What Jim Tressel might be thinking going into Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan.
View full sizeOhio State head coach Jim Tressel.COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jim Tressel should have revenge on his mind today, of course. Though Ohio State and Eastern Michigan have never played, Tressel has a long, unsuccessful history against the Eagles. He was 1-4 against Eastern Michigan while head coach at Youngstown State and was actually 0-4 before winning, 24-14, in 1990.
"In 1986, we were up, 14-3, with four minutes to go and they threw the same route like seven times and we kept covering the tight end, and they kept hitting the dig; and they beat us, 17-14, at the buzzer," Tressel said. "Then, they ran a fake punt in '89 and beat us."
That should make for a heck of a pregame motivational speech.
If Tressel needs to give the Buckeyes another edge, he can always pretend it's a Michigan game.
Second-year EMU coach Ron English is off to an 0-15 start, but he knows Ohio State. English was Michigan's secondary coach for three seasons, then the Wolverines' defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007, when they ranked in the top 25 in the nation both years in fewest points and fewest yards allowed. Michigan hasn't ranked in the top 65 in either category since then.