On Saturday, it happens again.
The 114th meeting between Ohio State and Michigan will take place at the Big House. The Buckeyes have locked up a berth in the Big 10 Championship Game and are still in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.
The Wolverines? Not so much. They've got 3 losses and look like a team that will be playing at the Citrus Bowl. Or the Gator Bowl. Nice, but not nearly what they hoped for in Ann Arbor.
But even if all of that weren't happening, I would still be excited for this game. Because it's the rival. It's 'Scarlet and Gray' versus 'Maize and Blue.' It's Urban vs. Harbaugh.
Let's go! Here are my five reasons why I'm all about this game:
1. Ohio State's recent dominance of Michigan
I'm one who normally buys into the tenant that in order for this rivalry to matter, and for the Big 10 to matter, Michigan needs to win this game every now and then.
But I remember those dark years between 1988 and 2000 when the Buckeyes were 2-10-1 against the Wolverines. So frankly, I don't give a hoot that OSU has won 5 in a row and 12 of the last 13 against U of M. I'll get over my disappointment in the offseason.
Now even though the Buckeyes have dominated the series, individual games have been another matter...
2. Great moments
It took double overtime to decide last year's game in Columbus between the 3rd ranked Wolverines and #2 Buckeyes. Remember this?
My all-time favorite Ohio State-Michigan game was 2005 in Ann Arbor, when Troy Smith brought the Buckeyes back from 9 down in the 4th quarter. Anthony Gonzalez came up with 'The Catch' to help set up the winning touchdown, giving OSU a 25-21 win.
Everyone has a favorite moment. You might say 2006, when #1 OSU beat #2 UM in a 42-39 shootout. Or any game in the 'Ten-Year-War.' Michigan fans probably remember Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson's punt return touchdowns, or when they 'Biakabutuka'ed' the Buckeyes in 1995.
That's what makes a rivalry special.
3. The coaches
Woody. Bo. Earle. Tress. Carr. Urban. Harbaugh.
'Nuff said.
4. The traditions
Gold pants! According to Land-Grand Holy Land, when new coach Francis Schmidt was hired by Ohio State in 1934, he replied to a question about beating the hated Wolverines with this dynamite drop-in: "They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us."
That led to some local businessmen creating 'The Gold Pants,' a gold charm given to every Buckeye player and coach after a win over Michigan.
How important are 'The Gold Pants'? Archie Griffin won three of them and says they are more valuable to him than his two Heisman Trophies.
Wow.
The Mirror Lake Jump was a tradition that was around Ohio State until last year. On the Thursday night before the OSU-UM game, band members would come out late at night, fetch the students from the dorms, and take them to Mirror Lake, where everyone would jump into the freezing waters.
5. The passion of the fans
There are the jokes:
Q: How do you make University of Michigan cookies? A: Put them in a big Bowl and beat for 3 hours
Q: A Michigan kid and an Ohio kid are in the third grade. Who is bigger?
A: The Ohio kid of course. He's 16.
The makeup/outfits:
And of course, my personal favorite: "What time is it? It's 9:43 and Michigan STILL SUCKS."
Saturday prediction: J.T. Barrett will finish his 12th career Michigan game (I'm kidding of course, gotta love J.T.) with a victory as Ohio State will power past the Wolverines in a hard-fought 38-24 win.
