Jeff Riger: Brady Hoke Talks "Ohio" Week!
I don't think any Michigan fan could expect what the Wolverines have been able to accomplish this season so far. Already at 9-2, Michigan has a chance to make it a 10 win year and go to a BCS game, all stemming on if they can only beat the Ohio Buckeyes on Saturday, something that they have not done since 2003. Yes, you read that right, no typo there, according to Brady Hoke and his entire team, Ohio State is only half of that name now, as Hoke and company have dropped the "State" part and now only refer to them as "Ohio." Of course this is nothing new as Hoke broke out his new term when he was hired at Michigan back in January and has been rolling with it ever since.
In addition to being asked several important questions at Mondays weekly press conference, Hoke had to respond a couple times as to why he has shorthanded the Buckeyes of the word "State" in their name. "I always have" said Hoke, referring to why he calls OSU, Ohio. The reporter then followed up asking "since when?" Hoke's response was "always, since whenever always is..." The head coach was then asked to clarify what he calls Ohio University form the Mid American Conference if he calls the Buckeyes, Ohio? The one time MAC coach replied "Bobcats". When asked if he was serious, Hoke said "you know I had two nieces that went to school there."
Huh? As if that clears up anything?
After Hoke addressed the media, you would think that the topic of Ohio State missing "State" would be dropped, however it wasn't. When senior Ryan Van Bergen stepped to the podium, he too was asked. "You know I honestly think that some people made a bigger deal of it then it was. I noticed he said it and thought, that is just what he calls them. He is from Ohio and maybe that is why he calls them that. I actually have no idea why he calls him that. To be honest it doesn't matter to me. We know what school he is talking about so I say that there are more important things to try to decipher then figuring out why he calls them that" Van Bergen replied.
Of course the next logical question was, if Hoke calls them that, does Van Bergen as well? "That is what coach Hoke says, that's what I say, he is my leader, he is my coach" Van Bergen said. The senior then went on to say "I know that there are Ohio fans that say that they are Thee Ohio State University, but I think that there are a lot of schools in Ohio so why are they Thee Ohio State University?"
It wasn't just Van Bergen that has followed Hoke. Denard Robinson let on that the entire team refers to the Buckeyes as "Ohio!"
So there it is, if you ever wondered why Hoke refers to OSU as "Ohio" the answer is.......nobody seems to know! But the media did try very hard to find out. Although, I do know something and that something is that if Michigan beats the "Ohio" Buckeyes on Saturday then it doesn't matter what Michigan coaches and players call them, any term will work. But if they lose, then OSU will more than likely have a term for Michigan seniors.....SWEEP!
And nobody wants that!
Watch the Brady Hoke video below for all the particulars on Michigan-Ohio State week.
