The Buckeye Blog

Yeah, yeah…so I’ve bought my Oklahoma Sooners jersey and Buckeye fans have suddenly taken a huge interest in the Big Twelve championship, but what happens if Oklahoma does come through and Pittsburgh gets a taste of rivalry fever and actually knocks out West Virginia? Sure, it’s a long shot but so was Michigan/Appalachian State.

Let’s step back and take a look at the BCS at its worst.

If both the number one and number two team drop out, you would think that would move us to #4 ranked Georgia. Seems easy enough, Georgia sits idle this weekend and they should step right in, right.

Yeah right.

While Georgia and the Buckeyes get in a little Christmas shopping, the rest of the college football world has to play one more game. Unlike the Big Ten that determines it’s champion in the Ohio State/Michigan game, the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all have a pesky championship game to worry about and USC stills has one more game left against UCLA.

So, let’s see if we can sift through the mess of an Oklahoma win and a Mountaineer loss.

Georgia sits in a bad situation in that they didn’t win their division. You would think that it would be a requirement that you win your conference before you are allowed to play in a BCS championship game. The conference championship is the closest thing we have to a playoff. If Georgia gets to New Orleans then yes, the system is broken once and for all. (I can hear the SEC complaining now…but the Big Ten doesn’t have a playoff. Wah, wah, wah)

So let’s move to #5 Kansas.

Again, you need to win your conference. However, LSU looses to Tennessee, Virginia Tech looses to Boston or just plays like crap, and USC loses to UCLA, then sure, let Kansas and Georgia fight it out.

Oh, if that scenario plays out, I suggest the Buckeyes skip the BCS championship and play USC in the Rose Bowl.

#6 Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has to absolutely wipe the floor with Boston to get into the big game. Even then, they are going to need some serious help to jump over Georgia. Come on, seriously, does anyone out there think Virginia Tech is a national championship team?

And then there’s LSU. It’s like Deja Vu all over again.

If LSU can blow the doors off Tennessee, who’s going to keep them out of the big dance (given the Missouri/WV loss). However, I’m not so sure that Tennessee won’t give them a run for the money. Their coach seems to have a thing for a certain school up north and I wonder what it’s like to play for a coach who is about to bail out on you right before the big game. Can’t do much to motivate the team.

That brings me to USC.

USC is the entire reason I wrote this post. There is nothing I would love to see more than an Ohio State/USC national championship game. Better yet, an Ohio State/USC game played on neutral territory as opposed to a USC home game in Pasadena.

It wouldn’t take much for USC to jump to the top. ESPN has already called it claimig that if WV/Missouri lose, West Virginia jumps over Georgia to play in the BCS championship — no mention of any other team standing in front of USC. (Yes, ESPN loves USC that much.) If LSU struggles against Tennessee and USC runs the score on UCLA, putting on a performance like they did against ASU, then yes, send them to New Orleans.

For me, I say we pick up the Rose Bowl and move it to New Orleans this year. What better than an Ohio State/USC game without USC home game advantage. And what a great kick off to next year as Ohio State/USC starts a two year regular season series. Can you imagine the hype of a rematch the third game of the season? Ohio State should rank pretty high next year as I doubt too many Buckeyes are going to the pros. A win over USC and we will be marching right back to a national championship game.

Three national championship games in three years? I’m sorry, it’s more than I could dream of.

After watching West Virginia beat up on another patsy and Missouri handle Kansas with an excellent, bruising double-tight-end set and a passing efficiency over 93%, I watched 16 Pro games to pass the Buckeye Break. Hopefully the Oklahoma Sooners will beat Missouri so OSU can pummel the pass-less Mountaineers in the BCS Championship game in New Orleans. Or, we will get our asses handed to us by a revved up and PO’d USC at their home turf at the Rose Bowl (Coliseum of Big 10 Death). Maximus Decimus Meridius couldn’t hold the healthy John Wayne Booty’s jock strap. Good luck, whomever…

In the mean time, I found a great way to pass the Buckeye Break. Last night I watched Star Trek’s “Doomsday Machine” episode before bed — an unadulterated Classic… Wouldn’t let the wife change the channel. Look, it’s either this or the History Channel – which she calls the Hitler Channel because every time someone passes through the room, there’s a black and white still of something gruesome on.

Anyway, I deftly kept the remote moving through the bed cover layers and almost reduced myself to taking out the batteries and saying my legs were broken. She thinks I’m immature, or insane — maybe both… It’s not my fault the football games pushed it to 12:35AM… It’s difficult to argue when you have it recorded on DVR and they say, “Can’t you just watch it later?” Reply, “But, it’s almost over… only 56 minutes left.” Or, in a more juvenile manner say, “William Shattner’s better in a life time than Tyra or Heidi Klum is on Project Runway” or whatever the hell the girls watch over and over in the den. Payback, sayeth the Eggman!

Here we go. Plot Line: On their journey to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldy go where no man has gone before, the Starship Enterprise stumbles onto a distress call from one of Kirk’s academy buddies, Commodore Decker (actor William Windom — more major than a captaincy). They track the signal and plow through space debris which used to be where planets were charted. That’s strange.

Decker’s plastic model, I mean the Starship Constellation is found derelict drifting in space without any signs of life. We know that because science officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) sez so from looking into his Etch-A-Sketch. You can’t argue with the pointy-eared Vulcan because he’s smarter than everyone, is driven by logic never emotion, is cool under pressure, and has a death grip for your shoulder badder than your Uncle Lou can deliver on a sober Thanksgiving morning and a Mind Meld that would reduce Dr. Phil to tears.

Anyway, as standard Star Trek practice to determine the hostility and safety factor, the Captain (Kirk) and two other executives “beam down” and board Decker’s ship. Brilliant! This time, however, they leave Spock behind to run the Enterprise while Kirk absorb radiation or be mauled by monsters. They scour the abandoned ship.

Eventually, they find Decker in the break room hunched over in his Barkalounger disheveled with bloodshot eyes, and a small tear in his yellow polyester V-neck. He’s catatonic, because Dr. “Bones” McCoy sez so and injects Decker a shot of some kind of Go Go Juice Truth Serum that wakes him instantly. The crying Commodore spills the beans. As his ship was surveying the galaxy, they were brutally attacked by something resembling the Devil. Excuse me, “Bones,” what exactly did you shoot the Commodore up with? We can’t get a straight answer from this lunatic. Rule #28, don’t let a doctor called Bones shoot you up after a five second diagnosis. If you jump around ranting and crying, it’s probably paint thinner in your system and your going to do something more stupid THEN die.

C’Mon Decker, fess up. You’re either stealing, protecting, or wanting to kick something around with your battleship. You’re no Captain Cook looking for Bread Fruit in Polynesia to feed Jonathan Swift’s starving Irish. That’s like the aircraft carrier Nimitz patrolling Somalian waters for interdiction and slamming into Madagascar. Oops. Commodore Craig issues his public statement that, “We were on a science mission trolling for Sea Monkeys.” Anyway…

The bad guys are actually a robot – according to Spock as always – slicing and dicing planets hungry for energy on its path to destruction to survive by self-perpetuation. It has no purpose but to eat and annihilate stuff. “Stuff” is planets and lots of people live on them especially in the Rigel Galaxy. That’s bad. Some alien culture designed it and set it loose to end everything as they knew. Remind you of anyone else in recent history? My buddy Al will tell you. And, he’s smart. He has a Nobel… Kirk repeatedly refers to it as the H-bomb from millennia ago like we’re stupid – and to drive the point home — that they’d never use it, but… Nice 60’s message. You can thank Gene Rodenberry for that.

On a more sympathetic note, after Decker got the Constellation demolished, to save his crew Decker beamed the 400 people onto Planet Number Three which Spock coldly points out to Decker, “No longer exists” as Decker throws his hands into the air and screams, “DON’T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT.”

It’s understood by all that they have to stop this thing. Kirk and his staff work to fix Decker’s beat up Constellation to get to the archives because no-one can trust this raving psychedelic super-exec. They cut through magnetic interference generated by the thing, get the communications and transporter fixed “temporarily” and beam Decker out of there – to Sick Bay on Kirk’s Enterprise. But, much to Kirk’s chagrin, his pissed off buddy, Decker, is high with authority and invokes a little know Federation rule that only a space attorney and Spock know of. Spock relinquishes the helm and Decker proceeds to attack this thing that’s as big as “20 Starships” and is made of impenetrable Moldavian. No, you’re thinking of an eastern European province in the Carpathian Mountains known for its hunting dogs, not vampires. Rodenberry probably summered there as a kid or something. Whatever.

Although it sounds imposing, the robot model looks like your grandmother’s Thanksgiving cornucopia spray-painted gun metal gray and a distinctly clunky non-aerodynamic look to it. There’s great line where navigator/helmsman Sulu says to Spock, “We can outmaneuver it….” Spock replies as he looks into his Etch-A-Sketch, “Yes, but, it’s gaining on us.” Excuse me, that’s like being overtaken by a cement truck and you’re driving a Lamborghini Diablo. Better yet, it’s worse than Carl Lewis falling down as he’s getting away from Frankenstein. There’s a joke there. Really.

So, while Kirk’s fixing his buddy’s ship, Decker’s attacking the robot getting the crap kicked out of the Enterprise. Warp drive is out, shields are down, casualties are mounting. Enterprise crewmen are rolling their eyes at one another on the bridge as they fall out of their chairs in contagion. Engineer “Scotty” gets the Constellation running on Impulse Power (much slower than Warp Drive) by inverting the cross-connects (isn’t that redundant?) with a visual, but no communications. On the Constellation, Kirk gets to sit by the sideline in Decker’s Barkalounger and watch his ship get hammered. Now you know how Bill Belichek and Browns fans feel.

Decker gets the Enterprise sucked in by the robot’s Tractor Beam. And, finally, like an attorney, Spock pounces on Decker with a technicality — that “If you’re doing something that seems insane… under Article whatever of Section whatever… I can relieve you of your duty.” Ta da! About time dumbshit. Time to get a smarter Vulcan. Or, better yet, use your Sleeper Grip, wuss.

Here comes the compulsory Expendable Crew Man (ECM) in the red polyester V-neck of a Security Officer who buys the farm every stinkin’ episode. Spock casually sneers at Decker as he is helped by the arm onto the elevator by one ECM and says, “You’re relieved of your command… and you’ll be escorted to Sick Bay… for that evaluation.” Beyatch! Naturally, as they both exit the elevator, Decker has a fake lean over to cough move. The ECM takes the bait to help him up. Decker gives him a cheap body blow and double Judo Chop and drags the limp-legged ECM into a closet.

I’d have put my foot up his ass if he did that to me – Commodore or not. Couldn’t see that coming a mile away.

Hey, if a bar patron is high on PCP, do you send just one bouncer to take the starch out of his shorts — or two or more? We all know the answer. Two — after the third bludgeoned him to submission. I know, you can’t do that to a Commodore. But, wouldn’t you want to if he stole your Starship, especially after a lame technicality? And, he was your Academy buddy?

Decker swerves down the hall in exhaustion from his 5-second bout and skulks towards the shuttle hanger. He steals the shuttle and flies out of Enterprise’s aft transom hanger. Kirk conveniently gets communications back on the Constellation to say from his Barkalounger, “Who’s the idiot taking my shuttle out?” Spock pretty much says, “The same idiot that attacked the Cornucopia, errrr Devil, sir.” In a moment of clarity Decker radios Kirk and says, “I’m going to kill that thing… I’ve been ready to die since I and it killed my crew… Out.”

The shuttle banks and veers the little spud into the Cornucopia’s mouth to blow it up from the inside out like a Kamikaze. Decker makes a bug-eyed twisted facial expression, crosses his forearms over his face and it’s all over. They pan to the Enterprise where Spock says, “From my readings… it’s effects were minimal.” Kirk chimes in from the Constellation, “Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.”

Scotty gets the Phaser bank going on the Constellation.

So, like what Browns fans do to referees from the dog pound with flashlight batteries when they don’t like a call, Kirk pops off a few shots off at the robot from his hulk. He does so and the Cornucopia releases the Enterprise from the tractor beam which promptly gets away so it can go warn Star Fleet. Better yet, Scotty gets the communications and transporter both up.

Kirk has Scotty set an overload on the impulse engines to self destruct after Kirk throws a 30-second delay switch – then he beams out at the last second. The Constellation is eaten and it blows up in the robot’s mouth killing it. Sweet and easy – Pinocchio and Gepetto with dynamite. The finicky transporter awkwardly burps Scotty’s molecules back to form on the Enterprise as the engineer runs over to the Etch-A-Sketch to tweak the knobs into working properly.

Kirk is so golden. Except, like security in the dog pound, the robot is after him now and it’s a matter of time before he’s toast also on the crippled Constellation. But, Kirk doesn’t sweat as Spock counts down from 30 seconds as his feet are being inserted into the wood chipper. At the last second, Kirk materializes, the Constellation blows up, snuffs the robot and the crew collectively sighs.

Spock retrieves himself in the end saying to Kirk, “It will be recorded that Commodore Decker died in battle.” Kirk says, “Here, here… I just wonder if there are any more of them out there?”

The super bowl just goes an edge beyond, when the likes of buffalo bills, carolina panthers and chicago bears are playing.

Just a week ago I was in a mad hunt to find tickets to a certain New Year’s day parade. What a difference a weekend makes. What looked like a certain Rose Bowl bid has turned into a very possible return to the BCS National Championship.

At this point, the Buckeyes could end up playing either Missouri or West Virginia in the BCS national championship game or USC in the Rose Bowl. Let’s take a minute to review our potential opponents.

West Virgnia
If we are going to New Orleans, this is our most likely opponent. Last week’s game against UConn provided the best chance for an upset and it is doubtful that they will lose to Pittsburgh next weekend. However, it is a rivalry game and the way this season is going, I’m not ruling anything out.

Regardless, even though the WV/UConn game was a blowout, WV showed that they had trouble against the run. UConn made a lot of mistakes and three turnovers that resulted in touchdowns but at least in the first half, they seemed to find the holes in the WV defensive line chalking up some big runs. With the ball in the hands of Chris Wells, there is an opportunity to do some damage to West Virginia unless they do a much better job defending the run.

As for the offense, Ohio State had better learn how to deal with a quarterback who can scramble and run the ball. The scrambling quarterback/spread offense has been our achilles heel for the past two years. We couldn’t stop Illinois Juice Williams and WVs Pat White is a much more powerful weapon. He put up a 186 yards against the UConn defense, ranked fourth in the country going into the game, and he scored three touchdowns.

It will be interesting to see how our defensive speed matches up against the WV running game but there is no question we will need to make some adjustments.

Prediction: Ohio State meets WV in BCS Championship game

Missouri
The odds of us seeing Missouri in New Orleans are slim. If they beat Oklahoma and win and move to #1, if we’re playing in the national championship, that means West Virginia lost to Pittsburgh.

However, all that aside, again, the Buckeyes will need to learn to stop the running quarterback and the spread offense. Missouri doesn’t have as many weapons on the ground as West Virginia and may have a few more difficulties against the Buckeye defense.

You may remember, however, what Andy Katzenmoyer did to Corby Jones, a Missouri quarterback a lot like Chase Daniels–at least until he met up with Katz.

Regardless, the Buckeyes need to learn to defend against the spread. If they go to the BCS Championship, they will have plenty of time to work on it.

USC
You mean this is the consolation game? With the BCS Championship happening a week after a week of bowl madness, I hate to say it but a West Virginia/Missouri BCS Championship, played on a weeknight, may become the great forgotten bowl game.

I would love to see the Buckeyes take on USC, almost more than a national championship game. Even though USC pulled a Michigan against Stanford, they still carry a lot of clout. A recent ESPN poll even asked if USC is the best team in the country. A big win over USC may do more to convince the world that the Buckeyes deserve a top ranking more than a win over WV/Missouri, teams that landed where they did by default (not that Ohio State hasn’t benefited). If nothing else, it might shut ESPN’s Mark May up for a while.

I also think the Buckeye defense would give USC some serious difficulties. And while USC defense gave AZ State some serious difficulties last weekend, I think the Buckeye o line could slow them down.

As great games go, a USC/Ohio State Rose Bowl would be one for the ages–a classic game that hearkens to days of old. And while I may be cheering for Oklahoma this weekend, I would have no complaints about going to the Rose Bowl.

Okay, so in my earlier post mapping the Buckeye’s road to the BCS Championship, I failed to mention LSU. That is because I thought LSU was pretty much set and if anything, would face a tough game against Georgia or maybe Tennessee next weekend.

Did somebody say Arkansas?

With a second loss, that should knock LSU out of the BCS Championship hunt. However, the SEC being the SEC and the lobbying force that the SEC carries with it, LSU could lose the SEC championship and still have a shot at the big game.

But until then, with LSU out and either Kansas or Missouri coming out of the weekend with a loss, the Buckeyes should move to the third spot in the BCS behind the winner of Kansas/Missouri taking over #1 (did I just say that?) and West Virginia moving into #2.

Now of course, if WV blows it against UConn the Buckeyes move into second and that means we’re all booking trips to New Orleans in Jan.

For that much, if UConn can give WV a good run for the money, maybe take it to overtime or if WV just looks really, really bad and still pulls off a win, the Buckeyes could jump WV and move into second place.

If Oklahoma wins the Big 12 next weekend, that would mean Ohio State vs West Virginia in the BCS Championship…wouldn’t it?

I hear the weather in Pasadena isn’t all that nice this time of year anyway.

Just because Ohio State beat the stuffing out of Michigan yet again, the football season isn’t over. The Buckeyes are still in the hunt for the BCS National Championship game. Oregon and Oklahoma are out and Arizona State got pummeled by USC last night.

ASU’s loss to USC takes away any chance that an impressive win over USC would have given them the style points needed to jump over the Buckeyes in the rankings. Odds are pretty good you already know how it goes from here, but just in case you’re new, let’s review your viewing schedule for the next two weeks.

Kansas vs Missouri
As Buckeye fan, I don’t really care who wins here as long as somebody wins. Look for a high scoring game as I don’t think either team has the defense to keep. I’m not the only one who thinks agrees. The over/under is 68 on this game.

The important thing here is that somebody wins taking out the other team. I think I’d like to see a sloppy, close game. A game with lots of turnovers that is won by a field goal isn’t going to impress anyone too much. This game is really a setup for next weekend. As the only undefeated team, a loss this weekend would help. A one loss Kansas leaves lots of room for them to claim they deserve a shot at the big game. Hey, if you want a BCS playoff, this is as close as it gets. Don’t complain.

Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
This game should tell us if Oklahoma can play without their starting quarterback. If they win, lets hope they win big and come into next weekend confident. We need them to beat the winner of Kansas/Missouri.

However, if they lose, and Texas beats Texas A&M, that would send Texas to the Big 12 Championship game. (I don’t have a clue what happens if both Texas and Oklahoma lose.)

Again, as a Buckeye, I want to see Oklahoma look strong today. They need to come into next weekend with confidence and ready to take home the Big 12 Championship.

So, let’s review: #2 Kansas vs. #4 Missouri knocks one of them from #2/#4 to whatever. Buckeyes move to #4. If Oklahoma beats winner of Kansas/Missouri, Buckeyes move to #3.

That leaves West Virginia
I never thought I’d see the day when West Virginia would be a thorn in the Buckeyes side. They sit at number #3 and UConn is probably has the best chance of beating them. I doubt Pittsburgh is going to do anything next weekend but the way this season is going, I won’t rule anything out.

UConn is good but let’s be honest, they aren’t that good. However, I do have a sense that West Virginia can self destruct. Cinci game them a fight and if they get over confident, who knows. I won’t put money on it but you know who I’ll be routing for.

Finally, a close game for WV this weekend or next might give the pollsters the extra push they need to bump Ohio State past WV into a national championship game. Let’s be honest, the BCS is about money and bottom line, who’s going to bring in the bottom line? An Ohio State return for redemption? Go Bucks.

However
Screw the BCS Championship. It is a week too late and everyone is back work. Personally, I’d rather see the Buckeyes destroy USC in the Rose Bowl. I’ve been wanting that game since Tressel came on board.

It’s official. Buckeye nation rules the world!!

I read about this on the MZone but I didn’t believe it until I saw this for myself.

For God’s sake, this is in their own house! At what point will they step up and stop the humiliation. Not even in the deepest depth of my imagination could I see something like this happening at the Shoe.

The writer from the Mzone claims that the atmosphere at the game was amazing. He goes on to clarify, “if you were sitting in the student section.”

He continues:

My buddy got us great seats, section 4, almost the 40 yard line…but apparently right in the middle of a fucking tax audit. These people had all the energy of a rotting corpse…which is almost an insult to rotting corpses.

On several “key plays,” I turned to look at the folks above me to see what they were doing. I was hoping to see yelling, screaming and general noise making. Instead, I think I saw breathing. Although even that might be debatable. Hell, these people don’t even shake their keys.

How pathetic.

Worst of all was when the Ohio State fans in attendance started their “O-H-I-O” going around the stadium. Thankfully, the student section stopped it since the cadavers around me were obviously trying to break some Guinness Book of World Records mark for quietest stadium section ever in a big game.

Wow, that is so amazingly pathetic. I was at the game last year and while yes, the #1 vs #2 rankings had a lot to do with it, I would say that for a Michigan fan, this atmosphere is anything but “amazing.”

The day that Michigan fans ever come anywhere close to doing something like this in Ohio Stadium…well…I’m sorry…I just can’t find the words.

Update
After searching a little further, it appears that yes, the cheer did circle Michigan Stadium three to four times getting louder each time (It took that long for the Michigan fans to catch on). You can see another view of the cheer here.

According to a comment on that YouTube link, you can hear it on the T.V. at about 2:00 left in the game.

Update II
“Courtney,” the cinematographer who captured this historic moment has left a comment below. According to Courtney, the cheer actually happened a number of times. Be sure to read her comment below and from all of Buckeye Nation, we thank say thank you.

ESPN “College Overdrive” has just announced that Lllloyd Carr will be holding a press conference on Monday at 10:00a.m. They would not cite their source nor would they confirm that the press conference was to announce a retirement.

So at this point, there is no word on Carr’s status other than that he has a press conference scheduled.

Remember, Brian at Mgoblog.com was the first I heard to call Carr’s retirement. He caught a lot of flack for his comments yet media outlets around the country, including ESPN were quick to report his news without giving him credit. It is the perfect situation for the media. They report what they call a rumor, fail to give credit to the source other than to call him a “blogger.” If the rumor comes true, said media source claims first to break story. If the story does not pan out, said media source quietly goes away.

Just remember, when Carr retires on monday, you heard it first through a blog.

I don’t know what feels better. Ohio State beating Michigan again or watching Michigan lose yet another game to the Buckeyes.

While last year’s game was one for the record books, this year’s game is about complete and total humiliation. I don’t know if it’s watching Carr most likely end his season with a loss placing him at 1-6 against Tressel or knowing that Mike Hart, Chad Henne, Jake Long and the other seniors will never know what it is like to have beaten Ohio State. One of the few classes in Michigan history to experience such devastation. It is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Whatever it is, Ohio State played a glorious game completely dominating the Wolverines holding them to all but a field goal. Beanie Wells was on fire coming through with more than 220 yards. Vernon Gholston played inspired leading a defense that absolutely stymied the Michigan offense.

And while I’m sure that Mike Hart is getting up in front of the press as we speak and telling the world that Ohio State isn’t really that good a team. That they should have beaten the Buckeyes without difficulty. We’ve heard it all before.

As he speaks, remember, if you look close enough you can see the “L” already forming on is forehead. A brand he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

At some point, every warrior comes to the revelation that we are more like our enemy than we ever want to admit. For Michigan fans, things have been tough. But for those of us old enough, we remember the pain of the 90s, the emptiness of the Earl Bruce years as we searched for another Woody, the pain of watching John Cooper repeatedly steal defeat from the jaws of victory, until finally, the renaissance of Jim Tressel and the decade of the Buckeyes.

Michigan fans sit where we did at the end of the 90s. They are at the end of an era filled with pain and disappointment. An era which at the outset held such hope, such dreams, only to be dashed repeatedly during recent years. The Michigan seniors who returned, passing up the fortunes of the NFL and boasting of a national championship are now battered and injured. Yet today, the injuries will not matter. Regardless of the pains that ail, this is the big game. A failure to win today will live with them until the day they die.

If you saw the HBO special about The Game, a former Michigan player (I don’t remember who) discussed the term Schadenfreude, a German term translating to pleasure taken in the pain of others. He told how he has releshed in the schadenfreude of a victory over Ohio State.

Today is a day for the Buckeyes to secure their schadenfreude for years to come. If the Buckeyes can send LLLLLLoyd Cooper into the sunset without a final victory, if the Buckeyes can keep the boisterous Mike Hart, Chad Henne and the rest of the Michigan seniors from the experience of a win over Ohio State, they will deliver a malicious joy that will be hard to match.

With that in mind, I direct you to a post by one of the best college football bloggers on the internet, Brian of Mgoblog. Brian has written an amazing post describing the current state of today’s Michigan fan. And I send you to this post not to express my schadenfreude at his suffering but to remind us all of the joy, the pain, the dreams, the dashed hopes and the memories that this game evokes.

Michigan is facing the end of an era. Next year, possibly with current LSU coach Les Miles at the helm, will start a new day for the Wolverines and new challenges for Ohio State Buckeyes. There is no question that Carr has lost his grip on the Ohio State/Michigan game. We all know that Michigan will recruit a coach in the same way that Ohio State recruited Jim Tressel. The number one priority will be to find a coach that understands the importance of “The Game” and knows how to prepare for a game like no other in college football.

The sun sets today over an epoch in college football history. And while I’ve enjoyed our recent dominance, the next could bring on battles reminiscent of the Ten Year War. Tressel has it in him, I believe the next Michigan coach will also.

So for now, during a brief ceasefire before the final battle, I ask that you cross enemy lines and tend to the wounded. Brian is a great writer and he truly captures the feelings embodied in this glorious battle.

When you return, it is back to battle stations. Bring on the game, bring on the Wolverines, bring on the schadenfreude of a glorious victory in their own house. For this is the day of the Ohio State/Michigan game!

Okay, so whoever the wise guy is that’s been hassling the Eggman to come out of “sucklusion” is, I’d like them to quit signing as anonymous and face my wrath. I’m betting it’s the Nittany Cryin’ that can’t get over the 50-gallon drum of whoop-ass the Buckeyes delivered earlier this year and had his Starbucks replaced with Folgers crystals.

I’m going to be bored this winter with the NBA and the Super Bowl when the Pats win their 4th ring to debunk Don Shula – cheating or no cheating. Bring it on! Gus, Ollie, is it you? Are you taking this thing personally? You must have a sense of humor living in Milwaukee. You still have Laverne and Shirley Re-runs. What I’d give to hang with Lenny and Squiggy for a weekend.

Granted, Nostroeggus laid an egg on the Wisconsin game going for an audacious 14 points. But, no matter with Boeckman underthrowing for three picks or Tress the Vest blowing two timeouts (one not called and the other called) the prediction was yet again bold and should have been correct. My bookie sez so. (Argue with Felix. I dare you…) There will be no towing the Vegas line or eking a daring one or two points either way. C’mon. Where’s the fun? My crystal ball has been re-calibrated and we’re good to go.

There a lot of people shaking in their boots in Columbus right now. We knew some bad karma was coming our way. It just came a little early. We were the nail and Ron Zook was the hammer. Or, OSU couldn’t squeeze the juice out of Orange Williams. Something like that. There is a point to be made, here.

There many reasons why the Gods should smile at the Wolverines. Now we’re holding our collective breath – hiding behind a facade of tradition, the Big House, Woody and Bo – yada, yada. After being ranked 5th in the nation Michigan came out of the chute and suffered an embarrassing loss to Appalachian State, then back-to-back lost another to the formerly respectable Pac 10 Champion Oregon Ducks. Mr. Carr is having his last hurrah.

The kind people of Michigan had enough of their version of John Cooper with Tress as Llllloyd’s boogeyman. They just aren’t going to tar and feather Bo’s understudy. They’re going to blame it on the onset Parkinson’s and promote him to Michigan AD. Classy move. Or, is it just plain clever – waiting out Michigan alumni, Les Miles’ running the sand out of his hourglass at LSU?

There should be an element of sympathy for the Michigan seniors, even 0 and 3 running back and poor sport Mike Hart, the second worse interviewer next to OSU’s own Dr. Robert Smith.

“We should have, I could have, we will…”

Bite me.

He should have a fruitful Pro career – with the Cincinnati Bengals. One can only hope.

Michigan also can win the Big 10 and a trip to the Rose Bowl if they beat the Buckeyes. Some say, Lllloyd, although a man of character rested the “injured” Hart and quarterback Chad Henne to lay down like a $10 ho against Wisconsin to be ready for “The Big Game.” It has been double hush hush, but, you can guarantee they’ll both play their final game even on crutches or with an injection of some kind of ‘cain.

What a great way to save face and revitalize their program going from riches to rags to riches. It’s the stuff stories are made of. I’ve already ghost-written the script for Al Gore – and man are we going to be rich(er). We’ll be able to buy hydrogen-powered RVs and have bitchin’ tailgates with Mr. Gates, Sir Richard Branson and Sean Penn if I must indulge him.

Despite all the hoo haw, the Eggman has come down from the mountain on a tattered, yet proud magic carpet to pee on the Wolverines’ legs – that the sound of Hail to the Victor will be interrupted by the beeping of the OSU dump truck full of monkey dung backing into the Big House.

Here’s how it goes:

OSU was superior to in every total category to Penn State and Wisconsin respectively. Michigan is one notch below them. Somebody tell me that that doesn’t count for something? And, the have two injured seniors driving their fiery chariot to Hades. The backup quarterback, Mallet (cool name – although unpopularly French) is a freshman and got his bells rung by the Badgers. I don’t care how good your line is, you cannot count to 15 in the pocket.

Regardless of home field advantage with a twelfth man and storybook potential, the kinetics behind Tressel’s machine should grind them down. Buy how much? What else? Fourteen points. Go figure. Buckeyes win 31 to 17.