rich rodriguez

One of the most treasured traditions at Ohio State is for each member of a Buckeyes team that defeats Michigan to receive a small charm in the shape of "gold pants."  

Michigan 5-6, 1-6 Big Ten; No. 9 Ohio State 9-2, 6-1. Kickoff: Noon, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor. Forecast: 50, with a 20% chance of rain.  

There's no disputing the horror of Michigan's defense. It steadily has regressed and rendered even the successful offensive games meaningless. It's an area coach Rich Rodriguez will evaluate in the off-season.

This year coming in we knew we were going to be inexperienced defensively. So I had a concern. We just hoped they would grow up fast or be ready to handle things quicker. At times they have, but at other times we haven't   -Rich Rodriguez

 

The Longhorns are a 28-point favorite, so it's not the actual game that has us fired up. We just don't want to miss it if embattled Kansas coach Mark Mangino pulls a Woody Hayes on national TV. The Big Game is suddenly a big deal for No. 14 Stanford, which has posted back-to-back wins against top 12 teams and will have Tiger Woods there as the honorary captain.  

The last time Pittsburgh ventured into Mountaineer Field, West Virginia was on the verge of competing in the national championship game. All WVU had to do was defeat a struggling Pitt team that was easily the underdog that December night on a frozen field. A few scant hours later, WVU saw its dream snap like an icicle in a 13-9 defeat.

I don't care if it's at noon, one, three, seven, 10 I don't care. It can be at their place, our place or a parking lot somewhere in between. I don't care just as long as we have a chance to play in the Backyard Brawl.   -Reed Williams

 

One of the most treasured traditions at Ohio State is for each member of a Buckeyes team that defeats Michigan to receive a small charm in the shape of "gold pants." The origin of the gold pants is coach Francis Schmidt's saying before the 1934 game against Michigan that the Wolverines "put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as everyone else." After the victory, a tradition began — and the Buckeyes hope to continue it in the wake of Saturday's noon start at The Big House.

You know, this year you could think there's not going to be an edge because we've already clinched the Rose Bowl and they're losing, but it's still 'The Game.' It's still about getting gold pants for us, it's still about a bowl game for them. It's still about pride   -Jim Cordle

 

The Game has lost a lot of luster. Ohio State has beaten Michigan five consecutive times, its best winning streak and the longest in the series since the 1920s. The ninth-ranked Buckeyes (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) have already clinched at least a share of their fifth conference title in a row and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Michigan (5-6, 1-6) is mired in another miserable year -- coming off a school-record nine-loss season -- and is nearly a two-touchdown underdog to lose today at home to guarantee consecutiv

That would never occur to the participants   -Jim Tressel

 

His Flavor of the Month. His Next Big Thing. There hasn't been this much drama since Ralph Kramden was waiting to see if he was going to be named Raccoon of the Year by the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler.  

Ohio State has already accepted a Rose Bowl bid and won at least a share of a fifth straight Big Ten title. It can win an outright championship with a sixth straight win against rival Michigan. The Wolverines need a victory to become bowl eligible, take some heat off coach Rich Rodriguez and avoid consecutive losing years for the first time since 1962-63.