Ohio State football: Act like you’ve been there

I was very disappointed and frustrated with the Ohio State football team’s loss to Michigan, but more than willing to say “Congratulations” to the Wolverines. After reading the comments of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and his offensive coordinator, Josh Gattis, I feel “Act like you’ve been there” is far more appropriate.

In his postgame session with the media, Harbaugh was asked about Ryan Day supposedly telling his team last year he wanted to put 100 points on the Wolverines. The Wolverines’ head coach talked of taking the high road, then he didn’t,

"“Sometimes people that are standing on third base think they hit a triple, but they didn’t.”"

Obviously, he is making reference to Day taking over a ready-made program in his opinion. While Wolverine faithful guffawed to their heart’s delight over this quip, the majority of the college football world was unimpressed. However, Harbaugh’s comment seems a bit tame compared to what Gattis had to say on Monday.

During a radio interview, Gattis talked about Oregon being the more physical team against the Buckeyes and believing the Wolverines could be as well. Like his boss, he could have taken the high road, but did not when speaking of Ohio State,

"“They’re a finesse team, they’re not a tough team.”"

Now, this isn’t anything that has not been discussed by Ohio State fans and media, but when it comes from an opposing coach two days after a game, it tends to get your attention. If the words of Harbaugh and Gattis are not already plastered around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, they will be soon. I don’t doubt strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti will remind the Buckeyes of them daily during winter workouts. Those comments will not be forgotten.

I don’t know why I expect Jim Harbaugh and his program to act like they’ve been there before because they haven’t, have they? Since being hired by Michigan in 2015, Harbaugh has a losing record against Michigan State. He lost his first five meetings with the Ohio State football team until he ducked them last year.

After getting a win in his first bowl game, he’s lost four straight. If you include the recent win over the Ohio State football team, that adds up to a 5-13 record in these games. Until this season he had managed just a Big Ten East co-championship in 2018. So, yeah, Harbaugh and his program haven’t been here before.

This is always the way of the Michigan Man, right? They’re arrogant, love to talk, and seem to live in a sea of hubris. Remember when their former coach Lloyd Carr had everything going his way against the Buckeyes until he claimed Michigan State was actually his team’s biggest rival?

Running back Mike “The Michigan Mouth” Hart calling the Spartans Michigan’s little brother? Chase Winovich and the Revenge Tour?  And, of course, Desmond Howard and his pretentious pose. Arrogance and hubris. That’s the way of a Michigan Man.

So, we really should not be surprised when a coach and his program who has struggled mightily against his biggest rival to not quite know how to handle success. It’s all part of the way of a Michigan Man.

The hope is the Buckeyes will make Harbaugh and Gattis pay for their comments the next time the two teams meet. Ryan Day has a lot of work to do and changes to be made in order for that to happen. November 26th, 2022 is already circled on a lot of scarlet and gray calendars.