Football The Rivalry

The More Challenging 2016 Schedule, Michigan or Ohio State?

by Tony Gerdeman
I was recently speaking to a Michigan fan who, despite a few adult beverages, seemed knowledgeable about his favorite program and college football in general. One comment he made to me was that the Wolverines’ football schedule was “certainly harder” than Ohio State’s. At the time I laughed it off and blamed it on his fandom and the booze, but after talking to other Michigan fans, I’ve realized this thought…
Kerry Coombs
Football The Rivalry

Buckeyes Don’t Plan on Changing What They Do in Michigan Just Because Jim Harbaugh’s Around

by Tony Gerdeman
The Buckeyes are no strangers to having success in the state of Michigan, whether it’s between the white stripes of the football field or the yellow lines on the highways of the recruiting trail. Ohio State has won six of the last eight times they’ve been in Ann Arbor and they have yet to lose in East Lansing this century. But while they don’t play in the state of Michigan…
Hat Science
Recruiting

On the Origin of Committing by Means of Hatural Selection

by Tony Gerdeman
  Hat Science was born in its current formal form on December 13, 2013 during the commitment ceremony of linebacker Raekwon McMillan. Back then, it was hardly the multi-dollar industry that it is now. How did it come to be the all-consuming study that it is today? I’m a pretty humble guy, so I’m not claiming that this is my discovery anymore than Isaac Newton claims that he discovered gravity,…
Cardale Jones Archie Griffin
Football

The NCAA, Big Five Conferences Allow Coaches, Staff and Their Families Free Travel to Bowl Games; Why Not Players’ Families?

by Tony Gerdeman
A lot has been written about the cost of travel and lodging for parents of the players involved in the first-ever College Football Playoff over the last week or two, and a lot has been said about the subject from the coaches involved as well. Rather than have one of our writers simply add their own thoughts to the discussion, we decided that it would be better to hear a…
2017 Cotton Bowl AT&T Stadium Arlington Texas
Football

Julian Vann — The Man Who Knew No Fear

by Tony Gerdeman
If you were in a dark alley somewhere in Ann Arbor, and you could only have one Buckeye football player by your side, who would you choose? That was the question posed to a dozen players on Sunday at Ohio State’s family day. As you would expect, John Simon got the most votes, but there was a tie at second place between a guy that you know, and one that…
Football The Rivalry

The Buckeyes Send Earle Out a Winner

by Tom Orr
[NOTE: This was part of a series written in 2005 by John Porentas and Tom Orr, based on one-on-one interviews conducted with both coaches. You can also read “Earle Bruce and Bo Schembechler on Their Most Memorable Games“ and “The Game That Made The Game“] Bo Schembechler’s first game as a head coach in the OSU-Michigan series ended with perhaps the biggest Wolverine win ever. But Earle Bruce’s last game as the head…
Football The Rivalry

The Game That Made The Game

by Tom Orr
[NOTE: This was part of a series written in 2005 by John Porentas and Tom Orr, based on one-on-one interviews conducted with both coaches. You can also read “Earle Bruce and Bo Schembechler on Their Most Memorable Games“ and “The Buckeyes Send Earle Out a Winner”] This Saturday, Ohio State and Michigan will square off for the 102nd time on the football field. But if you ask players, coaches and fans…
Football The Rivalry

Earle Bruce and Bo Schembechler on Their Most Memorable Games

by Tom Orr
[NOTE: This was part of a series written in 2005 by John Porentas and Tom Orr, based on one-on-one interviews conducted with both coaches. You can also read “The Game That Made The Game“ and “The Buckeyes Send Earle Out a Winner”] In the decades that they coached in the OSU-Michigan series, Bo Schembechler and Earle Bruce experienced almost every possible emotion, from utter devastation to sheer elation. Earlier this week, the…