Fear and Loathing in Columbus

Fear and Loathing in Columbus

By Andy Kuhn

Thanks to Karl Dorrell and the oft bewildering, hardly consistent UCLA Bruins, the love-fest between ESPN and USC won’t flood our television sets for the next 35 days. In what one could consider to be the antithesis of Pac-10 football games, UCLA fended off a late rally to upend USC 13-9. Playing host to 2 of USC’s last 3 losses, Pete Carroll may have again punched his ticket to his own house of horrors, The Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Call it karma, or call it Bo Schembechler’s ghost toying with BCS voters, I’m not sure what it is? One thing is for certain, provided BCS voters do the right thing, Michigan will be packing for Glendale around New Year’s Day.

A funny thing happened as the seconds ticked off in Pasadena, Ohio State fans immediately felt a grapefruit sized lump develop in the pit of their stomachs. The greatest rivalry in college sports gets its first ever second installment, only this time it will commence 1,920 miles away from their first encounter. In case you forgot, and I doubt you did, in what many believe to be the greatest game in the 103 year rivalry, Ohio State defended its home turf and secured a 42-39 victory over the Wolverines. In that game, Michigan illustrated its resiliency and its ability to capitalize off of turnovers and in doing so put the fear of God into Buckeye fans across the world.

Despite Florida’s impressive resume (defeats of Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee); the Gators should be relegated to playing a bowl with slightly less fanfare. Despite only garnering major victories over Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, Michigan should edge Florida in both polls, setting up the rematch Wolverine fans have been clamoring for. It is hard to beat your rival once, considering the stage that befalls them now; beating their rival twice would require herculean efforts. Oddly enough it appears that Hercules himself plays for Ohio State, he wears #10 and will be getting the Heisman trophy in a couple days, but anyway.

Ask any Ohio State fan who the best team they played all season was? In a poll conducted by ESPN.com 88% of Ohioans voted against a rematch in the National Championship. I wonder why? Do Buckeye fans agree with Tressel’s argument that only league champions should play in title games? I doubt it, Buckeye fans don’t want to see Michigan because they realize that ONLY Michigan is capable of beating them. While many Ohio State fans are supremely confident in their team, given they won even while committing 3 costly turnovers, 2 inside their own 35 yard line, a dedicated few recognize the perils of having to see the Wolverines again come January 8th.

Florida, despite its record is a mediocre squad, who in case you didn’t know hasn’t made a field goal over 37 yards this season! Urban Meyer, the most dynamic offensive coach in years cannot seem to get Chris Leak to reach that potential we all thought he had. Add the shoddy special teams play to an already suspect defense and what you have is a recipe for disaster in Glendale. Truth be told, Michigan does deserve to play in the title game. A top rated defense, capable offense, solid special teams, and a narrow defeat to the top team in the nation on their home field…..need I say more?

My advice to Buckeye fans, rest in the fact that you will be playing a team in the title game that you are familiar with and one that you have previously beaten. Forget the fact that, Michigan while playing for a title was second in the conference and was left for dead after USC’s defeat of Notre Dame. Ignore the fact that legendary Coach Bo Schembechler died just hours before kickoff in your first meeting, and most importantly don’t even think about the possibility that should you lose a tight game, Michigan will be crowned National Champions regardless of identical records and identical defeats. On second thought, maybe Buckeye fans should just buy their tickets to Glendale and pray the skies don’t open up and rain on what would otherwise be the greatest season in Ohio State football history.