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Michigan players ready for their first road shot at Ohio State

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•07/27/22•

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Michigan Wolverines football Erick All scored the game-winning touchdown at Penn State in 2021. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan football grabbed some momentum back in its rivalry with Ohio State in a 42-27 over the Buckeyes last season at home. It was a transformative victory for a program that was looking to break through and also allowed the team to play for and win a Big Ten championship.

It was euphoric a win for Michigan as it was for the fanbase. Senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith said it added perspective about their role in the community.

“People were telling us they were crying, their parents were crying,” he said Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days. “It was the best day of their lives. It makes you realize that we play football and we love the sport, but you forget what the game does for others who aren’t close to it. People have been loving our block M forever. And seeing us not necessarily be where we are supposed to be. Last year, we finally got a taste of it. And everybody got a taste of it. It was a great time.”

Smith and Michigan had a lot of pressure come off after the win last year. A team that had left such a sour taste was defeated. What followed only added to the feeling of grabbing an elusive win over OSU.

“It felt good to get over the hump,” Smith said. “That team has ended our season and done it on a bad note. It felt good to go out on a good note, then a better one. It was cool.”

Senior tight end Erick All continued: “It was a great feeling. We hadn’t beaten them in a long time, and to be the team — Team 142 — to do that, it was a great feeling. It feels like we accomplished a lot, and ready to get back out there and do it again.

All has an axe to grind

All, a Fairfield, Ohio native, was recruited by the Buckeyes. However, the program did not see the same value in him that Michigan did. In retrospect, he wonders why he never liked Michigan more from the start.

“For them, my size, I was too small or something, but it is what it is,” All said. “Not at all. I never really liked Ohio State, because they’re Ohio State. Just don’t like them. I don’t like their fans. I don’t like them. I’m a Michigan man. My dad’s side of the family being from Alabama, we were always ‘Bama fans, and ever since I stepped foot on Michigan’s campus, I fell in love with them. Can’t believe I didn’t love Michigan my entire life.”

It will be a hostile environment in Columbus, but All does not expect to be phased by it. They will go into it preparing like they would for any other environment.

“It’s gonna be great. I love playing away,” All said. “Going back there it won’t be much different than playing at The Big House.”

Michigan preps for first road tilt in Columbus in four years

Members of Michigan’s senior class have yet to play a game at Ohio State. The last matchup was a 62-39 loss in 2018. The two squads were set to meet there in Columbus in 2020, but a COVID spread at Michigan wiped the game out.

Michigan players are looking forward to the challenge of playing in one of the toughest environments in college sports.

“I’ve heard it’s loud and going to be a hostile environment,” cornerback DJ Turner said. “I haven’t been there before but I am really looking forward to it.”

Smith continued: “I like playing road games. They are my favorite type of games to play. I always say that. I’ve been in the shoe before during recruiting and I’ve seen how they get down. They do a good job over there. I’m excited to go over there and play in that environment.”

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