College Football

[betterREDthandead 58]

You're biased. OSU has more depth than Michigan. Your right, Michigan's front group is better but I personally think the key will be in how Michigan handles the versatile Troy Smith. Michigan has shown time and time again that they cannot stop a running QB. I look for Smith to have a big day and also Anthony Gonzalez as Ginn will probably see a bunch of Leon Hall. For Michigan to have a shot, I think you need to have this be a Hart vs Pittman matchup, control the clock and keep Ted Ginn and Troy Smith off the field.

Of course I'm biased. So're you. But the almost universal consensus is that Michigan has a good offense and Ohio State has a good defense, while Ohio State has a great offense and Michigan has a great defense. I see no reason to believe it's any different. I think the OSU offense vs. Michigan defense is almost a known quantity - Ohio State will definitely get more than the 30 yards on the ground that Michigan gives up, but Troy Smith will not be able to run wild like he has and not get the time in the pocket that he gets against the Indianas and Cincinnatis of the world. I can say this with near certainty. It's what happens when Michigan has the ball that's going to be key. Michigan leads the nation in time of possession with over 8 minutes per game more than their opposition. If they can keep that up, they win. If not, they lose. So it comes down to: can OSU stop Mike Hart? If not, Michigan grinds down the clock, takes 7-8 minutes off during every drive, and defends OSU's weapons the best way possible - keep them off the field. And it's not just Hart they have to deal with - Carr will throw Minor out there for some speed and Grady for some power when a change of pace is needed. If OSU does have an answer for Michigan's running game, they probably win.

I may be biased, but I offer more or less objective observations (when I'm being serious).

P.S.: I desperately hope Ohio State believes what you believe - that Michigan is helpless against running QBs. They used to be. Different coordinator, more senior personnel - this is obviously a different Michigan team that went into last year's game with three losses, or even the team that couldn't finish a Rose Bowl win over Texas. If Ohio State thinks Michigan can't touch Troy Smith, they'll go into halftime wondering what hit them.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

After Michigan coach Bo Schembechler passes away and enters the Pearly Gates, God takes him on a tour. He shows Bo a little two bedroom house with a faded UM banner hanging from the front porch.

This is your home now coach. Most people don't get their own house up here.

Bo looked at the house then turns around and looks at the one sitting on top of the hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white marble columns and little patios under all the windows. Ohio state flags line both sides of the sidewalk with a huge scarlet and grey OSU banner hanging between the marble columns.

Thanks for the home God but let me ask you a question. I get this little two bedroom house with a faded UM Michigan banner and Woody Hayes gets a mansion with new OSU banners and flags flying all over the place.

Why is that God?

God looks at him seriously for a moment then replies, "That's not Woody's house, that's mine."

[Happy Pancake 6]

After Michigan coach Bo Schembechler passes away and enters the Pearly Gates, God takes him on a tour. He shows Bo a little two bedroom house with a faded UM banner hanging from the front porch.

This is your home now coach. Most people don't get their own house up here.

Bo looked at the house then turns around and looks at the one sitting on top of the hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white marble columns and little patios under all the windows. Ohio state flags line both sides of the sidewalk with a huge scarlet and grey OSU banner hanging between the marble columns.

Thanks for the home God but let me ask you a question. I get this little two bedroom house with a faded UM Michigan banner and Woody Hayes gets a mansion with new OSU banners and flags flying all over the place.

Why is that God?

God looks at him seriously for a moment then replies, "That's not Woody's house, that's mine."

Yea because Woody was the definition of an angel.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

God told him to choke that Clemson *****. Haha

[Happy Pancake 6]

God told him to choke that Clemson *****. Haha

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I am in shock right now - I just heard tha Bo Schembechler died.

I heard awhile ago he was in critical condition. I think the stress of this week - all the interviews etc. took a toll on the old man.

I hope everyone on both sides pays their respect to Bo tomorrow - what awful timing for both teams. I am sorry for both Carr, Tressell, and all the players that he passed away before the big game.

May he rest in peace. I'm still in shock - this changes everything for me about the game tomorrow. I am sorry for his family. The whole UM nationwide family grieve with you.

[Icer 0]

Hate to put a damper on eve of the big game, but ESPN is reporting Bo Schembechler was rushed to the hospital today. There's rumors he's gone.

Edit: Looks like I've been scooped. Here's the link anyways...

ESPN

Edited November 17, 2006 by Icer

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Can't believe this....such incredible timing. I mean, wow. My thoughts with the Schembechler family.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Here is the only link I've found that says he's passed away: Link

edit....more and more are saying it's true

Everything else only says he's collapsed and in the hospital....either way, it doesn't look good, not at all...... what a shame this happens on the eve of the greatest game yet in the rivalry.......

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Its all over ESPN on tv.

What a terrible night to have a Hate Michigan concert at the Newport featuring the band the Dead Schembechlers.

I know its all in fun but I dont know what they should do...I'd assume they didnt play or changed their name for one night.

[gowingsgo 3]

RIP Bo

You are a legend

It's Great, TO BE, a MICHIGAN WOLVERINE

[betterREDthandead 58]

Here is the blurb from the DS's website regarding Bo's passing:

BO SCHEMBECHLER: OSU'S MOST VALIANT FOE: The band is crushed to learn of the death of Bo Schembechler. We named this band after Coach Schembechler to honor him as the face of Wolverine football. We have never wished ill will upon him in any way and have always wished him the best. When we learned that Bo had seen our web site and was amused by it we were delighted. We were simply delighted. He said to those with him as he read it, "See, I still matter in Columbus!" That may have been the greatest understatement in football history. We believe that he took the band's name as the compliment that it was meant as and that he was flattered by it. We wish to extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to his family. We are truly sorry for their loss.

(I never, by the way, took much offense at the choice of the band's name - I've always understood it to be a play on the punk band the Dead Kennedys, as evidenced by the DS's frontman's stage name of Bo Biafra after the DK's frontman Jeff Biafra.)

[Happy Pancake 6]

Oh this is terrible news. What a loss. It need not be said but Michigan you need to win this one for Bo tomorrow.

RIP Bo. I hope we make you proud tomorrow.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

After Michigan coach Bo Schembechler passes away and enters the Pearly Gates, God takes him on a tour. He shows Bo a little two bedroom house with a faded UM banner hanging from the front porch.

This is your home now coach. Most people don't get their own house up here.

Bo looked at the house then turns around and looks at the one sitting on top of the hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white marble columns and little patios under all the windows. Ohio state flags line both sides of the sidewalk with a huge scarlet and grey OSU banner hanging between the marble columns.

Thanks for the home God but let me ask you a question. I get this little two bedroom house with a faded UM Michigan banner and Woody Hayes gets a mansion with new OSU banners and flags flying all over the place.

Why is that God?

God looks at him seriously for a moment then replies, "That's not Woody's house, that's mine."

My post from yesterday....I kinda feel bad. At least him and Woody can watch it together.

[rage 24]

A great loss.

Yahoo Article

Espn Article

[mannysBETTER3434 1]

Rest In Pieces Bo. I can't believe how sad I am about this. IMO the best quote from Bo ever.

"If it were not for my damn heart Bowden and Paterno would be chasing me"

"If you ever count out Michigan you're making a hell of a mistake"

One I just heard from Holtz..

"Bo could make you believe a orange was a bannana"

I think its so sad that the game Bo has dreamed of his whole career is about to happen, and he just misses it. Lets win this for Bo!

My post from yesterday....I kinda feel bad. At least him and Woody can watch it together.

Yes they will watch it together, and have a great time. Although at times they would have gladly killed eachother they had nothing but love/respect for each other.

[BlakChamber 8]

RIP Bo

[Icer 0]

Oh this is terrible news. What a loss. It need not be said but Michigan you need to win this one for Bo tomorrow.

This is going to make watching the game tomorrow almost unbearable. I guarantee the broadcasters are going to turn their entire broadcast into one huge Schembechler tribute.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Oh god, what awful news on the eve of the big one.

Rest in peace, Bo.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

Here is the only link I've found that says he's passed away: Link

edit....more and more are saying it's true

Everything else only says he's collapsed and in the hospital....either way, it doesn't look good, not at all...... what a shame this happens on the eve of the greatest game yet in the rivalry.......

I happened to be listening to WXYT over the internet - you could tell by the tone of their voices, the guys knew he had died, but they said they couldn't "officially" tell us.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Here's another blurb about the DS's, from ESPN. Interesting tidbits:

The Dead Schembechlers, a Columbus, Ohio-based punk band that adopted the name of the late Michigan coach and dresses like late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, will continue with concert plans on Friday night. The band, featured in Pat Forde's Forde-Yard Dash on Tuesday, is headlining a "Hate Michigan Rally" in Columbus.

The Detroit Free Press reported Friday, however, that it will be the band's final show.

"This will be it for us as a group," the band's leader, Bo Biafra was quoted as saying in the Free Press.

Biafra said the band will donate proceeds from the show to a charity chosen by the Schembechler family.

The band was planning to make Friday one of the biggest days of its career. They are scheduled to host the so-called Hate Michigan Rally at the Newport Music Hall across from the OSU campus.

Earlier Friday, the Schembechlers posted this message on their web site: "The band wishes to say, 'We are crushed to learn of the death of Bo Schembechler, OSU's most valiant foe.'"

At the music hall, they have taken down the words "Dead Schembechlers" on the marquee and substituted "God Bless Bo."

[BlakChamber 8]

^^^

Very nice.

And if you've never heard their songs, they are funny as hell.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I took a look at the Buckeye fan boards, and the near-universal reaction is classy. The Bo thread is filled with nothing but accolades for the man and respectful words. OSU fans know that Woody isn't Woody without Bo, and Bo isn't Bo without Woody, and that Michigan and Ohio State are the great programs they are because of each other, rather than despite each other.

So that's the good news.

Then I followed the link to a Spartan board.

Jerks. Unbelievable.

Actually about 2/3 of the posters are complimentary and offer their condolences and respects. Then again....here's a sampling of the idiocy:

YAY!!!!!!!!!

Good riddance.

I kinda feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway:

"So....that's it, then."

I'm not happy that he died, but I can't say I'm sad, either.

I don't think so...

But ESPN just announced they are doing Gameday from Smith Bros Funeral Chapel on Big Beaver Road tomorrow.

Special features will include "embalming a legend"

Good, now we have room for a different Bo in Michigan.

Do you think he is hanging out with Ed Martin in Hell?

Why? Death has got to be better than in and out of hospitals and convalescing into nothingness? Bo, being the dick that he was, would take pride in being so hated. It is a testiment to his success. So burn in hell Bo. And may the wings of demons speed you to your punishment!

About 2/3 of the fans on that board are reacting with the class you ought to expect when a good man and a great coach passes away. The rest? They range from smug indifference ("this is an MSU board, who cares?" to empty wishes ("I hated that arrogant POS, he's no Tom Izzo, but my condolences to his family anyway") to petty jealousy ("the media wouldn't make such a big deal out of this if it weren't right before the game") to the filth above, and finally, the lowest of the low:

http://www.spartantailgate.com/forums/show...mp;postcount=21

I realize that the Spartan fans on this board are classy with a capital C. And I know that, still, the majority of Spartan fans are saddened by the loss of Bo, or at least classy enough to tell off the morons who are taking joy out of this. But those morons are common enough that this is clearly not an isolated reaction. A sizable number of Spartan fans are happy about the death of Bo Schembechler. And for what, other than consistently beating their football team? One usually tries to remember not to let the actions of the few reflect on the whole. But there are more than a few MSU fans taking pleasure from this. I have gained quite a bit of respect for Buckeye fans today and lost plenty for the Spartans

[BlakChamber 8]

It saddens me to see my fellow Spartans act that way

[timothy1997 0]

I am about as big an anti-wolverine fan out there and I am not that bad. I was only 11 when he retired so I remember most from him on the big ten ticket and his comments here and there. I remember cheering when he retired...because he was a damn good coach. Bo had something about him that no matter what he was talking about, you gave it your full attention.