Ohio State to test Michigan’s cultural overhaul
Following an offseason of change, in which Jim Harbaugh began earning far less money and the coaching staff skewed younger and the players vowed never again to experience the anguish they felt last season, one theme perpetually resurfaced: Michigan football had transformed its culture.
In many respects, Michigan's Nov. 13 declawing of the Nittany Lions stifled murmurs probing the veracity of the cultural overhaul. By defeating a ranked opponent away from home by a final score of 21-17, Harbaugh's team scratched a line through another item on a list that already housed achievements like beating Wisconsin in Madison for the first time 2001, mounting a successful fourth-quarter comeback against Nebraska and quickly righting the ship following a gutting loss to Michigan State.
The only area where their changes remain untested is the rivalry with Ohio State, whose recent dominance over Michigan has stretched to 15 victories in the last 16 games.
Part of Michigan's cultural shift involved placing a stronger emphasis on preparing for the Buckeyes year-round as opposed to waiting for the annual
late-november clash. But a defeat Saturday at Michigan Stadium would drop the Wolverines from contention for a Big
Ten title and saddle them with the realization that the changes they made to defeat their rival still weren't enough.
“It means everything, you know?” linebacker Josh Ross said. “Not only are we playing our rival, we're playing this big game, but it's a playoff game. There's a lot on the line, and we know that.”
To foster the attitude needed to dethrone Ohio State, the Wolverines implemented methods for keeping the Buckeyes on their minds at seemingly every turn. The process began in the weight room, where Michigan hung a banner with the words “What are you doing to beat Ohio State today?” superimposed onto a photo of Michigan Stadium. It's big and bold enough that players can't help but notice it daily.
The process continued in July during Big Ten media days in Indianapolis, where Harbaugh said the team would either win the Big Ten championship, beat Ohio State and beat Michigan State or “die trying” — a quote indicative of the tenacity he wants his players to exude.
The team decided to rename its nineon-seven running drill — a staple of football programs across the country — the “Beat Ohio” drill because of the toughness it imparts. The drill features nine offensive players across from seven defensive players with nothing but runs between the tackles. It's when pads pop and collisions echo as the offensive line and defensive line battle for traction in the trenches.
The “Beat Ohio” drill is frequently credited by Michigan's offensive linemen as the driving force behind the No. 15 rushing offense in the country. They ascribe their penchant for mauling teams at the line of scrimmage to the nastiness incubated during nine-onseven periods.
“It was just one of those things to put a little bit of extra emphasis on the game because you come to Michigan to play Ohio State," offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis said. "You come to Michigan for big games like this . ... We really just wanted to up the physicality knowing this game is as physical as they come in all aspects of football.”
Players and coaches sprinkled in film of the Buckeyes throughout the season as well, setting aside a few minutes each week to peek ahead at the perennial thorn in their side.
And then there are things like the leadership council, implemented this season to give the veterans a larger sense of ownership over the team. The council consults with Harbaugh about things as small as uniform combinations and as important as outlining goals.
Beating Ohio State sits atop that list of goals now.