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The pageantry of college football is one of the things that makes it special. Every program is unique in its pregame traditions and rituals.
At Oklahoma, they ride the Sooner Schooner. At Colorado, they run with Ralphie. At Ohio State, they dot the I.
And at Michigan, they touch the ‘M Go Blue’ banner.
This Saturday, before the Wolverines battle the Buckeyes in the season-finale, Michigan’s seniors will slap the banner for the final time in their careers.
“I’m trying not to think about it much,” offensive guard Ben Bredeson said. “I’m just going to enjoy every second of it. There’s no other team I’d rather play my last game at home.”
Bredeson’s sentiment – that there was no other opponent than Ohio State that he’d rather compete against in his final home game – was shared by many of his fellow seniors.
“It’s a dream come true,” quarterback Shea Patterson said. “There’s no better way to go out than with a great team like Ohio State coming in. They’re the No. 1 team in the country. It’s gonna be an incredible challenge and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
Bredeson and Patterson each had decisions to make after last season’s 10-3 finish. Both were eligible to enter the NFL Draft, yet both chose to participate in their senior season of college football. At least for Patterson, last year’s defeat that the hands of Ohio State played a part in the decision.
“It was a huge part of it,” Patterson said. “I love playing for this team, I love playing for these coaches. I love my teammates and this university. Not only myself, but there’s countless seniors in this class that have lived the whole 365 to play in this game. We’ll be ready for it.”
The quarterback has the opportunity to even up his record against the Buckeyes to 1-1. The fourth- or fifth-year seniors don’t have that luxury this Saturday, having already lost all of their previous matchups with Ohio State, but they still have this final chance to avoid going winless in The Game.
“It’s super important because it’s your last game with all your brothers in this rivalry,” defensivetackle Carlo Kemp said. “It’s something that you talk about. You talk about this game when you’re a freshman. You watch the seniors play in this game when you’re younger, and you get to learn that history and be a part of it. It’s just something special.
“Knowing we get this opportunity one last time at home, it’s a huge honor.”
Perhaps no senior, or player for that matter, on Michigan’s roster is more ready for the final shot at the Buckeyes than linebacker Khaleke Hudson.
“It’s very important — just like every other game is very important,” Hudson said. “We’re just gonna do everything we can to prepare ourselves, the way we go into that game on Saturday with utmost confidence, just knowing that you’ve got your brothers’ back, your coaches believe in you, the fans believe in you, and everybody that means something to The Game believes in you. We’re ready to go.”
These seniors have experienced highs and lows. They’ve seen their program rise into the College Football Playoff’s Top 5 in 2016 and 2018. They’ve seen their program finish the season unranked in 2017. As freshman, some of them were there when the Wolverines lost in double-overtime in the Horseshoe in 2016. Most of them were here for last season’s lopsided loss as well.
It’s all led to this. One last touch of the banner. One last shot at Ohio State.
“I wouldn’t change a thing up to this point,” Patterson said. “This is a team that’s been through so much the past two years, this season — how we’ve been battling. We’re battle-tested. We’ve lost. Double-overtime. We’ve been through some stuff this year. I can’t sit here and tell you how it’s gonna play out on Saturday, but I can tell you that we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”
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