The University of Michigan and The Ohio State University have a football rivalry from which legends are made. This author goes back to the Woody/Bo days. For intensity one only had to look at the coaches. With the passing of these two coaches the rivalry has certainly survived, but has just not been the same. John Cooper couldn't beat Lloyd Carr and Lloyd Carr couldn't beat Jim Tressel.

Obviously it is a "twist" and is "interesting" that a Michigan football family would now switch sides and become Buckeyes, but this is not the point of this article. We see the Boren boys as an example or a portrait of the different directions these two storied football programs are going.

First let's look at the Buckeyes. Jim Tressel, from all appearances, seems to be a gentleman. He is a Christian man and wears that on his sleeve. He wears a sweater vest for Gods sake. To a degree his team has assumed his demeanor. If you listen to the Coaches interviews, he says nothing and his manner of speaking has been coined "Tressel speak". Most of the players when interviewed sound like the coach. They say nothing also. For all we know if you peel away the top Tressel layer you my find a corrupt cheat, but that is certainly not the surface appearance. We would accept as true that in the State of Ohio Jim Tressel could be the governor. The man is loved and respected and seems to have earned the same.

Now let's take a look at Michigan today under Coach Rich Rodriquez. Rodriquez has yet to coach his first game for the Blue and Joe Tiller of Purdue has called him a "snake oil salesman". The coach is of course embroiled in a breach of contract suit with the University of West Virginia that by all appearances is an ugly divorce. Allegations of dishonesty are flying the Coaches direction. Reports coming from the Michigan camp indicate the Fbomb is coach speak at the new Michigan. What type of players will ultimately suit up for the Rodriguez Michigan is unknown, but certainly Rodriguez has built a reputation with some "colorful" characters at West Virginia. Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis was recently quoted as saying "I could get hoodlum's and thugs and win tomorrow, I won't do it that way". It could be argued that Coach Weiss would have been referring to a Rodriguez/West Virginia type program. Justin Boren left the Michigan program citing an erosion of family values. Since he will be suiting up for the Buckeyes one can assume "family values" are alive and well in Columbus.

We write this article not knowing either Rich Rodriguez or Jim Tressel. With that as a caveat, and as we have set forth above, it could now be argued this epic rivalry has taken on the dimension of the guys in the white hats vs the guys in the black hats. Good vs. evil. With that said we see, as Emeril would say, this rivalry has been "kicked up a notch". It should be a hoot to watch develop over the years. Whether or not this will ultimately be good for the respective universities, the Big Ten, or college football is debatable, but believe it. Jim Tressel believes in his way of doing business and Rich Rodriguez is a man who is driven. Two teams that will take different roads set to collide each November. Another day, another age, and one very interesting twist to what we fans refer to as "The game".

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Lloyds Apple said:

	This was a huge blow to Michigan, as Justin Boren has pro potential and was their best returning Offensive Lineman with experience. No matter the climate of the program, I do think UM will be tough in a couple of years. This is just getting the rivalry, post Terrelle Pryor, off to a heated start. Let the games begin!
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May 05, 2008
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