The student voice of the Ohio State University
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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Year 137, Issue No. 51
‘THE GAME’ Ohio State vs. Michigan
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
GAME PREVIEW
P8
Who has the advantage in the 114th meeting between Ohio State and Michigan?
VIRTUAL REALITY
P2
On-campus lab teaches professors how to implement virtual reality in the classroom.
PRICE IS RIGHT
P4
Ohio State-Michigan rivalry makes its way to Hollywood for popular game show.
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Urban Meyer prepares to lead the Buckeyes onto the field prior to the Ohio State-Illinois game on Nov. 18.
THE WAIT IS OVER
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
CAN’T AFFORD P12 TO LOSE
It’s never OK to lose to a rival, this year the timing would be catastrophic for Ohio State
It’s time for ‘The Game,’ though much remains on the backburner COLIN HASS-HILL Sports Editor hass-hill.1@osu.edu Less than an hour after No. 9 Ohio State defeated Illinois 52-14 to clinch the Big Ten East, senior left tackle Jamarco Jones smiled and chuckled when asked how the Buckeyes plan to stop the talented defensive lines and linebacker corps of Michigan and Wisconsin. Jones wasn’t laughing at the competition. He was just taken aback by any question requiring him to think about anything beyond his team’s game against the Wolverines. Reflecting after Ohio State’s 48-3 victory against Michigan State, defensive end Nick Bosa said the Buckeyes entered their game against Iowa having lacked focus throughout that week of practice. As a result, they lost 55-24. They have worked to make sure that does not happen again, especially versus their chief rival. Ohio State ingrains hatred for Michigan in the heads of its players from the moment they walk onto campus. The coaching staff raises a win against the Wolverines from a goal to an expectation. “I would say darned near every day you’re here you get reminded of the game,” head coach Urban Meyer said. “From [strength and conditioning] coach Mick [Marotti] in the offseason to myself in spring ball and training camp, we have periods devoted to this game during practice.” It does not take much time for players to realize the importance of “The Game.” Often called the greatest rivalry in sports, Ohio State-Michigan transcends the game of football and becomes a battle between good and evil for those involved. To Buckeyes, Michigan’s Maize and Blue are the colors of the enemy. No Wolverine would even think to own anything adorned with Ohio State’s Scarlet and Gray. THE GAME CONTINUES ON 9
COURTESY OF TNS
HARBAUGH
P8
He’s known for his antics, but hasn’t restored Michigan to prominence yet in his three years. Michigan should be patient.
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State redshirt senior quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) looks to throw a pass in the first half in the game against Illinois on Nov. 18. Ohio State won 52-14.
MASON SWIRES | FORMER ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
2016 REDUX
P12
Looking back at the greatest installment in Ohio State-Michigan history, 2016 double-OT thriller.
CAMPUS
2 | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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College of Public Health competition focuses on solving the opioid crisis in rural Ohio TERESA CARDENAS Lantern reporter cardenas.53@osu.edu
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Web developer Chris Wallace plays a Virtual Reality game in Mendenhall Laboratory Nov. 13.
Enter another world at Ohio State’s VR lab JAKE RAHE Lantern reporter rahe.21@osu.edu Visiting faraway places, exploring space or touring the human mind are just a few of the possibilities an instructor could have in his or her classroom by using virtual reality. Ohio State’s new virtual reality lab, which opened in July and is currently located in Mendenhall Lab, aims to help teachers and students understand the use of VR and augmented reality in the classroom, and help them apply it. Ian Anderson, an academic technology consultant for the College of Arts and Sciences and head of the lab, wants VR to be more than a one-time use.
“We want to integrate this into a natural part of the curriculum, not try and force it or create something gimmicky,” Anderson said. “We want this to be like experience-driven education.” VR is a relatively new technology that transports the user into different worlds with the use of a headset, which blocks out light from the user’s surrounding environment. The user engages many senses at once, like sight, hearing and touch, to have a completely immersive experience. Augmented reality, known as AR, is similar but gives the experience of our everyday world. The best way to think about AR would be to imagine the small characters that you can see through your camera using a snapchat filter like the dancing hotdog, VR CONTINUES ON 6
Whether it’s called “an American crisis,” “a public health epidemic” or “a nationwide emergency,” the increased abuse of opioids continues to threaten lives in Ohio. Students at Ohio State took steps to combat this growing problem through the College of Public Health’s first-ever case competition last week. Twelve competing teams of three undergraduate and graduate students joined to propose real-life solutions to the opioid crisis in rural Hocking County in southeastern Ohio. Ohio has been one of the states hit hardest by the epidemic, and Hocking County currently views this epidemic as the No. 1 problem affecting their community, said Amber Moore, a fourth-year in public health. “I think the [opioid crisis] is the HIV version of our lifetime,” said Moore, who won the competition alongside fourth-year public health students Vikas Munjal and Maddie Drenkhan. In 2016, there were 3,495 unintentional opioid deaths in Ohio, according to the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention. In Hocking County, with 28,000 residents, there were 31 unintentional drug-related deaths between 2011 and 2016. Six of those deaths involved fentanyl, a powerful drug used typically to treat extreme pain. Fentanyl was used in 50 percent of opioid deaths in 2016, according to the CDC.
“This case competition is an opportunity for our brightest public health students to tests theirs skills in finding solutions to a real-life crisis.” William Martin II College of Public Health dean
According to 2016 provisional data by the New York Times, 19 percent of deaths of those aged 15 to 44 in Hocking County are drug-related. CPH Alumni Society created and hosted the competition to give students a chance to add input to the conversation. HEALTH CONTINUES ON 3
Wrong way: Police step up enforcement on bicyclists KEVIN STANKIEWICZ Editor-in-Chief stankiewicz.16@osu.edu Annalee Sekulic left her job at the Younkin Success Center Nov. 9 and got on her bike to ride back to Torres House, where the second-year in anthropological sciences and public policy lives. About four times per week, Sekulic makes this same trip — north on Neil Avenue, pedaling past Thompson Library, and the redand-white “Do not enter” sign on Neil Avenue while continuing home. The trip is typically uneventful. Except this time. Shortly after crossing West 17th, Sekulic was pulled over by University Police for riding her bike the wrong way on Neil Avenue. It wasn’t only her. On Nov. 9 alone, between 4:13 p.m. and 5:13 p.m., University Police issued formal warnings to 11 people, all students, for the same traffic violation, according to public records. The spate of violations is part of increased enforcement efforts by University Police to promote law-abiding cycling. The formal
Kimberly Spears-McNatt. “That’s our No. 1 priority.”
“When we start receiving concerns from the university community, we want to make sure we address it and keep everybody safe.” Kimberly Spears-McNatt Deputy Chief
MEGAN RUSSELL | SENIOR LANTERN REPORTER
One student cyclist gets pulled over for riding the wrong way down Neil Avenue. warnings do not include a fine. Officers logged the bicyclist’s information and reminded them of traffic laws. The decision to step up enforcement, particularly in the stretch of Neil Avenue near West 18th Avenue, follows a rise this semester in the number of complaints University Police received about cyclists’ riding behavior. A spike in the number of injury-inducing traffic incidents involving cars
and bikes, cars and pedestrians or bikes and pedestrians occurred, as well. Between July 2016 and September 2016, there were four such incidents. Between July 2017 and September 2017, there were 13. “When we see those numbers increasing and when we start receiving concerns from the university community, we want to make sure we address it and keep everybody safe,” said Deputy Chief
While it is always up to the officer’s discretion, Spears-McNatt said to receive an actual ticket cyclists would have to do something “blatant,” such as if they totally disregard a stop sign or if “they intentionally ran someone over with their bike.” In general, she said officers stop riders and issue a warning or just have an educational conversation about the rules of the road. Under Ohio law, bikes are classified as vehicles, just like cars, which means cyclists cannot text and ride; they must stop at red lights; and, relevantly, they have to go the correct way on one-way streets.
Sekulic said she knew bikes were classified as vehicles and always tried to use common sense to avoid being “a bad cyclist.” But she said “everybody always biked that way” on Neil Avenue and she rarely — if ever — thought about it being a one-way. She also said she wasn’t totally sure campus roads were enforced the same as, say, Indianola Avenue. “It’s been like two years of never seeing or hearing of anybody [getting violations], and out of the blue one day they started pulling over people,” Sekulic said. The way campus law enforcement handles bikers is hardly uniform, said Amelia Neptune, the director of the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America Program. Some departments “look the other way,” but for those that do not, Neptune said her organization, which rates how bike-friendly universities are, encourages police to use enforcement as an educational opportunity because some riders, obviously, don’t know they need to follow traffic laws.
BIKE WARNINGS CONTINUES ON 6
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Fraternities frustrated by social suspension OWEN DAUGHERTY Assistant Campus Editor daugherty.260@osu.edu Amid Ohio State’s decision to suspend social activity for all 37 IFC fraternities, many of the chapters not under investigation were left questioning why they had been included in the blanket suspension. With 11 of 37 chapters under investigation this semester alone, fraternity and sorority life director Ryan Lovell called it “an unacceptably high number” and said “when individual members or organizations fail to live up to the standards and values set forth by the university, your chapters and your international organizations, the entire Greek community suffers.” Statements from two fraternities’ national headquarters highlighted a sense of frustration with their Ohio State chapters being punished for violations of others. Wynn Smiley, the chief executive officer of Alpha Tau Omega, compared suspending all fraternities for the actions of few to Ohio State suspending all varsity sports, including football, because of the mistakes another team or individual made. “Alpha Tau Omega is concerned about student and orga-
the national fraternity and sorority level,” he said. “I do not believe the North American Interfraternity Conference, which is our umbrella group, knew anything about it prior, either.”
Some fraternities and their national offices expressed frustration over a social suspension that impacted all chapters, not just those investigated by the university.
“It took everyone by surprise at the national fraternity and sorority level. I do not believe the North American Interfraternity Conference, which is our umbrella group, knew anything about it prior, either”
nizational rights,” he said. “Bad choices by students of a particular chapter should be dealt with appropriately within the university’s code of conduct … not as a sweeping dragnet solution.” A statement from Delta Upsilon’s International Fraternity headquarters took the same umbrage with the university’s decision to punish a fraternity, like theirs at Ohio State, that had done nothing wrong and were not one of the 11 investigated for code of student conduct violations.
Fraternity presidents, much like their national offices, knew nothing of the suspension before it was leveled. A fraternity president at Ohio State, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was shocked. He said IFC president Drew Cooper “may have known 15 minutes beforehand. If that.” “We knew they were getting stricter, but we did not think they would do a total suspension,” he said.
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
“We have not received information that our chapter is under investigation, and it is disappointing the institution would penalize students who have done nothing wrong,” the statement read. “Justice is the foundation of our fraternity, and suspending the entire community for the actions of a few is neither just nor fair.” Smiley said it was “unusual” that his office had not heard from Ohio State before the suspension was handed down. “It took everyone by surprise at
Now, with the suspension of social activities in place for the foreseeable future, fraternity presidents are trying to make a plan to get off suspension before next semester begins. The fraternity president told The Lantern he and other presidents had “no idea” what they needed to do to get off the suspension. “We asked Ryan Lovell several times what metrics, what they were going to use to analyze,” he said. “And one of his responses was ‘It’s up to you to change the culture’ and then when pushed about it, they weren’t able to give any clear guidelines whatsoever.” He said the most frustrating part was that as a Greek community trying to address the issues, the fraternity leaders don’t know what the university is looking to see change. “For us, we’ve started trying to come up with ideas and guidelines, but we don’t really know what’s happening as far as what they want us to change specifically since when we asked they were unable to answer any of the questions regarding it,” he said. Alec Seawall, president of Ohio State’s Phi Kappa Tau chapter, a fraternity suspended but not investigated this semester, said SUSPENSION CONTINUES ON 7
HEALTH FROM 2
COURTESY OF THE COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Fourth-year public health students Amber Moore, Maddie Drenkhan and Vikas Munjal won the College of Public Health’s first-ever case competition where students proposed solutions to the opioid crisis in rural Ohio. “The opioid epidemic in our city, state and country is a major public health crisis,” said William Martin II, the CPH dean. “This case competition is an opportunity for our brightest public health students to tests theirs skills in finding solutions to a real-life crisis.” Each team had two weeks to create “intervention strategies” to help rid the county of opioid mis-
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The Lantern is a student publication which is part of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. It publishes issues Tuesday and Thursday, and online editions every day. The Lantern’s daily operations are funded through advertising and its academic pursuits are supported by the School of Communication. Some of the advertising is sold by students. The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the newspaper in order to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from The Lantern experience.
use and opioid-related deaths. At the end of the two weeks, teams introduced their proposals to a panel of one CPH faculty member and two officials from Hocking County that chose a winner by the end of the night. The winning proposal was centered on awareness and prevention, including community events aimed at educating all ages about the problems surrounding opioids Editor in Chief Kevin Stankiewicz Managing Editor for Content Jacob Myers Managing Editor for Design JL Lacar Copy Chief Rachel Bules Campus Editor Summer Cartwright Assistant Campus Editor Owen Daugherty Sports Editor Colin Hass-Hill Assistant Sports Editor Edward Sutelan Arts&Life Editor Ghezal Barghouty Assistant Arts&Life Editor Sara Stacy Photo Editor Jack Westerheide Assistant Photo Editor Ris Twigg Design Editor Chandler Gerstenslager Assistant Design Editor Kelly Meaden Multimedia Editor Hailey Stangebye Social Media Editor Nick Clarkson Engagement Editor Matt Dorsey Oller Reporter Sheridan Hendrix Miller Projects Reporter Erin Gottsacker
— specifically the importance of high-school education and mental-health support — as well as the best practices for drug use. Those who attend the event would be given free test strips to check bags of heroin for fentanyl and a free drug called Narcan, a nasal spray used to revive people who overdose. Though all teams provided different solutions, Moore said she believed her team’s focus on helping mental-illness issues is what sold its proposal. “Treating mental illnesses will have a drastic reduction in substance abuse,” Moore said. The National Institute on Drug Abuse not only labels drug abuse as a mental illness, but also said that other mental illnesses could lead to self-medication. With existing drug use and persistent self-medication, drug abuse can become cyclical. Moore added her time living
in Jackson County, which has similar demographics to Hocking County, and her own mental-health experiences led to her participation in the program. “I actually really, really struggled with my own mental health and I think that that kind of brought me into the world of what it’s like,” Moore said. “I think it showed me the lack of resources that are available and the lack of focus on it.” Though all of the proposals were hypothetical, the winning group will attend a meeting in January with Hocking County officials to propose their programs in real time, giving Moore, Drenkhan and Munjal an opportunity to see their ideas come to
life. “Students have really good, innovative ideas,” Moore said. “We expect a lot of ideas to come from the top down, but I think a lot of innovation comes from new minds who are approaching it from a different angle.”
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ARTS&LIFE
4 | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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CLOTHING Ohio State students build clothing brand that focuses on style, comfort, and confidence. | ON PAGE 5
Ohio State and Michigan, come on down COURTESY OF FREMANTLEMEDIA
Former Buckeyes and Wolverines were just two groups of several schools featured in the program’s College Rivals edition of the show, which airs Wednesday on CBS at 11 a.m. JACOB MYERS Managing Editor for Content myers.1669@osu.edu Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, you’re the next contestant on “The Price is Right.” Arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports hit the spotlight in Los Angeles for America’s daytime game show staple, “The Price is Right.” Former Buckeyes and Wolverines were just two groups of several schools featured in the program’s College Rivals edition of the show, which airs at 11 a.m. Wednesday on CBS.
The special was taped on Oct. 22 in Hollywood, California, at “The Price is Right” studio. The event welcomed 21 other schools, including the rivalries of Oklahoma and Texas, Alabama and Auburn, Southern California and Notre Dame, and Army and Navy. Last year, Ohio State was invited to the show, but didn’t have anyone called on stage. Instead, Michigan versus Michigan State was the chosen rivalry and the Ohio State alumni felt slighted. So this year, Craig Little, director of alumni societies and regional engagement in the Ohio State Alumni Association, decided to directly call some alumni he knew in the Los Angeles area, in addition to the Orange County
alumni base that was tapped into for contestants on last year’s show. “The Price is Right” reached out to Little and he promoted it on Facebook. “It just kind of fell in my lap,” he said. “Our two groups didn’t have the most positive experience the year before, and so they weren’t all that crazy about doing it again,” Little said. “So that’s why we went about getting word out to folks in that area in a different way.” One alum he reached out to was Megan Denison, who graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing GAME SHOW CONTINUES ON 6
Behind the Scenes with Ohio State dining leaders In addition to working in dining services, she’s a liaison with the College of Education and Human Ecology, where she builds positive working relationships and programs that maintain a smooth experience for all.
“I always tried to make sure I was the best when that next position came up.” Kathie Serif Associate director of dining operations
MUYAO SHEN | FORMER ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Local alumnae Kathie Serif and Abby Hertzfeld oversee a variety of Ohio State Dining Services operations and initiatives, including employee recruitment, training, menu development, sustainability and more. CHASE-ANTHONY RAY Lantern reporter ray.461@osu.edu For college students, giving up on a dream for a new direction can be terrifying. However, local alumnae Kathie Serif and Abby Hertzfeld have proved to be prime examples of the unlimited opportunities offered by Ohio State. “I can’t say I dreamt about working in collegiate dining,
but I’ve been afforded a lot of opportunities here I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else,” said Hertzfeld, associate director of dining operations. “The best perk of working for the university is staying in touch with the students, providing mentorship, and talking to them about options outside of what they dream about doing one day.” Serif is the associate director that oversees Campus Grinds, all
coffee cafes, Ohio Union restaurants and University Catering operations. From restaurant rollouts to menu development to new employee training, Serif is constantly working in rapidly changing environments. Hertzfeld is the associate director of operations, which means she guides employee development for dining services, from recruitment to training to evaluation and labor relations.
Although it can be unusual for women to hold such high positions in the dining industry, Serif and Hertzfeld reassure neither pay much attention to it, nor use it as an excuse. “I’ve always been in that minority and it was a ‘man’s world’ when I first started off, but I’ve been fortunate enough to work for really great companies and really great people,” Serif said. “I never felt like I couldn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve, and I may have worked harder, but I had something to prove to myself – I always tried to make sure I was the best when that next position came up.” Serif and Hertzfeld work down
the hall from each other, and join forces on a big-picture level to help manage dining operations throughout campus. “We collaborate on a lot of things,” Serif said. “Even though we oversee different aspects, the job itself is the same and we have the same goals as far as food cost, hiring, training, and staffing.” In addition to their own responsibilities, Serif and Hertzfeld also have their hands in food conservation and sustainability as well. “I’ve recently taken on our waste management side of things as far as how can we reduce our waste,” Serif said. “I want to see how can we make sure we’re being good stewards of the food that we serve, and what we do with what’s left over so we don’t waste food.” Hertzfeld said she has been working on the MyCup program, which works to give all students in residence halls personalized, reusable and sustainable water bottles when they move in –– equating to more than 15,000 cups each year. After graduating from Ohio State with a degree in restaurant management, Serif garnered more than 25 years’ experience in full-service dining before joining dining services in 2010. “I love the restaurant business, I love food, I love the way restauDINING CONTINUES ON 6
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017 | The Lantern | 5
Look good, feel good: student brand offers cool and comfy style SYDNEY RIDDLE Lantern reporter riddle.136@osu.edu When Simon Asem’s best friend Jordan Carpenter came to him with a dream of creating a clothing line that rejected the exclusivity and harsh standards of modern-day fashion last February, the pair didn’t hesitate. It hit the ground running. From there, CA (Carpenter-Asem) Clothing Group was born. Asem, a second-year in city and regional planning, and Carpenter, a second-year in business at Chattanooga State Community College, have built a business driven by style that’s comfortable and available to all demographics.
“The whole motive and idea is that we want to create something for everyone to enjoy and love.” Simon Asem Co-founder of CA Clothing Group
“The main idea is that we didn’t want people to feel like they have to be of a certain economic social class to wear something or feel like they have to have a certain body type to wear something,” Asem said. “In the media we see a lot of things about people being fat-shamed or not looking cool enough because they’re not wearing the right brand...the whole motive and idea is that we want to create something for everyone to enjoy and love.”
COURTESY OF SIMON ASEM
Simon Asem, a second-year in city and regional planning and co-founder of CA Clothing Group wears a CA t-shirt. Carpenter said the concept came to him when he started focusing on his personal style more after high school, which he attended with Asem up until sophomore year. He was purchasing clothing lines that looked cool, but said he never sacrificed comfort for style. Carpenter said the concept of owning a clothing line that focused on looking stylish while feeling confident became the goal. “It all starts with having an idea,” Asem said. “In society today we put up a glass ceiling where you can see people at the top...we’re always looking up saying ‘I wish I could do that,’ and we realized we could put up our own ladder to get to that height.”
The two began the process by reading up on everything they could about starting their own business. Carpenter said when he first started his research he was told to stick to a certain demographic when marketing the brand but the thought of limiting his clientele didn’t sit well with him. “I was never that kid that had everything he wanted growing up,” Carpenter said in an email. “My mom always did her best to get me what she could afford, so I don’t want anyone thinking that they could never have access to our clothes.” Once Asem designed the logo and Carpenter had the website and social media pages up and running, they tested the waters by wearing their first sample T-shirts to parties and getting reactions from their
friends. Since then, they’ve expanded their products to sweatshirts, T-shirts, tank tops, hats, crop tops and leggings –– all of which are mainly unisex –– with designs inspired by minimalism and their everyday lives. Asem said they relied heavily on feedback from their peers, especially in the early stages of the business, which is the reason why they decided to incorporate the word “group” into their name –– to include everyone who has made the dream a reality. “You have to acknowledge the people that helped you, that are going to help you,” Asem said. “Within our name I want to give recognition to those people. Family members, friends, future customers. Automatically if you buy something from us or follow us on social media you’re a part of our group. Their feedback means everything to us.” Carpenter said his goals for the brand are to expand and attain greater recognition, but insists that money isn’t the driving force. Asem said it’s really about inspiring people to run with their ideas. “Profit is important in a business, but that is never our sole focus,” Carpenter said. “Our huge goal is to motivate anyone, and show them that they’re able to do that same thing.” Asem said they plan on attending more events to sell their clothing and eventually want to host a pop-up sale on The Oval, but until then their main focus is to design and create a wider variety of clothing that makes people feel good. “Most people buy their clothes mainly for the look, but sacrifice style over comfort,” Carpenter said. “Once you’re able to be comfortable and know you look good at the same time is a wonderful feeling.”
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6 | The Lantern | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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DINING FROM 4
COURTESY OF OSU
Abby Hertzfeld is the associate director of operations where she guides employee development. She’s also a liaison with the Department of Education and Human Ecology. GAME SHOW FROM 4
and in 2012 with a master’s degree in higher education. Denison was one of 10 to 12 alumni that appeared on the broadcast and was the Ohio State alumna selected to “come on down” as a contestant.
“Prior to the taping, I watched a few of the shows so I didn’t make a fool of myself.” Megan Denison Ohio State alum and contestant on “The Price is Right”
She and her husband, Jonathan, met the rest of the team at the site at 11 a.m., per the request of team leader Mary Haines. The taping didn’t start until 4 p.m. and lasted two hours. “I was so impressed with the kids from Ohio State that came,” said Haines, whose only connection with the university is by proxy through her son and husband. “They all have great jobs, all are nice, outgoing and being interactive with other schools. Like a proud mother is what I felt with all of them.”
COURTESY OF OSU
Kathie Serif is the associate director that oversees Campus Grinds, all coffee cafes, Ohio Union restaurants and University Catering operations.
Denison said the all-day affair involved an interview session with the producers for a pre-screening of who would be a good personality on the show. “It was really one of those shows I only watched when I was home sick as a kid,” she said. “I was familiar with Bob Barker but I hadn’t really watched any since Drew Carey took over. But prior to the taping, I watched a few of the shows so I didn’t make a fool of myself.” She said Carey, the former comedian and Ohio native who is in his 11th year hosting the show, did small stand-ups in between commercial breaks. The rivalry aspect of the show is exemplified by the opening bidding round. In Ohio State’s case, if Michigan were to win the bidding round but lose the next round, the Ohio State representative would win $1,000. Overall, the experience Denison had during the show seems to be quite an improvement from last year’s group. “We had maybe two friends out here already, and we knew them from undergrad,” she said. “I hadn’t met those folks before, so it was kind of nice to chat with them about their Ohio State experiences.”
BIKE WARNINGS FROM 2
After all, when children are learning to ride bikes, many are taught to stay out of the road and ride on sidewalks — advice which for adults, except in certain designated areas in the city of Columbus, is wrong. Ohio State does have an educational program, called Share the Road, that involves some signage and events. In September, for example, University Police held “Pedal with Police,” which was aimed at theft prevention and learning the rules of the road. When the officer finished entering Sekulic’s information, Sekulic said one piece of the officer’s departing instructions was to inform her friends that she was issued a formal warning. The goal, of course, being to spread awareness about bike laws and the ramped-up enforcement without having to
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for instance. Anderson said using the devices is the first step in understanding how these tools could be used in the classroom and beyond. “I have had some people pick it up and instantly feel comfortable, and I have had demos where it is 15 minutes in and I am
stop every biker. Neptune said Ohio State could also improve its bike-friendliness by adding on-road infrastructure, which basically means bike lanes. As of 2015, her organization rates Ohio State as a bronze campus, the fourth-highest mark. For now, though, University Police’s increased enforcement does not appear to be subsiding. On Friday, around 10:45 a.m., officers were stopping and issuing warnings to more people on Neil Avenue near West 18th Avenue. Sekulic said she has taken steps to avoid being stopped again. With the temperature dipping, making it less bike-friendly anyways, she’s decided to do more walking.
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Academic technology consultant for the College of Arts and Sciences and head of the Virtual Reality lab, Ian Anderson, discusses the merits of integrating VR into the classroom setting. VR FROM 2
rants are run and I love the environment,” Serif said. “When I came back [to Ohio State], I was looking for what else I could do that’s different…the food can change, but what you do is the same.” Hertzfeld recently celebrated her 20th year at Ohio State in dining services as a full-time employee, after getting her start as a part-time student employee. “I started off as a student where I worked for dining for four years,” Hertzfeld said. “Having a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Ohio State is *nice because I sit on the hospitality management advisory board here on campus as an alumni and dining representative.” As the unsung heroes behind the driving force of all restaurants and dining options on campus, Hertzfeld and Serif just want students to know how much time and care is put into keeping their offerings fresh, innovative and interesting. “There’s nothing glamorous about food service, but it’s fun and I love seeing the satisfaction of the students,” Hertzfeld said. “Trust me, this is not the food service I got when I was a freshman…to see where dining has gone from then to now is really amazing.”
still trying to explain the beginnings of it,” Anderson said. “The key really is to get the idea of VR and AR into instructors and students and try to drive the curriculum through that.” VR headsets have become more affordable and many students use them in their daily lives through gaming, he said. With
the headsets, teachers could instruct students in an entirely different way. “It is a new way for students to learn. I think that instructors are constantly looking for a way to break through,” Anderson said. “Why not do something that can relate to students, who know how to use them, and carry that over from their personal life?” Zach Harvat, a doctoral candidate in English, teaches a video game analysis class and sees the possibilities that VR could bring to all classrooms as well as his own. “For the past few decades, people have been popularly talking about VR as this technology of the future that will be able to give us complete immersion into a video game,” Harvat said. “But there is also a lot of educational technology that is being developed using VR.” In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, VR is used in the classroom to teach students about Kenyan refugee camps and explore the ruins of Machu Picchu, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Anderson said the opportunities for VR in the classroom are near endless. “There is already an existing suite of apps out there that are perfectly acceptable to be used within the curriculum. There
are also a lot of [developers] out there that would love to partner with people to come up with apps for a specific course or a specific major,” Anderson said. “Really, it is just getting the word out there that this isn’t just for entertainment, it can be educational, as well. Harvat agrees with Anderson and said the main issue is gaining notability and understanding. “A lot more people can teach this and integrate this into their teaching than actually think they can,” he said. “There are people on campus who understand this technology and can teach this technology to you and who can facilitate things.” Hopefully, instructors who are reluctant to bring new technology like this into the classroom become more comfortable, Anderson said, adding that breaking the stigma of VR being just for games is the main part of getting this into a classroom. “I think once people get their hands on it and see the educational value to it, then it will start to take off,” Anderson said. The lab is currently moving to a new space that has not been determined, Anderson said. More information will be coming once a new space is decided.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017 | The Lantern | 7
Flipping the bird: How an Ohio State alumna hit virality SUMMER CARTWRIGHT Campus Editor cartwright.117@osu.edu It’s been a few weeks since a woman named Juli Briskman was photographed flipping the bird to President Donald Trump’s motorcade. Have you forgotten about it yet? If you haven’t, you will soon, according to an Ohio State social media expert. The photo of Briskman that blew up on Twitter and garnered the attention of the Washington Post and New York Times hit its popularity mark and will soon fall into the forgotten realm of Ken Bone’s red sweater, said Joseph Bayer, an assistant professor and social media researcher. “As much as there’s an enjoyment part of it, it’s rare that it ends up being something that is truly long-lasting,” he said of Briskman’s newly found internet fame. Briskman, a 1990 Ohio State graduate and former Lantern police editor, said the photo of her on her bicycle next to a fleet of black SUVs was unplanned; she went on a ride down her normal route and just so happened to pull up next to the presidential motorcade. “I said in my head ‘Oh my gosh that’s right he’s playing golf today, again.’ And I just, all my frustration came up inside me and I flipped him off,” she said. It wasn’t until the next morning that she got the notification from a friend, saying her photo was posted to a political forum. After a few comments and a few tags, Briskman commented back on the post. “Down in the comments I wrote ‘Oh that’s me ha ha ha,’” she said, adding she had no idea how popular the photo — or she, herself — would become online. “I thought that was the end of it, right? I’ve had my photograph in the paper before, not a big deal, this proactive step by Ohio State would be an opportunity for the fraternities to each review their individual policies. In a statement Thursday when the IFC suspension was announced, Dave Isaacs, spokesman for the Office of Student Life, said a majority of the 11 fraternity investigations involved hazing and/ or alcohol. According to multiple presidents, the 37 fraternity presidents have broken into subcommittees to produce and implement new policies aimed at addressing issues within social events and new-member recruitment — the activities put on hold during the suspension. The committees are then planning to present their action plans to university administrators to get the suspension lifted before the start of next semester, with the goal being the Jan. 7 cut-off date. “The Office of Student Life is fully committed to working together with the IFC, individual chapters, their advisors, alumni and national organizations to create a positive path forward that
right? It’s there that day and that’s it,” she said. But, as evidenced by her 17,800-plus new Twitter followers, 1,000 Facebook friend requests and 800 LinkedIn connections awaiting approval, that was not the case. Bayer said the publicity that followed the photo would not have happened without Twitter, a platform that allows citizens to have a direct connection to others, like public figures or, in Briskman’s case, a stranger. “Twitter sets the agenda now,” Bayer said. “So these kinds of events which are often made viral through Twitter can shape the agenda from the ground up.” Briskman was subject to two parallels of virality: the good and the bad, Bayer said. On one side, she received compliments and acclaim for her willingness to stand up to the president. On the other, she lost her job at Akima, a government contracting firm for violating its social media code-of-conduct policy. She also received threats, and had to take down where she attended yoga classes because the location’s Facebook page was being attacked. The yoga studio owner asked her to remove any mention of the studio from her social pages, Briskman said, and she obliged. Bayer said the people commenting, sleuthing and trolling Briskman have to be politically motivated because the situation is so politically charged. “In some level it’s a counter-narrative to the idea that our vote doesn’t matter,” he said. “By having somebody who’s now shaping the narrative and shaping the discussion, we are showing that our voice can matter even if it’s not us, it’s somebody like us.” He said so many people relate to Briskman, thus take the time to look her up, request her friendship online and repost articles having
COURTESY OF JULI BRISKMAN’S TWITTER
Screenshot of Juli Briskman’s Twitter page where she has made the image of herself flipping off President Trump’s motorcade both her profile photo and header image. to do with her because of the candid nature behind the photo. “The fact that it wasn’t her doing it in front of a camera, it was unbeknownst to her that she was being recorded, gave a little bit of a true authenticity to it,” he said. “It’s also the fact that it was done in the moment.” Bayer said social media allows for narratives like Briskman’s to be brought to light, as well as shredded by those in opposition.
“I said in my head ‘Oh my gosh that’s right he’s playing golf today, again.’ And I just, all my frustration came up inside me and I flipped him off.” Juli Briskman 1990 Ohio State graduate
“These almost David-versus-Goliath media battles emerge and I think people like them because here’s this random person who just happened to be there is now battling the political figure [they] disagree with, and acting
as arbitrator.” And the battle continues through comment sections and social media feeds. For instance, @haroldFUrichard tweeted “How is it that #julibriskman is such a fatty after all that biking?” and @observator6857 tweeted “#JuliBriskman a typical left wing voter: sad, respectless and bad loser!!” “The anonymity and distance plays into [the ridicule],” Bayer said. “It also contradicts how it’s easier to connect with people.” He said people are more likely to post negative comments about her online because they can hide behind a screen, but their motives could also simply be because they disagree with her actions. He said Briskman’s photo also represents the polarized nature of political parties. “I don’t see any outcome of this scenario that is bringing people together,” Bayer said. “It’s a case that can be used to further fire up your base which is a very common strategy in modern politics. In doing so, It narrows the gap of understanding between ‘us’ and ‘other people’.” Regardless of the divisive nature of the photo and reactions, Briskman has garnered more than $100,000 from various GoFund-
SUSPENSION FROM 3
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity. The fraternity is one of 11 investigated for violations of the student code of conduct this semester. includes creating a culture that truly reflects the values of the Ohio State Greek community,” Isaacs said in a statement to The Lantern when asked how the university was working with the IFC to reach solutions. The president said if new-member recruitment is not allowed
next semester it could cripple a handful of smaller fraternities that have several seniors graduating. Seawall said that since his chapter is smaller than the average chapter of 60 or 70 members, recruitment is essential to his chapter growing each semester.
“Not having recruitment events during the first two weeks of spring semester, those are the two most important weeks for recruitment for fraternities,” he said. “That’s when the most people become involved in Greek life. It hurts the freshman looking to join fraternities. They would have to
Me donors in response to her getting fired for the photo. “I am a DACA recipient myself. I appreciate your act of courage. Somebody like you can do that any time. Somebody like me could never do it since we are always at risk of deportation even for slight things,” a GoFundMe donor said on the crowdfunding site. Briskman said she plans to further her presence online and give back some of the donation money to social campaigns she supports. She has tweeted 100 times since the photo was found online Oct. 28 and has 319 tweets total. “People who are comfortable with that attention and want to savor the moment are going to do that,” Bayer said. “There will also be people in that situation who will want to withdraw and try to avoid some of the harassment that will probably come.” “I know that there’s been a lot of fingers flipped to [Trump], but for some reason mine was the right one at the right time and I’m happy to be the symbol of that,” Briskman said. “I’m happy to be the symbol of that,” she repeated.
@sumsumc13 wait until the next rush cycle in August. That’s only eight months, but that’s a lifetime in relation to college.” Seawall acknowledged that while the suspension is indefinite, the Jan. 7 date for essential activities to take place listed by Lovell in his letter is a positive sign that the suspension might not last too long. Additionally, Smiley said the NIC is working with Ohio State to try and get fraternities off the suspension who weren’t found to have committed any violations. The university said it does not have a timeline regarding reinstatement, either for all fraternities or individual chapters.
PLEASE
RECYCLE
8 | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
MICHIGAN PREVIEW
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FOOTBALL
Ohio State looks to make it 6 straight wins against rival Michigan EDWARD SUTELAN Assistant Sports Editor sutelan.1@osu.edu “The Game” returns Saturday. Having already punched its ticket to the Big Ten Championship game, No. 9 Ohio State (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) will travel north to take on its rival, No. 24 Michigan (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten), to finish the regular season. The two teams will clash for the first time since the first-ever overtime game between the rivals last season in which Ohio State won 30-27 on a walk-off touchdown in double-overtime by H-back Curtis Samuel. Ohio State offense vs. Michigan defense One of the top offenses in the country will square off against one of the top defenses in the nation Saturday, with Ohio State’s potent offense (third in the nation in scoring) and Michigan’s stout defense (11th in the nation in fewest points allowed) pinned against one another. The heart and soul of the Wolverines’ defense this season has been its ability to stifle opposing aerial attacks. Michigan’s topranked pass defense has allowed 144.4 yards per game and the third-fewest yards per attempt at 5.7. Only once this season has Michigan allowed more than 200 passing yards and it has yet to al-
ALEXA MAVROGIANIS | FORMER PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State redshirt freshman Mike Weber (25) scores the Buckeyes’ first offensive touchdown of the day during the second half of the Buckeyes’ 30-27 overtime win against Michigan on Nov. 26.
low multiple passing touchdowns in a single game. That passing defense has been carried by the performance of two of its starting safeties, Khaleke Hudson and Tyree Kinnel. The pairing are No. 2 and 3 in total tackles on the team, respectively, and both have a pair of interceptions so far this season. Hudson
also has forced two fumbles while Kinnel returned an interception for a touchdown. This secondary will be tested Saturday, however, against the top passing offense it will face all season. Before Ohio State, only Penn State cracked the top 25 in passing yards per game at No. 24, and Ohio State sits firmly six
places ahead of them at No. 18. The Penn State offense put up 282 passing yards and a touchdown against Michigan’s defense. Michigan’s front seven, led by Butkus semifinalist linebacker Devin Bush, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and defensive end Rashan Gary, will apply pressure to the offensive line and quarter-
back J.T. Barrett. The Wolverines are tied for seventh in sacks per game with 3.27, and Bush, Hurst and Hudson all have more than five sacks. However, Ohio State’s offense has gone away from the passing game lately, posting its two fewest pass attempts over the past two games. That is why so much of this game will come down to Michigan’s ability to stop the run. The Wolverines have been one of the top teams in the nation at stopping the run, allowing the 15th-fewest yards per game (116.8) and 17th-fewest yards per carry (3.41). However, that rush defense has been either boom or bust for the Wolverines this season. It has often been suffocating, allowing just 11 yards on 27 attempts to Florida and less than 100 yards in five other games. At times, it also has been exposed. Michigan has allowed more than 150 yards on the ground five times, including a 224-yard, five-touchdown outburst from Penn State, led by its star running back Saquon Barkley. That has been a trend for the Wolverines this season. They have have allowed an average of 3.13 yards per carry to unranked opponents, but 4.9 yards per carry to ranked opponents. And against the Buckeyes, they FOOTBALL CONTINUES ON 10
COLUMN
Give Harbaugh more time — and a QB KEVIN STANKIEWICZ Editor-in-Chief stankiewicz.16@osu.edu Without question, Jim Harbaugh has repaired the weakened Michigan football program that Brady Hoke left behind. But nearing the end of his third season, carrying an 8-3 record and still without a top-two finish in the Big Ten East, Harbaugh is facing questions about the quality of his tenure beyond his golden sound bites. Yes, Michigan’s program is better than where Hoke left it. But under Harbaugh, the Wolverines are 1-4 against Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan State, and with a tough game against the Buckeyes set for Saturday, plus a bowl game, they could reasonably finish 8-5. Is that what Harbaugh was hired to do? No — which means some questions about Harbaugh’s tenure are fair. Still, Harbaugh deserves more patience, even if his eccentric character, illustrious arsenal of metaphors and past success, both at Stanford and in the NFL, have lent him near-mythical status. “I wasn’t consciously doing
anything to be on the radar, just coaching the football team,” Harbaugh told reporters Monday at his weekly press conference. The first thing to consider when evaluating Michigan since Harbaugh has been coaching the football team is what has happened around the Big Ten. Ohio State, under Urban Meyer, has been exceptional and reasserted itself as college football royalty. With its necessary NCAA sanctions expired, Penn State has re-established itself on the field, particularly the past two seasons. One of the Wolverines’ three losses this fall came on the road against the then-No. 2 Nittany Lions. Should that be hung over Harbaugh’s head? Since 2010, Michigan State, long a bastion of mediocrity, has refashioned itself as a top program in the conference — it has won more Big Ten titles than any team over the past seven seasons — and nationally. (To be fair, the Spartans were awful in 2016, but they had won at least 11 games in five of their previous six seasons and appear to have returned to playing actual football). And this is just in the Wolverines’ division, the Big Ten East.
There’s also Wisconsin turning in 10-plus-win seasons left and right and Iowa being Iowa. Harbaugh’s seven conference losses have been against these five teams. Indeed, to be considered top-notch you have to beat other top-notch teams, but no one can ignore the quality he’s competing against in the Big Ten. It’s like faulting the Beach Boys because they aren’t the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. The second thing to consider is Harbaugh has yet to completely have his hand-picked quarterback lead the offense. At Stanford, once Harbaugh’s prized recruit Andrew Luck took the reigns, the Cardinal went from 4-8 and 5-7 without him to 8-5 and 12-1. In Harbaugh’s first season at Michigan, following four seasons coaching the San Francisco 49ers, he had Iowa graduate transfer Jake Rudock under center. Rudock was surprisingly good, leading the Wolverines to 9-3 regular season and a Citrus Bowl victory against then-No. 19 Florida, but no one was going to confuse him with Luck or J.T. Barrett or former Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. Last year, Harbaugh had HARBAUGH CONTINUES ON 10
MASON SWIRES | FORMER ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh looks on after the last touchdown during the game on Nov. 26 at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 30-27.
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THE GAME FROM 1
OHIO STATE-MICHIGAN 2017 SEASON TIMELINE
Sept. 9 Ohio State loses 31-16 to Oklahoma
Oct. 7 Michigan yields a 14-10 home loss to Michigan State
Sept. 23 Michigan wins 28-10 against Purdue Michigan comes away with a win, but loses starting quarterback Wilton Speight to a neck injury. Speight has not returned this season.
Oct. 21
Ohio State pulls off comeback to beat Penn State 39-38
Michigan blown away by Saquon Barkley-led Nittany Lions in 42-13 loss to Penn State
The Buckeyes come back from a 35-20 fourth-quarter deficit behind J.T. Barrett’s masterful 16-for-16 pass completion streak.
Oct. 28
Oct. 28
Nov. 4 Ohio State drops 55-24 stunner to Iowa Riding high, just a week after taking down the Nittany Lions, Ohio State traveled to Iowa City, Iowa, and got blindsided by the quarterback Nathan Stanley-led Hawkeyes. Ohio State’s playoff hopes seemed all but gone after the loss.
Nov. 18 Ohio State beats Illinois 52-14 Ohio State clinches first Big Ten East title since 2014.
Michigan beats Rutgers 35-14
For that reason, Ohio State’s Big Ten championship hopes and College Football Playoff chances have taken a backseat to Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Nothing else matters to the Buckeyes right now. “Whenever we play a game, after that game is over, for the most part [Meyer] gives us our next mission, which is the next team,” redshirt senior linebacker Chris Worley said after Saturday’s game. “Make no mistake about it, he definitely put a little more emphasis on that.” This kind of rivalry, the type that can put postseason games on the backburner, has become more of a rarity each year. The standard of rivalry games has begun to stand out even more with the dissipation of other games. Nebraska moved from the Big 12 to the Big Ten and no longer takes on Oklahoma every year. West Virginia’s heated rivalry game with Pittsburgh, hailed as the “Backyard Brawl,” ended when the Mountaineers left the decaying Big East for the Big 12. Texas and Texas A&M no longer play annually because the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC. Yet, “The Game” remains intact. And it isn’t going anywhere. Players on either team don’t have to choose whether they would rather win a conference championship or beat their rival. But if they had to make a decision, make no mistake, they would choose beating their rivals. The Wolverines enter this game with little left to play for while Ohio State’s postseason hopes
hang in the balance. Just a couple weeks ago — after the Hawkeyes shocked the college football landscape by embarrassing the Buckeyes in front of a packed crowd in Iowa City, Iowa — playoff hopes seemed impossible with the Big Ten championship being a consolation prize for a team with a playoff-or-bust attitude. Now, with the possibility of becoming the first two-loss playoff team increasing, a win against Michigan has added stakes that weren’t apparent just weeks ago. It has become a gateway to the playoff for Ohio State. If it loses, all hope will be eliminated. But if the Buckeyes win, the possibility remains. No one inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center will publicly entertain the possibilities, though. During the week leading up to last week’s game against Illinois, Meyer shut down questions of anything beyond the upcoming game. He amped up the classic one-game-at-a-time approach coaches tend to employ. But just because Ohio State coaches and players will not discuss the high stakes behind the game does not mean they do not exist. Not only do they exist, the stakes are at their peak because the week has arrived. The playoff chase will continue for Ohio State, but only with a win Saturday against Michigan.
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Brandon Peters makes first collegiate appearance replacing John O’Korn.
Nov. 11 Ohio State crushes Michigan State 48-3
Nov. 18 Michigan loses to Wisconsin 24-10 Michigan watched its Big Ten title hopes disappear and Peters was carted off the field after suffering a concussion.
LANTERN ILLUSTRATION BY JL LACAR | MANAGING EDITOR FOR DESIGN
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lar season would send Ohio State to the Big Ten championship without playoff hopes and a lesser bowl appearance could bring out the worst in the fan base. It might not get better for the Buckeyes next season. A new quarterback combined with an exodus of talent on both the offensive and defensive lines leads to a question-filled 2018 Ohio State season. Michigan, on the other hand, will return a majority of its starters and will pose a much greater threat to next year’s youthful Buckeyes. Barrett’s legacy also relies on the game. He can either make history with a fourth win, or will lose his third game of the season. Of course, the hate he would get would not be fair. Not a single quarterback on either side has beaten his opponent in the game four times. But Barrett would be viewed as someone who continually can’t win big games. He knows he will not be welcomed with grace in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, but said he embraces the negative reaction. “I don’t think it’s going to be pleasant, I’m pretty sure they’re going to hate me,” Barrett said. “Got to learn to love the hate. I like being hated sometimes. I don’t mind it. They hate us anyway.” Meyer said the history of the game has showed both teams play their best against each other. Though Michigan has yet to win a game against a team with a winning record, Meyer expects the Wolverines to offer staunch opposition. Ohio State seemed to lose its playoff hopes after the loss to Iowa. But reclaiming them only to lose to a lesser Michigan team would be a worst-case scenario for the Buckeyes.
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10 | The Lantern | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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FOOTBALL FROM 8
then-redshirt sophomore Wilton Speight see the bulk of the action under center. Speight, a Hoke recruit, was fine — completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,538 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 starts. While Speight also isn’t Luck or Barrett or Cook, the Wolverines looked like a championship-caliber team that throttled eventual Big Ten champion Penn State 49-10 before inexcusably losing three of their last four. This fall, Speight, who was one of Michigan’s mere five returning starters, has been sidelined due to injury since Sept. 23, leaving Harbaugh stuck with redshirt senior John O’Korn, a Houston transfer who objectively is not that good, and redshirt freshman Brandon Peters. Behind defensive coordinator Don Brown, the Wolverines’ defense is still No. 3 in the country, but the defense can only do so much when you’re throwing O’Korn out there against Penn State and an inexperienced Peters against undefeated Wisconsin on the road. Peters left the game against the Badgers with a concussion and is status for Saturday is uncertain. Harbaugh, a former Michigan quarterback himself, needs a quality signal-caller to lead his offense. He had it with Luck, mostly with Rudock, and sometimes with Speight in 2016. Next fall, with two of his talented recruits — Peters, a former four-star prospect who Harbaugh said has similarities to Luck, and fellow four-star Dylan McCaffrey, who is currently redshirting —
presumably joining Speight in a threeway quarterback battle, Harbaugh will be in a better position to have the caliber player he needs under center. Then, the clock really starts ticking for Harbaugh. The lofty expectations that followed him to Ann Arbor in 2015 can start to be rigorously applied. It doesn’t mean Saturday’s game is meaningless — it’s still a huge rivalry — but it shouldn’t be used as a further indictment of Harbaugh since the Wolverines have two dinged-up quarterbacks and little to play for in the big picture. It also doesn’t mean Harbaugh is above criticism the past three seasons. But because of the quality of Big Ten competition and the quality of his quarterbacks, any of Harbaugh’s shortcomings have lacked context and haven’t all been deserved. At the least, the past three seasons have been good for sound bites.
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will be tasked with trying to stop the second-best rushing offense they have faced all season. Ohio State has the 12th-most rushing yards per game and is tied for seventh-most yards per carry. The Buckeyes also are an offense that is clicking as of late, having put up its two highest rushing totals of the season at 335 and 325 yards against Michigan State and Illinois, respectively. Ohio State defense vs. Michigan offense The flip side of the matchup does not appear to be quite the same battle. Michigan’s offense has struggled this season, posting only the 101st-most yards per game at 360.4 and is tied for the 82nd-most points per game at 26.3. Ohio State’s defense, on the other hand, has done its part to keep opposing offenses at bay, allowing the 22nd-fewest points (19.8) and eighth-fewest yards per game (291.5). If the Wolverines are to find any success, it will have to come on the ground. Their rushing offense ranks 35th in the nation in yards per game at 194.2 and has the 52ndmost yards per carry at 4.64. The bulk of that production has come from junior running back Karan Higdon, who has rushed for 874 yards on 136 carries and 10 touchdowns. Michigan also will lean on running backs Chris Evans and Ty Isaac,who have both rushed for more than 500 yards and have combined for eight touchdowns. Unlike Michigan, Ohio State has been consistent in stopping the run this season. The Buckeyes have only allowed more than 150 rushing yards three times and have held teams to under 100 six times this season. Even matched up against ranked oppo-
Puzzles
Answer Key for Nov. 16:
nents like Penn State, Michigan State and Oklahoma, Ohio State has only allowed 2.4 yards per carry. Where Ohio State struggles most defensively also happens to be where Michigan struggles the most offensively. Ohio State has looked incapable of defending against the pass at times, even if the 15th-fewest passing yards per game appear to tell a different story. But the Wolverines also have struggled to pass with any consistency. They have only three games with more than 200 passing yards, and they have just eight touchdowns to seven interceptions. The biggest question mark for the team will come down to the man under center since Brandon Peters had to enter concussion protocol after taking a hit against Wisconsin. Peters had shined in his five games played, throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions. And with last season’s starter Wilton Speight still questionable for the game, Michigan might have to turn to John O’Korn, who has a 53.2 percent completion rating and one touchdown pass to five interceptions. The latest edition of the rivalry does not appear destined for a shootout. Michigan’s offense does not appear to have the firepower to rack up gaudy point totals, but its defense could provide Ohio State with one of the Buckeyes’ toughest challenges of the season.
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FOOTBALL
Success of Michigan offense to come down to man under center EDWARD SUTELAN Assistant Sports Editor sutelan.1@osu.edu
Michigan is not considered one of the powerhouse offenses in college football. This season, the Wolverines’ success has largely survived based on the strength of their defense, and any offensive production has come on the ground. The quarterback play has not been a strength for Michigan. Both previous starters John O’Korn and Wilton Speight struggled through much of their time under center, particularly the former who replaced Speight after an injury earlier in the season. However, when redshirt freshman Brandon Peters started for the Wolverines, he was serviceable — at least until he was knocked out of the Wolverines’ 24-10 loss to Wisconsin and put into concussion protocol. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said during his Monday press conference that Peters hasn’t been cleared by doctors out of concussion protocol to resume normal practice and said O’Korn will start for Peters should he be unable to play. He added Speight’s status is still up in the air for this weekend. The quarterback situation for Michigan could dictate how the offense does against Ohio State. The Wolverines do not need a star quarterback to beat Ohio State, but they cannot handle someone like O’Korn starting for them and drastically holding them back. But they might not have a choice. The saga under center has been an ongoing storyline for Harbaugh and his staff all season long, with the starting signal-caller becoming somewhat of a jug-
COURTESY OF TNS
Michigan’s Brandon Peters being taken to the locker room after a hit during third quarter action against Wisconsin Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin won, 24-10. gling act due to injuries and inconsistencies. The Wolverines began the year with Speight as the starting quarterback, who returned to the role after manning it last season. In his four games as the starter, he completed 54.3 percent of his passes for 581 yards. He had three touchdown passes and two interceptions. But an injury against Purdue has kept him off the field after just four games. His replacement, O’Korn, was far less effective. The backup from last season was a liability in his time for the Wolverines. He completed only 53.2 percent of his passes for 761 yards with just one touchdown to five interceptions. During his four starts in which he completed the game,
Michigan posted a 2-2 record and averaged just 19.5 points per game. In his fifth game starting for Michigan, he was replaced in the first quarter of the Wolverines’ game against Rutgers by Peters after completing just 3-of-6 passes and throwing an interception. Peters was a four-star pro-style quarterback in the class of 2016. The 247Sports composite rankings had him as the 61st-best recruit in the nation and sixth-best pro-style quarterback. The decision to start him was somewhat of a risk given his inexperience, but with a futile option in O’Korn and a season on the ropes, it was worth a shot. For the most part, Peters made the decision look good. While
Peters’ statistics did not jump off the page, he did what he was supposed to do. He passed effectively and provided another threat for Michigan’s offense beyond just the running backs. He only completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 486 yards, but the four touchdowns and no interceptions showed he would not hold Michigan back. But he was knocked unconscious on a hit against Wisconsin and carted off the field, leaving his status for Saturday up in the air. Against Wisconsin, Peters was on the field for all of Michigan’s 10 points and averaged 4.17 yards per play. After he was replaced by O’Korn, the Wolverines failed to score and averaged just 2.29 yards per play.
Looking ahead to “The Game,” Michigan will need Peters, or at the very least Speight, healthy to be successful. The Wolverines will not need to rely on any of the three quarterbacks as the focal point of their offense. Michigan has held its own running the football. It has the 35th-best rushing offense with an average of 194.18 yards per game and 23 of its 31 touchdowns have come on the ground. But for Michigan, there has to be some way of making sure Ohio State does not simply stack the box every play. If the Buckeyes can count on an inaccurate quarterback prone to mistakes like O’Korn, they could prepare for the run every play and assume the odds of them being burned through the air are slim to none. If neither Speight nor Peters can play, Michigan will be forced to rely on O’Korn again. For Ohio State, a team that has often struggled against the aerial attack this season, having O’Korn in could be a blessing. The threat in the passing game is not nearly as significant with O’Korn at quarterback, and a potent rushing defense would be able to hone in on the strength of the Wolverines. Michigan’s 8-3 record was not built on the back of any quarterback. But O’Korn has not won a game this season against a team with a winning record. And there’s nothing to indicate that might change Saturday should he get the nod.
@EdwardSutelan
STAFF PICKS
Ohio State-Michigan game score predictions Ohio State 27, Michigan 20 Kevin Stankiewicz Editor-in-Chief
“If John O’Korn is the quarterback, it will be worse.”
Ohio State 34, Michigan 16 Jacob Myers Managing Editor for Content “There will be a point where Michigan won’t be able to move the ball against Ohio State.”
Ohio State 34, Michigan 21 Colin Hass-Hill Sports Editor “Ohio State’s run game, led by Dobbins, Weber, Barrett and an improved offensive line, prove to be too much for Michigan to handle.”
Ohio State 28, Michigan 20 Edward Sutelan Assistant Sports Editor “Michigan’s defense is good, but will spend too much time on the field and get tired late. ”
SPORTS
12 | Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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HARBAUGH He’s known for his antics, but hasn’t restored Michigan to prominence yet in his three years. | ON PAGE 8
ANALYSIS
Ohio State cannot afford to lose rivalry game to Michigan COLIN HASS-HILL Sports Editor hass-hill.1@osu.edu
Redshirt senior linebacker Chris Worley equates Ohio State’s game against Michigan to laws. “You don’t break that law,” he said. “You better beat The Team Up North.” Since Worley arrived on campus for his first season, he has abided by that law. The Buckeyes have defeated the Wolverines the last five seasons, and Ohio State opened as 13-point favorites to extend the streak to six victories.
“From [strength and conditioning] coach Mick [Marotti] in the offseason to myself in spring ball and training camp, we have periods devoted to this game during practice.”
JACK WESTERHEIDE | PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State redshirt senior quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) signals to the offense in the second quarter of the Ohio State-Iowa game on Nov. 4. Ohio State lost 55-24.
Urban Meyer Ohio State football coach
Having knocked off Michigan State 48-3 two weeks ago and Illinois 52-14 last weekend, No. 9 Ohio State enters Saturday’s game with hefty momentum. No. 24 Michigan, on the other hand, limps into the matchup coming
off a 24-10 loss to No. 5 Wisconsin. The Wolverines also lost to the Spartans and Penn State earlier in the season, both teams Ohio State defeated. The Buckeyes hold many advantages, enough to quell most concerns about the matchup. Yet, due to Ohio State’s turbulent twoloss season, pressure on the Buckeyes to win has not dipped, and might have intensified.
There’s never an optimal time to lose to a rival. Urban Meyer hasn’t lost to Michigan as Ohio State’s head coach, but this would be especially poor timing for his first. With losses to Oklahoma and Iowa, the Buckeyes already sit in uncharted territory. No two-loss team has made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014. Just two weeks ago after a
55-24 loss to Iowa, Ohio State’s playoff hopes seemed dashed. But now it seems increasingly likely that if the Buckeyes defeat Michigan and take down Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship, they will earn a playoff berth. Much remains on the line for Ohio State beyond just postseason action. The veteran-laden roster contains 19 seniors, including quar-
terback J.T. Barrett, who will look to become the first signal-caller to win the matchup in four straight seasons. Last year, the Buckeyes made the playoff in spite of their youth and inexperience, which showed up in the 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. This season, Ohio State was supposed to take advantage of seniors such as Barrett, center Billy Price, defensive end Tyquan Lewis and left tackle Jamarco Jones pairing with a talented crop of underclassmen, including running backs Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins, defensive end Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and others. But the Buckeyes have not reached their potential this season. Ohio State always expects to win every game, but a loss to Oklahoma was far from the end of the world. Meyer’s team overcame a loss to Penn State the prior season and made the playoff. But a loss to Iowa, a clearly inferior group? That sent shockwaves through a fan base that expects nothing less than a playoff appearance. Imagine the reaction if Ohio State lost to Michigan. Sure, the Wolverines have not taken down the Buckeyes since 2011 and have defeated their rivals just once in the last 13 matchups, but fans live in the present. A three-loss reguMUST WIN CONTINUES ON 9
FOOTBALL
Not soon forgotten: Looking back at 2016 Ohio State-Michigan classic JACOB MYERS Managing Editor for Content myers.1669@osu.edu
MASON SWIRES | FORMER ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
OSU junior H-back Curtis Samuel (4) rushes upfield with his teammates during their game against Michigan on Nov. 26 at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 27-30.
The chain-link between an orange, black-striped marker at the 25-yard line and an orange, blackstriped marker at the 15-yard line was what everyone was watching. That and the spot of the football on which the game between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan rested. One of the greatest rivalries in sports came down to the position of a ball that is 11 inches in length and 22 inches in circumference. Ohio State needed just one of those inches to reach the marker. It did. First down. All anyone can remember is that fourth-down play and Curtis Samuel’s 15-yard touchdown run on the next play to clinch the Buckeyes’ 30-27 double-overtime victory, which cemented him as the hero in the greatest game ever played in the 113th meeting of the rivalry. It will torment every Michigan fan, coach and player for an eternity — because Michigan was the better team that day and everyone knew it. It was obvious. The Wolverines dominated
Ohio State for three quarters, but when it mattered most, all of a sudden Jim Harbaugh’s defense couldn’t stop the Buckeyes. After kicker Tyler Durbin missed a 21-yard field goal that would have tied the game with 7:01 remaining, it should have been over. All Michigan had to do was gain a couple of first downs and run the clock out and it would have headed to the Big Ten championship game. It couldn’t and Ohio State got the ball back. The Buckeyes had a third-and-7 in their own territory. Michigan was called for pass interference on a ball that sailed over Samuel’s head and the drive continued. With the game on the line, Ohio State had third-and-goal from the 16 with a shaky Durbin on the sideline. Michigan allowed a 10yard completion and Durbin connected on his 23-yard field goal instead of being forced to attempt a 33-yarder. Hysteria had set into Ohio Stadium well before the first overtime began and it lasted all the way through the moment when a sea of scarlet sang Neil Diamond’s timeless hit “Sweet Caroline.” By then, Urban Meyer was
back on his feet after falling to the turf as Samuel was hoisted into the air by center Pat Elflein. One play made that scene, but there were many plays before it that turned the game into a classic. The reality of last year’s game will continue to torment Michigan fans and elate Ohio State fans as Fox replays Samuel’s touchdown over and over on Saturday’s broadcast. The rivalry will probably never have another game like 2016. You’d need a book thicker than the King James Bible to write down every moment that mattered in that edition of the Ohio State-Michigan game. Parents will tell their children about how Ohio State was counted out and still beat the Wolverines. Michigan fans will pass down the story of how Harbaugh and the Wolverines were screwed over on that fourth-down play. How do you capture a game that will live forever? It’s simple. You play it again.
@Jacob_Myers_25