The Rivalry
 

This is linktarding, but HBO Sports is going to air a documentary about the OSU/Michigan Rivalry next Tuesday and I just saw a commercial for it. HBO Sports generally does good work but they tend to focus on the professional leagues, it'll be interesting to see how they try to cast this. [censored] Michigan

http://www.hbo.com/events/rivalry/

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I thought The Rivalry was Army-Navy

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Or am I thinking of The Game?

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I thought The Rivalry was New England fans v. Everyone else

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I read an interesting interview with the director of this...he said he went in thinking nothing could come close to NY/Boston in baseball, but changed his mind after attending UM/OSU last year.

Obviously I'm biased; I grew up in Columbus and I've been to 18 UM/OSU games in a row, but this game is really something special.

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I read an interesting interview with the director of this...he said he went in thinking nothing could come close to NY/Boston in baseball, but changed his mind after attending UM/OSU last year.

Obviously I'm biased; I grew up in Columbus and I've been to 18 UM/OSU games in a row, but this game is really something special.

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maybe that has something to do with the fact that they play eachother once a year instead of say 20 times a year?

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I thought The Rivalry was New England fans v. Everyone else

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[hijack] I get this is a joke, but I love how NE fans think they are the only fans to get this treatment[/hijack]

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I thought The Rivalry was New England fans v. Everyone else

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[hijack] I get this is a joke, but I love how NE fans think they are the only fans to get this treatment[/hijack]

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[hijack] As a Red Sox fan I'm really starting to feel as if we're approaching New York sports, and specifically the Yankees in terms of level of hatred. And it's fairly obvious that the level of Boston sports success is probably the reason for that. As a result, I've taken a step back and reasoned that what Boston fans are feeling now in respect to other people's hate is what Yankee fans have been experiencing for years. [blasphemy]Because of this, my disdain has been reduced a reasonable amount, and I'm starting to see things as Red Sox+the Yankees= [censored] everyone else who does nothing but hate on success. [/hijack] [/blasphemy]

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I thought The Rivalry was New England fans v. Everyone else

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[hijack] I get this is a joke, but I love how NE fans think they are the only fans to get this treatment[/hijack]

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[hijack] As a Red Sox fan I'm really starting to feel as if we're approaching New York sports, and specifically the Yankees in terms of level of hatred. And it's fairly obvious that the level of Boston sports success is probably the reason for that. As a result, I've taken a step back and reasoned that what Boston fans are feeling now in respect to other people's hate is what Yankee fans have been experiencing for years. [blasphemy]Because of this, my disdain has been reduced a reasonable amount, and I'm starting to see things as Red Sox+the Yankees= [censored] everyone else who does nothing but hate on success. [/hijack] [/blasphemy]

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No, we're just sick of the fans and the nonstop talk about nothing other than NY/Boston.

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i have seen a lot more attacks on boston fans just for being boston fans lately than ever before. i'm sure there are also a lot more annoying boston homers around than there were before. whatever. as someone who has tried (sometimes successfully, sometimes not) to be pretty balanced in sports discussion, it pisses me off when crappy posters use it as a crutch for their lack of arguing skills.

also, [censored] michigan in the eye

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I thought The Rivalry was New England fans v. Everyone else

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[hijack] I get this is a joke, but I love how NE fans think they are the only fans to get this treatment[/hijack]

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Well yeah, everyone talks [censored] about Minnesota fans.

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I think the hijacks demonstrate why us non-Boston/NY people hate Boston/NY people. There are only 17,000 threads devoted to Boston and NY sports in some capacity; this one isn't, but I guess they can't stand a non-NY/Boston thread.

Uh, okay, anyway. I'm interested to see it too. Didn't they interview Bo just before he died? The one thing I wish (well aside from beating OSU more often recently) is that there was a little more animosity between Carr and Tressel. I don't need them threatening the other's family or anything but enough of this "Well I respect Lloyd Carr he's a great coach..." Give me someone I can loathe not just because he coaches OSU but b/c he's a jerk (Woody). Things are more fun when you can semi-legitimately cast your foes in a more negative light than "They are a sports team from your area that plays a sports team from my area."

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I actually hijacked this because I'm a PSU fan.

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I actually hijacked this because I'm a PSU fan.

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third place called...they miss you...

this is the ONLY rivalry, as far as i'm concerned, as a michigan fan living in northeast ohio...

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I actually hijacked this because I'm a PSU fan.

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third place called...they miss you...

this is the ONLY rivalry, as far as i'm concerned, as a michigan fan living in northeast ohio...

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I became a fan in the dark ages, when I first started going there. I wouldn't know what it's like to root for a consistently powerful college football team.

I don't really mind UM. OSU can suck it hardcore, though.

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I think the hijacks demonstrate why us non-Boston/NY people hate Boston/NY people. There are only 17,000 threads devoted to Boston and NY sports in some capacity; this one isn't, but I guess they can't stand a non-NY/Boston thread.


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Yea man, because a thread entitled "The Rivalry" shouldn't generate discussion as to what the best rivalry is, aside from the one suggested in the OP. Right...

IMO college football rivalries are way overhyped. Navy fans rushed the field after giving the Irish their 8th loss on the season. Sweet. Army-Navy routinely suck yet they put that trash on NBC? No thanks. UM and OSU are power college football programs, but to me that's just another regular season game, unless they meet in the NC game. I don't mind UM, but OSU fans are beyond annoying, especially considering it ISNT EVEN A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM. For some reason, I object to claiming an amateur athletic competition as being "The Rivalry".

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Yea man, because a thread entitled "The Rivalry" shouldn't generate discussion as to what the best rivalry is, aside from the one suggested in the OP. Right...

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Except that the title of the thread is also the title of an HBO documentary, which the OP is talking about.

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Yea man, because a thread entitled "The Rivalry" shouldn't generate discussion as to what the best rivalry is, aside from the one suggested in the OP. Right...

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Except that the title of the thread is also the title of an HBO documentary, which the OP is talking about.

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But you certainly would see why the discussion of other rivalries would come up right? Right? Threads are living things, that don't always go as intended, and it's easy to see how easily it can change direction. Which it did.

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Or am I thinking of The Game?

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Harvard v. Yale is "The Game."

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to me that's just another regular season game, unless they meet in the NC game.


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You're pretty much everything that is wrong about fandom.

College sports is great because the majority of fans aren't terrible bandwagoneers like you and the rest of the Greater Boston area. You don't care about anything except the playoffs and think every season you don't win a championship is a failure.

You are why the mainstream media is so terrible, because they are giving you what you want to hear.

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I think the hijacks demonstrate why us non-Boston/NY people hate Boston/NY people. There are only 17,000 threads devoted to Boston and NY sports in some capacity; this one isn't, but I guess they can't stand a non-NY/Boston thread.


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Yea man, because a thread entitled "The Rivalry" shouldn't generate discussion as to what the best rivalry is, aside from the one suggested in the OP. Right...

IMO college football rivalries are way overhyped. Navy fans rushed the field after giving the Irish their 8th loss on the season. Sweet. Army-Navy routinely suck yet they put that trash on NBC? No thanks. UM and OSU are power college football programs, but to me that's just another regular season game, unless they meet in the NC game. I don't mind UM, but OSU fans are beyond annoying, especially considering it ISNT EVEN A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM. For some reason, I object to claiming an amateur athletic competition as being "The Rivalry".

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Who cares if it's a professional team? At least most fans of college sports have a more vested reason for rooting for their team than that's the city they're from. People root for Michigan or tOSU or North Dakota State, whatever, because they went to school there. They were part of that community. As a student at one of these schools, you are a Wolverine, a Buckey, a Bison, a Wildcat. They are representatives of you and your community. They're not hired mercenaries like the Red Sox or the Dodgers, the Cowboys, etc. All you've got going for you if you're a Boston fan is either that their stadium is in your city or maybe you just hopped on the bandwagon.

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Or am I thinking of The Game?

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Harvard v. Yale is "The Game."

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I thought it was Slippery Rock vs MIT?

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Yea man, because a thread entitled "The Rivalry" shouldn't generate discussion as to what the best rivalry is, aside from the one suggested in the OP. Right...

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Except that the title of the thread is also the title of an HBO documentary, which the OP is talking about.

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But you certainly would see why the discussion of other rivalries would come up right? Right? Threads are living things, that don't always go as intended, and it's easy to see how easily it can change direction. Which it did.

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Yes, I can see why it might end up that way.

Your post just came off as "Well, you should expect this thread to quickly swerve off topic without any discussion of the actual subject" and I don't necessarily agree with that.

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Well if we're going to debate the "best rivalry" thing...

Obviously I'm picking UM-OSU but it's a total homer pick. The thing about ranking rivalries, aside from obviously being hugely subjective, is how opposite traits will be cited as reasons for why their rivalry is the greatest.

For example, some people say their rivalry is the best because it always has a big impact on the national title/conference title race. Other say that the teams don't have any national or other significance but they STILL have a fierce rivalry and that's why it's so great (think Army-Navy, Harvard-Yale, etc).

Or they'll say that they are fierce foes but have deep respect for each other. Or they hate each other so much that they won't speak and people will treat the opposing fans horribly.

It's funny that opposite propositions become arguments for the same point. No real comment on it, but it's mostly finding a way to justify the rivalry you care about as being the most important.

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Well if we're going to debate the "best rivalry" thing...

Obviously I'm picking UM-OSU but it's a total homer pick. The thing about ranking rivalries, aside from obviously being hugely subjective, is how opposite traits will be cited as reasons for why their rivalry is the greatest.

For example, some people say their rivalry is the best because it always has a big impact on the national title/conference title race. Other say that the teams don't have any national or other significance but they STILL have a fierce rivalry and that's why it's so great (think Army-Navy, Harvard-Yale, etc).

Or they'll say that they are fierce foes but have deep respect for each other. Or they hate each other so much that they won't speak and people will treat the opposing fans horribly.

It's funny that opposite propositions become arguments for the same point. No real comment on it, but it's mostly finding a way to justify the rivalry you care about as being the most important.

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This documentary should kick some serious ass. I'm not sure what a Michigan fan's experience is like, but as an Ohio State fan it plays out like a great story.

The entire football season is a preseason for this game. This is it. You win it, its a great season. You lose it, even with 10 wins before it, your season is a failure. As football season closes in, it comes down to "will we beat Michigan this year"? As the season starts, you will notice Buckeye fans will always be keeping a close eye on Michigan, cheering with nearly greater joy when they struggle than we do well. Season after season have been ruined in this game.
As the season starts, there is almost always a countdown to Michigan week. As it gets closer and closer, the current games begin to blur together as the focus heads towards the team up North. The Saturday before the big game, the entire city's attention turns to this game. Non-stop tv coverage, Beat Michigan rallies, concerts, blood drives. The city busses (not just the University ones) will display "BEAT MICHIGAN" instead of the route they are driving. By the end of the week, the students are jumping in Mirror Lake at night (sometimes in near-freezing temperatures) for good luck.

The RVs start rolling in and taking up the student parking. The Friday before the game is a calm before the storm that is about to erupt. Bars open before dawn for Kegs and Eggs with lines going out the door. A sea of scarlet sweeps the streets as 200,000 people take to the streets. Tailgates are packed full and anticipation is in the air. The game will start soon. The band warms up with Skull Session and begins to pump up the crowd. The team runs from St. John Arena to the stadium as everyone cheers. The game is starting soon.

The crowd slowly begins to fill the stadium as it turns from concrete to red with few patches of maize and blue. As the stadium fills, the band begins to take the field. The drums beat as they file out of the tunnel as they have for decades. As they assemble into carefully arranged rows, the Buckeye Battle Cry roars as the drum major leans back, touching his hat to the ground and the main fanfare starts. The finale is the famous Script Ohio. The crowd remains standing, cheering as loud as they do for a Buckeye Touchdown.

At the end of the pregame show, the band aligns with the entrance from the stadium. The players start to head down the tunnel into the stadium, but remain hidden by the red cover. As they charge the field, the crowd erupts into a symphony of 100,000 voices. The game has begun.

As the game progresses, it is always closer than it should be. Teams that are unbeatable and invincible are given scares by much inferior teams. Tension is in the air and the stress levels of watching this game surely add to reduced years on some fans' lives.

The game ends in one of two ways. Victory brings a sigh of relief. The season is a success. The party has begun. Failure brings embarrassment and depression. We now have to wait another year before we get another crack at them. But either way, the countdown begins until the two foes meet again.

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Agree, TC. Best friggin' week of the year. I'm totally useless at school (and hopefully starting next year at work). I talked to a guy who was just at the advance screening at the Michigan Theater. He said it was great. Also Rick Leach was there and gave a speech after.

The thing about this, vs. say Notre Dame or MSU, is that winning vs. OSU is the best feeling (sans National Title). However, as much as losing sucks, I think losing to MSU or ND is worse than losing to OSU. We hate the Buckeyes and all but they're a legitimately great program. MSU is not, like losing to your little brother. ND is a great program, but they're evil incarnate.

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OSU fans are beyond annoying, especially considering it ISNT EVEN A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM.

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Maurice Clarett would like to disagree.

Just kidding, tO$U fans.

Anyway, this rivalry is all it's cracked up to be. People get nuts. Go google the Dead Schembechlers (or whatever they changed their name to after Bo died) and review the song titles. Then tell me it doesn't mean anything.

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Agree, TC. Best friggin' week of the year. I'm totally useless at school (and hopefully starting next year at work). I talked to a guy who was just at the advance screening at the Michigan Theater. He said it was great. Also Rick Leach was there and gave a speech after.

The thing about this, vs. say Notre Dame or MSU, is that winning vs. OSU is the best feeling (sans National Title). However, as much as losing sucks, I think losing to MSU or ND is worse than losing to OSU. We hate the Buckeyes and all but they're a legitimately great program. MSU is not, like losing to your little brother. ND is a great program, but they're evil incarnate.

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Maybe we need to put a few more L's on you guys to make it like I felt growing up during the John Cooper years. Continuous disappointment.

A guy just started at my work from Michigan (I live in Texas now), and its kind of interesting how we both just "get" it. There is an automatic competitiveness between us as soon as he put his Michigan flag up. But compared to the Longhorn fans (and worse... Aggies), it just isn't the same. I went to the Texas- Ohio State game last year, and was just utterly dissapointed by the atmosphere. No excitement. Just annoying loud music being blasted out of the speakers. The stadium was awful and looks like it was an oversized high school stadium. I was also told by some ignorant Longhorn fans that "Ohio State doesn't have football tradition".

But Michigan and Ohio State just get each other. Its the yin to the yang, opposite in colors but identical in form. I have a lot of respect for you guys and there just seems to be a "bond" whenever I meet someone from Michigan. It just puts that much more on the line when I need to save face.

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[Losing to MSU is] like losing to your little brother.

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So is losing to App. St. like getting cornholed by your neighbor's poodle or what?

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[Losing to MSU is] like losing to your little brother.

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So is losing to App. St. like getting cornholed by your neighbor's poodle or what?

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Never been cornholed by my neighbor's poodle, but I suppose that's a good analogy. It wasn't my favorite Michigan moment.

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Im a Wolverine and obviously this is the best rivalry period. I do think OSU and the state of Ohio take this much more seriously than us. Sure this is very important game etc... But when I went to the Cavs-Spurs finals last year and some Spur was on the foul line late in a close game and I saw the big block 'M' flashing on the scoreboard and the whole place erupted in boos, I knew right there how the whole state of Ohio hates Mich. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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The difference is that you guys can get together once a year and say "Yay we have the best rivalry!" Auburn and Alabama don't want the best rivalry. We want each other to get the death penalty.

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Maurice Clarett, Aj Hawk, Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Beanie Wells and Andy Katzenmoyer, among many others would like to disagree.

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Im a Wolverine and obviously this is the best rivalry period.

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More like obviously its the one most important to YOU. I could care less about that rivalry, except it should be a good game to watch when both teams are good. There is no real way to determine the 'best rivalry', its all subjective. For my money, give me Kansas vs Missouri any day. Kansas ftw.

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The difference is that you guys can get together once a year and say "Yay we have the best rivalry!" Auburn and Alabama don't want the best rivalry. We want each other to get the death penalty.

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having grown up in Big11Ten country---
Auburn/Alabama is the best rivalry

it's just the nation as a whole ignores the south





I typically root for the Buckeyes in this matchup--Michigan alums are kind of snobbish

however, i like seeing the team with the better record lose as well

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Michigan alums are kind of snobbish

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it's alumni. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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The real question, MT2R (and others) is what is your criteria? How do you determine your favorite/best rivalry?

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all consuming thoughts on what the other school is doing

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to me that's just another regular season game, unless they meet in the NC game.


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You're pretty much everything that is wrong about fandom.

College sports is great because the majority of fans aren't terrible bandwagoneers like you and the rest of the Greater Boston area. You don't care about anything except the playoffs and think every season you don't win a championship is a failure.

You are why the mainstream media is so terrible, because they are giving you what you want to hear.

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this is just a terrible post, rife with assumptions. Which seems to be the norm for you. I don't even think I should honor it by trying to disprove you.

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The title of this thread should be "The Game" after all that what the UM/OSU game always is, The Game.

I had a chance to see a screening of the documentary tonight here in Ann Arbor and it definitely didn't disappoint. I almost wish the game was tomorrow because watching it, especially in a theater, really got my emotions flowing. It also didn't hurt that I was in it for a two second clip [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

HBO did a wonderful job putting it together. One thing they did a great job of was splitting it down the middle 50/50 for each side. Even as a lifelong Michigan fan and current student, I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories that were told about Woody and the way he approached the game. The fact that he never referred to Michigan as "Michigan" but as "that school up north." And that after the 1968 game when he ran up the score by going for two late in the game, his response to a reporter who question why he went for two when then game was already in hand was, "Because I couldn't go for 3." The Game wouldn't be what it is without the deeply connected history of the two school and states.

Everything that TC has said I feel as well. I spent my youth in the 90s and didn't experience many Michigan defeats. Now the tables have turned and the buckeyes have had the upper hand since Tressel became the coach. Ohio State week is unlike any other. There isn't a moment the game isn't on my mind once the previous Saturday's game end. Players and coaches are remembered for what they did in the this game more than in any other aspect of their career.

Definitely see this. No matter where your alliance falls or if you're more or less neutral, you'll be left with a greater appreciation for The Game and those that live it. And if you are one that has experienced The Game, you'll probably shed a tear or two. oh yea. Go Blue!