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Nothing helps spark a big time rivalry more than when the opposing coaches play a large part in it. One only has to look back at the Bo vs. Woody years to realize what that meant to the importance of the Ohio State - Michigan rivalry. You could even say that for a period of time, the rivalry was better known as "Bo vs. Woody" than "Michigan vs. Ohio State".

I think we're about to enter the same kind of historic era with the arrival of Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, and what is sure to be many more years of Tressel's leadership at Ohio State (rest easy Buckeye fans, he's not going to the pros). Rodriguez may not have an abundance of talent to work with at Michigan this year, but as early as next season his football teams are likely to be back in national contending status on a regular basis, and Buckeye fans are going to have to get used to losing to Michigan again, at least occasionally.

The fiery Rodriguez stands in sharp contrast to the cool demeanor of The Vested One, and without a doubt there will be a number of both on and off the field incidents involving Rodriguez that is sure to up the ire of even the most casual Buckeye fan, nothing more so than some obnoxious gloating after an eventual Wolverine victory over Ohio State. It will happen, so start preparing for it now.

As much as I hate to see Ohio State lose to Michigan (it hurts my fingers to even type that), I've got to admit that I'm actually looking forward to the level that this already huge rivalry is about to reach.

No doubt this will lead to even more frustration for the people that just don't get it, and they'll be turned off by the ever increasing attention focused on these two teams, but for those of us that live for nothing more than seeing the Buckeyes beat Michigan on a cold, gray November afternoon (my fingers feel better already), the "Vest vs. the Mouth" rivalry (that sounds better than "Jim vs. Rich") will be to this generation and the next what "Bo vs. Woody" was to previous generations.

Book recommendation: A Fire to Win: The Life and Times of Woody Hayes

Tags: jim tressel, rich rodriguez