Sherrone Moore downplays 'emotional tax' in The Game

Michigan–Ohio State is one of those 24/7, 365 rivalries. So when The Game finally arrives on the calendar, emotions are certainly present on both sidelines. Even if one team is playing at a higher level than the other this late in the year, nothing is more important to the respective programs than winning.

Even so, Sherrone Moore downplayed the idea of there being an “emotional task” about facing Ohio State. He was asked about it during his Monday press conference, saying this is why you come to Michigan. But Moore does not believe his team will be overcome with emotions.

“I don’t know about an emotional tax,” Moore said. “It’s fun. It’s everything you wanted it to be when you grow up as a kid. Whether you want to be a coach, be a player, this is what you want to do. You want to be in these types of games. It’s awesome to be a part of, it’s a lot of work. It’s something you think a lot of all year. It’s an exciting time for us to be in.”

Michigan has beaten Ohio State in three straight seasons, flipping the rivalry’s momentum. Jim Harbaugh finally broke through and had the Wolverines competing on a national stage because of the wins. The run was capped off with a College Football Playoff championship last year, much to the disdain of people in Columbus.

Ryan Day has been on the opposite of those results and certainly brings emotion into the rivalry. Day has not been shy about his feelings for Michigan and how losing to them has affected his life.

His message is similar to Moore’s, though. Emotions cannot get too high when on the field, just going out there and playing your game.

“I think sometimes it’s easy in a game like this to try to do something, you know, extraordinary,” Day said. “The only thing that needs to be extraordinary is their effort. Everything else they do, they just need to do their job.”

Kickoff from Ohio Stadium is scheduled for around noon ET, with FOX having the broadcast. Ohio State enters as heavy favorites, needing a win the clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. Michigan is hoping to spoil those dreams and have its first four-game winning streak in the series since the early 1990s.