Jim Harbaugh was requested at his information 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 comparable a day later. He, too, wasn’t enthusiastic about 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 greatest/most hyped Ohio State-Michigan recreation … 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 as the Buckeyes coach, the rivalry appeared lifeless 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 had been lopsided and Ohio State was extra involved with Clemson than it was about its most bitter rival.
But the rivalry wasn’t lifeless. It seems, it can’t be killed.
And in case you’re on the lookout for one thing to be pleased about on Thursday, how about this? The greatest rivalry in 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 first time, in 2021, he stated in the postgame information convention that “some people are born on third base and act like they’ve hit a triple,” referring to Day’s standing as the Buckeyes coach. A public shot at your rival’s head coach and all the pieces he’s completed 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 essential anymore. That’s not a remark you’ll be able to 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 recreation is about a lot greater than public trash speaking. From Ohio State’s aspect, you’ve gotten an elite-level program that expects to win nationwide titles residing in a actuality the place it isn’t even perceived to be the greatest program in 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 via 2019.
Day has an impeccable report and was on the brink of successful a nationwide title final yr, but many Ohio State followers query whether or not he’s the proper man for the job. Call it the ghost of John Cooper.
Michigan is looking for its third straight win in the collection, which might have been an unthinkable notion in December 2019. But the Wolverines are at present being investigated for an alleged in-person scouting scheme and persons are throwing the phrase “cheating” round. Harbaugh is teaching his staff throughout the week, getting ready the recreation plan and performing his media obligations per typical, 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 imagine Day employed a PI agency to research the Wolverines, and they attribute all of the program’s woes to Ohio State’s head coach. Day’s brothers have been roped into allegations that had been rampant on X (previously referred to as Twitter) and school soccer message boards.
You have real-life animosity between two coaches as the appetizer for a recreation that can very doubtless 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 recreation from heart problems. The medical doctors stated that each one of the pleasure main into The Game doubtless contributed to his demise.
It’s not presupposed to get heavier than that. Many will let you know nothing can examine to 2006. Maybe this doesn’t. But it feels greater differently.
This yr we’ve 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 in the stands than on the discipline. But this? This is pure.
Even Schembechler and legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes — the two males who presided over the Ten Year War from 1969 via 1978 — had love and admiration for each other. The two had been shut associates, although they spent the complete yr making an attempt to determine the right way to beat one another. Woody visited Bo in the hospital after he had a coronary heart assault. Bo gave a eulogy at Woody’s funeral.
Those are the final indicators of respect. The two present coaches can’t even muster the vitality to say the phrase.
The consequence of this recreation will reverberate, regardless of the final result.
• 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 had been all the time the higher staff. 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 which will have already turned on him.
• Ohio State wins: Day evens his report to 2-2 towards Michigan and all is forgiven. His report towards his greatest rival may not match Meyer’s (7-0) or Jim Tressel’s (9-1), however he will get additional credit score for successful the greatest version of this bitter rivalry. Ohio State reasserts itself as the class of the Big Ten and doubtless 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 how a lot the superior scouting helped the program flip the tables in the first place.
When has a recreation been extra compelling? Championship trophies are at stake on the discipline and self-worth is at stake off of it. For each groups.
Whether you’re an Ohio State fan or a Michigan fan, you’ll be able to most likely agree on one factor — that that is the greatest rivalry in school soccer and, perhaps, 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)
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