Sports

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State-Michigan game took on a real Dayton flavor in the third quarter.

Michael Shaw, Michigan's freshman running back from Trotwood-Madison High School, burst free for one of the Wolverines' biggest gains of the day — a 13-yard run well into OSU territory that came to an abrupt end when Kurt Coleman, the Buckeyes junior safety from Northmont High School, drilled him into the Ohio Stadium turf.

On the next play, the Wolverines went back to Shaw and this time Coleman buried him for a 4-yard loss.

"I told him he needs to go back to Dayton and touch up on his skills," Coleman grinned. "Or, I said, he might want to stay on the ground 'cause nothing good was gonna come from this game."

That was sound advice as OSU romped over Michigan 42-7 on Saturday, Nov. 22. It was the second-largest victory margin ever by the Bucks in the 105-game series and gave them a record fifth straight win.

And Coleman played a huge part. Not only did he have 10 tackles, but he made good on his promise to the seniors: "I got up Friday and told them I'd give them everything I had (Saturday)."

The 3-9 Wolverines then lit the fuse to that promise when, Coleman claimed, they initiated a pregame shoving match with the Bucks at midfield.

"I was out in the middle of the circle with James (Laurinaitis) and Malcolm (Jenkins), when their guys came by on the way to the locker room and started saying stuff and pushing people.

"That was the final straw. There's already so much hatred and bad blood and (Saturday) we really tried to inflict some pain.

"Honestly, I got to say I'm cut on every part of my body right now. But I don't feel it. I've been on an adrenaline rush for 3½ hours and I love it."

Coleman said he was glad to repay the seniors who taught him to be a leader. He mentioned Wayne High's Marcus Freeman — who played through season-long injuries and "never missed a practice" — and St. Henry's Todd Boeckman, the "never quit" quarterback, who lost his starting job, but with the crowd chanting his name Saturday, came in during the fourth quarter and completed all three of his passes, including an 18-yard TD toss to Brian Hartline.

But his biggest lesson came from Tyson Gentry, left wheelchair-bound by a Coleman tackle in spring practice in 2006. The two bonded after that and Gentry brought that up to the team before the Michigan game.

"Thursday night he told me what I did to him was the best thing that happened to him," Coleman said quietly. "I didn't understand and then he said it again at chapel Friday. He said it made him into a great person. ... And when he rolled out there before the game, I was so proud of him. He and his family have given me so much."

And Saturday, Coleman got something else, too. The victory got him his third pair of gold pants, the tiny treasure OSU players get for victories over Michigan.

"My mom gets 'em all 'cause I don't have a girlfriend or a significant other," he shrugged.

Why?

"I haven't found the right one. I'm a little picky on who I date."

"Advertising?" someone asked.

"If you want to put that out there now, go ahead," he grinned. "Tell 'em I'm single."

Something good may come from this game after all.