Michigan already anticipating OSU showdown

COLUMBUS -- To say flamboyant Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards can't wait for the traditional regular-season finale with Ohio State would be an understatement.

And there's nothing understated about Edwards -- from the No. 1 on the back of his jersey to the Rose Bowl ring he wears on his middle finger because it represents "the center of attention."

"When we clash, it's two prideful teams," said Edwards of the storied OSU-Michigan rivalry, which begins its second century on Nov. 20 in Ohio Stadium. "So when we get together it's something special.

"It's a crazy environment in Columbus. That city doesn't care about anything but football. When you come to the stadium, they let you know what it's all about.

"Playing my last game in the Big Ten Conference at Ohio State is a privilege, something I look forward to. I would rather have it this way than playing my last game in the Big House (Michigan Stadium).

"If we can go in there and come out victorious, that would be something great. Seeing 105,000 people quiet ... that would be a great feeling."

With the Big Ten championship on the line for both teams, Edwards and the Wolverines celebrated the 100th anniversary of the rivalry by having their way with one of the nation's premier defenses in a 35-21 win before nearly 113,000 fans in Ann Arbor.

Edwards caught touchdown passes of 64 and 23 yards to help stake Michigan to a 21-0 lead and the Wolverines held on after the Buckeyes closed within 28-21 in the fourth quarter.

"We went up there confident; it's just that we hadn't faced a team that explosive, that could put points up that quickly," OSU cornerback Dustin Fox said. "It was a shock early on, but we came back and had a chance to win at the end.

"Each of the seniors now knows what it's like and I don't think a situation like that will happen again. We may be in a tough game again with somebody, but I don't think we'll be shocked if they get up on us."

Edwards, who finished that game with seven catches for 130 yards, feels there's still a score to settle with Ohio State since he's 1-2 in games he's played against the Buckeyes. That's one reason he decided not to leave school early for the NFL. The 28-14 loss to co-national champion USC in the Rose Bowl was another deciding factor.

"It's about leaving a legacy at Michigan, and I feel that things would have been incomplete if I had left," said Edwards, who is on pace to graduate in December and needs just 22 catches to break Marquise Walker's school record of 176 career receptions.

"I feel we have a chance to repeat as Big Ten champion, and maybe even more. I told (defensive back) Marlin (Jackson) after the Rose Bowl that we couldn't leave like that. We were still on the field when I told him that."

Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton, the Big Ten's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, knows what Edwards means about unfinished business. He gets one last crack at the Buckeyes in West Lafayette after losing twice by a combined seven points the last two years.

Like Buckeye Nation, the Boilermakers will not soon forget the game in Ross-Ade Stadium two years ago. A 37-yard touchdown pass from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins -- on fourth-and-1, with 1:36 to play -- gave OSU a 10-6 victory and kept the Buckeyes on course to their 2002 national championship.

"It's a different kind of hurt than going into Ann Arbor and losing by 30," Orton said. "Boy, being right there with Ohio State the last two years ... it was such a great environment.

"They were playing for a national championship two years ago. We had them on the ropes. We had them beat and they came back and got us at home. Going to Columbus last year and playing a great game only to come up short ... those are tough to take."

No tougher, though, than any loss to Michigan when you're an Ohio State Buckeye.

"We want to get revenge," OSU tailback Lydell Ross said. "You never want to lose to that team, especially twice in a row."

When Jim Tressel was hired as OSU coach three years ago he all but guaranteed a victory over Michigan while addressing fans at a Buckeye basketball game. He did better than that, beating the Wolverines in 2001 and again in 2002 to reignite the rivalry and match predecessor John Cooper's victory total in 13 cracks at the Blue.

Ross was asked if it's time for Tressel to trot out another speech.

"Nah, that isn''t necessary," Ross said. "We know what we have to do."

Then again, so does Edwards.