via i.cnn.net

2000 days have passed since November 22, 2003, the last time Michigan beat Ohio State on the gridiron. I remember that day, though I often wish I didn't. Many of the stars of the 2002 team, of which I have so many fond memories, returned for one last shot at the Wolverines before leaving for NFL riches. Krenzel was there, as were Michael Jenkins and Will Smith. Maurice Clarett was.... not there. It wasn't easy to watch. Shortly after the game, I went up to my room and took a nap. I didn't cry, I swear. Okay, there were some tears. But they were manly tears. Of manliness.

What has followed since then hasn't quite been domination, but the victories have been so thoroughly deflating for the dark side of this rivalry that it almost makes the schadenfreude a bit too much to handle. Almost. But not quite. Losing to Michigan that one time was painful. I cannot imagine how older, more seasoned Ohio State fans must have felt in the '90s, prior to my becoming conscious of football. I'd rather not experience again, but this is football, and it's going to happen.

In many ways, Ohio State's ensuing victories are probably roughly as painful as the ones John Cooper blundered into in the prior decade: First, there was the "where the hell has this been all season?" game in 2004, in which an Ohio State team that had lost to Northwestern and Purdue shellacked a Rose Bowl-bound Michigan team. Then, there's the last second victory in 2005 that was preceded by arguably the greatest catch in Ohio State history, after "Holy Buckeye!", of course. Following that, there's the epic 1-vs-2 match-up that was later revealed to be between two teams who really didn't have any business being ranked where they were anyway. Nonetheless, for another 100 years, we can still brag that when the eyes of the nation were on The Game - for quite possibly the last time until the conference gets its act together - Ohio State still came out on top. Then, in 2007, Michigan barely bothered to show up in a game that quite possibly oozed even more schadenfreude than the year before. It was just miserable. For them. Senior tailback/ professional asshat Mike Hart backed up his notable quotables about Ohio State's defense following the 2006 game with a truly impressive performance, toting the rock 20 times for 44 yards. Good riddance. Thanks for trying, bright boy. It was raining. Chad Henne's arm was an ineffective noodle. The only unit that looked half-way competent was the secondary, and that was only partially due to their own ability; Ohio State didn't have to win this game through the air, so that meant Jim Tressel wouldn't even try. This game is responsible for arguably my favorite image of Ohio State football in the Jim Tressel Era:

via media.2theadvocate.com

2008 didn't have quite the national significance of the prior two seasons because Ohio State had bowed out of the title race early and Michigan was rather, erm, "special" that year, in many ways. There are only so many things you can say about a 42-7 blowout, even against your bitter rival, but I will say this: when it was 14-7, I was worried. Not because I genuinely thought we were going to lose, but because the possibility was there that an even more massive upset than 1969 could be taking place before my eyes here and now. All sorts of paranoid little things run through your brain during games, but when Ohio State delivered the decisive stomp (or stomps, if you will), I calmed down. But that calm came with a hint of wistfulness.

The streak has had its moments of glory, trying its hardest to make up for the agony of the 2003 edition of the Game. I'd say it has, but for some, it may not. Lower your standards, if that's the case. Because I have a sinking feeling. Michigan will win again. I happen to think it will happen under Rich Rodriguez. It will hurt, and I'll probably break something expensive in the aftermath, and I'll only regret it hours later when the red mist lifts. But that, after all, is the rivalry; one team becomes so utterly dominant that fans pompously propose finding "new" rivals, a Penn State or a Michigan State who has had a disturbing run of success against said team, screwing up certain Rose Bowl bids and whatnot. Then, out of nowhere, the bad guys strike back. This rivalry isn't going anywhere, no matter how long any streak lasts. Currently, Rich Rodriguez is assembling an assortment of slot speedsters, large, mobile offensive linemen, and guys who actually fit his system. He is retooling and refining the dormant Michigan offense. Fortunately for us, he still has no linebackers of safeties to speak of, and if the Michigan spring game is any indication, their defense still has a long way to go under the one and only GERG. But one day, not far away, he will be ready. Let's hope Tressel is too. He certainly has been so far.