Saturday, November 20, 1999
Michigan blocks OSU from bowl
BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Remember that cliche, “You can throw out the records for Ohio State-Michigan?” Ohio State wishes it could.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they're 6-5 and their disappointing season could end today at 6-6.
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OSU at MICHIGAN
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• Kickoff: Noon today at Michigan Stadium, (107,501)
• Records: OSU 6-5, 3-4 Big Ten; UM 8-2, 5-2
• TV: ABC (Channel 9)
• Radio: WBOB-AM 1160
• Series: UM leads 54-35-6 (last: 1998; OSU won 31-16).
• Line: Michigan by 121/2
• What to watch: Can Michigan tailback Anthony Thomas run on the Buckeyes — as every opponent this year has done — and can the Wolverines' defense shut down the OSU running game and force Steve Bellisari to throw?
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Can they beat Michigan in today's noon start (ABC, Channel 9) from Michigan Stadium? It remains a possibility, considering the weird history of this game and the wackiness of the Big Ten season. But given the way each team has played this season and particularly the last two weeks, an OSU win is an unlikely outcome.
In the last two weeks, Michigan (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) has gone from a moderately disappointing season to a team with a chance to play in a New Year's Day Alliance bowl. Michigan routed Northwestern and then stormed back from 10 points down to upset Penn State last week, and is No.10 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, close enough to use the Alliance bowl as motivation.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has lost to Michigan State and Illinois by a combined score of 69-27 and has to win today to have a shot at a second-tier bowl. A win makes the Bucks eligible for at best the Alamo Bowl, but a loss sends them home for good.
“It's a little different (than past Michigan weeks) because there's not as much riding on it,” Buckeyes coach John Cooper said.
There was much talk in Columbus this week, even by players, about how some Buckeyes don't seem to have much fire or passion or angst over losing. There was also talk of how that could be kindled for this one game, because it's Michigan, the bitter rival to the north.
“If ever, ever in your life you're going to reach down and play with heart and soul and intensity, it's a game like this,” Cooper said. “The least of my problems should be getting this team ready to play. We've got to quit making mistakes, quit turning the ball over.”
Michigan has the superior personnel.
It starts at quarterback. The Wolverines have senior Tom Brady, who won the job outright in a battle with sophomore Drew Henson.
Brady has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,067 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. OSU sophomore Steve Bellisari, on the other hand, has completed just 46 percent of his passes for 1,532 yards, 10 TDs and seven INTs.
Defense is also a big difference. Michigan held the NCAA's all-time leading rusher, Ron Dayne, to 88 yards overall and zero in the second half. The following week against Ohio State, Dayne had 161 yards and four touchdowns.
Ohio State is just 2-8-1 against Michigan under Cooper and hasn't won at the Big House since 1987, a span of six visits.
“When it comes down to it, it's Ohio State-Michigan,” said offensive captain Matt Keller. “It's our rival. This is the game everyone talks about.”
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