BUCKEYES ROSY IN THE BIG HOUSE

By Tom Misson

Woody did it. Now so has Tressel. Win 4 straight against Michigan. It hadn’t been done by Ohio State since the early 1960’s. But in just 7 years, the sweater-vest wearing Northeast Ohio native has permanantly etched his name in stone in Buckeye lore.

Tressel can thank his top-ranked defense for a job well done. Vernon Gholston’s 3 sacks led the way. The Silver Bullets gave-up an eye-popping 91 yards to Michigan’s offense and harrassed Michigan QB Chad Henne all day. Mike Hart? Forget about it. just 44 yards. And to think, he decided to return for his senior year just so he could beat OSU. Opps. Sorry, Mike. On the offensive side, Akron’s Chris Wells had a career personal best 222 yards rushing. That’s also the most yards ever for an Ohio State running back against a Michigan team.

Today’s 14-3 win over Michigan again means the Buckeyes will play in a BCS Bowl game. More than likely, it’s the Rose Bowl, which, strangely enough, Tressel’s Buckeyes have never play in before. What was once the jewel of the Big Ten Crown, now is considered a “consolation prize”. But Coach Tressel won’t allow his kids to think like that. He’ll have them prepared to whatever team the BCS computers throw at them. He now has 6 weeks to prepare.

Back to Tressel’s surreal-like ownership of Michigan. 6 wins over the Maize and Blue in 7 seasons. Talk about dominance. Now Lloyd Carr knows what John Cooper must have felt like. Tressel has NEVER lost to Michigan in Columbus, and is now 3-1 at the Big House. Not even Vegas would touch those odds. And now it appears as though Carr is screaming “uncle”. He’s had enough. Calling a press conference on Monday, the entire sports world expects Carr to call it quits as Michigan’s head coach of 13 years. What a shame. Pity the next guy to put on that block “M” hat. Think he’ll solve Tressel’s Buckeyes? Don’t bet on it.