Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry More Than a Game

Nov. 18, 2006 — -- For most Americans, the date Nov. 18 does not bring to mind a major celebration like July 4 does.

But for the fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines, it is the most important day this year. And this season, it's bigger than ever.

The Ohio State vs. University of Michigan rivalry has been called the greatest sports rivalry of all time. Forget Harvard vs. Yale, Army vs. Navy and Yankees vs. Red Sox. ESPN ranks Ohio State vs. Michigan ahead of all of them.

After 103 years, Ohio State vs. Michigan may also be the oldest sports rivalry. The two teams met for the first time in 1897. While both have historically been among the top teams in college football, this year, for the first time ever, the Buckeyes and Wolverines faced off ranked number one and number two in the country. That catapulted the historic match-up into the national spotlight.

For Ohio State and Michigan's devoted fans, the rankings made the game a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Gordon Loll, a Michigan fan and co-owner of The Arena restaurant in Ann Arbor, Mich., described the scene there before today's game as chaotic.

"Everyone was pretty fired up, like Christmas morning," Loll said. "Everybody woke up early in anticipation of the game. It was like we were selling PlayStation 3, or something."

It's All Relative

Like many fans, Loll roots partly for Ohio State and partly for Michigan. While Ohio State has been perched above Michigan in the rankings this season, Michigan sits just atop Ohio on the map, so many families have split loyalties. Loll's mother is an Ohio State alum, while his father is a Michigan grad.

But sometimes, being a fan of both teams is not an option. When asked how he chose which team to support, Loll said fear was his motivation.

"I was more afraid of my dad growing up than my mom," he said.

For a famous rivalry, the Ohio State vs. Michigan one is is surprisingly genteel.

While words like "hate" and "despise" are commonly used to describe other rivalries, Ohio State and Michigan fans often speak with great respect about one another.

It's a convention that's difficult to explain to outsiders. It's even difficult to find a fan to explain it, especially on game day. Trying to reach an Ohio State or Michigan fan on football Saturday is like trying to get in touch with the Pope on Easter Sunday.

ABC News was able to talk with Ohio State fan Bob McCarthy, who said he's been cheering for Michigan this season, something atypical in a rivalry.

Before today, he said, "Ohio State was actually rooting for Michigan to win because they wanted this game to get to the point where both teams were undefeated with everything on the line."

Loll agreed.

"There is a mutual respect between the two teams," he said.

Remembering a Great

That respect was evident when fans in both states joined together to remember legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who passed away Nov. 17 at the age of 77.

Like Loll and so many others, Schembechler's past was speckled with maize and blue as well as scarlet and grey. He started his career as an assistant coach to the great Woody Hayes at Ohio State University. The friendly but intense competition between the two propelled the rivalry, known as the "10-year war," into the national spotlight.

The passing of Schembechler makes today's meeting between the two teams even more poignant.

"This game is the Haley's comet of college football, especially with the passing of Bo," said Loll. "Could you fit any more emotion into one game -- undefeated, rival, the passing of a great?"

"From the standpoint of Ohio State fans, there was a genuine sense of sadness of losing somebody who was a warrior who competed and also coached here," added McCarthy.

A Rivalry that Goes Far Beyond the Field

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry runs deeper than football. Students from both schools competed away from the field this year to see which school could collect the most pints of blood for the Red Cross. In that competition, it didn't matter if blood ran Buckeye red or Wolverine blue.

In another act of camaraderie, members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternities at both universities have run a joint relay for the past two years to deliver the game ball from Ann Arbor to Columbus, raising more than $40 thousand for the American Cancer Society.

There is a lot on the line this Saturday -- a big ten title, a trip to the national title game and bragging rights for the next year. But for Loll, the outcome of the Michigan-Ohio State game has more important implications. Regardless of who prevails, the winning team's colors are worn by the whole family, and no one's appetite gets spoiled.

"With my family, blood is thicker than water, but blood isn't as thick as football is," he said. "Every Thanksgiving, we go down to Ohio to see how the other half lives. And whoever wins, that color is worn throughout the day."