Countdown to the Showdown

One year ago at this time, Michigan was coming off a thrilling win vs. Penn State and going into a crucial battle with the Hawkeyes, similar to this week's events. But other than the games place on the schedule, the 2006 vs. 2005 season comparison, up to this point, are about as bipolar as the Yankees and Tigers chance to win the 2006 World Series.

Man, how things can change in one short season.

No longer are the Wolverines creeping into each game hoping for a victory to salvage a dismal season. Rather, Big Blue is grasping each game like it is its last and breaking the opposition over its thick, tradition laden, legs. The mojo, if you will, in Wolverine football is back.

Ask many a Michigan fan and they will most likely tell you that the trip to Happy Valley this year was one they feared. I mean, how many years can Penn State lose to Michigan? Seven in a row is long enough, right? The Penn State fans almost deemed it their duty to expel its football team from this horrendous streak. They would come out in massive numbers, wearing nothing but white, and make as much noise as humanly possible to disrupt the Wolverines.

And they did this all in vain.

Michigan once again demoralized Penn State's dream of conquering the Wolverines. Not only did Michigan silence 110,000+ rabid Nittany Lion fans, but they did it in a dominating fashion by physically beating Penn State into submission. Don't let the 17-10 score fool you. This game was never in doubt and it was more of what Michigan did wrong at points in the game than what Penn State did right.

They could've pitched a shut out with a little more focus.

Nonetheless, the path has been cleared. The Big Ten, in all logical probability, will be represented in this year's BCS Title game. The question is who will it be: Michigan or Ohio State.
The hype has begun even though both teams have 4 opponents before the big one. But the dominance they have displayed, to date, has been so great that the remaining foes only appear to earth that is about to have a date with a bulldozer clearing the path for a new road. A hiccup seems unlikely and virtually impossible, at this point.

Can this blood thirsty rivalry handle nearly one month of anticipation? How high will analysts thrust this game into the college football stratosphere? The best and most anticipated game, ever?

There is still work to be done on both sides. But that does not stop fans from beginning the countdown, analysis, and bickering back and forth as to which team will be taking the field in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State feels its their right of passage. After all, they are the self proclaimed owners of the Fiesta Bowl.

Michigan feels its their destiny and looks to take a page out of that other Blue team still working its magic in downtown Detroit.

The majority of the experts had Ohio State penciled in for this year's National Championship game back during the preseason. Although, it should be pointed out, most of those same experts had the Yankees in the World Series.

Let the countdown begin.

DP