M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[iam416]

Thinking back on it, it has to be Smith. The 2001-03 teams were 2-1 and there wasn't a player that stood out, IMO, in the M games in the two wins.

The 2008-10 games really don't count because M was RichGODded and not competitive. So, the player has to come from 2004-07, and that's all Troy Smith. Gonzalez made some huge plays in most of those games, as did Ginn, but it's Smith.

I don't remember any of you people beating Michigan in the 90s either.

Obviously. There would be no one from the Cooper Era with the possible exception of David Boston. The Bruce Era, while a winning era for OSU, didn't feature a player who foiled M repeatedly.

[Hannibal]

For the 2000s, it's hard to think of player who wrecked M more than Troy Smith.

It's hard to think of a player in the history of the rivalry who wrecked the other team more than Troy Smith. He won three games almost singlehandedly. I can't think of another player who has dominated the game two years in a row, much less three.

[hack]

What's to hate when the guy is forever associated with this?:

[Dr. Strangelove]

Having watched highlights from a lot of the Earl Bruce era I'll give a shout out to Marcus Marek on the defensive side (1979-82). He dominated in the Michigan games.

[iam416]

That's probably right, Hanni. Kolesar may have had a claim if wasn't hurt in 1986, though he did actually lose in 1987.

But he had a long TD in 1985 and single-handedly won the game in 1988.

Fortunately, the Rick Leach win streak was just before my time, but from what I read no single player dominated those 3 games.

[iam416]

Marek is one Ohio State's great underrated players. A goddamn tackling machine and, IMO, better than Speilman. Speilman's legenday 29 tackle game against M was (a) in a loss and (b) in a game that the defense was gashed for 26 points and huge yards. Marek's games were OSU stuffing the crap out of M.

Plus, he's from Youngstown Metro. God bless.

Anyway, his auto'd 8x10 makes it into my non-Heisman rotation on my wall with the likes of Tatum, Parker, Corny Greene, Warfield, Hicks and a few others. I should inform Marek of that highest of honors!

[iam416]

My most hated M players, incidentally, are Kolesar and Marcus Ray. Full stop. There are plenty of others I hated, but those two clearly separated themselves in my book.

[Hannibal]

Even Kolesar -- Long TD in 1985 probably wasn't necessary, and he didn't win again until 1988. I looked at some stats from the 1980s and Harbaugh did have two outstanding games, so I guess that's the closest comparison that I can make.

[Jeff Buchanan]

david boston - wise ass, loud mouth that got schooled by Charles Woodson in '97.

robert reynolds - one name in a long list of osu players who were encouraged by jim tressel to play dirty. He famously choked Badger's QB Jim Sorgi injuring his vocal cords - a play that tressel said he didn't see ..... until Delaney suggested he might have actually seen it and probably should do something about it. tressel suspended Reynolds for ONE game.

terrell pryor - infamous cheater who could have cared less about his football team placing his own self interests above them. Dirt-ball football playing thug who epitomizes what osu is all about.

maurice clarett, notoriously ineligible player on the take as a freshman who may be one of my all time favorite osu boys because he is the picture perfect scum-bag representing the BT flagship that is osu.

....... these are just a few. Rob, help me out here with some of the shit-heads that played for Woody, cooper and bruce. I suffer from CRSA (can't remember shit anymore).

[Hannibal]

I forgot about Robert Reynolds. I kinda have trouble singling him out though, since it's clear, in hindsight, that Mark Dantonio was probably the biggest factor there.

[iam416]

I hated Harbaugh. You also have to remember he "guaranteed" the win in 1986. And watched as Earle Bruce settled for a 45-yard Matt Frantz FG attempt. Man, that game blew.

[hack]

Ok, Clarett's a good one. I feared him that year.

[Pasadena Blue]

Troy Smith ... is this even debatable!

[lineygoblue]

Yeah, Troy Smith is definitely in my Top 3. Seemed like we were always just a fingernail away from sacking him when he'd put up a prayer with his eyes closed, and complete a pass. Or they'd need 4 yards, and he'd scramble for 4 1/2.

I still haven't forgiven Will Smith for trying to break Chris Perry's leg in 2003. I guess I was the only one who saw the replay, but it happened, clear as day.

Cornelius Greene was a buggar too. A lot like Troy Smith. Seems like we could never corner that rascal ....

Archie Griffin had his way with us a lot too ...

[iam416]

Greene is one of the most underappreciated Buckeyes amongst Ohio State fans there is. Frankly, he should be mentioned in the same breath as Archie. I guarantee you more OSU fans are familiar with Rex Kern than Greene, and Greene was a much better player, IMO. Oh well.