COLUMBUS, Ohio — Having coached in 10 editions of it—and winning nine of them—there are few people more qualified to talk about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry than Jim Tressel.
But that doesn’t mean the former Buckeyes head coach can’t be wrong when discussing The Game.
The new Youngstown State president made headlines earlier this week while speaking at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club in Canton, Ohio. Discussing the Wolverines’ hiring of Jim Harbaugh, Tressel praised the arrival of the new Michigan head man.
“I think Jim Harbaugh will bring something to the Ohio State-Michigan storied rivalry,” Tressel said, via Marla Ridenour of The Akron Beacon Journal. “He’s been successful wherever he’s been. He’s extremely hardworking. He has great pride in his alma mater.”
That’s not where Tressel was wrong. In fact, it’d be hard to disagree with anything “The Senator” said above.
But his assessment that followed could be open to interpretation.
“Personally, I think they’re a ways away from being at the level where there’s going to be a ‘Ten Year War,'” Tressel said, referencing the storied rivalry between OSU’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler from 1969-1978. “I think they’ve got some work to do to get to that.”
Tressel could be correct. But it all depends on his definition of “a ways.”
The Buckeyes certainly have an advantage over the Wolverines coming off their national championship…
Continue Reading: Why Jim Tressel Is Wrong About Jim Harbaugh and the Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry
