They re the team that has had two opponents receive apologies from the Big Ten office for game-changing blown calls in their favor. They re the team that has not lost a close game to Ohio State in 13 years. The University of Michigan football team represents many different things to many different people. On a national level, Michigan has received quite a bit of notoriety for signifying the albatross around John Cooper s neck. He s known as the guy who cannot beat Michigan.
Cooper has nine losses to Michigan in twelve years.
It took Woody 25 years to lose to Michigan that many times. It took Earle three years to beat Michigan as many times. No other Ohio State coach has been as unsuccessful, as long, against the arch-rival to the north. And because of this symbolization Cooper s albatross that this year s ode to The Greatest Rivalry in Sports comes with apologies to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the late creator of the metaphor. Seen wins in one of three.