I o . 2 44" SPECIAL PREVIEW EDITION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1998 s ? " '' J logo .t s 5 ' 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 e--------. ...--....------e-- - 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 flew*S - eflee e~ -900 W 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. , .. , ., . . r-- , :< : >. 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. I