The game wasn’t nearly as close as the score makes it seem:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ohio State intercepted four passes by Michigan freshman Tate Forcier, and the OSU offense did just enough today to offer some breathing room as the Rose Bowl-bound Buckeyes gained their sixth straight victory in The Game, 21-10.
Senior safety Kurt Coleman had two of the picks, but Devon Torrence’s interception in the end zone stopped a Michigan scoring attempt early in the fourth quarter, and defensive end Thaddeus Gibson’s pick with 3:34 left at the Michigan 42-yard line sealed it.
Played in front of 110,922 in a Michigan Stadium populated heavily by Ohio State fans, the win by OSU (10-2, 7-1) assured Michigan (5-7, 1-7) of not going to a bowl game for the second straight season under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez and finishing in at least a tie for last in the Big Ten.
On the other hand, OSU coach Jim Tressel earned his eighth win against Michigan in nine tries, further extending the best start by an OSU coach in the rivalry.
Yea, I’m betting Rodriguez is wishing he’s stayed in West Virginia right about now.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I lived in Columbus for 15 years, both as a student at OSU and later working various jobs, getting married, etc. I came to anticipate the Michigan game with great anxiety since they had a way of wrecking the season many times, especially when Schembechler was coach at Michigan. I moved to the DC area in 1980 and spent a lot of unhappy hours in the 80’s & 90’s watching the Buckeyes win a few and lose the game when it seemed to count the most.
I knew nothing about Tressell when he got hired, but does he ever have the Michigan deal down. I thought there were several points in the 2nd half when Michigan was about to score and turn things around, but they couldn’t pull it out. Their QB looked bad, but I think the coaching put him in positions he could not fix.
I agree with you about RR wishing he’d stayed in Morgantown.
Still it was a fun game to watch today and I’m amazed at this winning streak. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Well, at least YOUR team won today….
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am
The game of the day in the Big Ten was Northwestern defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 33-31. Icing on the cake for NU after beating (then #4) Iowa in Iowa City 2 weeks ago. Go ‘Cats!!