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Topic: THE GAME, some history

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medinabuckeye1

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THE GAME, some history
« on: November 23, 2021, 10:04:07 PM »
As near as I can tell The Game has only been played on November 27 once before and that was Ohio State's 37-7 win in 2010 which was subsequently vacated.  


This isn't really "normal" but for the last roughly three-and-a-half decades the tOSU/M series has been flat dominated first by Michigan for 13 years then by Ohio State for the last 20.  I find this strange.  I'm 46 years old and I only have a VERY vague recollection of a time when this series actually "felt" like it was fairly even.  

Woody's last win occurred when I was an infant so I obviously don't remember it.  For that matter I don't remember any of the games that Woody coached nor do I remember the really great Ohio State team from Earle Bruce's first year of 1979.  I vaguely remember the 1985 RoseBowl so I must have been aware of Ohio State's win in The Game in 1984 but I don't remember it.  I do remember losses the next two years and Earle's big upset win after he got fired in 1987 but by then it really didn't "feel" very even.  Michigan won 3/4 from 1983-1986 and the upset tOSU win in 1987 was most definitely an upset.  My point being that even before Cooper the series already "felt" like Michigan had an advantage.  


Then came the REALLY dark times, the Cooper era.  John Cooper was a great coach for all but the last two games of the year.  The problem was that he was atrocious in those last two.  From 1988-2000 Cooper went 2-10-1 in 13 tries against The Team Up North and was similarly bad in Bowl games.  

Then came the REALLY good times:  The Buckeyes are an astounding 16-2 against the Wolverines since letting Cooper go (only 18 games in 20 years because 2010 was vacated and 2020 was not played due to covid).  

I want to put those two amazing runs into perspective:

  • The Wolverines went 10-2-1 or .808 against Ohio State from 1988-2000.  They hadn't been that good over 13 years against the Buckeyes since going 6-1-1 or .813 mostly against pre-BigTen Ohio State teams from 1907-1919.
  • The Buckeyes went 16-2 or .889 against Michigan from 2001-2020.  Their next best 20 year run was going 13-6-1 or .675 for the 20 year cycles ending in 1973-1976.  For that matter the only time either team had a 20 year run better than the current tOSU run was the three 20-year cycles from 1897-1916, 1898-1917, and 1899-1918 when Michigan went 12-0-2, 11-0-2, and 12-0-2 with all but the 1918 game occurring before Ohio State joined the league.  

My point is the both Michigan's run from 1988-2000 and Ohio State's current run are WAY off from the norm.  

Era's of The Game:
  • 13-0-2 Michigan Advantage:  Michigan absolutely dominated the early days going 13-0-2 over 22 years from 1897-1918.  
  • 3-0 Ohio State Advantage:  Once Ohio State finally got a win in 1919 they also won the next two.  
  • 6-0 Michigan Advantage:  Michigan retook control and won six straight from 1922-1927 running their overall record to 19-6-2 with the conclusion of the 1927 season.  
  • 9-7-1 Ohio State Advantage:  From 1928 through the end of WWII the series was fairly even with Ohio State having a slight advantage but I'm admittedly cherry-picking dates here as the Wolverines won the aforementioned six straight ending in 1927 and also four straight starting in 1945.  
  • 7-1-1 Michigan Advantage:  In the immediate post-war era the Wolverines dominated from 1945-1953 including Woody losing his first two visits to Ann Arbor (1951 and 1953).  
  • 11-4 Ohio State Advantage:  After his first three years Woody absolutely dominated until Bo's arrival.  
  • 9-9-1 Even:  The "Ten Year War" between Woody and Bo went 5-4-1 in Michigan's favor but Earle eked out a 5-4 advantage in his nine years so overall Bo was 9-9-1 against Ohio State in his first 19 years coaching at Michigan.  
  • 10-2-1 Michigan Advantage:  The Cooper era.  
  • 16-2 Ohio State Advantage:  The post-Cooper era. 

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Mdot21

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2021, 10:10:02 PM »
the run that OSU has been on vs Michigan since 2001 when they hired Tressel is literally insane. They've literally ruined the rivalry. It's not much of a rivalry anymore. And it kinda sucks knowing you're just going to get your ass kicked every year. Used to look forward to that game. Now? Not so much. It's got to end. Some god damn time. Why not this Saturday? If there is a god it will. But god isn't real. So Michigan is going to get clobbered again.

Me after the game:

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Mdot21

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2021, 11:05:35 PM »
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Mdot21

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2021, 12:13:58 AM »
this is the best thing I've ever seen done on this game....it was a documentary done by HBO. HBO just does everything better.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irqM7BHhlKc
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OrangeAfroMan

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2021, 06:02:15 AM »
That's because they can use the curse words and show boobies...
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MrNubbz

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2021, 08:47:40 AM »
Quote from: medinabuckeye1 on November 23, 2021, 10:04:07 PM
My point being that even before Cooper the series already "felt" like Michigan had an advantage. 

Then came the REALLY dark times, the Cooper era.  John Cooper was a great coach for all but the last two games of the year.  The problem was that he was atrocious in those last two.  From 1988-2000 Cooper went 2-10-1 in 13 tries against The Team Up North and was similarly bad in Bowl games. 

Then came the REALLY good times:  The Buckeyes are an astounding 16-2 against the Wolverines since letting Cooper go (only 18 games in 20 years because 2010 was vacated and 2020 was not played due to covid). 
Not really old hounds like Mdot/Fearless/CD/RiffRaff and such have been around long enough When the games were hotly contested.Before all the intenet,cell phone,multiple media out lets.When there was just ABC/CBS/NBC/.I know Woody/Bo put the rivalry back on track.Rivalry weekend was like my Birthday,July 4th,New Years Eve,Mardi Gras,St Patrick's day all rolled into one.ONE DAY rested the whole year of bragging rights.We weren't connected back then so we couldn't piss back and forth daily about it.Had to wait until I saw my Michigan Friends/Family to either rub it in or hide.My dad threw me out of the house one year :character0029: when I was climbing the walls during a particularly close game.My brother let me in thru the back door and down stairs finished watching it in the basement on a 13' Magnavox while he lifted weights.My Dad had a Kelvinator Fridge down there with a keg of Gennessee inside.Man kids today really missing out playing on all those devices ;D 😎
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Cincydawg

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2021, 08:56:44 AM »
Yeah, back in the day, we had one "Game of the Week", and this was nearly always it.  I had no pony in that fight, so we'd usually listen to Larry on the radio if they played the same day.  It's interesting to consider the parallels between Cooper and Harbaugh.

Some inkling in me says Michigan is going to win this one, I don't find that logical.
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MrNubbz

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2021, 09:00:53 AM »
Quote from: Mdot21 on November 24, 2021, 12:13:58 AM
this is the best thing I've ever seen done on this game....it was a documentary done by HBO. HBO just does everything better.
Saw this before definitely seasoned folks of the rivalry.The one year when they tied i think it was the Spartan AD that cast the winning vote for the Buckeyes as Dennis Franklin was banged up.Ohio State went on to roll USC in the Rose- when that meant something
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MrNubbz

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2021, 09:03:06 AM »
Quote from: Cincydawg on November 24, 2021, 08:56:44 AM
Yeah, back in the day, we had one "Game of the Week", and this was nearly always it.  I had no pony in that fight, so we'd usually listen to Larry on the radio if they played the same day.  It's interesting to consider the parallels between Cooper and Harbaugh.

Some inkling in me says Michigan is going to win this one, I don't find that logical.

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GopherRock

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2021, 09:11:37 AM »
Since Jim Tressel was hired, Minnesota has more wins over Wisconsin than Michigan has v. Ohio State. 

IIRC this game (and all the other season finales in Big Ten country) were only played Thanksgiving weekend 1 or 2 years out of 7.
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Cincydawg

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2021, 09:12:07 AM »
Have all the major national rivalries gotten lopsided of late?

Texas-OU
Bama-Auburn
ND-USC
OSU-UM

State rivalries

UGA-Tech
Clemson-USCe
OU-OSU
...
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utee94

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2021, 09:15:46 AM »
Quote from: MrNubbz on November 24, 2021, 08:47:40 AM
Not really old hounds like Mdot/Fearless/CD/RiffRaff and such have been around long enough When the games were hotly contested.Before all the intenet,cell phone,multiple media out lets.When there was just ABC/CBS/NBC/.I know Woody/Bo put the rivalry back on track.Rivalry weekend was like my Birthday,July 4th,New Years Eve,Mardi Gras,St Patrick's day all rolled into one.ONE DAY rested the whole year of bragging rights.We weren't connected back then so we couldn't piss back and forth daily about it.Had to wait until I saw my Michigan Friends/Family to either rub it in or hide.My dad threw me out of the house one year :character0029: when I was climbing the walls during a particularly close game.My brother let me in thru the back door and down stairs finished watching it in the basement on a 13' Magnavox while he lifted weights.My Dad had a Kelvinator Fridge down there with a keg of Gennessee inside.Man kids today really missing out playing on all those devices ;D 😎

I'm not a geezer like you or Fearless but I used to think of this rivalry as pretty even, and I never missed watching it.

These days I rarely watch it, my assumption is usually that the Buckeyes will run away with it, again.  Which is great if you're a Buckeye fan of course, but not very good for the rivalry.
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MrNubbz

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2021, 09:16:12 AM »
Like to see the Pokes finish off the Sooners like yesterday's steak
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utee94

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Re: THE GAME, some history
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2021, 09:17:56 AM »
Quote from: Cincydawg on November 24, 2021, 09:12:07 AM
Have all the major national rivalries gotten lopsided of late?

Texas-OU
Bama-Auburn
ND-USC
OSU-UM

State rivalries

UGA-Tech
Clemson-USCe
OU-OSU
...

Yeah sure seems that way.  I'd like to see all of the top 4 you listed become more even, and not just for my own personal reasons. :)
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