Five months ahead of the annual renewal of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports, one member of one side of the Michigan-Ohio State loath-fest is already adding a little spice to the 2013 edition of The Game.
Appearing on a radio show Monday, and by way of mlive.com, starting UM quarterback Devin Gardner was asked about the state of the Wolverines program heading into the 2013 season. His unfiltered response? Bulletin board material for the Buckeyes, as if that’s even necessary.
“We always have room for improvement, but this is definitely a championship-caliber football team that will win in the Big House against Ohio State,” Gardner said during the interview. “We don’t feel like we’re inferior to anyone in the country.”
The Wolverines have beaten the Buckeyes just once (the 2010 OSU win was vacated because of NCAA sanctions) since 2003, a six-point win in 2011 in the season after Jim Tressel‘s “resignation” and the season before Urban Meyer‘s hiring.
In his first start against the Buckeyes last season, Gardner went 11 of 20 for 171 yards with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and one interception. He was also sacked four times in the 26-21 loss in Columbus.
This year’s version of The Game will take place Nov. 30 in Ann Arbor... and Gardner’s words will do nothing but reinforce the notion that the matchup will once again be must-see TV -- especially as a trip to the Big Ten championship game for both schools could very well be on the line.