Battle of the undefeateds

Every fall two teams gather for what is considered one of the greatest rivalries in sports. On Nov.. 19, Michigan and Ohio State met for the 103rd time to claim the Big 10 title, a trip to the Bowl Championship Series national championship game and, more importantly, bragging rights for another year.

Both teams entered the game in Columbus, Ohio, undefeated for the first time since 1973, and for the very first time ranked one and two in the nation. There was a lot of hype for this game. All week long ESPN was talking nonstop about what they had dubbed Judgment Day.

On the eve of this historic game, both teams lost an icon. Bo Schembechler passed away on Nov. 17 from heart failure. Before the game, Schembechler was honored with a moment of silence. He meant a lot to Wolverine football. When he first took over as Michigan head coach in 1969, he inherited poor facilities. Now Schembechler Hall stands as the team's base of operations. The news of his death rocked not just Michigan, but Ohio State where he started as an assistant coach under the great Woody Hayes. Schembechler eventually left to coach Miami (Ohio) and then left for Ann Arbor in 1969. This is were he would meet his mentor Hayes in what was called the “10-year war.” As the Wolverines head coach, Bo won 13 Big 10 titles, went to ten Rose Bowl games and had a 5-4-1 record against Ohio State.

Both teams took the field on Nov. 18 with heavy hearts and a determination to live up to what Hayes and Schembechler had started many years ago.

Traditionally, these games have been low scoring, with big hits, big plays and some surprises from both teams. This year was no different, except this was no low-scoring affair.

Michigan drew first blood, scoring a touchdown from Michael Hart on its opening drive. Ohio State opened its drive with an empty backfield and a five wide receiver spread, something they haven't used all season long. Surprise! Ohio State coach Jim Tressell has a habit of pulling new stuff out of his hat just for this game.

\The Wolverines had no answer for spread formation and was stuck in a zone defense for the whole first half. I thought it was going to be a shootout all night long after the way both teams started the game. Boy, was I wrong. Michigan was forced to punt on its next three possessions.

Ohio State went up by as much as 14 points in the second quarter and led at halftime 28-14. Michigan opened the second half the way they started the game scoring a touchdown on a two-yard run by Hart.

Michigan also had an answer for the spread formation that the Buckeyes were running, forcing them to punt twice. Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith also fumbled the ball twice from bad snaps by the center, which were both recovered by the Wolverines, and he did what he hadn't done in his two previous games against Michigan—throw an interception.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the score was 35-31 Ohio State. Michigan had a chance to win the game late in the quarter when Ohio State faced a third and 15 late in the game. The incomplete pass by Smith was going to force the Buckeyes to punt but a helmetto- helmet hit, but linebacker Shawn Crable gave Ohio State an automatic fi rst down, which lead to the gamewinning touchdown. Michigan marched down and scored a touchdown and got a two-point conversion to make it 42-39.

On the onside kick, Ohio State wideout Ted Ginn, Jr. recovered the ball and would run out the clock to end the game.

It was an instant classic and will be talked about for years to come. Not bad, considering both teams combined had given up only 20 points a game.

On Sunday, when the new BCS rankings came out, both teams were still one and two. With a little luck, we could see this game again on Jan. 3, 2007.

— Matt Anderson is sports editor and a journalism major.