Ohio State's Seniors Hope to Go Out in Style Against Michigan

By Tim Shoemaker on November 26, 2014 at 10:10 am
Carmen Ohio
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Doran Grant is one of the few players on Ohio State's roster who knows what it's like to lose to Michigan.

As a true freshman in 2011, Grant was mostly a special-teams contributor, but he remembers walking off the field in Ann Arbor after the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines, 40-34, giving Michigan its first win over Ohio State since 2003.

“It was bitter," Grant said. "The older guys didn’t like it, we didn’t like it. It wasn’t what I was used to watching so we had to do a better job and we did that.”

As freshmen, Grant, Jeff Heuerman, Michael Bennett and Curtis Grant all played minimal roles for the Buckeyes in that game. But fast-forward three years and all four are senior captains for the Buckeyes who haven't lost to Michigan since that 2011 contest. 

And as captains, playing against the Wolverines for the final time, they feel a responsibility to make sure they earn one more win against their arch-rival.

"The leadership on this team and on this senior class is very good — that's my personal opinion because I'm a part of it," Bennett said. "Guys are really starting to respond to us. We've taken a more positive approach, but we know how to get after guys when we need to."

In that 2011 game, Ohio State was coached by Luke Fickell, who took over for one year on an interim basis for Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes experienced their first losing season in over 20 years and had a loss to Michigan. Not exactly acceptable in Columbus, no matter the circumstances.

Enter Urban Meyer.

In Ohio State's first year under Meyer, the Buckeyes went from 6-7 to 12-0. They were ineligible for postseason play, but the turnaround was somewhat remarkable. That success continued into Meyer's second season as Ohio State won its first 12 games before eventually ending the season with back-to-back losses. In between a loss in the Gator Bowl in 2011 and the Big Ten Championship game in 2013, the Buckeyes had won 24 straight games.

This year's senior class — including Heuerman, Bennett, Doran Grant and Curtis Grant — was a huge part of that 24-game winning streak. They also picked up two wins against Michigan.

Still, Meyer said, they are trying to add to their legacy.

"This year is still to be determined. This book's not written yet," he said. "I'm pleased with it, but these next couple are going to — that's going to be their legacy. Our legacy I should say."

The reality is, while the Buckeye seniors may have won a bunch of games, they really haven't won much. They don't have a Big Ten title or a win in a bowl game. Both of those things, however, are still achievable this season.

But for now, they can write another chapter of their legacy by beating Michigan one final time.

"It’s The Game. That was instilled in me when I first got here and it’s been that way the whole way," Heuerman said. "This is kinda the biggest game of the year. It’s important. It’s always been like that here, and it will be like that when I leave."

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