State of shock

Sporting News, The, Nov 16, 1998 by Rich Thomaselli

It is no surprise No. 1 Ohio State had its national title hopes trashed by a team from Michigan. But it is shocking that Michigan State--not Michigan--turned the trick and that the resurrected Wolverines might win the Big Ten because of it.

Joe Germaine was lofting more than a spiral toward Dee Miller in the left corner of the end zone with 1:12 remaining in last Saturday's game against Michigan State. He was tossing the hopes and dreams every Ohio State fan harbored for a national championship.

Knowing the recent history of Ohio State, which hasn't been crowned the nation's best since 1968, it should come as no surprise that Germaine's fourth-down desperation attempt was intercepted by Renaldo Hill, which preserved a 28-24 victory for Michigan State in Columbus. The Buckeyes have been Team Heartbreak in recent seasons, having promising season after promising season ruined by late-season losses.

Ohio State coach John Cooper hung his head on the sideline as the clock expired and the jubilant Spartans bolted off the field with their fists pumping. As they did in 1974, the Spartans derailed an Ohio State team that appeared destined to play for the national championship. In this decade, the Buckeyes have seen Michigan end their national title bids in 1996 (10-0, ranked No. 2); 1995 (11-0, No. 2); and 1993 (9-0-1, No. 5).

"This one hurts," said Cooper, whose Buckeyes became the first No. 1 team to lose to an unranked team since Michigan State beat Michigan in 1990. "There's no question about it."

The Spartans seemed done when Ohio State safety Damon Moore slashed in front of Michigan State tight end Chris Baker, intercepting quarterback Bill Burke's errant pass and returning it 73 yards for a touchdown that put the Buckeyes up, 24-9, with 9:51 left in the third quarter. The Buckeyes had their chances after that to wrap it up. Instead, they let Michigan State, which entered the game 4-4, slip away by committing three turnovers, bringing their game total to five.

"We let them stay in it," Cooper said. "Instead of putting them away, we let them beat us."

Ohio State (8-1) also allowed Michigan to assume command of the Big Ten race. The 7-2 Wolverines pulled off a surprise of their own by beating Penn State, 27-0, in what was the wildest Saturday of the season.

The loss by Ohio State, which plays at Iowa on Saturday before finishing with Michigan, allowed Tennessee and Kansas State to move to the front of the BCS class and likely eliminated the Big Ten from serious national title consideration. Wisconsin (9-0) has a chance for the Fiesta Bowl, but season-ending games at Michigan and at home vs. Penn State could kill the Badgers' hopes. And Michigan is a very long shot since it already is saddled with two losses, but it would be just as happy with a return trip to the Rose Bowl.

Entering the Penn State game, Michigan quarterback Tom Brady questioned whether the Wolverines would ever put together a complete game on offense and defense--let alone beat the Nittany Lions and be considered an elite team.

"Things are written and things are said externally," Brady said, "but internally, you wonder, `God, can we run the ball against Penn State?'"

Yet, in an ironic twist, maybe that's what the Wolverines needed. The criticism, justified or not. The high expectations after last year's co-national championship, justified or not. If the Wolverines, winners of 15 consecutive Big Ten games, knock off Wisconsin on Saturday, they clinch a share of the conference title heading into the November 21 game at Ohio State. A win there, and it's back to Pasadena for the fifth time this decade. Who would have thought that after Michigan allowed an aggregate 74 points in back-to-back season-opening losses to Notre Dame and Syracuse?

"This team was flat on its back after the first two games," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "But we had to get to our feet, and before we could get to our feet we had to get to our knees."

A 59-20 victory over Eastern Michigan sparked the Wolverines, and a 29-17 triumph over Michigan State returned some of the lost confidence and swagger, particularly to the defense. Beginning with the MSU game, the defense has given up four touchdowns in six conference games--none in the second half and no points in the fourth quarter.

But somewhere along the way, the offense soured. The offensive line, a supposed strength with four of five starters back, was racked by injuries and inconsistency. At times, the unit couldn't open holes. Other times, the line stopped drives or negated big gains--or touchdowns, in two instances--with penalties.

The running backs were even worse. Despite freshman Justin Fargas' 120-yard performance in the rain and slop at Northwestern, nobody had emerged to carry the load. Sophomore Anthony Thomas, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, looked hesitant. Senior Clarence Williams was fumble-prone and landed in Carr's doghouse until emerging to rush for 83 yards against Penn State.

The defense keyed wins over Iowa, Northwestern and Indiana. But after the 15-10 victory at Minnesota in which Michigan rushed for minus-23 yards--the second-worst performance in school history--Carr was clearly exasperated. It was the third time in four games Michigan's offense had failed to score more than one touchdown.