Michigan and Ohio State soccer have arguably probably the most heated rivalry in sports activities historical past, however the newest statements from OSU athletic director Gene Smith might take “the sport” to an all-new stage.
Just lately showing on a Central Ohio podcast, Smith was requested by host Anna Staver if he believes Michigan’s final two wins over the Buckeyes ought to include an asterisk.
Michigan has crushed Ohio State three video games in a row, and Staver was questioning if Smith thinks that profitable streak “deserves a bit of little bit of an asterisk since, for not less than two of these years, it seems they had been dishonest.”
“Yeah, after all I do,” Smith stated with a chuckle, (h/t Eleven Warriors). “The foundations are in place to guard the integrity of the sport and check out your greatest to create a stage enjoying discipline, and when these guidelines are violated, then it impacts these rules. And so, now we have to maintain that in perspective.”
Michigan was lately hit with penalties for recruiting throughout a COVID-19 lifeless interval (penalties that included a show-cause for a number of former coaches). However the alleged dishonest Staver and Smith are speaking about has to do with former recruiting analyst Connor Stalions, who was supposedly accountable for an unlawful sign-stealing operation at Michigan.
Stalions was pressured to resign final season, and linebackers coach Chris Partridge was fired for his function in masking up the acts.
The NCAA remains to be investigating that case in opposition to Michigan, and it is price noting that Jim Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL will not affect any measures taken in opposition to the Wolverines.
On the flip aspect, it is also price noting that Stalions was lengthy gone earlier than the Wolverines marched into Columbus and beat the undefeated Buckeyes, 30-24, with an ideal season and the Faculty Soccer Playoffs on the road. To that time, Harbaugh wasn’t even concerned with that recreation, as he was serving out the third recreation of a three-game suspension the NCAA handed out to him due to the dishonest allegations.
Positive, Michigan might have been gaining the higher hand over the previous few seasons, however there isn’t any doubting the truth that OSU had each probability to beat Michigan this previous season, and the Buckeyes did not.
No asterisk can change that truth.
