File this one away in the memoirs and storylines of the rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan.
We’ve heard from Jim Harbaugh regarding the Buckeyes’ poaching of the Wolverines’ defensive coaching staff — taking former linebackers coach Al Washington and defensive line coach Greg Mattison. But we haven’t heard from too many more inside the program on what kind of stain it left behind in Ann Arbor.
Until today.
Michigan safeties coach and special teams coordinator Chris Partridge had some very pointed things to say about the defections from Ann Arbor to Columbus by both Michigan coaches, and he didn’t really hold back after meeting with the media Thursday.
“I want to be candid,” said Partridge. “Those guys left, and it was another shot. It’s wasn’t okay. That’s how I feel, I’m not speaking for anyone else. I’m ultra-motivated. I make sure my guys that I get in front of, that they hear it, and they know that every single day when I wake up, I’m motivated. I want to take this thing, I want to hit it in the mouth, I want to go get it.
When asked if Partridge had reached out to either coach after they left to go to the enemy, he held back no punches.
“No,” he said. “No desire. No desire at all. I’m not the kind of guy that’s going to reach out or anything like that. I’ve been here, going into my fifth year, I consider myself an alumni of Michigan, just like someone goes here four years and graduates. I’m here, I’m Michigan, I’m Go Blue all the way. I don’t have a desire (to reach out to them).”
Partridge was especially poignant when discussing Mattison’s decision to leave despite being a so-called “Michigan man.” And to do so directly from the maize and blue to the scarlet and gray.
“Yeah, it’s odd – I don’t think it really happens ever,” Partridge said. “I’ve never seen it happen before. But I’m not going to pretend to understand the reasons. All I know is we’re here and the people who are here are locked arms, ready to go — ready to walk down that alley and do what’s needed to win. That’s all that really I care about. That’s his decision. He made his bed and he’s gotta lie in it. Now, here we go. That’s it.”
But tell us how you really feel Chris. Sounds like someone has been consuming some sour grapes since the 62-39 beatdown in Columbus last year. Try washing that out with the reality that fourteen of the last fifteen have been in the loss column for TTUN, and we can understand why such bulletin board material is spouting from Michigan yet again.
Apparently the lesson wasn’t learned last year when there were guarantees, a revenge tour and other shenanigans that didn’t go according to plan. These are the types of things you just don’t hear coming out of Columbus, but then again, Ohio State has let its play on the field do the talking.
November 30 sure will be a lot of fun up in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
