Former Michigan OL Greg Skrepenak Talks Ohio State Rivalry, 'Meltdown' In Columbus
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
By all indications, the Ohio State football program had a meltdown this weekend.
Michigan State ruined the Buckeyes' perfect season Saturday in a 17-14 thriller. The Spartans hit a game-winning 41-yard field goal, and then slapped the fans in Columbus with one of the best kicker celebrations of all time.
And then the fireworks started. Running back Ezekiel Elliott went off to reporters after the game, blaming coaches' play-calling for the loss, and saying that he doubted he would return to school next season.
"Honestly, this is my last game in the Shoe," Elliott said to reporters. "I mean, there's no chance of me coming back next year. … I'm disappointed in the play calling, I'm disappointed in the situations we were put in, and I wish it all played out differently."
Then quarterback Cardale Jones tweeted a similar message, saying it was his also his last home game as an Ohio State player.
Now, the Buckeyes have to put all the drama behind them for a game against Michigan this weekend, which still has Big 10 title implications.
And according to former Michigan All-American lineman Greg Skrepenak, speaking on a podcast with Mike Stone, none of that extra stuff matters. Not for this game, at least.
"They can say what they will," Skrepenak said. "Yeah, there's some dysfunction down there (in Columbus) right now. Quite frankly there's been that dysfunction all season, but it doesn't matter in this game. It just doesn't."
Michigan-Ohio State has long been considered one of the best rivalries in sports, especially in college football. Heading into this season, Michigan holds a 58-47 record against the Buckeyes, although Ohio State has won nine out the last 10.
"Throw out the records. Throw out what happened to this point," Skrepenak said. "I expect to see a good, hard-fought physical game where two coaches are gonna play chess and we're gonna see what they can do against each other. I think Michigan is just as good, if not better than, Ohio State."
The Wolverines come into Saturday with a 9-2 record, while the Buckeyes suffered their only blemish in 24 games on Saturday, and stand at 10-1.
Before getting into legal trouble, Skrepenak spent four years in the trenches for Michigan (winning four Big 10 titles), then five in the NFL. Out of all the games he played in during college (including three Rose Bowls), it was the Ohio State game every year that brought the most intensity.
"There isn't a more physical game that I have ever played in my life that wasn't professional than when I played Ohio State," Skrepenak said. "When I came out of the Ohio State game, I was physically exhausted, mentally fatigued and just didn't have anything more to give. ... You're talking about football the way it was meant to be played against a team that it was meant to be played against."
