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Not a smack post.. I just wanted a thread on Tailgate where we could discuss The Game..

Here's a commentary from Bob Hunter of The Dispatch..
Linkage

Bob Hunter commentary: Honesty not best policy week of The Game
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:47 AM
By Bob Hunter

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Jim Tressel practically made crusty old Coach Curmudgeon, Michigan football grump Lloyd Carr, sound like Mr. Sunshine, a guy he'd like to spend the summer fishing with in an isolated outpost in northern Ontario.

One of the leaders of the conference. Great coach. Great wisdom. Outstanding man. With a little more time, the Ohio State coach might have turned Carr into the spiritual leader of the free world and his Michigan squad into the best three-loss team in college football history. Tressel did manage to use his limited time with the media to say that Carr is "extraordinary," Michigan running back Mike Hart is a "fierce competitor" and quarterback Chad Henne is "a good one" now and destined to be one at the next level.

It's easy for him to say. The Ohio State coach is a pro's pro when it comes to weaving a verbal tapestry, which makes him the perfect guy to have in the saddle during a week like this, when all that's said about those no-account, slime-of-the-earth jerks on the other side is supposed to be over-the-top complimentary.

It's not so easy for Kirk Barton, though. The fifth-year senior has always been the most outspoken member of his team. He has always been a guy who would be voted "most popular" by the media, not so much because he creates controversy but because he's thoughtful and intelligent and has interesting things to say.

But players aren't supposed to say interesting things this week. Interesting things, no matter how innocuous, can presumably be used against you. This is how it works: During the course of an "interesting" story, an OSU blabbermouth makes an innocent joke about Twinkies. Up North, Coach Curmudgeon hears about it, remembers the mother of one of his players works in a Hostess factory and tells his team that this dope in Columbus "disrespected" her. Next thing you know, they're all bouncing up and down and sweating little drops of hatred and those ill-mannered Buckeyes are on their way to a loss.

So it is that Barton went "conservative" on reporters yesterday. He was asked several times about Hart's criticism of the OSU defense after last year's game and his vow to return to school just to win this game.

"That's his opinion and we'll get to play again on Saturday and see how it is," Barton said. He stopped and smiled. "I'm not giving them any bulletin-board stuff. I'm too smart for you guys."

Barton says he wasn't always "smart" in a media sense. As a redshirt freshman in 2004, he got in the grease for saying Troy Smith deserved a chance to play, even though Justin Zwick had been getting the snaps at quarterback. He also called Zwick a great leader, but somehow that stuff always gets lost in a good controversy. Either way, honesty is never rewarded. The coaches didn't bring him back to any media sessions.

"That was the first time I ever got to talk to the media," he said. "I was 0 for 1."

A reported corrected him. One for one.

"Every camp we have a media seminar," Barton said. "They have a power-point slide show about what to say when you're asked this and this, and they show clips of people who don't react the right way. For a couple years, every time those guys came in everybody looked at me right when it started. I've had my share of quotes and incidents."

There were none yesterday, although Barton admitted there could have been. When asked whether he was holding back, he smiled.

"Oh yeah, I (am)," he said. "But you guys aren't going to hear it, so don't worry about it."

He said he will only "bottle it up for 45 minutes" and when he goes into the locker room "it's going to be free flowing."

What will he say in there?

"You guys ever see What About Bob? where he acts like he has Tourette's syndrome and swears all those times?" Barton said. "That's kind of what it will be like. I probably will have to get it all out of my system."

He probably won't say that Mike Hart is a "fierce competitor."

Bob Hunter is a sports columnist for The Dispatch.

bhunter@dispatch.com

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Michigan: Next question, please ...
Carr won't say if Hart, Henne are healthy enough to play against Ohio State
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:41 AM
By Shawn Mitchell

The Columbus Dispatch

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan coach Lloyd Carr did not have much to say about Mike Hart and Chad Henne yesterday.

He was nice enough to pay a compliment to the Wolverines' running back and quarterback, referring to the pair as "everything a coach could want" and praising their decision to forgo the NFL for another season at Michigan.

But he was not nice enough to oblige reporters' requests for information about their lingering injuries. Henne (right shoulder) played only two series during a 37-21 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday. Hart (right ankle) did not play.

Will they play against Ohio State?

"We'll have to see on Saturday," Carr said.

Did Henne have a setback against Wisconsin?

"I didn't say, did I?" Carr countered.

Although neither player was made available for interviews yesterday, their teammates had looser lips than Carr.

"They're looking good," offensive tackle Jake Long said. "You know, they're ready to go, and I'm sure they'll do anything they can to get back on the field and play the last game."

There is, of course, good reason for the interest in the pair's status. Although they have not experienced a victory against Ohio State, they have been dynamic since becoming starters in 2004 as true freshmen.

Despite missing three games, Hart became Michigan's all-time leading rusher (4,867 yards) this season and is third in the nation in rushing yards per game (148.5). Although no longer a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, both he and Henne were candidates for multiple national awards.

Henne is Michigan's career leader in completions (792), passing yards (9,274) and touchdown passes (84). He has started only eight games because of injury this season but has completed 61.5 percent of his passes, 14 for touchdowns.

There is speculation that the Michigan staff limited their participation at Wisconsin to keep them fresh for Ohio State.

Because Michigan (8-3, 6-1) began its season with home losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, it has no shot at the national title. It would have been playing Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) for at least a share of the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth regardless of the outcome at Wisconsin.

"We play every game to win," Michigan offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said after the game in Madison, Wis. "That's the way it's always been at Michigan. We came here to win."

That might be true, but likely not at the risk of further injury to Henne or Hart, especially considering the subpar play of backup quarterback Ryan Mallett and reserve running backs Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor against Wisconsin.

Mallett completed 11 of 36 attempts and was intercepted twice. Brown and Minor combined for 64 yards on 18 carries.

In Michigan's big picture, those numbers, as well as those on the scoreboard in Camp Randall Stadium, didn't really matter.

So why didn't Hart play on Saturday?

"I have no idea about that," safety Jamar Adams said, "but I always expect Mike Hart to play."

And Henne?

"I always expect Chad Henne to play," Adams said.

smitchell@dispatch.com

I do think it lost alot of it's luster after last weeks loss to Illinois, not as much on the line, but should be a good game,


Kids deer hunting weekend is this weekend also, Ohio DNR have a scheduling problem every year, it always seems to fall on the same wekeend as the game, we also have our Fishing awards banquet this saturday night, so hopefully we can catch some of the game between hunting and fishing banquet.....GO BUCKS

For those that are interested, the HBO documentary "Ohio State vs. Michigan, The Rivalry," premiers tonight at 10:30 eastern time on HBO.

I have talked to a few people that saw an advanced showing of it on campus at Mershon Auditorium and they said it was pretty good. They said it focuses more on OSU.

That's because the "primary" video'er is an Ohio State fan. He was on the radio earlier today,...

Hopefully this gets on the OSU network in Columbus,... I don't get HBO.

Can't wait for this game! No matter what, no matter which year, you throw records and rankings out the door b/c it's gonna be a helluva game!

GO BUCKS!

i need to find it onn torrents

By ONN torrents, are you talking about Ohio News Network? It was on HBO.

Desmond Howard dropped a few F-bombs on it...

Not going to say anything specific so I don't spoil anyhing for anyone, but the stories about Woody's and Bo's paranoia were just classic

Poisonous too

Wish I'd seen the vid..

Quote:

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"Their mascot is a small, hairless nut."

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but atleast our mascot can actually be found IN OUR STATE.....wolverines have not been seen or even found in Michigan since the late 40's early 50's.

Quote:

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You been out hunting them?

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I keep getting Wolverines and michigan graduates mixed up both are said to be pretty rare

Quote:

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but atleast our mascot can actually be found IN OUR STATE.....wolverines have not been seen or even found in Michigan since the late 40's early 50's.

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But small hairless nuts abound in Ohio...

Quote:

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But small hairless nuts abound in Ohio...

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Well this isnt the smack thread, so i'll just leave ya with a question to think about

If small hairless nuts are found on Ohio.....whats is found stuck between the teeth of Michigans cheerleaders

Directed to everybody.

This game is for the Big Ten Title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. -That is HUGE!

Heck, 3 of Michigan's top players put a hold on their NFL careers just to get another shot at Ohio State!

BIG GAME!

I would like to know, just how many peopl realy thought OSU
would have been this good before the season?
I too am surprised at how well the season has gone.

I think you have to "grain-of-salt" the whole thing with the fact that the schedule was very favorable. I also think the Buckeyes were lucky to have been able to get a new QB snapped in; this was my concern on the way to a 8-3, maybe 9-2 season. I was very surprised that the rest of the Big Ten is as soft as it is this year. This allowed major victories against Penn State and Whiskey. The only faux pas was the 2-late-turnover debacle against Michigan State. All-in-all, when you play mistake free football, dominate on defense and can run the ball, you will control the clock and be successful. These are Tressel trademarks. Surpirsed ?? Maybe, but unexpected, no.

I wasn't sure about Ohio State, but, after hearing that Hart, Henne, and Long, would be back, I thought Michigan would be in contention for a National Championship. -Guess I was wrong!!!!! LOLOLOL

Similar to the Buckeyes last year. After 05, we lost several All-Americans on defense (Hawk, Carpenter) but returned the majority of our offense, I'd say Troy Smith and the boys handled it pretty well. -Unlike Michigan.

Hey does anyone know what time it is?

Yeah,...it's time to go to the store and get some more beer.

BUMP!!


O-H

IO

Ackk.. sheeeez.. My daughter DancinDawg just called me.. she's on her way down to Ohio Stadium to get on the OSU Marching Band bus.. she's riding up to Ann Arbor with her best friend who is the band directors daughter.. staying in the hotel tonight with the band.. Going to the band's concert tonight, all paid for by OSU.. And.. she'll be sitting behind the end zone on a fold up chair on the freakin field..

Arrgghh.. year before last, she and Torie did the same thing and they were the first ones to congrat Troy when he ran into the end zone

I don't get it.. Me and her brother are the football crazy ones in the family and she snaps her fingers, gets a pass to the game, a ride and the hotel all paid for by OSU.. arrgghh..

Life ain't fair.

Well, DancinDawg's just slightly cuter than you and Sack...

That, and it appears that she has friends in the right places. Hope she has a GREAT time!

It could b wrose man...she could be...dare i say MEEchigan fan

Hey! Be poking me with that stick.. sheez..

And yes, she has pals in high places.. she and Vic have been best friends since pre-school.. she can snap fingers and go to any game she wants to so long as the band is there.. home or away. That includes Bowl games.. shoot me now.