We are over two weeks away from the 2019 edition of the Michigan-Ohio State football game, but that doesn’t mean the Wolverines aren’t already thinking about it.
Defensive coordinator Don Brown certainly is. Appearing on Michigan’s official “In the Trenches” podcast last week, Brown offered something of a challenge to Ohio State ahead of the Nov. 30 clash when asked what the Wolverines needed to do to be ready for the Buckeyes.
“I think we just need to stay true to form,” Brown said, via Patrick Murphy of 247 Sports. “I think we’ve done a good job of giving our guys stuff on a week to week basis where they’re probably wondering, ‘Why are we practicing this play? Why are we practicing that play?’ So, we’ve done a good job of keeping their hands in it without really telling them their hands are in it. But, they know.
“It’s another year, it’s a different group. They better be careful now because we’re hitting our stride too. This is a two-way street, and I know our guys will be ready in three weeks.”
It was the “they better be careful” remark that attracted attention — enough to that Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was asked if he’d like to offer a response. His answer? “Not really.”
If anything, this just demonstrates how seriously both teams take the rivalry. Ohio State has been preparing for Michigan on background all year, too, so it’s not as if this is a one-sided obsession. Brown’s challenge is great: Ohio State has an even better scoring offense than last year’s team did, and they beat the Wolverines 62-39 with Michigan essentially playing to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Wolverines have beaten Ohio State just twice since 2001, which does not sit well with them at all, so the focus is definitely understandable.
The good news? Brown hasn’t gone as far as Karan Higdon did last year when talking about the big game, which ended very poorly.
