Ohio State players circling the Michigan game – ‘It’s a war’
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan hammered Ohio State, 42-27, in Ann Arbor last year, a result that still stings the Buckeyes. They’re already counting the days until the next meeting, safety Ronnie Hickman said, hoping to atone.
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Hickman’s expression remained stoic when asked about the loss to the Wolverines.
“It was tough,” he said at Big Ten Media Days Thursday. “Regardless of what happened last year [at Michigan], that rivalry means a lot to us. We respect that rivalry to the fullest. We’re going to prepare every day for that team no matter what.
“So yes, last year of course motivates us … we use it as motivation. But the rivalry is that rivalry for a reason.”
He had only one thing to add when the questions continued as to whether he knew the date of the game.
“Yeah, we’re excited to play Nov. 26,” he said, confirming he’s known the date of the Michigan game for a while.
That wouldn’t surprise head coach Ryan Day, whose players seemed to take the loss personally. He noted the goal was “to win them all,” and they didn’t get it done a year ago.
“Maybe at some places 11-2 with a Rose Bowl victory is a good year. It isn’t at Ohio State,” he said. “Our three goals are beat the team up north, win the Big Ten Championship, win the National Championship. That’s our goals, and those things didn’t happen last year.
“It doesn’t change next year or the year before. Just a different team with a different group of guys, more experienced. Again, when you think about those first few games last year, we had a lot of young guys, and now we’ve gone through a whole season and off-season together. I think our guys are a little scarred — they’re a little calloused. They know what it’s like to lose a game, and that’s not fun.”
Michigan – Ohio State: ‘It’s a war’
They remind their guys about the Michigan loss regularly, Day said, and it was apparent in speaking with quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud threw for 396 yards last year, but in a losing effort.
“Something like that definitely does stick in your mind, but you’ve got to be able to move on and just learn from it,” he said of the Michigan loss. “I feel like every failure you don’t learn from is an ‘L,’ but every failure you do learn from is a ‘W.’ Definitely, just learn from it … learn how to game manage better from that game, when to take a shot, when not to. Move in the pocket. There are a lot of different things you can take from that game. I think it’s a positive, honestly. Sounds weird to say. But I’m living my dream. Even though I wanted to win so bad …”
He’ll get another opportunity soon, he noted (“by the glory of God), adding he’s working toward that in the offseason. Michigan is a motivator in Columbus, and always will be.
“It’s always in the back of our minds,” he said. “It’s always a rivalry, to me at least. I don’t care if we beat them 100 times or they beat us. It doesn’t really matter.
“At the end of the day, I wouldn’t say it’s like bad blood off the field. But it’s two great traditions on both sides, two great programs and great players on both sides that both have dudes in the NFL doing it now. It’s respect both ways … but at the same time, it is a war.”
One that will resume Nov. 26 when Michigan travels to Columbus for the annual grudge match.
