl
NE
NYJ
KC
Min
Jax total pts 54
November 27th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Tennessee
Dallas
Arizona
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Carolina
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
Atlanta
New England
NY Jets
Oakland
Chicago
Houston (45 pts.)
November 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Tennessee
Dallas
Arizona
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Carolina
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
San Diego
Pittsburgh
NY Jets
Oakland
Minnesota
Jacksonville
Pts. 48
November 27th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
So close, yet so far away:
Titans
Cowboys
Cardinals
Bills
Ravens
Colts
Packers
Rams
Saints
Giants
Chargers
Steelers
Jets
Raiders
Bears
Texans:28
November 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
TENNESSEE
DALLAS
PHILADELPHIA
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Carolina
Miami
Tampa Bay
NY Giants
San Diego
New England
NY Jets
Oakland
Minnesota
Jacksonville Pts 48
November 30th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
1. Tennessee
2. Dallas
3. Arizona
4. Buffalo
5. Baltimore
6. Indianapolis
7. Carolina
8. Miami
9. Tampa Bay
10. NY Giants
11. Atlanta
12. New England
13. NY Jets
14. Oakland
15. Minnesota
16. Jacksonville 41
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Five in a row is sweet. I am looking forward to 6,7, and 8 in a row. Maybe by 9 Michigan will figure something out. They will be competitive but they just won’t be able to match up. Rodriguez will hire Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator, together they will go 0-12 one season.
I am looking forward to seeing where we end up in the bowl situation, I hope we get the loser of Alabama-Florida, just for another shot at a supposed SEC power. I do know this, whoever plays us in the bowl will need to prepare for the best running back they will see all year. Possibly the best defense as well, unless the imposters who traveled to USC earlier this year decide to show up. I know many people were looking forward to the Bench Boeckman 2008 campaign to kick off this year but damn if Tressel didn’t bench him before I had a chance to get the website started. Go Tressel, Go Bucks!