Woody Hayes coached football at the Ohio State University for 27 years, from 1951 – 1978. Bo Schembechler coached football at the University of Michigan for 20 years, from 1969 – 1989. The ten years that these 
men shared in common at their respective universities, helping solidify an already heated rivalry, is known as the Ten Years War. The drama played out between these two coaches and these two teams during that time is legendary. Teacher and student, squaring off against each other in a season ending game that usually would determine the Conference Champion, a trip to the Rose Bowl, and, in some cases, the National Championship.
Although there was a kinship, respect and admiration that these two men shared for one-another, these traits were masked by the theater of the rivalry and the typical significance of the outcome of this end-of-the-year clash. The Big Ten, during these years had become the Big Two and the Little Eight. It seemed the Ohio State / Michigan game was looked forward to every year as soon as the previous year’s game had ended with roses in the teeth of the victor and tears in the eyes of the defeated. The games played prior to this matchup each year, were just warm-ups to the game that really counted.
During the Ten Years War, this rivalry achieved national prominence and helped turn these two coaches into legends who will remain linked to each other throughout the pages of history. Buckeye fan, Wolverine fan, or just college football fan, you hear the name of Woody Hayes or Bo Schembechler and you cannot help but think the name of the other.
The Ohio State / Michigan rivalry has survived the retirement and subsequent passing of these two coaching giants, but the luster of the Ten Years War and the personas behind the campaigns has not since been matched. Each university has had 5 coaches since the throne was passed on by each legendary coach, but, even the greatest fan would have a hard time naming the counter-part to the coach from the rival school. Some success was achieved by Earl Bruce, John Cooper and Jim Tressell, at Ohio State; and, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke at Michigan – but, certainly nothing to make you forget the names of Woody and Bo. And, throughout the years, the Big Ten has caught up with Ohio State and Michigan – and, is no longer the Big Two and all the rest.
Here lately, Ohio State has become the bell-weather program and Michigan has hit some program lows, but both programs still have the promise of regained glory shone on top-notch programs.
Urban Meyer was coaxed out of a short retirement to replace a lost season with Luke Fickell at the helm following the crash and burn end of Jim Tressell’s coaching career at Ohio State, just when it looked like Tressell was on his way to his own legendary status in Columbus. Meyer’s three years at Ohio State, so far, have been nothing short of spectacular, culminating with the National Championship trophy in the inaugural year of the FBS Playoffs format and a cumulative 38 – 3 record in that time.
It seems every one of Michigan’s coaching hires since Bo’s retirement has been met with a tinge of controversy sprinkled with lots of high expectations only to end in disappointment – although Lloyd Carr had a pretty good, 12-year run at the helm. The two most recent regimes, however, have been nothing short of catastrophic. So, in rides Jim Harbaugh on a horse of high expectations, with the moxy and pedigree to pump hope back into the hearts of all good Wolverines. And, one might wonder, do we have the potential of the next version of Woody and Bo on our hands?
Both Woody and Bo made names for themselves at Ohio State and Michigan. Neither coach entered their position with fame and fanfare. Their reputations and their place in football lore were earned during their time at the respective universities. Urban and Jim, on the other hand, arrived at Ohio State and Michigan already having earned a high degree of success and accompanying fame – but, such is the way of the world today as opposed to the football landscape back in the 1960’s. And, the Meyers / Harbaugh relationship does not include any path-crossing, teacher/student kinship along the way. I think that the animosity these two coaches are sure to develop along the way will be rightfully earned and not simply a façade created by the rivalry. But, the potential is there to rekindle a Bo/Woody-like mystique and allure with these two.
We are far from it today – but it is an interesting comparison to fantasize about. Urban has already shown his appreciation for the rivalry, even with Michigan suffering lean years during his short time with the Buckeyes. Having QB’ed the Wolverines from 1983 – 1986 when the rivalry was still riding high, there is no question Jim Harbaugh appreciates the intenseness of this rivalry, although it would be just like him to downplay it a bit while he tries to get the Wolverines back in championship form.
It will be interesting to watch. Whereas, I don’t think you can ever recapture the dynamics and intrigue that Woody and Bo created during their Ten Years War – a newer version of the Ten Years War has some appeal and some promise with these two personalities in charge. Of course, the rest of the Big Ten will have something to say about that, too. And, the landscape has changed quite a bit. With Ohio State and Michigan now playing in the same division, the best the rivalry game can do is determine the East entry into the Big Ten Championship Game – no more roses in the teeth – although tears in the eyes is still possible.
I, for one, will never forget Woody and Bo – but, I do want to see Urban and Jim restore the luster to this rivalry and do so for a long time – at least ten years, any way.
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