As the 2007 football season winds down, the lone Saturday remaining on
the Big Ten's regular season schedule is arguably its most exciting.
This is rivalry week, and for many schools — even those floundering at
the bottom of the conference ranks — this final weekend serves as an
opportunity to recapture some much needed pride.
In the case of Ohio State and Michigan — to fight for a championship
trophy.
"We're excited about taking part in the greatest rivalry in college
football," Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said during the conference’s
weekly teleconference. "We're anxious to get back on the field and anxious to
be a part of this great game and the pageantry and excitement that surrounds
it."
Saturday’s matchup between Tressel's 10-1 Buckeyes and the 8-3
Wolverines is the 104th meeting of the teams. This year, like in many years
past, the winner will be crowned Big Ten
champion. Both squads are 6-1 in conference play, and both are coming off upset
losses at the hands of Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively.
One of the key factors in Saturday's historic matchup will be the
presence — or possible lack thereof — of Michigan's starting quarterback Chad
Henne and running back Mike Hart. Both players have had injury-plagued 2007
seasons.
According to head coach Lloyd Carr, both will be game-time decisions.
"If you look at the history of this season as far as those two kids and
their injuries, it's really been a decision made very, very late in the week
each week, so I don't see that changing," Carr said.
But Jim Tressel isn't buying Carr's indecisiveness.
"We know they're going to play, simply because they're great kids,"
Tressel said. "Those are as tough of guys as there are in college football …
and unless some [doctor] tells them they're not allowed, they'll be out there."
Battle for the Axe
While Ohio State and Michigan duke it out, the Badgers trek to Minnesota
to battle the struggling Golden Gophers at the Minneapolis Metrodome, hoping to
keep Paul Bunyan's axe on this side of the state line. Saturday will mark the
117th time the Badgers have gone head-to-head with the Gophers, and coach Bret
Bielema says he's been emphasizing the importance of the game and its history
to his players this week, dubbing the matchup a "border war."
"It means a lot for the fans and the alumni," Bielema said. "We give our
guys an opportunity to touch the axe coming and going from the field … and it's
something at the end of the game to be able to carry it around and show it off
to the crowd — it's something special and we definitely emphasize that to our
players."
Minnesota head coach Jim Brewster agreed.
"It's a rivalry game. It's very important to
all Minnesotans and also people from the state of Wisconsin, so it [should] be
an exciting day on Saturday," Brewster said.
In
search of bowl berths
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, a number of teams will be scratching and
clawing just to reach a bowl game. The 2007 season marks the first time in
conference history the Big Ten has had 10 teams eligible for bowl bids.
Only the beleaguered Golden Gophers, with one win on the year and a 0-7
conference record, are ineligible for a bowl.
Postseason implications will be huge when Michigan State hosts Penn
State. The game will likely prove more crucial for Michigan State, which is 6-5
overall but a paltry 2-5 in conference and needs a win to have a realistic shot
at its first bowl appearance since 2003.
The Nittany Lions (8-3 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) are looking for a possible
upgrade to one of the Big Ten’s coveted New Year's Day bowl slots, pending a
victory.
Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana and Iowa round out the remaining 10 teams
with at least six wins this season and bowl bids on the line.
Indiana coach Bill Lynch echoed the overall sentiment of the rest of his
Big Ten colleagues, maintaining his team will put its heart and soul into its
final game, regardless of the current standings or the outcome.
“Any rivalry game is important,” Lynch said. “Not only to the current players and coaches … but it means a great deal to all the former players and coaches and all of your alums. We’re certainly looking forward to the challenge.”
