Albert Einstein once said, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.”
Insanity. That’s the only word I can think of that explains my thought process as a Michigan fan. Every year our hopes are high and every year we get driven into the ground by a nut named Brutus.
My Beginnings
To give you a little back story, I really started getting into football around four years old. That means 2005 was my first Michigan vs. Ohio State game experience. At first, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of this game. However, It didn’t take me long to realize the true power of this rivalry. After all, this rivalry is so widely known that when a college football fan says “The Game” people know exactly what they’re talking about. Once I understood this, I was completely invested. I learned to hate Ohio State and, in the same way, they hated Michigan. It became the one thing I looked forward to in every Michigan football season, no matter how good they were.
The Journey
Now imagine how I feel, 15 years later. 15 years, I have invested myself in this game, only to be let down time and time again. I’ve been witness to ONE, I repeat ONE, Michigan win in what’s supposed to be the biggest and best rivalry in college football. That one win came in 2011 against an Ohio State team that finished 6-7 and was bloodied with controversy. That win felt empty. Ohio State wasn’t any good, or at least not by Ohio State standards. Yes, it was awesome to finally see Michigan win this game and it felt so good to finally see some sort of triumph, and it left me craving more. Unfortunately for me, the Wolverines haven’t been able to live up to the expectations.
EIGHT straight years of failure. EIGHT straight years of wondering when and if it will ever end. It doesn’t seem like it ever will. The Buckeyes out-recruit, out-coach, and outperform Michigan every single year.
I’ve turned this damned game on 15 times in 15 years. Each time hoping to see Michigan prevail. Each time seeing my hopes crushed like drywall on demolition day. What I’m doing, like many other Michigan fans, is the Einsteinian definition of insanity. Each year we expect it to be different, but it never is.
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The Breaking Point
The camel is buried under a pile of straws so high it makes Everest look small. I can’t take it anymore. Since that last Michigan win there have been three games decided by one score or less and Brady freaking Hoke was the coach for two of them. The past two meetings are seared into my brain forever. The vaunted 2018 Michigan pass defense getting absolutely torched for 396 yards and six touchdowns on crossing routes is the one that will forever haunt me. Don Brown’s defense got exposed and gave up a 60-point drubbing, so you’d think he would come back in 2019 and have a better gameplan. Nope, Ohio State did the same exact thing, only this time they were only able to get 56 points.
This Year
Never in my life did I think it would be this bad, but here we are, and next week is looking to be a complete and utter slaughter. Ohio State is a 27.5 point favorite coming in, which fun little fact is more than Michigan was a favorite over Michigan State. That, along with Ryan Day saying that he’s going to hang 100 on the U of M defense only leaves me to believe that this is going to be the worst game in the series yet.
At this point, I hope the game gets canceled. I don’t care what Michigan is called by the rest of the college football world, it’ll be better than what is said if they actually play. Jim Harbaugh and Don Brown turned me into a pessimist. I would always come into the games with high hopes, but not this year, not this team. And to those of you that think there’s a shot, Jim Harbaugh has never won a game as an underdog at Michigan, so I don’t know what makes you think he can do it as a 30 point one.
“THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS”
It’s all over Michigan facilities. If you choose to stay, you’re hard work and dedication will pay off. This saying has never been further from the truth. How can you say those who stay will be champions when you can’t even win the most important game on your schedule? Michigan is the real little brother. Ohio State does whatever they please every single year.
It’s gotten to the point where the best recruits in the state don’t even want to play at Michigan. They’d rather play at Ohio State or down south. If a young kid is considering whether to play at Michigan or Ohio State what are you going to pitch him if you’re Michigan? “Come play here to get a good education and get 50 bombed by Ohio State every year.” All Ohio State has to do is point to the record since the turn of the century, 16-3.
The End of the Rivalry
I’m sick and tired of being second fiddle to Ohio State. When it comes to this rivalry, I’m embarrassed to claim that I cheer for this team. But I can’t do anything about it, I’m merely a spectator. I just sit and watch my favorite team get the absolute crap kicked out of them for four quarters. This isn’t even a rivalry anymore. For it to be a rivalry there need to be two teams that compete with each other, not one that shows up to play football and one that curls up into the fetal position, begging for the abuse to be over. It’s like when Alabama or Clemson schedule The Citadel. It’s just a quick little warmup for the real games that actually matter.
So much for being the victors’ valiant…..