One of the many great aspects of college football is the end of the season when the most bitter of rivalries get together to renew those emotions from the past. This is the game that mostly involves in-state or neighboring state universities that stir the emotion of every player and alumni alike. Because of proximity, many fans either attended these schools or were cultured by their parents to develop an affiliation with the beloved institution of hirer learning. The passion runs deep in these situations and this becomes an emotional encounter that is a tipping point, often for one calendar year when the next game is played and the drama unfolds all over again.ESPN in recent years did a study with fan participation about what is the greatest rivalry in sports. The winner was the Ohio State-Michigan game, which has tremendous importance on a national scale.
Virtually every year the Ohio State-Michigan game has an impact on the national landscape, the Big Ten Conference championship, which lead to who plays in the Rose Bowl, except for recent BCS history. Like most great rivalries, the hate for the other school and team is genuine. A Michigan hat or T-shirt in Columbus is as welcome as bubonic plague, with the same being true of Buckeye gear in Ann Arbor. Considering these two Big Ten teams meet the last game of the regular season, it is nothing short of remarkable that at least one team has been unbeaten an amazing 22 times.
The level of play has been as good as any series played in college football. Starting with the days of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler in 1969, at least one team has been ranked in every year but 1987, covering 41 years. The series had a few games of importance throughout the decades; however it heated up in earnest when former Ohio State assistant Schembechler became the Michigan coach. The games played between these two fiery and combative coaches are the stuff of legend in college football annals, each defining the man. There meetings were referred to as the “Ten Year War”. Each coach took his team to the Rose Bowl five times. Hayes went 1-4, Schembechler went 0-5, and neither record should come as a surprise. After coaching against each other, they and their teams were spent. Hayes to his dying day said the best team he ever coached was the 1969 squad. They were number one, 8-0 having allowed only 69 points. Ohio State hadn't scored fewer than 34 points in any game, and had scored more than 60 twice. But first year Michigan coach Bo Schembechler had played and coached under Woody and made it his obsession to defeat the man he respected. Ohio State players would say then and years later, it was as if Michigan had there playbook and were in the huddle for every call, because they were perfectly positioned for every offensive play and knew what plays to call against the best defense in the country. Michigan pulled the upset at home 24-12 and the war began.
When something is this big and important it shapes people’s lives. John Cooper had one of the most successful runs as coach in Ohio State history; unfortunately his legacy is he was 2-10-1 against the hated Wolverines. The man that was sought out to replace Cooper was Jim Tressel, who had built his reputation at Youngstown State, capturing four national champions and playing for two others. Upon being hired he endeared himself to the Columbus faithful by saying his first priority was beating Michigan. He has kept is word and is 6-1 against Michigan, covering the spread five times.
As sports wagering has come more into the mainstream existence over the years, this contest has annually drawn huge amounts of money on both sides. With two strong population bases, it easy to understand why this game would have a large following of bets placed. In years prior, before internet gambling was available as a consumer choice, except for Las Vegas, all the action was localized to bookies. Depending on the state or city it was not unusual for the actual line to be off 3-4 points in either direction, as the Buckeye and Wolverine faithful were loading up in support of their beloved team. Though this season has been nothing short of a disaster in Michigan with 3-8 record, a good chunk of the ill-will new coach Rich Rodriguez has brought upon himself can be erased by upsetting the Buckeyes.
In the past 15 seasons, the favorite is 11-4 and 10-5 ATS. The home team has enjoyed similar success in winning and is 9-6 against the oddsmakers.
In 1970 a local judge in Columbus dismissed a charge of obscenity against a defendant arrested for wearing a T-shirt that said, "F--- Michigan" because the message "accurately expressed" local feelings about the university and the state.
While this game will still draw oodles of attention, there are others that have great significance in regional pockets.
Of great significance is this year BYU and Utah conflict, known as the “Holy War”. The term Holy War, rather than denoting a war between religions, refers to the intensity of the competitors. A win by Utes might mean a return to the Holy Grail, a BCS bowl bid for completing a 12-0 season. Besides the fierceness of the battle, these conflicts are annually close. Only once in the last 11 years has a game been decided by more than a touchdown, which was Utah’s last unbeaten season in 2004. The underdog is an amazing 13-2 against the number.
Out West, Washington and Washington State have been meeting as cross-state rivals since 1900. Their have been a few interruptions over the years, however the 101st meeting might be marked in infamy for how dreadful each team actually is. It’s not every year two of the worst teams in college football matchup and it’s a rivalry game. Washington State is the only team to post a win, beating FCS Portland State. In 1962 this matchup became known as the “Apple Cup” game, with the state well known for producing those tasty treats. The visitor is 5-1 ATS in the last six contests, with Washington leading 64-30-6 all-time, in what can only be described as the Rotten Apple Cup in 2008.
The Stanford- Cal matchup is known as the “Big Game” in the Bay Area and in true fashion with these eccentric universities, the first meeting was held March 19, 1892 (not exactly football season) at San Francisco's Haight Street grounds with Stanford emerging victorious 14-10. They play for the Stanford Axe, with the Cardinal leading the series 55-44-11. With You Tube, this rivalry will live on for generations, being able to view “The Play”, in which four Cal players lateraled the ball five times on a kickoff return with four seconds left on the clock and Kevin Moen (who was the first and last ball carrier) ran through the Stanford band to the most improbable win ever. The Bears are the home team this season, with the visitor 12-4 ATS since 1992. One of the many great aspects of college football is the end of the season when the most bitter of rivalries get together to renew those emotions from the past. This is the game that mostly involves in-state or neighboring state universities that stir the emotion of every player and alumni alike. Because of proximity, many fans either attended these schools or were cultured by their parents to develop an affiliation with the beloved institution of hirer learning. The passion runs deep in these situations and this becomes an emotional encounter that is a tipping point, often for one calendar year when the next game is played and the drama unfolds all over again.
While this game will still draw oodles of attention, there are others that have great significance in regional pockets.
Of great significance is this year BYU and Utah conflict, known as the “Holy War”. The term Holy War, rather than denoting a war between religions, refers to the intensity of the competitors. A win by Utes might mean a return to the Holy Grail, a BCS bowl bid for completing a 12-0 season. Besides the fierceness of the battle, these conflicts are annually close. Only once in the last 11 years has a game been decided by more than a touchdown, which was Utah’s last unbeaten season in 2004. The underdog is an amazing 13-2 against the number.
Out West, Washington and Washington State have been meeting as cross-state rivals since 1900. Their have been a few interruptions over the years, however the 101st meeting might be marked in infamy for how dreadful each team actually is. It’s not every year two of the worst teams in college football matchup and it’s a rivalry game. Washington State is the only team to post a win, beating FCS Portland State. In 1962 this matchup became known as the “Apple Cup” game, with the state well known for producing those tasty treats. The visitor is 5-1 ATS in the last six contests, with Washington leading 64-30-6 all-time, in what can only be described as the Rotten Apple Cup in 2008.
The Stanford- Cal matchup is known as the “Big Game” in the Bay Area and in true fashion with these eccentric universities, the first meeting was held March 19, 1892 (not exactly football season) at San Francisco's Haight Street grounds with Stanford emerging victorious 14-10. They play for the Stanford Axe, with the Cardinal leading the series 55-44-11. With You Tube, this rivalry will live on for generations, being able to view “The Play”, in which four Cal players lateraled the ball five times on a kickoff return with four seconds left on the clock and Kevin Moen (who was the first and last ball carrier) ran through the Stanford band to the most improbable win ever. The Bears are the home team this season, with the visitor 12-4 ATS since 1992. One of the many great aspects of college football is the end of the season when the most bitter of rivalries get together to renew those emotions from the past. This is the game that mostly involves in-state or neighboring state universities that stir the emotion of every player and alumni alike. Because of proximity, many fans either attended these schools or were cultured by their parents to develop an affiliation with the beloved institution of hirer learning. The passion runs deep in these situations and this becomes an emotional encounter that is a tipping point, often for one calendar year when the next game is played and the drama unfolds all over again.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment