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SNS sports mobileIt's still 'Michigan week'
OSU, Wolverines both lose the week before The Game for first time since 1959.
Monday, November 12, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Someone leaving Ohio State's loss against Illinois on Saturday could have found a stamped and disregarded flier in the Ohio Stadium parking lot.
The 3-inch-by-4-inch announcement told fans about the "Beat Michigan Week" events, including a Michigan Sucks Keg party on Sunday and a Dunk a Wolverine game on Friday sponsored by a local bar. The back included an often-e-mailed photo of a young child with an Ohio State temporary tattoo on his face flipping his middle finger.
Extras
The small sheet personified the dominant view in both Columbus and Ann Arbor this week. Although both Ohio State and Michigan lost games on Saturday that could somewhat dampen their annual matchup this weekend, it's still the Ohio State-Michigan game.
"There's no more time to sulk," said Kirk Barton, the OSU offensive lineman and captain minutes after the Buckeyes lost 28-21 to unranked Illinois on Saturday. "It's Michigan week."
An unexpected Saturday threatened to mute the grudge match. First, Michigan dropped a road game against Wisconsin to collect its third loss in a disappointing season. Later, top-ranked and undefeated Ohio State, which had the inside track to a second straight national championship game appearance, was upset by the Illini.
That loss dropped the Buckeyes from No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series poll, which determines the national championship game matchup, to No. 7 when the new poll that was announced Sunday evening. Barring a string of upsets including losses by LSU, Oregon, West Virginia and possibly others, the Buckeyes have a very slim chance of reappearing in the national title game.
But it's still Michigan week. There's always the giant Michigan dartboard at the Columbus pub.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@coxohio.com.
Only once before
In 1935, Big Ten Conference schedule-makers moved the annual Ohio State-Michigan football game to the regular season finale. In the 73 seasons since, both teams have lost in the game before The Big Game only once, in 1959.
That year, on Nov. 14, the Buckeyes were 3-3-1 when they hosted No. 16 Iowa and lost 16-7. The same day, the 3-4 Wolverines, traveled to Bloomington, Ind., and suffered a 26-7 loss in front of 24,121 spectators.
Then, on Nov. 21, 1959, Michigan coach Bump Elliott guided the Wolverines to a 23-14 win against Ohio State.
Ohio State (to Illinois) and Michigan (to Wisconsin) both lose Saturday, the week before their annual showdown. We'll see what happens this Saturday in Ann Arbor.
BCS Standings
1. LSU
2. Oregon
3. Kansas
4. Oklahoma
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Ohio State
8. Arizona State
9. Georgia
10. Virginia Tech
