Jim Harbaugh was requested at his information convention earlier this week if he respects Ryan Day and his workers. Harbaugh, as he typically does when requested one thing that makes him uncomfortable, hesitated earlier than dodging the query.
“It’s all about our preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh mentioned. “The times, the minutes, the hours, the whole lot main as much as this recreation, that’s the place our focus is. Making ready ourselves and planning, gonna observe after which execute. Anything is irrelevant while you get to this type of huge recreation.”
Ryan Day was requested one thing comparable a day later. He, too, wasn’t all for giving an sincere reply.
“With the whole lot occurring and the issues which might be on the market, we’ve type of simply stayed away from all of the distractions and have simply type of centered on our staff,” he mentioned. “I feel our guys have finished a great job of it. … I’ve talked to them a pair instances about what’s gone on this season, going into the sport, however they’re centered on this recreation. They’re centered on this season.”
Writing a column proper now and have a query: Is that this the very best/most hyped Ohio State-Michigan recreation … ever?
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 22, 2023
4 years in the past, after Ohio State’s 56-27 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in Day’s first 12 months because the Buckeyes coach, the rivalry appeared lifeless as a result of City Meyer killed it. Meyer was not Ohio State’s coach, however the basis of what he constructed carried over into the Day period and the Buckeyes stomped the Wolverines. The Recreation was lopsided, the recruiting outcomes had been lopsided and Ohio State was extra involved with Clemson than it was about its most bitter rival.
However the rivalry wasn’t lifeless. It seems, it can’t be killed.
And when you’re searching for one thing to be grateful for on Thursday, how about this? The best rivalry within the sport, one which was on life assist lower than 5 years in the past, isn’t solely again. It’s higher than ever.
After Harbaugh beat Ohio State for the primary time, in 2021, he mentioned within the postgame information convention that “some persons are born on third base and act like they’ve hit a triple,” referring to Day’s standing because the Buckeyes coach. A public shot at your rival’s head coach and the whole lot he’s achieved in his profession? There’s no getting back from that.
In fact, Harbaugh later went on to say the remark was a counterpunch to Day, who reportedly mentioned he’d “dangle 100” on Michigan throughout a dispute on a Massive Ten coaches teleconference. Alas, the motivation for that isn’t actually essential anymore. That’s not a remark you’ll be able to simply shrug off.
GO DEEPER
Michigan hasn’t fallen but, however will gravity pull Jim Harbaugh’s program again to Earth?
However this 12 months’s recreation is about a lot greater than public trash speaking. From Ohio State’s aspect, you could have an elite-level program that expects to win nationwide titles dwelling in a actuality the place it isn’t even perceived to be the very best program within the Massive Ten East anymore. Day has misplaced consecutive video games to Michigan after the Buckeyes misplaced solely as soon as on this rivalry from 2004 by 2019.
Day has an impeccable file and was on the point of profitable a nationwide title final 12 months, but many Ohio State followers query whether or not he’s the precise man for the job. Name it the ghost of John Cooper.
Michigan is searching for its third straight win within the sequence, which might have been an unthinkable notion in December 2019. However the Wolverines are at the moment being investigated for an alleged in-person scouting scheme and persons are throwing the phrase “dishonest” round. Harbaugh is teaching his staff in the course of the week, getting ready the sport plan and performing his media obligations per traditional, however he’s serving a three-game suspension from the Massive Ten and received’t be in Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Many Michigan followers wholeheartedly consider Day employed a PI agency to analyze the Wolverines, and so they attribute the entire program’s woes to Ohio State’s head coach. Day’s brothers have been roped into allegations that had been rampant on X (previously often known as Twitter) and faculty soccer message boards.
You will have real-life animosity between two coaches because the appetizer for a recreation that may very seemingly decide who wins the Massive Ten and advances to the School Soccer Playoff.
The 2006 version featured two undefeated groups in what was labeled “The Recreation of the Century.” Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died the day earlier than the sport from heart problems. The medical doctors mentioned that the entire pleasure main into The Recreation seemingly contributed to his demise.
It’s not presupposed to get heavier than that. Many will inform you nothing can evaluate to 2006. Possibly this doesn’t. However it feels larger differently.
This 12 months we’ve got two packages and two coaches who legitimately hate each other. Rivalries exist in any respect ranges of sports activities and hate might be extra widespread within the stands than on the sphere. However this? That is pure.
Even Schembechler and legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes — the 2 males who presided over the Ten Yr Struggle from 1969 by 1978 — had love and admiration for each other. The 2 had been shut buddies, although they spent your entire 12 months making an attempt to determine the best way to beat one another. Woody visited Bo within the hospital after he had a coronary heart assault. Bo gave a eulogy at Woody’s funeral.
These are the last word indicators of respect. The 2 present coaches can’t even muster the power to say the phrase.
The results of this recreation will reverberate, whatever the end result.
• Michigan wins: The Wolverines keep on prime. Additionally they preserve that the sign-stealing scandal has been fully overblown, and the win over Ohio State is proof they had been all the time the higher staff. Even with out Harbaugh on the sideline, Michigan is superior to its bitter rival. The win additionally legitimizes the outcomes of the earlier two seasons. Day, in flip, has to return to Columbus along with his tail between his legs to a fan base that will have already turned on him.
• Ohio State wins: Day evens his file to 2-2 in opposition to Michigan and all is forgiven. His file in opposition to his greatest rival won’t match Meyer’s (7-0) or Jim Tressel’s (9-1), however he will get additional credit score for profitable the largest version of this bitter rivalry. Ohio State reasserts itself as the category of the Massive Ten and certain returns to the School Soccer Playoff to attempt to end the job after coming shut a 12 months in the past. In the meantime, Michigan is knocked out of the CFP and begins to face much more urgent questions on Connor Stalions, the dishonest scandal and the way a lot the superior scouting helped this system flip the tables within the first place.
When has a recreation been extra compelling? Championship trophies are at stake on the sphere and self-worth is at stake off of it. For each groups.
Whether or not you’re an Ohio State fan or a Michigan fan, you’ll be able to most likely agree on one factor — that that is the very best rivalry in faculty soccer and, possibly, sports activities. And the anticipation and real hatred that exists makes this Thanksgiving week sweeter than regular.
That is rivalry nirvana.
That is the epitome of what makes faculty soccer nice.
Who’s not grateful this rivalry is again … and higher than ever?
(Photograph of Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Pictures)
