Rodriguez needs to embrace U-M, OSU football rivalry

November 18, 3:57 PMMichigan Wolverines ExaminerFrank Benson

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Rich Rodriguez doesn’t get it.

The first-year Michigan coach isn’t at West Virginia any more preparing for the school’s biggest rivalry game of the year against Pittsburgh. Perhaps he’s thinking since it’s been a disappointing season for the Wolverines maybe he can lie low and all this Michigan-Ohio State "thing" will pass without a lot of fanfare.

Guess again.

Rodriguez seems to be running away from what is an opportunity any coach would kill for.

Rodriguez says all the right things. But they don’t ring true.

"I won’t have to say anything or do anything to get the team ready to play this week," he said after last Saturday’s lost to Northwestern. "This is a tremendous challenge for us."

Yes, the 105th meeting of Michigan and Ohio State is set for Saturday at noon at the Big Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio.

You should know all of the facts by now. Ohio State is 9-2 and ranked No. 10 in the country and Michigan is 3-8 and will miss going to a bowl game for the first time in 33 years. Ohio State can gain at least a share of its fourth straight Big Ten title with a win.

The Buckeyes have beaten Michigan four straight years. Ask Ohio State coach Jim Tressel how big this upcoming game is.

"Ohio State vs. Micihgan trumps everything," said the man in the sweater vest at a news conference on Monday. "It trumps whether it’s dangerous or you don’t have a chance or any of those kind of things. It trumps all things because it’s the Ohio State-Michigan game. And I would like to think the guys understand that. But there’s only one demonstration of understanding that, and that’s at 12 noon on Saturday."

Tressel refuses to pay attention to the point-spread for the game which lists his Buckeyes as a 20 1/2-point favorite.

"When you say don’t have anything to lose, that’s not true, because the biggest thing  is the Ohio State-Michigan game. And that’s at stake for both teams, " he said.

Remember when Tressel was hired as Ohio State head coach in 2001 one of the first things he said was how his team was going to make his fans proud when they played Michigan.

That first season under Tressel unranked and decided underdog Ohio State defeated Michigan, 26-20 behind quarterback Craig Krenzel making his first collegiate start.

Legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes never refered to the Wolverines by name, he just talked about "that school up North."

Rodriguez said he understands the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is "probably the best in our sport," but he said as a coach he can’t get caught up in the hype.

"For me, it’s the game," he said. "And I can’t focus on history. I have to spend time on the here and now. That’s all I can do."

Michigan cornerback Donovan Warner said a season’s worth of frustrations are waiting to come out on Saturday.

"All that stuff we’ve heard all year I just want to let it out and this is our chance, against Ohio State," he said.

The Wolverines will go into the game without quarterback Steve Threet and running back Sam McGuffie but both running backs Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown are healthy and ready to play.

At Ohio State, coach John Cooper was very successful except against Michigan, where he posted a 2-10-1 record. It was enough to cost him his job.

Rodriguez said he’s gotten into the spirit of the rivalry. There is a sign attached to his phone in his office that says, "Beat Ohio State."

Rodriguez knows a win over Ohio State wouldn’t suddenly undo all the disappointments of the 2008 season.

But for Maize and Blue football fans, it would make the long winter ahead a little sweeter.