10 year war to make a comeback

Is it ethical?

Would you sleep over at a recruit’s house, climb a tree or throw some footballs to a couple of kids in order to get the top recruit in the entire country to come play football for you? How about getting Kalamazoo native Derek Jeter and former Michigan Wolverine Tom Brady to come out to a private event to persuade a senior in high school into choosing your school instead of another.

Say what you want, but the recruiting efforts of Jim Harbaugh are remarkable.

National Signing Day was Feb. 3. For those who are unaware, it is a big deal for college football teams, fans, players and coaches. It’s a day that brings hope and a sense of bragging rights to fans, no matter how well their team performed in the football season.

While thousands of high school seniors made a life-changing decision on National Signing Day, perhaps the most important signing was Rashan Gary, the nation’s top recruit. He decided to go to Michigan.

Most of you might think I’m crazy for saying this, I mean, I’m a fan of THE Ohio State. Buckeye fans are supposed to hate that team up north’s guts and everything about them. Which is exactly why the signing of Gary to the Wolverines should excite fans of the rivalry.

It is believed by many the Buckeye-Wolverine rivalry is the greatest in all of sports. It is beyond rivalry, it is stupidity. When these two teams come to play, no matter the sport, all hell breaks loose. Houses divide, friends become enemies and the passion for a team takes over. There are no rules on game day.

It is a rivalry that has lasted 119 years. It is not going anywhere. Unfortunately, the days of the 10 Year War when Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler redefined the true meaning of rivalry are behind us. But it’s making a comeback.

The rivalry is great and it is only going to get better. Millions of passionate fans across the globe will continue to cheer for their team. Fights will break out, Heisman poses will be made and the bragging rights will continue to be a tradition that will forever live on.

The problem with this rivalry, however, has been the past decade and the dominance of Ohio State. Or more recently, Urban Meyer.

Since taking over the reins of the Scarlet and Gray, Meyer has yet to lose to the Wolverines going a perfect 4-0. He understands the importance of the greatest rivalry in the world and has even said it does not matter what your record is at the end of the season. What matters is you beat Michigan.

In fact, the Buckeyes have been victorious in 11 of the past 12 games between the two schools.

While the players, fans, coaches, atmosphere and all other things football will surely allow this heated rivalry to grow, this rivalry would be intensified if Michigan were to win more games. No matter what, both teams are going to put up a fight and no matter the score, the winning team will have year-long bragging rights. With 119 games in the books, the memories still live on. But now it is time to witness the greatest years of the rivalry.

When it comes to winning and losing, fans hate losing more than they enjoy winning. That is the case every time my Buckeyes play the Wolverines.

Since Meyer stepped onto campus, he has captured the trust and faith of the entire state of Ohio. Now it’s time for this rivalry to take a step up.

Jim Harbaugh is no joke. He wants to win and he’s not willing to wait.

We’ve seen him go to some extreme lengths to get recruits and we will continue to see him go to extreme lengths to win football games.

I have had heartbreaks, even cried in the shower for an hour following a crushing loss. I’m not afraid to admit that, and not afraid to admit come autumn when football fans get a look at how talented the University of Michigan’s football team is, Buckeye fans will be a tad bit scared in the days leading up to the last Saturday in November.

But in those days leading up to Nov. 26, Buckeye fans will be cheering for the Wolverines. More than anything in this world, I love the rivalry. Scratch that. More than anything, I love the feeling I am left with every time the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines.

This time around, on Nov. 26, it will be different. The Buckeyes and Wolverines will meet at Ohio Stadium on Senior Day ranked in the Top 10. More than 110,000 fans will flood the horseshoe for a chance to witness one of the greatest rivalries in the world in person. This time around, the energy will be more electric and it will be an instant classic.

In such a short period of time, Jim Harbaugh has managed to instill fear into my poor little heart.

The rivalry is back.

Urban Meyer versus Jim Harbaugh.

Get used to it, folks. We are in for the best 10 year war of our lifetime.