Weekend Watch List: Look back to look ahead at Big Game

Before moving on to preview Michigan-Ohio State, let's all pause to remember the great Bo Schembechler. It is because of his excellence as a coach, administrator, even as a broadcaster, that this game is arguably the best rivalry in college football.

We'll miss you, Bo.

Woody Hayes? Nope, just impersonator Roger Thomas, a local legend in Columbus. (AP)

Meanwhile, we are scrapping the usual Weekend Watch List format to give a fair and balanced portrayal of how big this Michigan-Ohio State game really is:

1897: The year of the first Michigan-Ohio State game. The same year Mexican beer Dos Equis was first brewed. That seems fitting. ...

Zero: Amount of beer left at 6 p.m. at Columbus' Varsity Club two years ago when Michigan last visited The Shoe. That seems fitting too. A refrigerated beer truck has been brought in this time to make sure disaster doesn't strike twice. ...

Things have degenerated since 1897, judging by an account that year of Michigan's 34-0 victory: "The game (was) entirely free from slugging and objectionable features." ...

In fact, relations have degenerated a lot. In the 1970s, Michigan fans came up with Woody Hayes toilet paper printed with the words, "Put Woody Where He Belongs." ...

Wolverine fans visiting a Michigan tailgate this weekend have been advised to drive a car without Michigan license plates.

An e-mail signed by the dean of students and presidents of Michigan Student Assembly says: "Keep your Michigan gear to a minimum or wait until you are inside the stadium to display it. If verbally harassed by opposing fans, don't take the bait." ...

The University of Michigan is sending its own police to Columbus, providing a phone number for fans to call in case they need "support". ...

Lloyd Carr is still seething over a security check during Michigan's last visit to Ohio Stadium, in 2004. Police examined the bags of all the coaches and players using bomb-sniffing dogs. Carr thought the ploy was a bit of gamesmanship to get the Wolverines off their game.

"Extremely disrespectful at best," Carr said at the time. "At worst it was a violation of our individual rights." ...

Everything from high school football games to bowling leagues have been moved, delayed, etc. this week in order that Ohioans might worship at the altar of the Buckeyes.