They have a standing date, usually at high noon on the third or fourth
Saturday in November.
(This year, of course, it’s the third Saturday of November at 1 p.m.)
The location rotates between two of college football's most revered venues,
Michigan Stadium and Ohio Stadium.
The nation, courtesy of ABC, is usually watching. (Although this year, it sounds like the West Coast will have to fend for itself.)
Of course, we are speaking of the Ohio State-Michigan series, which was named
as the greatest sports rivalry of the 20th century in balloting conducted on
ESPN.com.
Yes, Ohio State-Michigan was ahead of Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier, Duke-North
Carolina, Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell, Canadiens-Maple Leafs, Jack Nicklaus-Arnold
Palmer and Yankees-Red Sox on the continuum of sports' top head-to-head
match-ups.
This year will mark the 102nd meeting between the Buckeyes and Wolverines on
the college gridiron. The feelings of enmity and respect continue to flow on
both sides of this tradition-laden rivalry.
"To me, Michigan is the team you set out at the beginning of the year to
beat," said two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, whose OSU teams
posted a 3-0-1 record against UM from 1972-75. "Certainly, you want to win
them all, but that is a special game. It is our rival. We want to play a great
game against the University of Michigan.
"It's at the end of the year and you have all year to improve to be at
your best by the time you come to play the Michigan football team."
Former OSU head coach Earle Bruce was an assistant under Woody Hayes for
seven seasons before leading the Buckeyes to a 5-4 mark against Michigan as the
head coach from 1979-87.
"If you don't win the Michigan-Ohio State game, that's a problem,"
Bruce said. "You're not going to be recognized for too much success. We've
had 11-1 and 10-1 football teams that lost to Michigan and they're not even
mentioned in the second breath."
With 101 previous meetings, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry ranks 17th among
the most-played rivalries in Division I-A history. Michigan leads the all-time
series 57-38-6.
"It is hard to believe there are other ones that are longer, but this
one reached 100 (last) year," said renowned OSU football historian Jack
Park, author of "The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia".
"They have played every year since 1918. The only reason they didn't play
between 1913-17 is because Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1913.
"Michigan had withdrawn from the Big Ten and the Big Ten did not
allow any of its members to play Michigan. Finally, Michigan rejoined the Big
Ten in 1918 and resumed the series with Ohio State.
"Now, it is Ohio State's longest continuous series. Ohio State had
played Illinois every since 1914. But because of the Big Ten schedule with 11
teams, they didn't play Illinois last year or this year."
The Game, as the rivalry has become known, was moved to the final week of the
regular season in 1935. Since then, it has had a major impact on the Big Ten
championship race -- and, in many cases, also the bid for the Rose Bowl -- no
fewer than 42 times.
Make it 43 times – Ohio State can win a share of the Big Ten championship this season with a win in Ann Arbor. Michigan can also get a conference title with a win and a Penn State loss at Michigan State. In fact, if Penn State loses, OSU is guaranteed a share of the conference title win or lose.
On 20 of those 42 previous occasions, the teams have decided the title between
themselves.
Since 1927, the teams have been so evenly matched that neither side has
enjoyed anything more than a four-game winning streak. In fact, in the last 11
meetings in which one team came in unbeaten, that team has left unblemished just
five times (OSU in 1979 and 2002; Michigan in 1971, '92 and '97).
On 18 occasions since 1936, The Game has matched teams both ranked in the top
10 of the Associated Press poll. OSU's record in those games is 8-8-2, although
Michigan has won the last six times that has happened (1976, '77, '80, '86, '97
and last year).
On three occasions, both teams have been unbeaten. Those were 1970 (OSU won
20-9), 1973 (a 10-10 tie) and 1975 (OSU won 21-14).
With an NCAA record crowd of 112,118 for the game two years ago in Ann Arbor, the total attendance figure for this series -- at least since Ohio Stadium opened in
1922 -- moved past the seven million mark.
This year's game will mark the 55th time in 83 years that the game has sold
out, including the last 37 in a row.
Although Michigan enjoys a 19-game lead in the overall series -- think about
that: OSU has to win the next 19 games just to even the series, and the earliest
that can happen is 2023 -- there are other ways to twist the numbers.
If you deduct UM's 13-0-2 advantage in the first 15 games of the series, the
Wolverines have just a 44-38-4 edge.
And, over the last 50 years, the teams are deadlocked at 24-24-2.
You look at the coaches who have had the most success in The Game. On the OSU
side, everybody looks to Hayes. He was 16-11-1 against Michigan. His is by far
the best mark against UM among any of the six former OSU coaches who lasted at
least five years on the job.
On the Michigan side, most see Bo Schembechler as the standardbearer. But he
was just 11-9-1 against Ohio State. Fielding Yost, who benefited from UM’s
early dominance, was 16-3-1 against OSU. Fritz Crisler was 7-2-1. Current UM
coach Lloyd Carr would get to third on the list of UM coaches against OSU with a
win in this year’s game. He would improve to 7-4.
With Park's assistance, we will navigate through the most meaningful
moments in the first 100 OSU-Michigan games, a span covering 107 years.
Michigan Dominates Early Years
Ohio State and Michigan met for the first time ever on Oct. 16, 1897,
at Regents Field in Ann Arbor. Michigan, in its 18th season of intercollegiate
football, prevailed 34-0. OSU was fielding just its seventh team.
OSU again visited Michigan in 1900, playing the Wolverines to a scoreless
tie. A year later, OSU hosted Michigan at Ohio Field for the first time ever,
falling 21-0. In 1902, UM dealt OSU an 86-0 drubbing, the school's worst loss
ever.
This would be a recurring theme as Michigan never lost in the first 15
meetings between the schools.
"Michigan outscored Ohio State 369-21 in the first 15 games and you have
to remember that in some of those games touchdowns were only worth four or five
points, so it's really even worse than it sounds," Park said.
OSU did not score its first points against Michigan until their sixth
meeting, still a 31-6 UM rout. The feat was so remarkable, however, The Detroit
News blared a headline, "Ohio Scores on Michigan."
OSU ended 22 years of frustration with its 13-3 win over UM on Oct. 25, 1919.
The Buckeyes won with a touchdown off a blocked punt and another on a 42-yard
run by star Chic Harley.
"I think it started to become a big deal early on, although Ohio State
lost 13 of the first 15 games and the other two were ties," Park said.
"Ohio State's first victory in the series was 1919, the 16th game in the
series. Chic Harley played one of the finest games of all time and Ohio State
won 13-3.
"There were 25,000 fans at Michigan that day at old Ferry Field. There
were 5,000 Ohio State fans there that day. That was quite a win. With that loss,
Michigan was 3-4 that year. That was Fielding Yost's only losing season at
Michigan."
Yost tipped his hat to the winners that day, visiting the OSU dressing
quarters to congratulate the Buckeyes.
OSU vs. Michigan in 1922
Ohio Stadium Era Begins
It was the exploits of Harley that led OSU to build massive Ohio
Stadium. The Horseshoe-shaped stadium opened in 1922, and Michigan was on the
docket for the stadium dedication game.
But UM, behind star and later coach Harry Kipke, spoiled the dedication game
with a 19-0 win. An overflow crowd of 72,500 attended the game. The loss spoiled
OSU's modest three-game winning streak in the series.
The 1926 game, won by Michigan 17-16 after OSU missed a late extra point,
still stands as the only game in the series decided by a single point. An
announced record crowd of 90,411 attended the game as the Buckeyes attempted to
remain undefeated.
A year later, UM opened Michigan Stadium. Ohio State played the
dedication game there on Oct. 22, 1927, but the Wolverines prevailed 21-0 before
a capacity crowd of 84,401.
As the country moved into the Great Depression, even college football was not
immune. The Game had been averaging crowds of 75,000 or better. But in 1932,
just 19,500 could afford tickets to see Michigan win 14-0 in Columbus.
Better times were coming, though, for the nation and Ohio State. Francis
Schmidt took over as the OSU coach in 1934 and proceeded to see his teams rip
off four straight shutout wins over UM from 1934-37 (34-0, 38-0, 21-0, 21-0).
"Francis Schmidt had great success against Michigan, winning his first
four years," Park said. "That is one of only two four-game winning
streaks over Michigan, and they shut them out all four years. The other time was
from 1960-63 with Woody when Michigan was really down at that time."
Schmidt was credited for starting the tradition of awarding a pair of Gold
Pants -- a tiny pendant -- to members of OSU teams that defeated Michigan.
Michigan gained a measure of revenge in 1940 as All-American Tom Harmon ran
for three touchdowns, passed for two more and kicked four extra points in a 40-0
win in Columbus.
UM's next two trips to Ohio Stadium did not go quite as well, though. With
former Massillon High School coach Paul Brown at the helm, OSU defeated UM 21-7
in 1942 on its way to clinching its first national championship. Les Horvath and
Paul Sarringhaus each threw and caught TD passes in the win.
Two years later, OSU denied UM a piece of the Big Ten title with an 18-14
win.
"There were two games in the 1940s that stood out," Park said.
"In 1942, the win helped Ohio State win its first national championship.
"Then, the 1944 game was the first time the Ohio State-Michigan winner
would be the outright Big Ten champion. Ohio State won 18-14 in a game where the
lead changed hands on all five of the touchdowns. Les Horvath was outstanding
that day. He scored the winning touchdown and went on to win the Heisman
Trophy."
Michigan blasted OSU 58-6 in 1946, Paul Bixler’s only year as the OSU head
coach. That remains OSU’s worst loss in Ohio Stadium history.
One of the most memorable games in OSU history occurred in 1950 as the
Buckeyes hosted Michigan in the Snow Bowl. A paralyzing blizzard and near-zero
temperatures gripped central Ohio. But 50,503 showed up to see Michigan win 9-3.
The Wolverines won despite running for just 27 yards and never completing a
pass. The teams punted a combined 45 times in an effort to win the field
position battle. OSU led 3-2 late in the first half on a Vic Janowicz field
goal. But UM blocked a Janowicz punt and recovered it in the end zone for what
would be the winning touchdown. OSU was denied a Big Ten title and head coach
Wes Fesler resigned his post under fire weeks later.
"The Snow Bowl game never should have been played," Park said.
"Ohio State really had the better team. They should have won big over them.
Michigan was having a bad season, yet they beat Ohio State. Northwestern upset
Illinois that same day, opening the door for Michigan to go to the Rose
Bowl."
Paul Warfield against UM in 1961
Hayes Era Comes Next
Ohio State had been through four coaches in just the 10-year period
between 1941-50. It had earned the nickname as the Graveyard of Coaches.
But Hayes, the coach at Miami (Ohio), stepped into the vacancy and became a
legend.
"Woody Hayes was pretty successful against Michigan," Park said.
"It took them 27 years to beat him two years in a row. He was 16-11-1
against them. Michigan only won eight of the first 25 games he coached against
them."
Hayes' first OSU team fell 7-0 in Michigan in 1951. But they rolled 27-7 in
Columbus a year later. Then, in 1954, OSU secured a national championship and
moved toward a perfect 10-0 season with a 21-7 win.
This dramatic victory saw the OSU defense mount a huge goal-line stand with
the game tied at 7-7 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dave Leggett then drove
OSU 99-1/2 yards the other way for the go-ahead touchdown. Howard "Hopalong"
Cassady tacked on an insurance score late in the game.
A year later, OSU blanked UM 17-0 in Ann Arbor to repeat as the Big Ten
champions. Cassady had 146 yards and a score in that win.
OSU's Dick LeBeau scored a pair of touchdowns in his team's 31-14 rout of the
Wolverines in 1957, a win that propelled the Buckeyes to another national title.
OSU defeated Michigan 23-14 in 1959, capping the only season where the
schools played where each side ended the year with a losing record (UM was 4-5;
OSU was 3-5-1).
Hayes twisted the knife in Ann Arbor in 1961, leaving his starters in late in
the game to blow out the Wolverines 50-20 and earn another conference crown. The
joke was on him, though, when OSU's faculty council turned down the Rose Bowl
bid, saying football was simply becoming too big at the school. The decision
triggered riots on campus.
OSU and Michigan managed just one Big Ten title between them -- UM's 1964
crown -- from 1962-67.
In 1968, an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 85,371 and 10,000 more watching on
closed circuit in Ann Arbor saw the Buckeyes rout UM 50-14. Jim Otis had 142
yards and four touchdowns for the second-ranked Buckeyes, who advanced to the
Rose Bowl and moved a step closer to another national championship.
A year later, a Hayes protégé named Glenn "Bo" Schembechler made
the jump from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan, replacing longtime coach Bump Elliott.
Schembechler and Hayes
OSU came into the 1969 game in Ann Arbor looking for a school-record 23rd
straight win and, although it could not go to the Rose Bowl due to the no-repeat
rule, a likely second consecutive national title.
But Michigan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history.
Fullback Garvie Craw scored a pair of touchdowns in his team's 24-12 win over
the Buckeyes before a Michigan Stadium-record crowd of 103,583.
The win was the first blow in what would become known as the "Ten
Year War" between Hayes and Schembechler.
"It really was a great rivalry before Hayes and Bo Schembechler came
along," Park said. "But it is hard to think any series had the
build-up, impact and emotion connected to those 10 years between 1969-78.
"The Big Ten was really weak other than those two schools. They were
fighting it for a chance at the national championship every year. Bo was a
protégé of Woody's and he defeated Ohio State in his first game, breaking Ohio
State's all-time winning streak of 22 games."
OSU got its revenge in 1970, winning 20-9 behind the steady play of
quarterback Rex Kern and a strong defense that limited UM to just 155 yards. The
win sent the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl and earned them a piece of another
national title.
"In 1970, they met for the first time when both teams were undefeated
and untied," Park said. "I think that 1970 game may have been the
biggest. Year in and year out, it is hard to think of any bigger, maybe last
year's game with a lot at stake. There was a book 'One Game Season' and that was
pretty much what it was."
OSU's 10-7 loss at Michigan in 1971 was not remarkable, particularly with OSU
finishing the year 6-4. But it was marked by huge outburst from Hayes after UM's
Thom Darden intercepted a pass intended for OSU's Dick Wakefield. Hayes stormed
on to the field asking for a pass interference penalty. Instead, he was
penalized. He retreated to the sideline, where he ripped up down markers.
Griffin's four years at OSU came next. In 1972, UM was 10-0 and pointed
toward the Rose Bowl. But OSU mounted two huge goal line stands in a 14-11 win,
marked by Griffin's 30-yard TD run. OSU advanced to the Rose Bowl instead.
When asked why he didn't attempt a field goal either time his team
threatened, Schembechler replied, "We should have scored from the 1."
The 1973 game marked the second time the teams met with unbeaten records
(10-0 each). UM's Mike Lantry missed two field goals in the final two minutes of
what ended up a 10-10 tie. Big Ten athletic directors voted the next day to send
OSU to the Rose Bowl, sending Schembechler into a rage.
Soccer style kicker Tom Klaban booted four field goals a year later as OSU
nipped UM 12-10 in Columbus. Because OSU had lost an earlier game at Michigan
State, the ADs had to vote again, and again they sent OSU to Pasadena. This
marked the only game where OSU defeated UM without scoring a touchdown.
In 1975, the top-ranked Buckeyes rallied from a 14-7 deficit to win 21-14 and
claim a fourth straight Rose Bowl. Griffin’s 31-game string of 100-yard games
was snapped, but his brother, defensive back Ray Griffin, had 14 tackles and the
interception that set up the game-winning score. Hayes called the win "the
greatest game I've ever coached."
It would also be the venerable coach's last win over UM, which would post
three consecutive wins over the Buckeyes (22-0, 14-6, 14-3). Hayes was fired
after the 1978 Gator Bowl loss to Clemson.
Park put that whole period of time in proper perspective.
"Between 1968-80, over those 13 seasons Michigan only lost five games in
the Big Ten to teams other than Ohio State," he said. "Ohio State only
lost five games to schools other than Michigan in the Big Ten.
"In that same period, they were 6-6-1 against each other. Think
about that -- each team lost to more to each other than they did to the rest of
the Big Ten combined. Those two teams were so evenly matched -- and they were so
much better than the rest of the league."
Bruce Takes Over
Bruce came on the scene and led OSU to an unbeaten regular season in
his first year on the job in 1979. That feat was capped by an 18-15 win in Ann
Arbor. That win has come to be known far and wide as the "Buckeye Block
Party" as Jim Laughlin blocked a UM punt and Todd Bell returned it for the
winning score.
Quarterback Art Schlichter was carried off the field in Ann Arbor two years
later after engineering a 14-9 win over the Wolverines. Schlichter scored two
touchdowns, including the 6-yard game winner behind a key block by fullback
Vaughn Broadnax.
OSU clinched a Rose Bowl bid in 1984 with a stirring 21-6 win over UM in
Columbus. Keith Byars scored twice in that win.
Two years later, brash UM quarterback Jim Harbaugh guaranteed victory and
delivered it as the Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes 26-24 in Columbus to steal
the Rose Bowl bid.
"We're going to be jacked up and we're going to win," said Harbaugh,
who threw for 261 yards. Tailback Jamie Morris added 210 yards on the ground to
blunt OSU linebacker Chris Spielman's 29-tackle effort.
The 1987 game was marked by Bruce's firing on the Monday prior to the game by
OSU president Ed Jennings. Athletic director Rick Bay resigned in protest. Bruce
was permitted to coach the UM game and the team, just 5-4-1 after a crushing
loss to Iowa, responded. Sporting "EARLE" headbands they upset UM
23-20 in Ann Arbor. Bruce was carried off the field.
Earle Bruce gives a locker room speech after the win in 1987
Cooper Comes Next
Ohio State went after Arizona State's John Cooper in large part
because he had led the Sun Devils to a win over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.
Unfortunately, Cooper rarely recaptured that magic in his 13 years as the OSU
coach, going 2-10-1 against UM.
Michigan reeled off four straight wins to greet the almost instantly
embattled Cooper. A 13-13 tie in 1992 -- called one of OSU's "greatest
wins" by then-president Gordon Gee -- saved Cooper's job.
A year later, though, OSU went to Ann Arbor at 9-0-1 and in search of the
Rose Bowl bid. But UM played inspired football and blanked the Buckeyes 28-0.
Cooper punched a blackboard at halftime of his team's memorable 22-6 win over
the Wolverines in 1994 in Columbus.
But that only set the stage for three more defeats, all with either Big Ten,
Rose Bowl or national championship implications on the line.
In 1995, UM tailback Tim Biakabutuka rolled for 313 yards in his
team's 31-23 upset of the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes, who were 11-0 coming in. UM was
fueled by comments from OSU's Terry Glenn, who said, "Michigan is
nothing."
The stakes were the same a year later as 10-0 OSU hosted Michigan. But OSU
cornerback Shawn Springs slipped on a pass coverage, allowing a 69-yard TD pass
from Brian Griese to Tai Streets in a 13-9 Michigan win. UM's inspiration for
this game came from, of all places, Bruce, whose stirring Senior Tackle speech
before 20,000 at Ohio Stadium was broadcast live -- right into the hotel rooms
of the UM players.
The Rose Bowl bid was on the line in 1997, but Michigan, riding the three-way
play of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, pulled out a 20-14 win on its way
to a national title.
The Buckeyes finally got the monkey off their back in 1998, defeating UM
31-16 to claim a piece of the Big Ten title. Quarterback Joe Germaine threw for
330 yards and three touchdowns, while David Boston -- whose own comments about
Woodson before the 1997 game got him in hot water -- had 10 catches for 217
yards and two TDs.
But two more disappointing losses (24-17 in 1999 and 38-26 in 2000) rounded
out Cooper's stay as the OSU coach.
All told, Michigan denied OSU five Big Ten titles, four Rose Bowl berths and
legitimate chances at three national titles in Cooper's 13 years.
"I think part of it was mental," Park said. "Some of those
Michigan teams were very, very good. A break or two just went their way. In some
cases, Ohio State was almost beaten before they played the game.
"In the 1995 game, they spread us out and Tim Biakabutuka just ran wild.
The real sad one was the 1996 game. Michigan should not have been on the same
field with Ohio State. Ohio State was up 9-0 at halftime on three field goals.
That's where the game was lost. They had a first down at the 2-yard line and
ended up kicking a field goal.
"I'm sure they were pretty pumped up in the Michigan locker room at
halftime. Then, they came out and scored to cut the lead to 9-7. I think most
Ohio State fans knew at that point that Michigan was going to win the
game."
Jerry Rudzinski against UM in 1998
Tressel Sets The Tone
OSU turned to Youngstown State's Jim Tressel to replace Cooper and, on
the day he was introduced as the coach, appeared at halftime of the OSU-Michigan
basketball game at Value City Arena.
He told the crowd: "I can assure you, you will be proud of our young
people in the classroom, in the community and, most especially, in 310 days in
Ann Arbor, Mich., on the football field."
Tressel's team backed up the talk as the Buckeyes upset UM 26-20 to deny the
Wolverines a share of the Big Ten title.
But that was part time compared to the 2002 game, where OSU rallied for a
14-9 victory that sent the Buckeyes to the national championship game at the
Fiesta Bowl.
"I think one way Jim Tressel is like Woody Hayes is that he
really points toward certain games," Park said. "He has never told me
that, but that is just my opinion. Hayes always pointed toward the Michigan
game. He knew you can't get a team sky high every Saturday.
"That might have been part of the problem in the 1990s. They
maybe tried to treat it as just another game.
"I think Tressel made the point from the time he was introduced at the
Schottenstein Center with his '310 days' speech. He sent the message right there
that this is going to be a high priority for us."
Two years ago, Michigan cruised to a 35-21 in the historic 100th meeting
between the two schools. Quarterback John Navarre threw for two touchdowns to
Braylon Edwards, while Chris Perry rushed for two scores as well. The win gave
UM an outright Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth.
Last year, Michigan already had the Big Ten title clinched when it visited OSU. But the Buckeyes, behind a career day by Troy Smith, upset Michigan 37-21. Smith threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 145 yards and a score.
Carmen Ohio amidst the craziness of the 2002 celebration
One Man’s Opinion
Nobody asked, but here is my list of the top 10 Ohio State-Michigan
games. Here goes:
1. 2002: Ohio State 14, Michigan 9 -- Others can disagree, but I
think this was the biggest win in the history of Ohio Stadium. OSU finally
got the UM monkey off its back and became the first Big Ten school to play
in the Bowl Championship Series national title game.
2. 1968: Ohio State 50, Michigan 14 -- OK, it was lopsided, but how
many times do you get a chance to hang 50 on UM and move a step closer to a
national championship? That’s what you call a dream day.
3. 1970: Ohio State 20, Michigan 9 – Some say this should be No. 1.
Buckeyes got revenge for 1969 loss in Ann Arbor and clinched Rose Bowl bid.
4. 1950: Michigan 9, Ohio State 3 – The renowned Snow Bowl, won in
a blizzard by UM almost as a fluke.
5. 1969: Michigan 24, Ohio State 12 – Woody Hayes had to give the
devil – in this case, former protégé Bo Schembechler – his due after
UM snapped OSU’s 22-game winning streak. One of the biggest upsets in Big
Ten football history.
6. 1954: Ohio State 21, Michigan 7 – Great goal line stand
preserved tie in fourth quarter. Win helped lead to school’s second
national title.
7. 1942: Ohio State 21, Michigan 7 – Paul Brown’s troops upset
favored UM and won Big Ten, national titles.
8. 1973: Ohio State 10, Michigan 10 – Two unbeatens play to a
standoff. How God intended it, I’m sure.
9. 1979: Ohio State 18, Michigan 15 – Dramatic Buckeye Block Party
win in Ann Arbor.
10. 1975: Ohio State 21, Michigan 14 – Late rally sends OSU to
fourth straight Rose Bowl.
Others Of Note: 1944 (OSU 18-14; Les Horvath wills OSU to win), 1955 (OSU
17-0; maybe OSU’s best defensive showing ever), 1972 (OSU 14-11; Buckeyes
mount two great goal-line stands), 1986 (UM 26-24; an incredible ride; Jim
Harbaugh guaranteed victory), 1987 (OSU 23-20; Earle Bruce’s last stand);
1998 (OSU 31-16; Germaine-to-Boston lethal); 2001 (OSU 26-20; Jim Tressel wins
debut).
The Great Traditions
The Ohio State-Michigan game has spawned its own set of traditions for the
Buckeyes, including:
· Gold Pants – Francis Schmidt came up with the idea in 1934 of
awarding players on OSU teams that defeat Michigan with a pendant depicting
a pair of gold pants. “They put their pants on one leg at a time,”
Schmidt reasoned.
· Senior Tackle – This tradition began in 1913 where seniors
hit the blocking sled one last time before the final game. Since the
Michigan game became the final regular season game in 1935, this tradition
has typically fallen a day or two before The Game.
· Tunnel of Pride – This tradition began for the 1995 OSU-Notre
Dame game, but has continued for every OSU-Michigan game in Ohio Stadium
since. Former players form a tunnel for the team to pass through on its way
to the field.