Wasserman: Ohio State-Michigan, pure hatred and the apex of the best rivalry

Jim Harbaugh was requested at his news convention earlier this week if he respects Ryan Day and his workers. Harbaugh, as he typically does when requested one thing that makes him uncomfortable, hesitated earlier than dodging the query.

“It’s all about our preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh stated. “The days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this game, that’s where our focus is. Preparing ourselves and planning, gonna practice and then execute. Anything else is irrelevant when you get to this kind of big game.”

Ryan Day was requested one thing related a day later. He, too, wasn’t involved in giving an sincere reply.

“With everything going on and the things that are out there, we’ve kind of just stayed away from all the distractions and have just kind of focused on our team,” he stated. “I think our guys have done a good job of it. … I’ve talked to them a couple times about what’s gone on this season, going into the game, but they’re focused on this game. They are focused on this season.”

Writing a column proper now and have a query: Is this the most effective/most hyped Ohio State-Michigan sport … ever?

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 22, 2023

Four years in the past, after Ohio State’s 56-27 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in Day’s first yr because the Buckeyes coach, the rivalry appeared useless as a result of Urban Meyer killed it. Meyer was not Ohio State’s coach, however the basis of what he constructed carried over into the Day period and the Buckeyes stomped the Wolverines. The Game was lopsided, the recruiting outcomes have been lopsided and Ohio State was extra involved with Clemson than it was about its most bitter rival.

But the rivalry wasn’t useless. It seems, it can’t be killed.

And if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing to be glad about on Thursday, how about this? The biggest rivalry within the sport, one which was on life assist lower than 5 years in the past, isn’t solely again. It’s higher than ever.

After Harbaugh beat Ohio State for the primary time, in 2021, he stated within the postgame news convention that “some people are born on third base and act like they’ve hit a triple,” referring to Day’s standing because the Buckeyes coach. A public shot at your rival’s head coach and every thing he’s achieved in his profession? There’s no getting back from that.

Of course, Harbaugh later went on to say the remark was a counterpunch to Day, who reportedly stated he’d “hang 100” on Michigan throughout a dispute on a Big Ten coaches teleconference. Alas, the motivation for that isn’t actually necessary anymore. That’s not a remark you possibly can simply shrug off.

GO DEEPER

Michigan hasn’t fallen but, however will gravity pull Jim Harbaugh’s program again to Earth?

But this yr’s sport is about a lot greater than public trash speaking. From Ohio State’s aspect, you’ve got an elite-level program that expects to win nationwide titles residing in a actuality the place it isn’t even perceived to be the most effective program within the Big Ten East anymore. Day has misplaced consecutive video games to Michigan after the Buckeyes misplaced solely as soon as on this rivalry from 2004 by way of 2019.

Day has an impeccable file and was getting ready to successful a nationwide title final yr, but many Ohio State followers query whether or not he’s the precise man for the job. Call it the ghost of John Cooper.

Michigan is searching for its third straight win within the collection, which might have been an unthinkable notion in December 2019. But the Wolverines are at the moment being investigated for an alleged in-person scouting scheme and individuals are throwing the phrase “cheating” round. Harbaugh is teaching his crew in the course of the week, getting ready the sport plan and performing his media obligations per common, however he’s serving a three-game suspension from the Big Ten and gained’t be in Michigan Stadium on Saturday.

Many Michigan followers wholeheartedly consider Day employed a PI agency to research the Wolverines, and so they attribute all the program’s woes to Ohio State’s head coach. Day’s brothers have been roped into allegations that have been rampant on X (previously generally known as Twitter) and school soccer message boards.

You have real-life animosity between two coaches because the appetizer for a sport that can very probably decide who wins the Big Ten and advances to the College Football Playoff.

The 2006 version featured two undefeated groups in what was labeled “The Game of the Century.” Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died the day earlier than the sport from heart problems. The docs stated that all the pleasure main into The Game probably contributed to his dying.

It’s not speculated to get heavier than that. Many will let you know nothing can examine to 2006. Maybe this doesn’t. But it feels larger another way.

This yr we have now two applications and two coaches who legitimately hate each other. Rivalries exist in any respect ranges of sports activities and hate might be extra widespread within the stands than on the sphere. But this? This is pure.

Even Schembechler and legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes — the 2 males who presided over the Ten Year War from 1969 by way of 1978 — had love and admiration for each other. The two have been shut pals, regardless that they spent your entire yr attempting to determine the way to beat one another. Woody visited Bo within the hospital after he had a coronary heart assault. Bo gave a eulogy at Woody’s funeral.

Those are the final word indicators of respect. The two present coaches can’t even muster the vitality to say the phrase.

The results of this sport will reverberate, whatever the consequence.

• Michigan wins: The Wolverines keep on prime. They additionally preserve that the sign-stealing scandal has been utterly overblown, and the win over Ohio State is proof they have been at all times the higher crew. Even with out Harbaugh on the sideline, Michigan is superior to its bitter rival. The win additionally legitimizes the outcomes of the earlier two seasons. Day, in flip, has to return to Columbus together with his tail between his legs to a fan base that will have already turned on him.

• Ohio State wins: Day evens his file to 2-2 towards Michigan and all is forgiven. His file towards his largest rival won’t match Meyer’s (7-0) or Jim Tressel’s (9-1), however he will get additional credit score for successful the largest version of this bitter rivalry. Ohio State reasserts itself as the category of the Big Ten and sure returns to the College Football Playoff to attempt to end the job after coming shut a yr in the past. Meanwhile, Michigan is knocked out of the CFP and begins to face much more urgent questions on Connor Stalions, the dishonest scandal and the way a lot the superior scouting helped this system flip the tables within the first place.

When has a sport been extra compelling? Championship trophies are at stake on the sphere and self-worth is at stake off of it. For each groups.

Whether you’re an Ohio State fan or a Michigan fan, you possibly can most likely agree on one factor — that that is the most effective rivalry in school soccer and, possibly, sports activities. And the anticipation and real hatred that exists makes this Thanksgiving week sweeter than regular.

This is rivalry nirvana.

This is the epitome of what makes school soccer nice.

Who’s not grateful this rivalry is again … and higher than ever?

(Photo of Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images)