It's six days until the Michigan game, so here are six great reasons to hate the Wolverines. Six reasons aside from their ugly helmets, neanderthalesque fight song, and the fact that you can buy a UM baseball cap in every corner drug store around the world.
1. They are winning the series. Since the first match up in 1897, Michigan has won 58 times and Ohio State has won 45 times. Six have been ties. Many of those losses to Michigan were early in football history, at a time when UM was the dominant Midwestern power and OSU was a fledgling program. Michigan also pulled away during the 1990s, when John Cooper could only get two wins against the Wolverines in his thirteen seasons as head coach. The Buckeyes have dominated the contest in the Tressel and Meyer Eras, but we still have some catching up to do.
2. They recruit their best players from Ohio. Desmond Howard is probably the most well-known example of this, but it has long been Michigan's policy to come down to Ohio and try to steal the best high school football players from us.
3. November 22nd, 1969. Ohio State was still rolling after the 1968 National Championship and had won 22 straight games, with what Woody Hayes called his best squad ever. Rex Kern, Jim Otis, Jack Tatum, and the rest of the Buckeyes were unbelievably good. Bo Schembechler was a brand new coach at UM and no one expected him to upset the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes. At the end of the heartbreaking loss, our win streak was snapped and our shot at the 1969 national title was gone. Michigan went to the Rose Bowl and lost to USC.
4. November 25th, 1995. Ohio State was undefeated and ranked No. 2. On the way to the Rose Bowl and a bid for the national title, all the Buckeyes had to do was beat Michigan. Somewhere in the first half of that game, they forgot how to tackle and Wolverine running back Tim Biakabutuka tore upfield continually, amassing 313 yards and sending Ohio State packing. The season was over and Michigan went on to lose tha Alamo Bowl and we went on to lose the Citrus Bowl.
5. November 23rd, 1996. Ohio State was again undefeated and ranked No. 2. Again we were on the way to the Rose Bowl and were serious national title contenders. And again Michigan ruined the season. We did end up going the Rose Bowl that year, and beat Arizona State, ending the season ranked at No. 2.
6. They are arrogant. Michigan players, coaches and fans act like their program is a big deal in college football. Despite having one (shared) national championship in 60+ years. Despite barely staying above a .500 win percentage Since Lloyd Carr's tenure. Mike Hart was arrogant. Brady Hoke is arrogant. Part of the duty of an Ohio State team is to chip away at that Ann Arbor arrogance each November by handing these spoiled brats a loss.
1. They are winning the series. Since the first match up in 1897, Michigan has won 58 times and Ohio State has won 45 times. Six have been ties. Many of those losses to Michigan were early in football history, at a time when UM was the dominant Midwestern power and OSU was a fledgling program. Michigan also pulled away during the 1990s, when John Cooper could only get two wins against the Wolverines in his thirteen seasons as head coach. The Buckeyes have dominated the contest in the Tressel and Meyer Eras, but we still have some catching up to do.
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| Cleveland native and Michigan Wolverine Desmond Howard |
3. November 22nd, 1969. Ohio State was still rolling after the 1968 National Championship and had won 22 straight games, with what Woody Hayes called his best squad ever. Rex Kern, Jim Otis, Jack Tatum, and the rest of the Buckeyes were unbelievably good. Bo Schembechler was a brand new coach at UM and no one expected him to upset the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes. At the end of the heartbreaking loss, our win streak was snapped and our shot at the 1969 national title was gone. Michigan went to the Rose Bowl and lost to USC.
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| David Boston taunting Charles Woodson in 1997 |
5. November 23rd, 1996. Ohio State was again undefeated and ranked No. 2. Again we were on the way to the Rose Bowl and were serious national title contenders. And again Michigan ruined the season. We did end up going the Rose Bowl that year, and beat Arizona State, ending the season ranked at No. 2.
6. They are arrogant. Michigan players, coaches and fans act like their program is a big deal in college football. Despite having one (shared) national championship in 60+ years. Despite barely staying above a .500 win percentage Since Lloyd Carr's tenure. Mike Hart was arrogant. Brady Hoke is arrogant. Part of the duty of an Ohio State team is to chip away at that Ann Arbor arrogance each November by handing these spoiled brats a loss.
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