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Posted on Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.

Scandal, coaching changes put twist on Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry

By Kyle Meinke

BRADY-HOKE-DRILLS.JPG

Michigan coach Brady Hoke doesn't wear red and has his entire team calling the Buckeyes "Ohio."

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

CHICAGO — Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson looked familiar at last week’s Big Ten media days, with his flowing dreadlocks and, yes, untied black dress shoes.

But he sounded different — particularly when talking about Ohio State.

"It's bigger than Florida-Florida State," the Deerfield Beach, Fla., native said of the Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry. "Michigan versus Ohio is, like, way bigger. It's the border. We fight for Michigan, and they fight for Ohio."

Ohio? As in, like, Ohio State?

"We don't say that anymore," Robinson said.

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Like coach, like players, it seems.

Since the day Michigan coach Brady Hoke was hired in January, he has emphasized his program’s rivalry with “that school in Ohio.”

He refuses to say Ohio State, refuses to wear red.

“It’s easier that way,” he said. “I’ve been doing it that way since I was a kid.”

Hoke grew up a Michigan fan in Dayton, Ohio; has been an assistant with Toledo, Ball State and Michigan; and got his first head coaching gig at Ball State. He knows what this rivalry means to the respective schools in particular and college football in general.

It just will have a different feel this time around when the teams meet in Ann Arbor on Nov. 26.

Dawn of a new era
For the first time since 1929, The Game will feature a pair of new coaches in the same season. Hoke, who replaced Rich Rodriguez in January, will face off against Luke Fickell, who took over this summer after Jim Tressel was forced to resign for an alleged memorabilia-for-gifts scandal that involved several current and former players.

LUKE-FICKELL.jpg

New Ohio State football coach Luke Fickell: "We truly believe we're going to get better throughout this whole process."

Associated Press

"I guess it's a coincidence. I don't think about that stuff," Hoke said about having two new coaches in the rivalry for the first time in 81 years. "I've known Luke a long time, respect him an awful lot and, again, that game isn't between the two coaches, it's two great universities."

Fickell is a lifelong Buckeye. He’s from Columbus, worked at Ohio Stadium’s concession stand as a kid, played for Ohio State and married his college sweetheart.

Now he has a one-year contract to coach the Buckeyes — without four players for five games apiece, and without his starting quarterback for the whole season after Terrelle Pryor bolted for the NFL rather than take his suspension.

Pryor later was banned from associating with the program for five years for his role in the gifts scheme, which included taking free tattoos and other benefits in exchange for memorabilia and tickets.

Nothing like being thrown into the fire.

“Honestly, the best part about all of this is that it’s happened so fast, I haven’t had time to think about it, and I think that’s made things easier,” Fickell said.

“We truly believe we’re going to get better throughout this whole process. I think the one thing we have seen is how good our compliance department is, but there’s always ways to get better, and we’re going to continue to focus on that.”

How comfortable is Fickell with the maelstrom that surrounds him in Columbus

“Hey, it’s a part of what it is,” Fickell said. “You have to take the good with the bad.

“If you want to (coach college football), there’s a lot of different things involved with it. It’s not always the most exciting or most interesting thing, which is being around those guys.”

Big Ten reaction
The Buckeyes’ plight was a common refrain throughout the Big Ten media days last week. In fact, the first two questions for Illinois coach Ron Zook, who kicked off the event, concerned Ohio State.

“I think you cringe,” he said about them.

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was next to speak, and had even sharper words for the malfeasance in the sport, although he later said he wasn’t specifically referring to Ohio State.

“If I had a dream world, I would say hammer the guys that don’t do things right,” he said. “People are willingly and knowingly abusing the rules and breaking things. To me, when you are consciously aware of abusing a rule, there’s no excuse for that.”

Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio was much softer on cheating, calling Tressel, a longtime friend and colleague, a “tragic hero.” He received criticism for the characterization, but affirmed his stance when asked about the matter Friday.

He’s in the minority.

Even league commissioner Jim Delany chided the Buckeyes, as well as Michigan, for damaging the Big Ten’s brand.

“Michigan had a problem with out-of-season practice. That was an embarrassment," Delany said. "This year, we have Ohio State getting ready to go in front of the infractions committee on Aug. 12th. That's embarrassing.

“It not only has reflected poorly on them, it's reflected poorly on us."

Where they go from here
Now, the two schools known for their tradition move forward with new football coaches.

Michigan already seems to be winning on the recruiting trail, netting 10 prospects from Ohio for 2012.

Two of the Wolverines’ past three commitments were five-star offensive tackle Kyle Kalis and four-star defensive end Chris Wormley. Both are from Ohio. Both were highly interested in Ohio State (Kalis once was committed there).

Both now have verbally committed to the Wolverines.

Back in Ann Arbor, Hoke has installed countdown clocks in Schembechler Hall to remind his players how many days remain before the Michigan-Ohio State game.

There’s also a clock counting up. It’s at 2,810.

That’s the number of days since Michigan last beat Ohio State.

“It’s eating at me, man,” Michigan tight end Kevin Koger said.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

Slade

Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.

It's gonna take a lot more than coaching changes, and players stating that the rivalry is huge/important. This rivalry has not been what it used to be since the #1 vs #2 some years ago. You get a real idea of how important your rivalry game is by who is commentary the game, and if it is showcased on ESPN college game day. Now that the big ten has two divisions, it will make it more difficult for this rivalry to be on top like it once was. Not saying it isn't going to be important, but not what it used to be.

marlon glenn

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.

We don't play with red crayons or markers! No mcdonald's french fries! They come in a red container! No ketchup in Michigan stadium! It is RED! LOL! This stuff is hilarious. Institution of "higher learning"... Not if it comes in RED! LOL!

Wally the Wolverine

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.

I question the whole "Ohio" strategy. The refusal to include the word "State" seems to promote an aire of disrespect for your opponent. It seems to me that you prepare harder for an opponent you respect versus one you don't respect. I sincerely hope this doesn't backfire on those that promote it.

OldBittyBates

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 1:51 p.m.

It is hard to look at photos of Luke Fickell. He obviously was Jim Tressel's right hand man. And now we must face the great unknown, along with a new chapter in the Michigan vs Ohio rivalry, unsure what the 2011 season will bring. The Notre Dame game will reveal a lot about this new version of Wolverine football. The State college match up will definitely let us know whether we have turned the corner or not. Many of these games may be decided by one or two points. Somehow Michigan must prove they have more tenaciousness than the other team, and thus hang on to each victory. Brady Hoke has a lot to accomplish in a very short time. I wish him, his staff, and his team good luck.

Marc Hardman

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.

Way to go michigan, enjoy that rivalry with Ohio. After all michigan is much closer matched to the Bobcats than they are to the Buckeyes.

Blu n Tpa

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.

Yeah, we have a winning record over them TOO, just like the Buck-Lyes!

Terry Star21

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 12:22 a.m.

649 days since the ohio state beat Michigan.....I expect this to continue for a long time ! MgoBlueForTim.......buckeyes not getting back in the door......

Marc Hardman

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.

and how many days since michigan beat Ohio State?

Jaxon5

Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.

Dantonio: "Tressel is a tragic hero". Translation: "It's okay to cheat; the tragedy is getting caught".

Mick

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.

See folks, now this is an example of how to motivate guys and have it resonate with them that the rivalry games are important. You better believe U-M's intensity is gonna be pretty high on those Saturdays'! The players we have now are finally being coached with that mindset, I can't wait to see that translate to the playing field. Also, Lorain is correct, Bo had the players wearing jerseys with the number 50 to remind them of 1968, so it works! Go Blue for TiM!!!

RWBill

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.

"Ohio". ROFL I loved it from Brady and even funnier that the players have cottoned on to it.

BornInA2

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.

No RED. As it should be. It irritated me to no end to see our off-field QBs wearing red hats last season.

garrisondyer

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.

and red numbers on their practice jerseys.

Hailmary

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.

Good, I hope Brady can lite the fire under this programs butts. This losing mentality has just plain gone on to many years, I suppose it started when Jim Tressel signed on at ohio. For an enthusiastic fan like me it's not been pleasant. I am cheering for Brady to turn this program around and get everyone, fans included, fired up, you know, the good ol days when Bo coached. I haven't seen this kind of pre season enthusiasm since Bo's days. I'll say one thing for coach Hoke considering he has not coached a down as head coach at Mich., the man has got some fire in his belly and it seems to be catching on.

WWBoDo

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.

Need to put 37-7 on their practice helmets similar to when another young coach took over the Michigan program and put 50-6 on the practice helmets. Hard to argue with the results and eventual impact that young Coach from Miami, OH made on the program. Go Brady, Go Blue!!

Lorain Steelmen

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.

Actually it was 21-14 at the end of the third qtr. Close game until that point. (I know, I was down there, sitting up in C deck...ughhh) Then Bump allowed the quarter to end, and UM had to punt, INTO the wind....way to go , Bump! I think the practice jerseys just had 50's, on them...

scott

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.

50-6???? Was that the score midway through the 4th quarter or something? <a href="http://www.lmgtfy.com" rel='nofollow'>www.lmgtfy.com</a>

Atticus F.

Tue, Aug 2, 2011 : 3:26 p.m.

We MUST protect this house!!!