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Griffin, Hanlon ready for The Game to begin
Former Ohio State DB, Michigan assistant join fans at Warren Sports HOF banquet
By Curtis Pulliam
Warren
That team up north is coming to town soon and Ohio State fans know it.
“The Game” is set for Nov. 29 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
“It’s the greatest rivalry in all of sports,” said Chuck Morrow of Howland. “You throw the records out, the teams are going to play and teams that aren’t supposed to win end up [sometimes] winning.”
Everyone was a winner at the 16th annual Warren Sports Hall of Fame “The Game” banquet Thursday night at DiVueste’s Banquet Hall. The event brings fans of both sides together to celebrate the rivalry.
“As a fan of the game who didn’t play in it, you get a lot of insight to what the players actually go through and what it means,” Morrow said. “Having the coaches of the teams come back gives you more insight into the on-field play.”
Former Ohio State player Ray Griffin and former Michigan assistant coach Jerry Hanlon were the guests this year.
Griffin, the younger brother of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, knows how important the game is.
“It is about the wins and the losses,” Ray Griffin said. “It is your rivalry and you always want to beat your rival team because if you lose it’s very depressing. It really is.”
In the last two meetings, the Buckeyes took care of business by a combined six points.
Even with Michigan having all sorts of trouble on and off the field this year, Griffin would not guarantee a Buckeye victory.
“Michigan has the caliber of athletes that can beat Ohio State,” Griffin said. “Michigan has nothing to lose in a situation like this, so you have to wonder what they are going to do. Ohio State should win, but it’s not guaranteed. It’s going to be a great game.”
Although he would not give a guarantee, Griffin likes the Buckeyes.
“I think they really are a top-four team,” Griffin said. “There are some things we had to straighten out, but now we are a totally different team. I think that we can beat any of the top four teams right now. If we win out, I think we’ll be in great shape.”
Griffin has also been impressed with the performance of freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett.
“He’s great, I love J.T. Barrett,” Griffin said. “He’s the type of quarterback we really need.”
Barrett took over for an injured Braxton Miller.
“Braxton Miller is a great athlete,” Griffin said. “I never really considered him a quarterback.”
Hanlon made an early stop at Ursuline (1961-63) in his coaching career and later found himself on Bo Schembechler’s staff heading to Michigan.
“I think the intensity of the rivalry is still there,” Hanlon said. “The two schools point for one another the whole year. Believe me, the kids will be ready to play on both sides.”
“The Game” hits close to home for Buckeye fans.
“I have relatives who live in Ann Arbor and the first football game I ever saw was at the Big House,” Morrow said.
Ken Belanger of Howland knows first-hand the rivalry is still there.
“I live in a house divided,” said Belanger, who grew up in Michigan. “ I’m for Michigan, but my oldest son is for Ohio State.”
Warren Sports Hall of Fame officials also honored retired Judge Donald R. Ford, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Ford founded the Warren Sports Hall of Fame and served on its board for decades. Ford died on Nov. 1.