Reflections on the OSU – Michigan Game

It was 2:30 in the afternoon and I found myself sitting in a soft theater seat at the downtown Mansfield Renaissance Theater waiting for the opening kickoff. I had visited this venue before, attending a business meeting. I was impressed with the beauty of this renovated theater. This time I was there to see the real 2006 National College Championship, Number 1 Ohio State versus Number 2 Michigan. It can’t get any better than this.

I had not seen a football game all year. I once was an avid football-baseball-basketball fan until I caught the political bug and began following first the ’06 primary elections, then the just completed fall (appropriately named as the GOP fell soundly in both houses of Congress) elections.

After enduring years of post Woody Hayes football with the likes of Earl Bruce and John Cooper, who never could seem to be able to beat Michigan, I knew that with Coach Tressel this game would be special. Since I have not hooked up my television (I was a TV-aholic, too) I occasionally listened to the Bucks or Browns games on the radio.

Sitting in the theater watching the huge movie screen image broadcasting Channel 5 TV from Cleveland, we had to put up with the pre-game hype until kick off. Most impressive, though, was Mitch Album’s timely tribute to Bo Schembechler who died on Friday, the day before the big game. What a rivalry between Woody and Bo, ten years and their record was 5-4-1, advantage Bo. Wow, would Bo’s passing give Michigan an edge, something else to motivate them, win one for ol’ Bo?

The game itself was close, like the 10 year record between Bo and Woody. Back and forth first Michigan was ahead, and then OSU was two touchdown in front going into halftime. Bursting out after the halftime intermission Michigan roared back to nearly catch Ohio State. Back and forth, up and down it went. The game came down to the last minute when Michigan tried an on-side kick off. But sure-handed Cleveland Glenvile’s Ted Ginn secured the ball and that was all she wrote. But up until that point either team had a chance to win.

Michigan and Ohio State played over 100 games over the course of their storied rivalry, but this one has to be among the best, if not the best. The game certainly was one of the greatest of this century at the very least, maybe the last hundred years.

There even was a radio personality from WMAN radio who during commercials gave away tee shirts, buckeye coats and sweatshirts and Frisbees, and even a Kodak digital camera. We even had our own cheerleaders, guys yelling “””OOOO HHHHH””” and the crown of 500 responding “””IIIIIII OOOOO”””” whenever Ohio State did something good. We booed when we ESPN-ABC TV showed Michigan’s coach Lloyd Carr or the Michiganders as cameras panned the crowd.

This was truly a game that transcended being a mere sporting event for the die-hard sport fans only. It was also a bromide for Ohio conservative voters who saw many GOP and conservative candidates get crushed in the game played on eleven-seven earlier this month.

Overall, what really impressed me was the quality of both team’s performance, the leadership of the coaches, Carr and Tressel, and quarterbacks play under pressure and obstacles, both Henne and Smith. I sure would like to see the level of poise, professionalism, performance and leadership in the political arena and from our politicians as I saw Saturday afternoon emanating from the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio.