The Buckeyes just wouldn't shut up. There was Michigan's new football coach, Rich Rodriguez, trying to address the crowd at halftime Sunday, and a horde of Ohio State fans way up in the rafters kept interrupting with chants and jeers.It was rude, in a distinctly Buckeye way. But it also was helpful, a needed primer for Michigan's new basketball and football coaches, who must turn up their own noise, while turning around the rivalry.
The Michigan fans responded with "Beat the Buckeyes!" and Rodriguez said, "Amen, I hear you, I appreciate that." And then the strangest thing happened.
The Wolverines actually went out and beat the Buckeyes.
This weekend really was perfect, in a number of ways. The hockey squad beat LSSU firmly into the ice with double 4-2 wins to solidify their national rankings, Pairwise, and CCHA leads while our number one competitor, Miami-Ohio, got swept by Ferris State. New head football coach Rich Rodriguez had a big get-together for all the alumni of Michigan teams past and connected well; his speech at halftime was a big success. And as for the Ohio State hecklers? Well, they weren't shut up by Coach Rod. They were shut up by, of all people, the Michigan basketball team, who outscored the Buckeyes 42-32 in the second half to end a seven-game skid against those fat idiots from south of the border. (Whew, geez, excuse me. I think the correct term is "proportionally-challenged graduates of THE Ohio State University".) That was the most fun I've had watching Michigan basketball since the glory days when we won an NIT title. (*sigh* I'm starting to ruin it for myself...)
Seriously, though, there's no way these events could have played out better. Coach Rod addresses the Michigan faithful as their head football coach for the first time, filling Crisler Arena with the promise of his appearance. The Michigan basketball team shows up, gives us the most exciting game of the year, and shows toughness and poise--despite playing their lone senior for only 15 unproductive minutes. This game was truly satisfying, because this whole year we've been reminding ourselves that this year is really about next year, that even though we're losing games we're learning and improving and building. And this game WAS about learning, improving, building; but, for the first time, it was also about right now.
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