Because I’m 71 years old I probably have seen and heard more Ohio State-Michigan games than the vast majority of fans on this site.  

And, yes, I use the word “heard” because, for example, I listened to the 50-14 rout in 1968 on radio.  Trust me, it doesn’t get much sweeter than that game.

And, as gratifying and exhilarating as that 1968 game was, what happened on Saturday was just about on the opposite end of the spectrum of emotions.  It absolutely is among the most brutal losses I have experienced as a fan—precisely because Ohio State has such superior talent and also because the offensive game-calling by the coaching staff was beyond mystifying; it was atrocious. 

But, unfortunately, everything has been magnified by the four consecutive losses in The Game—and this is where I view the situation differently from some of the Buckeyes fan base.  

Yes, Ryan Day is now 1-4.  But there were multiple games impacted by the Michigan cheating scandal.  

And I never again want to hear the word “alleged” in connection with this despicable conduct by, not just the Michigan football program, but also by the Michigan administration in its failure to clean up and make amends for this situation.

Just remember, there was an actual finding/determination in this matter by the B1G Commissioner—and we should never lose sight of this fact.  That determination stated, in part:

“I have concluded that the University engaged in the impermissible scheme resulting in unfair games on unequal terms and compromised player safety,” the letter states. “Nothing offends the integrity of competition more than attempting to gain an unfair advantage through impermissible means. It does not matter whether the NCAA ultimately finds that violations of its rules occurred, though it has already communicated to the Conference that the fact of the impermissible scheme is uncontroverted. The Sportsmanship Policy applies to any conduct that affects the 'integrity of competition.' Such conduct undoubtedly occurred here.”

I think it would not be unreasonable for the NCAA to ultimately drop the hammer and turn these Michigan wins from recent years into forfeits.  Alternatively, the NCAA could choose to vacate those wins.  

But, even if the NCAA decides on no penalties of this nature, the bottom line is that the recent editions of The Game were tainted in a way not dissimilar to the 2017 World Series title by the Houston Astros (and which, in my opinion, should have been vacated by the MLB Commissioner).

So, in evaluating Ryan Day’s record in The Game, I would urge everyone to take all of this into account (notwithstanding the team’s admittedly poor offensive game plan on Saturday).  To do otherwise in effect can be viewed as rewarding Michigan for having engaged in the massive cheating scheme that gave them such an advantage in prior games.