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SPECIAL PREVIEW EDITION
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1998
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' think there's no greater reward than the Rose Bowl'
- Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
"That's always the game to watch. Ohio State will have some
trouble because Michigan matches up well with them."
-Northwestern coach Gary Barnett
"Usually, the winner of this ballgame gets the conference
championship."
- Ohio State coach John Cooper
0 "They're truly one of the great football teams to have ever
played in the Big Ten."
Iowa coach Hayden Fry on Ohio State
8 "Michigan plays as good a defense as I have seen in years."
Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Michigan
The last 10 games ...
Year
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
Result
Location Notable
Michigan 20, Ohio State 14
Michigan 13, Ohio State 9
Michigan 31, Ohio State 23
Ohio State 22, Michigan 6
Michigan 28, Ohio State 0
Michigan 13, Ohio State 13
Michigan 31, Ohio State 3
Michigan 16, Ohio State 13
Michigan 28, Ohio State 18
Michigan 34, Ohio State 31
Ann Arbor
Columbus
Ann Arbor
Columbus
Ann Arbor
Columbus
Ann Arbor
Columbus
Ann Arbor
Columbus
C. Woodson punt return TD
OSU 17.5-point favorite
Biakabutuka 313 rush yds.
Cooper finally beats Mich.
Mich. unranked, OSU No. 5
6th tie ever in series
D. Howard: 96 rec. yards
OSU loss = 4 tied for first
I. Baunch 2 rushing T~s
D. Brown 223 yds. passing
THE MATCHUPS
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. OHIO STATE PASSING DEFENSE
Ohio State's secondary has been masterful this
season, loaded with talent. Tom Brady has the
Michigan passing game in high gear.
Edge: Even
--MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. OHIO STATE RUSHING DEFENSE
Andy Katzenmoyer isn't a Butkus finalist this year, but the
Ohio State rush defense is No. 1 in the country. The Buckeyes
are no Badgers - Michigan can't run like it did last week.
Edge: Ohio State
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OHIO STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE
Quarterback Joe Germaine and big-mouth wide receiver David
Boston are the most lethal 1-2 punch in the Big Ten. Even
with Marcus Ray back, Germaine will tear the Wolverines'
secondary to shreds.
Edge: Ohio State
OHIO STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE
a
'Ray returns to homeland
By Mark Snyder and one of the Wolverines' hardest hitters, left a
Daily Sports Editor major void in the Michigan secondary.
For about three weeks in late September, it "He adds depth, enthusiasm on the field and is a
appeared increasingly likely that Marcus Ray had great leader," cornerback Andre Weathers said. "Any
played in his final Ohio State game. time the pressure is on the field, he's always out
Ray, suspended from the Michigan football team there. He says, 'Don't worry about it, worry about
,'or improper dealings with an agent, had no idea at the next play.' And that's the kind of thing you need."
he time whether his collegiate career was over after Ray's morale boost often comes from his vocal
just two games - or whether he'd get another crack nature. At the Big Ten preseason media conference,
at the hated Buckeyes. he held court amidst a swarm of reporters for two
But despite his transgressions, Ray received a sec- hours, telling stories, laughing and joking as
ond chance, and so he'll to see another Saturday Michigan sat on top of the world.
afternoon in Columbus, his hometown. But after Michigan dropped its first two games
Two years ago, the first time he played for this year with Ray and rebounded to win six straight
Michigan at Ohio Stadium, Ray was a Wolverine without him, speculation about his value emerged.
catalyst in the 13-9 victory. He made nine tackles, Those questions disappeared upon his return
despite being only a sophomore, as well as inter- against Penn State. Ray came into the game on the
cepting a pass before returning it 19 yards. second series and began hitting.
It was his hometown, and he got a chance to show In the two games since Ray has been reinstated, he
off what the Buckeyes missed when he came to has swarmed to the ball and laid licks like he hasn't
Michigan. missed a beat. His touchdown-saving tackle against
. But for Ray, one season wasn't enough. Getting the Nittany Lions in the red zone kept Michigan in
up for the Buckeyes last year was easy, and he led the game early and fed a defense that is once again
the Michigan charge with seven tackles. among the nation's best.
So the absence of Ray, a preseason All-American "Marcus has done a good job," Carr said in one of
"'
Tailback Michael Wiley has been the most pleasant surprise
in Ohio State this season - but also one of the most over-
rated. The speedy Michigan linebackers and the resurgent
defense will be able to pin down the wily Wiley.
Edge: Michigan
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State's only weakness is on special
teams. Not that they're really bad, but they
just aren't as good as the rest of the team.
-
9,
Edge: Even
w -----------55 55-55------------------------------
WARREN ZINN/Daily
Marcus Ray will make his final trip to Ohio Stadium.
the few comments he has made about Ray since the
reinstatement. "Any time he plays, he's emotional."
In his final Big Ten game, at the Horseshoe for a
trip to the Rose Bowl, Ray understands the implica-
tions, even though he's attempting to be modest.
"It's going to be exciting, not just for me, but for
the whole team," Ray said.
INTANGIBLES
The senior Buckeyes need to win to avoid being the second class
to be swept by Michigan since before Woody Hayes. If Cooper
loses this game, he'll probably have to live in a cave to avoid
being lynched by Columbus lunatics.
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Edge: Ohio State
PREDICTION: OHIO STATE 24, MICHIGAN 17
As the season turned ...
September 26, 1998, against Michigan State, was arguably the turning
point of the season. The unranked Wolverines stepped up to the
challenge and thwarted the Spartans, 29-17. The defense put a halt to °
the Michigan State offense, including this fumble forced by DeWayne
Patmon and James Whitley.
Photos by WARREN ZiNN/Daiy
Y z
Ron Rayne and
the Wisconsin
Badgers will be
cheering for the
Buckeyes on
Saturday. An Ohio
State win comp
bined with their
own victory
would send them
to Pasadena
MARGARET MYERS/Daily
B heinOhoState,
Badgers might snatcuRse
Horseshoe to host
'vociferous' crowd
By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor
Sporting venues around the country often develop those little nick-
names that sports writers and announcers love to use.
'The Big House.' 'The Joe.' 'The Big Sombrero.' The House that
Ruth Built. "The Friendly Confines'
But one nickname truly describes the physical and structural features
of the stadium it describes: 'The Horseshoe.'
Ohio Stadium, situated along the bank of the Olentangy River in
Columbus since 1922, looks like a gigantic horseshoe. Instead of com-
pletely encircling the stadium, the stands stop, exposing one end zone
without an upper concourse.
Now, combine that with some of the most rabid fans in the country.
The result? Perhaps the most intimidating place to play football - any-
where.
"Well, I think the crowd is always unbelievably vociferous,"'
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "It is one of those things that you have
to be prepared for as best you can, but that is always a tremendous fac-
tor."
Saying the crowd is vociferous is putting it mildly. The fans are
demanding and they're angry - at the Wolverines, specifically. After
Michigan won in Columbus two years ago, people were calling for
coach John Cooper's head to be hung from the top of the stadium.
A little harsh? Well, they're battle conditions out there.
"For us it's like we're being dropped off in enemy territory with just
your teammates and a couple thousand fans," Michigan linebacker Sam
Sword said.
Ohio Stadium is a virtual minefield, ready to explode in the
Wolverines' faces at any minute. But the Wolverines can take solace in
the fact that they have won five of their past nine games in Columbus,
tying once in 1992.
"It is a great atmosphere to play in and that is how you want your
home crowd to act in terms of being loud and into the game;' Michigan
wide receiver Tai Streets said. "I always enjoy playing in that type of
environment. Ohio State is probably the loudest in the Big Ten and it is
OHIO STATE SPORTS INFORMATION
Ohio Stadium - commonly known as the Horshoe - Is one of the
most Intimidating venues In college football.
great because that type of atmosphere is what college football is all
about.'
Over the years, Michigan's sojourn down to Ohio State's home field
has been successful. The Wolverines appear to thrive on the challenge.
In the 95 years the two teams have played, Michigan leads 26-18-2 in
Columbus.
That doesn't matter to the players, however. They still understand the
significance a capacity crowd of 89,841-plus can have.
"I have never witnessed a more hostile crowd," Michigan nose tackle
Rob Renes said. They're all dressed in their Scarlet and Grey and they're
fired up. It there's something tougher, I wouldn't like to venture there."
Last week, the Buckeyes suffered a rare loss on their own home turf
to Michigan State. Following that game, coach John Cooper said that he
was surprised that the crowd was taken out of the game. But for this
game, it might be a different story.
"I hope the crowd will be a factor in the ballgame' Cooper said. "I
would hope the crowd this week will recognize that we need them and
make some noise to help us win the football game."
That shouldn't be a concern tomorrow at the Horseshoe.
By Sharat Raju
Daily Sports Editor
"Hey, look over here! Remember us? Up
here, in Madison - we still have a chance ..."
That's probably how Wisconsin feels right
now. With all the hype surrounding the
Michigan-Ohio State game and all its Rose
Bowl implications, the Badgers seem to have
fallen out of the limelight. They're the odd-
men out.
But realistically, they might have the best
Madison -- or a time to lament.
"That game will be almost over by the time
we kick off," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez
said. "Or course we'd like to know what's
going on, but I won't lose my hair over this."
Although Alvarez doesn't have that much
hair left to lose, the Nittany Lions pose some-
what of a threat. As far as the Lions have
dropped following the pounding they suffered
at the hands of the Wolverines, coach Joe
Paterno turned the team around against
COIN' BOWLIN'
In the Bowl Championship Series, six conference winners (ACC, SEC, Big XI, Big Ten, Pac-1O and Big
-ast) -'e-u-ted"sps and two at-large teams will be select. Below are the current BCS
standings and the possible bowl breakdown of the top six - as determined by the Daily football writers.
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