By Steve Patterson

How is the atmosphere going into the Big House for The Game in any given year?

“Regardless of team records, conference standings, and bowl implications, the atmosphere going into the Big House is always Intense & Exciting.  For me, the bus ride up Route 23 on Friday before The Game is when I could finally say, "It's here!"  Pulling up to the Big House with fans clad in maize and blue scouring around the bus sets the tone for the day.  You know that other than the few thousand Ohio State fans lucky enough to find a ticket, the 69 other players and coaches who made the trip are the only friends you have for the day.  The moment your foot steps off that bus and onto that pavement, you feel like it's you against the world.  And then, walking out of that tunnel, with fans hanging over the railing trying like hell to distract you, you look out on that field and see those winged helmets and hear that damn song and you say to yourself, "It's on!"  In all of my time, I have never experienced anything, and I say anything, like The Game.  Other than Ohio Stadium, I have never experienced an atmosphere similar to that of the one that takes place every other year in Ann Arbor.”

What do you think will be the key against the Wolverines this year?

“As Coach Tressel always reminds us, the three most important parts of The Game are Special Teams, Turnover Margin, and Rushing Yardage.  Being a Special Teams guy, I'm going to say that the single most important key to The Game this year, and any year for that matter, is the battle of the Special Units.  It's true that Punt is the most important play in football.  But, it's the Punt Return that can be the most devastating.  A blocked punt and/or a punt return for a touchdown almost guarantee victory.  We have to have the best Punt and Punt Return units on the field Saturday.”

How will the loss to Illinois affect the team preparing for their Big 10 final game in your opinion?

“In my opinion, The Game is its own season, and therefore nothing that happened in the previous 11 games has anything to do with the preparation for, and the outcome of, Saturday's game.  More specifically, Coach Tressel emphasizes the fact that we must improve each and every day of each and every week.  That being said, the preparation and outcome of any game lies solely on how we improved as a team that week.”

What has the coaching staff used in the past to motivate the team for the Michigan game?

“There is very little that is needed to be said to motivate you for The Game.  As my Dad said to me on the field last season during senior day, "If you need any motivation to play today, you don't have a pulse!"  I never needed any extra motivation, and I think it would be safe to say that the same could be said for each and every guy in our lockeroom.  That winged helmet simply inspires you and takes your game to a whole new level.  As for the coaching staff's motivation, I'm not at liberty to say exactly what it is they do or don't do, but I can say that if you've ever been in the Woody Hayes Center you'd understand just how important The Game is to us.”

Where there changes made for the Michigan game during your time at Ohio State that proved very effective?

“I can honestly say that we never really changed a whole lot going into The Game.  By and large, both teams know what the other is going to do.  It's simply a matter of who wants, and does their job the best.  This being said, we always seemed to have a little wrinkle here or there, and when we used these wrinkles they generally worked as we would have hoped.  Again, though, I have to emphasize that The Game comes down to the team that simply refuses to accept anything but a win.”

Will you be on hand to watch the game in Ann Arbor?

“I decided at the beginning of the week that I wasn't going to make the trip north this year.  At first, I thought I could enjoy the game on TV.  But, as the week has wound down, I think I might be regretting this decision.  At the rate I'm going, I may just wake up early Saturday and hop on 23 North.  Regardless, I'm not sure how I’m going to handle being a spectator for this one.”