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The worst fate for Michigan is Buckeyes' pity and ex-Wolverines' anger: Bill Livingston

When even Buckeyes feel slightly sorry for Michigan, the rivalry is working on becoming less than The Game.

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View full sizeOSU's Brian Rolle (left) and Chimdi Chekwa combine forces to stop Michigan receiver Darryl Stonum in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Earle Bruce, the fierce old coach at Ohio State, had the upper hand on most of his arch rivals during his long career, probably just because of his competitive fire. At 79, he is proudest of winning five of nine games against Michigan when Bo Schembechler was still there and when Michigan was still Michigan.

"I wish I'd had some of these Michigan teams to play," Bruce said as a seventh straight Buckeye victory over the non-competitive Wolverines was winding down Saturday at the Horseshoe.

A reporter mentioned the storm of Tweets filling cyberspace from former Michigan players. Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely said he, Steve Breaston and others "are beside ourselves watching this shell of what Michigan used to be."

"I know what they must be saying," said Bruce. "They were ballplayers. Michigan played for championships when they were there."

When word leaked out that Ohio State was going to fire Bruce in 1987, his players won The Game for him, then carried him off on their shoulders in Ann Arbor. When they removed their helmets, each was wearing a headband on which they had printed: "Earle."

Michigan's players, however, are unlikely to don "Rich" headbands in honor of Rich Rodriguez, the embattled coach of the Wolverines if he doesn't make it through the weekend. A 37-7 loss Saturday to Ohio State, his third straight lopsided setback and the seventh in a row by the program, might be too much for him to overcome, particularly because it was so predictable.

Michigan made devastating mistakes in protecting the ball and the kicking game; moved the ball between the 20-yard lines, then couldn't cash the chips; and scored 30 points fewer than its average coming in.

"Michigan is a nationally recognized name. Our league needs a good, strong Michigan," said Bruce.

When even the haters can't work up a froth for That Team Up North, things have reached a previously unimaginable state.

Ohio State had some nice moments, admittedly. Terrelle Pryor did a pivot like the one Troy Smith executed against Penn State in 2006 and converted a third-and-long after turning his back to the line of scrimmage. Jordan Hall swiveled 85 yards to score on a kickoff return. Boom Herron ran 98 yards from scrimmage for a touchdown, although it was controversially reduced to 89 and a non-score because of an iffy holding penalty far downfield.

But the plays won't live in the lore of The Game because there is no rivalry without parity.

For all that Michigan had the upper hand during John Cooper's 13 years here, OSU still posted good seasonal records and routinely went to bowls. Michigan is finally going to a bowl for the first time in Rodriguez's three years. It will probably be the Insight Bowl, storied home of the fifth-place Big Ten team.

Master of the weaselly exit at West Virginia, his previous coaching stop, Rodriguez became the scourge of talented players he did not recruit, chasing off Ryan Mallett, the estimable Arkansas quarterback, and current OSU offensive guard Justin Boren.

"I was recruited by Bo Schembechler. He had such an aura around him. He was the ultimate coach. I got to hear his last speech before he passed away," said Boren, referring to the 2006 game, when OSU was ranked No. 1 and Michigan No. 2 and Schembechler died of a heart attack on the eve of the game.

"I loved Lloyd Carr when he was the Michigan coach, but I love coach Tressel, too. I wouldn't have left if Rodriguez hadn't come in there and fired everybody," said Boren.

After the purge, Rich Rod has put up some numbers that no one expected to see at Michigan.

He has 20 losses in three years at Michigan. Jim Tressel has 22 in 10 years at Ohio State.

He has won fewer Big Ten games in the Big House (three in 12 tries), than Tressel has (four in five tries).

Aggregate score of The Game in the past three years: Ohio State 100, Michigan 24.

Ohio State has now won or shared six straight Big Ten titles, three of them outright, three shared.

Michigan is oh-fer those years.

Tressel tried to cast Rodriguez in the most flattering light possible amid the smoke and soot of the Michigan program. Why should he not? He wants to keep this guy around.

"Michigan is among the elite programs and their record will reflect that in the course of time," Tressel said. "But we all have our ups and downs. ... The world changed when [the Big Ten] added Penn State. The world changes even more when we add Nebraska [next year]."

The world has certainly changed for Michigan. And more upheaval could be coming soon.

"I bet by Monday they have a new coach," Bruce said.


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