39
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42
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What a glorious albeit gut-wrenching 3½ hours. The Columbus Dispatch so aptly put it in the headline "One to Go". Although the score indicates a close match, a couple of miscues by the inevitable Heisman winner contributed to the closeness. Without those two errors, a tipped and intercepted pass and an errant snap from center, the score could have easily ended at 42 - 28.
Both teams arguably have some of the best defensive players in the country. Or so it seemed until yesterday's 'epic' matchup. The first time in over 3 decades that both teams had unbeaten records. Michigan was rated as the top defensive team in the country pre-season. Ohio State was reportedly weakened by the graduation of many of its departing seniors. Michigan had not allowed any run longer than 25 yards in any game this season. Ohio State had allowed only 1 touchdown in its last 4 games and less than 6 points in something like 16 quarters. It did appear that a defensive battle was going to be witnessed on November 18, 2006 in the horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio.....
.....that is until Michigan received the opening kickoff and scored within the first 2½ minutes of the game. What a sinking feeling. Ohio State answered with a masterful Troy Smith-engineered series the first time they got their hands on the ball. After that, seems that the defensive sides decided to have a contest on how porous they could be. Michigan allowed over 500 yards with 350 yards passing by Smith. Chad Henne and Michigan found the vulnerable spots in the Buckeye pass defense..... particularly the secondary. Mike Hart, running back for Michigan, showed some of the Buckeye running defense vulnerabilities.
Now that The Ohio State University Buckeye football team has been proclaimed the best in the land by vanquishing a once mighty wolverine, a huge question looms to the forefront: Should the Wolverines be allowed to have another go at #1? During one of the BCS bowl games? Keep in mind without the miscues by our Heisman man the score could have been as mentioned. Would Michigan then be #2 today? I would like to hear from you.
In a laughable attempt to delay the game after Michigan's futile on side kick attempt, a Wolverine groveling on the ground appeared to be hurt. However, he could not determine which leg was injured as he was seen first grabbing his right calf and then his left. Guess he was prepping himself for the NFL where it seems to be win at all costs.
In a display of unabashed bravura Hart said in a post game interview that the outcome would be different in a rematch. Of course it would. Smith would not give up 11 points. What Hart might see from the bench is more of this type of scenery from the Badger-prone Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
If you want a copy of this Michigan quarter, holler.
