Sights and sounds from Michigan's beatdown of Ohio State, epic celebration in Columbus
Michigan Wolverines football trailed by three points, 20-17, at the break, then exploded for one of the best second halves in program history, outscoring the Ohio State Buckeyes 28-3 in the second half of a 45-23 beatdown of the chief rival.
By the end, Ohio State fans were filing out, while the Michigan faithful moved closer and closer to the field in celebration. “Let’s go blue!” and “it’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine” chants echoed throughout the fast-emptying stadium.
Wolverine players planted a Michigan flag at midfield following the final whistle.
“I was thinking about that since January,” Michigan senior nickelback Mike Sainristil said. “Coming down here and having the opportunity to win this game at this stadium — first time since 2000 — even last year, the only thing I was thinking about was fans rushing the field. This year I was thinking about planting the flag. And speaking it into existence, being able to do that, feels great.”
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Michigan players headed over toward its parent and fan section to sing the victors and wave the flag with their supporters.
As Michigan players headed back to their tunnel on the other end of the field, we heard several of them laughing at the fact that they were underdogs.
“Who’s the underdog?” one of them joked.
More family members were waiting for the team by their locker room.
Michigan players jumped around and enjoyed their signature celebrations, including singing ‘The Victors,’ giving each other a high five and cheering that “it’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine!”
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“There’s NOTHING better than singing ‘The Victors’ in Columbus. One, two, you know what to do,” head coach Jim Harbaugh instructed his team before they sang the fight song.
“It’s a happy locker room, as you can imagine. But they’re down they’re giving thanks to God, and it’s a spiritual team,” Harbaugh said in his press conference. “They’re happy; they’re celebrating. They’re giving thanks.”
Michigan has now won the Big Ten East three times in the last five seasons. The Maize and Blue have beaten Ohio State two straight years for the first time since 1999-2000. The 2000 win was their first win in Columbus until Saturday. Michigan’s plus-37 combined point margin over the last two seasons is its most in two consecutive victories over the Buckeyes since 1946-47 (plus-73).
Michigan quickly flew home to Ann Arbor, in time to take the ice at Yost Arena during the Wolverine hockey team’s 4-1 victor over Harvard, a special moment for the athletic department.
Here are photos from the game courtesy of TheWolverine.com‘s Lon Horwedel:
Michigan football 45, Ohio State 23: Photo gallery
