4 | NOVEMBER 24 • 2022 

for openers
The Jewish Touch on a Huge Rivalry
T

here were Israel and Judah, the 
McCoys and Hatfields, the Medicis 
and Pazzis and the Stewarts and 
Douglases. Today there is me, Sandy 
Hermanoff, the Buckeye, and my husband, 
Michael Hermanoff, the Wolverine. 

In case you don’t know, the 
Ohio State/Michigan Rivalry is 
referred to as THE RIVALRY. 
It is an American college foot-
ball game that is played annu-
ally between the Wolverines of 
the University of Michigan and 
the Buckeyes of the Ohio State 
University the third Saturday in November.

According to Wikipedia, the teams first 
met in 1897, and the rivalry had been played 
annually and uninterrupted from 1918 until 
2020, when it was not held due to COVID. 
The game has been played at the end of the 
regular season since 1935 (except for 1942, 
1986, 1998 and 2020). 
Since 1918, the game’s site has alternated 
between Columbus and Ann Arbor, (which 
hosts in odd years and Ohio State in even 
years) and has been played in Ohio Stadium 
since 1922 and Michigan Stadium since 1927. 
Through 2010, Ohio State and Michigan 
have decided the Big Ten Conference cham-
pionship between themselves on 22 different 
occasions and affected the determination of 
the conference title an additional 27 times. 

In 2000, the game was ranked by ESPN as 
the greatest North American sports rivalry 
ever. It’s hard for Buckeyes to say the name of 
the University in Ann Arbor, so we refer to it 
as TSUN — that school up north. 

Our rivalry has continued over the years 
with humor, fun and some very serious 
moments. This year, on Nov. 26, the Buckeyes 
will meet the Wolverines in The Shoe (the 
football stadium) in Columbus. You can bet 
there will be no words between us on that 
day. That includes after the game as well. 
However, the next day, Nov. 27, Michael 
and I will celebrate 47 years of marital bliss. 
That’s when the communication resumes. 
After all, it’s our anniversary. We were mar-
ried on Thanksgiving. He got the turkey. 
A few years back, one of the local TV 
stations came to our house and did a 
segment on our rivalry. A room in our 

house is overflowing with everything you can 
think of commemorating our schools. The 
theme was, “Will the marriage last?” So far, 
so good.
Seven years ago, we decided to renew our 
marriage vows. The ceremony was at Temple 
Beth El; Rabbi Mark Miller officiated. The 
chuppah was adorned with maize and blue 
on one side and scarlet and gray on the other. 
The “bride” carried Buckeye flowers, the 
“groom’s” lapel was — you guessed it, a maize 
and blue boutonniere. The cake, the decora-
tions reflected the theme. (There is talk of a 
50th celebration.)
It’s amazing how many temples and syn-
agogues encourage congregants to come to 
services dressed in their favorite college gear. 
The same for bar and bat mitzvahs. How cool 
is that? 
Over the years there have been bets, 
including travel destinations, wardrobe 
improvements, dinners — you name it. 
Outside our home waves a House Divided 
flag, plus hanging Buckeye and Wolverine 
paraphernalia. Brutus’ head (Buckeye’s mas-
cot) adorns the front porch. 
The bet of all time was when the director 
of Ohio State President’s Club challenged 
Michael that if Ohio State won that year (in 
2006) he would have to attend the brunch 
next year wearing an Ohio State football 
jersey with Hermanoff on the back. Michael 

agreed. The next year he wore the Ohio State 
jersey in front of 400 people at the Ohio State 
event before the game. 
Three years ago, we carried the rivalry 
one step further. I am chair of the Ohio 
State School of Communication Advisory 
Board and wrote for The Lantern, the school 
newspaper when I was a student. Michael 
was business manager of the Michigan Daily 
when he attended the university. 
In 2017, we called a meeting with faculty 
members of both our school newspapers 
and suggested a combined issue called: The 
Rivalry Edition. Not only did it give stu-
dents from both schools the opportunity to 
work together, but they were exposed to the 
business side of journalism as well. We also 
included a built-in online fundraiser for each 
paper. Both fundraisers have been successful: 
the money going to pay for travel, printing, 
paying students, etc. Last year, we launched a 
Rivalry Webinar with a moderator (rotating 
each year from a university), the two editors, 
sports editors and sports greats from each 
football team/realm. 
This year The Rivalry Edition debuted 
on Nov. 13, both in print and online in 
Columbus and Ann Arbor. The free webinar 
was on Nov. 17. 
We will be hanging out at one son’s house 
on game day. He and his family remain neu-
tral. Our other son and two of our grandchil-
dren are Wolverines. It has been a fun time 
over the years. Last year, I never heard the 
end of the win after they lost to the Buckeyes 
for 10 years before. This year, both teams 
look good although Ohio State is ranked 
higher. The tension mounts. 
We play Michigan for the 117th time. 
Michigan leads in wins: 59. Ohio State 51. 
They have tied six times. 
I have great hopes for Ohio State winning 
this year. I’m sure Michael is counting on 
his Wolverines to win again. I’m hoping my 
prayers from Temple will be heard. Both of 
our hats are in Hebrew letters: mine is Ohio, 
his is Go Blue. One thing we both will be 
celebrating the day after THE GAME is our 
anniversary — a winning celebration. 

Sandy Hermanoff is a writer and area public relations 

consultant. 

Sandy 
Hermanoff

PURELY COMMENTARY

