HBO Tackles Ohio State, Michigan

Even if you're not a rabid Ohio State or Michigan fan, HBO's "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry" (10:30 p.m. today) is great fun to watch. Most everyone around here has at least heard of legendary OSU coach Woody Hayes, and he's the dominating figure of this hour.

HBO does a great job of quickly explaining the 100+ year rivalry with wonderful archival film, including the 1950 game in a blizzard which featured 45 punts. (Michigan won 9-3). Then it quickly jumps into the Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler years. Each had coached at Miami University, and Bo was an assistant under Hayes at OSU, before they became arch enemies. (Well, not really, as the show reveals their relationship after they retired from the game). HBO found plenty of old comments from Hayes, but the real gem is a long interview HBO conducted with Schembechler at Michigan Stadium two days before he died last year, right before the Ohio State game.

Along with great game video (including Hayes punching out a Clemson player in the 1978 Gator Bowl, which cost him his job), HBO has an A list of talking heads from both schools: Dan Dierdorf, Jack Nicklaus, Archie Griffin, Earle Bruce, Desmond Howard and players like Jim Mandich, Cris Carter, Rex Kern, Tom Skladany and Chuck Ortmann. It also includes a segment on Ohio players who crossed the border to be stars at Michigan. My favorite quote comes from Earle Bruce, the former Hayes assistant who replaced Hayes: "He's the meanest sucker you've ever seen."

And if this is not enough, ONN devotes two hours to "100 Years of OSU/Michigan" 10 p.m. Wednesday.