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Ohio State-Michigan (pregame)
I am sitting in the press box, 3 hours before kickoff, and thinking about the death of the one of this rivalry's legendary figures just one day ago.
Bo Schembechler, whose arrival at Michigan in 1969 and his team's upset of Woody Hayes' No. 1-ranked Buckeyes, helped propel this already great rivalry into uncharted territory. The 10-Year War, as it became known from 1969-1978, when Woody and Bo staged their fierce personal rivalry within the game itself, has been the subject of numerous books and films.
Like his mentor - Bo was an Ohio State assistant under Woody in the early 60s - Schembechler was an intense character on the sideline and a commanding prescence even in a 100,000-seat stadium.
Love him or hate him, even the most die-hard Buckeye fans have to admit Schembechler brought a unique presence and passion to the rivalry and really, all of college football.
In today's big money world of college athletics, where coaches either get a 5-year plan and are fired, or find immediate success and head off to greener pastures, it's rare that we'll ever see another "10-year war" quite like Woody and Bo.