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We are living in a golden era of Ohio State football. And man, does it feel good! The Buckeyes just seem to be three steps ahead of everyone else in the Big Ten these days. But can it last?
I remember talking with a friend (who happened to be a Michigan fan) in the late 90’s when the Wolverines were on the giving end of annual butt whoppin’s. Shortly after another loss at the hands of TTUN, he said to me “It’s all cyclical” meaning he didn’t think the Michigan dominance would last forever. I couldn’t see it at the time, but he ended up being right.
I believe the bottom line is this… Jim Tressel started something big back in 2001. The Vest broke the cycle and changed the culture and Ohio State football hasn’t been the same since. It’s way more fun to be part of a winning culture. Winning leads to more exposure. More exposure leads to better opportunities. If you’re a top level recruit, Ohio State is the place to be. At least in the Big Ten, and it’s not even close.
Since 2001, Ohio State is 16-2 against Michigan–mercy. From 1983 to 2000, Michigan held a 13-4-1 edge. These rivalries tend to be cyclical. Time for a new 18-year trend to start for Michigan in '18.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) November 25, 2017
Culture wins out and right now Ohio State has built a culture that top athletes want to be part of. And it’s going to be that way for a while. However, Buckeye fans, don’t take it for granted. The tables can turn at any time.
Next … Phil’s working rationale