The Ohio State and Michigan game may lose some of its zeal with Big Ten expansion, explains Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch. And that is the worst thing about expansion. Former Buckeyes players who experienced The Game think facing each other only once a season, in the regular-season finale, is the way to go. "I like the way...
Expansion could hurt the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry. The Ohio State and Michigan game may lose some of its zeal with Big Ten expansion, explains Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch.
And that is the worst thing about expansion.
Former Buckeyes players who experienced The Game think facing each other only once a season, in the regular-season finale, is the way to go.
"I like the way it is now," former receiver Dee Miller said.
But that tradition is in potential jeopardy as the Big Ten prepares to divide into two divisions and institute a championship game in 2011. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said the only certainty is that The Game will continue to be played every year. A decision should come by mid-September.
The best thing about the rivalry (besides Ohio State winning it every year) is that it's the final game of the season in the Big Ten. And, more importantly, the two teams only play each other once a year. But if the two teams are put in different divisions of the conference, there's a chance they could play at the end of the regular season and in the championship game.
But maintaining the status quo does not address the secondary issue of playing the emotional and hard-hitting game and then having to suit up the very next week for the conference championship game - with a spot in the Rose Bowl or another Bowl Championship Series game on the line.
So here's scenario No. 2: Place both schools in the same division, but schedule the game for earlier in the season.
"You would lose the (importance) of that last week, but it would still be the game of the week no matter where you put it," former Ohio State safety Tim Fox said. "You'd need to work hard to schedule around it, maybe schedule a nonconference game."
Explosive
The Ohio State Buckeyes should have another explosive offense (i.e. quarterback Terrelle Pryor) but the defense will decide many outcomes this coming season.
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward can't wait to get on the field. In an interview with reporter Jon Spencer of MansfieldNewsJournal.com:
"This is the best year to play defense in the Big Ten because we get to play against the best talent," he said. "You want to play against the best, so I'm looking forward to getting after it.
"I want to be disruptive for four quarters. I only played about 60 percent of the plays last year, so conditioning is going to be more important this year."
But with many returning players on offensive throughout the conference, the defense in the Big Ten is often overlooked in the preview packages. But OSU coach Jim Tressel knows the real deal.
"There are a lot of good defenses," he said. "Iowa didn't give up anything last year, Wisconsin was darn good and Penn State gave up two touchdowns a game at most. When you talk about quarterbacks in this league, the hardship on them is that the defenses are so sound, you're not going to have crazy (offensive) numbers. You're going to have to earn every dime you get here."
Overrated
It figures that a website based in Michigan, AnnArbor.com, would get this type of response from a poll when players were asked which player is the most exciting and which player is the most overrated.
Well OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor was voted as most exciting player in the Big Ten. He was also voted the most overrated player in the league.
Who’s the most exciting player in the Big Ten?
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State - 8
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa - 1
Denard Robinson, Michigan - 1
Comment: “I’ve seen how fast he is.”
N/A - 1Who’s the most overrated player in the Big Ten?
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State - 3
Tate Forcier, Michigan - 1
Keith Smith, Purdue - 1
Nick Toon, Wisconsin - 1
N/A - 5