Article published November 12, 2007
Bruised Buckeyes focus on Michigan
Despite loss to Illinois, rivalry still will decide Big Ten title
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - The Ohio State players who entered the postgame interview room following Saturday's stunning 28-21 loss to Illinois said it all, without uttering a word.
They trudged through the door, shuffling their feet. Their shoulders drooped, their expressions were blank. Their body language screamed disappointment, dismay and frustration.
The No. 1 ranking the Buckeyes had enjoyed for more than a month - gone.
The shot at an undefeated season - gone.
The hope for a second straight trip to the national championship game - gone.
The 28-game regular season winning streak - gone.The record 20-game Big Ten winning streak - gone.
But despite such a heavy toll, the Buckeyes get no recovery period. The next game - with bitter rival Michigan -was less than a week away as Illinois celebrated its win at Ohio Stadium.
| THE GAME |
OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN
• When: Saturday, noon
• Where: Michigan Stadium
• Records: No. 7 OSU is 10-1, 6-1 Big Ten; No. 23 UM is 8-3, 6-1
• Series: UM leads 57-40-6
• Favorite: OSU by 4
• TV: 13, 7
• Radio: 1470, 1560
LAST THREE
 2006: OSU 42, UM 39
 PHOTOS: 2006 slideshow
2005: OSU 25, UM 21
 PHOTOS: 2005
2004: OSU 37, UM 21
2007 UM RESULTS
• Sept. 1 - APPALACHIAN ST., L 32-34
• Sept. 8 - OREGON, L 7-39
• Sept. 15 - NOTRE DAME, W 38-0
• Sept. 22 - PENN ST., W 14-9
• Sept. 29 - at N'western, W 28-16
• Oct. 6 - E. MICHIGAN, W 33-22
• Oct. 13 - PURDUE, W 48-21
• Oct. 20 - at Illinois, W 27-17
• Oct. 27 - MINNESOTA, W 34-10
• Nov. 3 - at Michigan St., W 28-24
• Nov. 10 - at Wisconsin, L 37-21
• Nov. 17 - OHIO ST., noon
HOME GAMES in BOLD
 HEAR: The Victors (YouTube)
2007 OSU RESULTS
• Sept. 1 - YOUNGSTOWN ST., W 38-6
• Sept. 8 - AKRON, W 20-2
• Sept. 15 - at Washington, W 33-14
• Sept. 22 - N'WESTERN, W 58-7
• Sept. 29 - at Minnesota, W 30-7
• Oct. 6 - at Purdue, W 23-7
• Oct. 13 - KENT ST., W 48-3
• Oct. 20 - MICHIGAN ST., W 24-17
• Oct. 27 - at Penn St., W 37-17
• Nov. 3 - WISCONSIN, W 38-17
• Nov. 10 - ILLINOIS, L 28-21
• Nov. 17 - at Michigan, noon
HOME GAMES in BOLD
HEAR: Carmen, Ohio/Across The Field
READ: Ohio-Michigan Border War (1835-1836) (Wikipedia) |
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"This hurts. We lost a lot and saw some of our dreams, some of our goals kind of disappear," Ohio State senior fullback Dionte Johnson said in the moments after the Illinois game. "But we've got to pick it up, get back together, and press on. We've got Michigan now, so there's still a lot to play for. That's always the most important game of the season."
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who has won five of six games against Michigan in his career, said the Buckeyes had to do a quick review of the Illinois game and then turn the page. The game against the Wolverines again will decide the Big Ten champion, with the winner likely
going to the Rose Bowl.
"It didn't work out for us, and obviously we can't erase how we feel about it," Tressel said, "but on the other hand, we know we have a big week coming up and we've got to grow from this."
Ohio State senior captain Kirk Barton, the team's unofficial front porch philosopher, said intense preparation for Michigan would provide part of the salve for the sting of the Illinois defeat, and Barton wanted that effort to start Saturday night.
"You kind of feel like a bit of a failure. It takes a little bit away from your captaincy if you can't lead your team the way you need to," Barton said. "But nobody can lay around feeling sorry over it. It's Michigan week as of now, so we've got to start watching the film, got to start working out tonight, and we've got to start grinding, because that's the one - that's our shot."
Tressel said reeling in his team emotionally would be a challenge.
"It's something you've got to work hard to do," he said. "Like anything that happens, it's disappointing. You have to evaluate the parts of it and work hard to get your emotions right to go and have a tremendous challenge. This is a whole game that we've got to learn from and then be prepared mentally and strategically for the next one."
The Buckeyes (10-1, 6-1), who had not lost since Jan. 8 when Florida beat them in the national championship game in Arizona, repeated that mantra.
"We have to go home and reflect on it a little bit, but we can't harp on it for too long," defensive end Vernon Gholston said of the Illinois game. "We still have one of our goals - winning the Big Ten - intact."
Because of Michigan's loss to Wisconsin, Saturday's game still will decide the conference title. It's the first time since 1959 that Ohio State and Michigan each lost before their end-of-the-year battle.
Ohio State linebacker and Minnesota native James Laurinaitis understands the importance of the rivalry with Michigan (8-3, 6-1) and its place in Ohio State lore.
"We don't have time to put our heads down really," Laurinaitis said. "We have to kind of look at each other and look at ourselves in the mirror and go in there and focus on Michigan, because everybody around here knows this is 'The Week,' no matter what happens."
Sophomore wide receiver Brian Hartline was even more succinct.
"Guys were upset, but now we have to pick our heads up and get ready for Michigan," Hartline said. "You come to Ohio State to play against Michigan."
Contact Matt Markey at:
mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.
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