Page 10-The Michigan Daily- Thursday, November 19,1992 Tovar the Terrible OSU senior is latest in a long line of great Buckeye linebackers by Mark Podolski Ohio State Latern When Ohio State linebacker Steve Tovar walks off the field at Ohio Stadium for the final time Saturday against Michigan, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest linebackers ever to play at Ohio State. Along with Chris Spielman, Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau and Marcus Marek, Tovar has con- tinued the legacy of great OSU linebackers. He will leave Ohio State fourth on the all-time tackle list behind Marek, Cousineau and Spielman, and possibly could become the first Buckeye ever to win the Butkus Award, given annually to the na- tion's premiere linebacker. Tovar has 393 tackles for his career enter- ing Saturday's game. But first things first for the senior from Elyria, Ohio. He not only wants to leave Ohio State known as one of the Buckeyes' all-time greats. He wants to beat Michigan - a feat he has never accomplished. "I want this one bad," Tovar said. "This is the most I've ever wanted a game in my career. I think I'd give up the Syracuse game to get one on these guys." Perhaps the thing Tovar might have on his side is a true understand- ing of what an Ohio State-Michigan game means, something he did not have early in his collegiate career. A moment which might have helped him understand this rivalry was when former Ohio State linebacker Derek Isaman played in the 1989 Ohio State-Michigan game with a broken hand. "When I was a freshman that made a big impression," Tovar said. "I never really understood it. I al- ways knew it was a big game, but you never really knew until you're there. You know seeing guys like. Derek playing hard when for the last couple years we've been over- matched talent-wise and two out of the last three have been really close. That just shows the heart of the game and the of the ball.". players on both sides Tova r The fact that no one seems to give the Buckeyes much of a chance in this game is also a motivational factor for Tovar. "We have everything to gain. We don't have anything to lose, every- body expects us to lose by 12 points (7 1/2) or whatever it is anyway," he said. Tovar was recruited heavily out of high school by many schools and did consider Michigan before com- mitting to Ohio State. It's a move many would regret considering the number of Rose Bowl appearances (three) by Michigan during Tovar's stay at Ohio State. "I don't ever resent not going to Michigan and coming here," he said. "I could have played at a Michigan or another school, but this is where I'm happy at and I wouldn't take it back for anything." As far as the Butkus is con- cerned, Tovar seems to be peaking at the right time. Last week against Indiana might have been the senior's finest outing of the season when he recorded 11 tackles, a sack, an inter- ception and a blocked punt. But Tovar knows the voters of the award do not look at just one game. "They choose the finalists on the whole season, and I think if they had to choose it on one game that wouldn't be fair," he said. If Ohio State coach John Cooper could vote for the award, Tovar would win hands down. This week Cooper gave Tovar the highest honor a defensive player could ever get from a coach of Cooper's experi- ence. "Steve Tovar is the best defen- sive college football player I've ever been associated with," he said. Overall Tovar has made 113 tack- les, two interceptions, two sacks and two blocked kicks. "I like my chances and I'll just have to see what happens," Tovar said. All the awards in the world won't make a difference if Ohio State does not beat Michigan, Tovar said. The reason being: "You're only as good as your last game and that's what you will be remembered the most for." I Last weekendG in weakened B1g Ten by Michael Rosenberg Daily Sports Writer This weekend's Michigan State-Illinois game will determine who gets a bid to the Holiday Bowl. These are the potential scenarios for this weekend: - 1) If the Spartans win, they go to San Diego. 2) If the Illini win, they go to San Diego. 3) If Illinois and Michigan State tie, either Indiana or Wisconsin goes to San Diego. 4) If a=b, and b=c, then a=c, except after e. But this is not just about the Holiday Bowl. This is about the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl. Ooooh. Too bad those folks at Thrifty can't rent the Holiday Bowl a good team. Big Ten officials say that the bowl game will be a good one. Nearly every one else on the planet disagrees. It all depends on whether you see the stadium as half-full or half-empty. Here are this weekend's games, all of which, due to NCAA rules, must be played. Michigan St. (5-2 Big Ten, 5-5 Overall) at Illinois (3-3-1, 5-4-1) Michigan State versus Illinois. Winner gets a trip to San Diego and a free upgrade from a compact to a midsize. The Spartans are led by "Wind" Mill Coleman, so called because he supposedly runs like the wind, although personally I have never seen wind run. Saturday, Coleman will play flanker, quarterback, long snapper and left outside linebacker during nickel situations in the latter part of the third quarter, and next year he will serve as Bill Clinton's chief of staff. Last week, the Illini went nuts when they tied Michigan. If tying is like kissing your sister, then Illinois reacted like its sister was Cindy Crawford. Michigan State 24, Illinois 14. Indiana (3-4, 5-5) at Purdue (2-5, 3-7) Indiana is an outstanding team. The Hoosiers have great depth, and a fine leader in senior Calbert Cheaney. As for Indiana's football team, that's another story. Purdue coach Jim Colletto has done a fine job with the Boilermakers this year. He has transformed them from a team that embarrasses itself in front of the country every week to a team that still loses every week, but is no longer embarrassed, because nobody pays attention. Indiana 13, Purdue 6. Wisconsin (3-4, 5-5) at Northwestern (2-5, 2-8) Wisconsin crushed Minnesota last week, thereby confirming the new wisdom of the Big Ten: I think, therefore I can beat Minnesota. Northwestern has excellent academics. Wisconsin 31, Northwestern 13. Iowa (4-3, 5-6) at Minnesota (1-6, 1-9) If Iowa wins, the Hawkeyes will probably go to the Copper Bowl. If Minnesota wins, the Hawkeyes will probably go to a psychiatrist. Iowa 74, Minnesota 2. . i Sell it . . .find it.! The Daily Classifieds! 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