Karsch from the broadcast booth, on OSU and three straight

Michigan football radio play-by-play man Doug Karsch delivered throughout the Wolverines’ third straight win over Ohio State on Saturday, bringing the gripping action to listeners before giving his exclusive takes in this venue.

Here is …

Karsch, on Michigan holding up through all the noise and controversy to capture yet another episode of The Game: “Honestly, it’s incredible. Jim Harbaugh prepared the team, with that coaching staff, to beat an exceptionally good Ohio State team. And don’t be fooled, okay? Ohio State has a great team. They’ve got an amazing defense. They’ve got an amazing wide receiver. Their running back is so talented, and they’ve got other parts that can win games all by themselves.

“What Michigan was able to do — given all of the things that could have derailed this team and this coaching staff — is nothing short of a remarkable testament to the coaches’ ability to prepare a football team, to keep an entire group focused. Maybe it’s easier when you’re young. You’re just worried about whether or not your girlfriend just saw the play you made, or you’re worried about the exam you’ve got, or the party you’re going to after the game, and you don’t worry about what a Paul Finebaum might say. Maybe it’s easier for them.

“If you had predicted that this would be the outcome, given all this team was dealing with, I think most people would have said you’re crazy. They got it done, and it’s been quite the roller coaster for the fan base. In the end, I would say it was as rewarding as we’ve seen for a long time. The other thing is, look, I’ve heard some national media members say it totally legitimizes Michigan and cuts away a lot of doubt.

Shutting up the Buckeyes

“Something else I said on the postgame, it almost feels like three wins in one. Not that Ohio State fans are ever going to say anything else — don’t even bother trying. But had Michigan lost, they totally would have played ‘the only reason you won’ card. That card is taken out. They could ignore the fact that Ohio State staff are quoted as saying they changed all their signs before last year’s game and lost anyway. But they would have played that card. Some fans still go with the narrative, and that’s fine.

“It really takes away a lot of that ammunition.”

Karsch, on interceptions bookending the game by sophomore cornerback Will Johnson, who felt slighted by OSU in recruiting and calls this rivalry “personal,” and junior defensive back Rod Moore, a native Ohioan: “Following the recruiting stories, it’s a little tough to know how kids perceive things. But whatever they use to motivate themselves, for sure, use them.

“That first interception, I don’t know if that was something Michigan did defensively. It didn’t look like Marvin Harrison and Kyle McCord were on the same page. Did Michigan give them a look they didn’t recognize? Did Michigan fool them with the coverage? Harrison read it one way and McCord read it the other? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Michigan did something defensively that confused Ohio State. There’s so much game-within-the-game stuff, it wouldn’t surprise me if that was a schemed interception.”

“And the Rod Moore stories, in terms of his prep work, are legendary. An I-Pad time doubles the next closest player. One of the more coachable kids on the team. He’s gotten a lot of credit over the years for his preparation and work ethic. It paid dividends. He’s a kid that didn’t get the offer from Ohio State, it sounds like. He took it personally. He’s got to be awfully gratified. That’s got to be one that stings on the other side, too.

Michigan building better

“Again, I’m not sure of all the recruiting details, but [junior quarterback J.J.] McCarthy was being recruited by them, and they took McCord over McCarthy, the story goes. It’s all worked out. I kind of feel like while Ohio State has built this cache of elite players on the outside, Michigan has built a cache of elite players in the trenches. One side seems to be getting the better of the other, right now.

“I do remember being on the field during the RichRod era. Looking at the players on the field, I realized Ohio State was better on the outside AND better on the inside. It looked like men against boys in the trenches. It doesn’t look that way anymore.”

Karsch, on senior guard Zak Zinter suffering a serious injury, and Michigan responding forcefully afterward: “It could have gone the other direction, right? I don’t know if Zinter said anything particularly inspiring, but they clearly came back with a determined effort not to let it beat them. It further backs up the elite level of mental toughness this team has.

“Zak Zinter is an All-American for a reason. He’s a great player. Zak Zinter is a captain for a reason. You’re not supposed to get better after losing Zak Zinter. Yet they score on the touchdown drive with [senior tailback] Blake [Corum]. They put together important drives in the fourth quarter, including another fourth-quarter drive primarily on the ground, that helped salt away an Ohio State game — on a day when rushing yards were hard to come by. They did it without, arguably, one of the best road graders in the country.

Subs and an inspiring scene

“Hats off to [grad offensive lineman] Karsen Barnhart and [grad offensive lineman] Trente Jones and the rest of the offensive line. Barnhart moves from right tackle to right guard, and they continue to get the job done, and put together another of the great drives in Michigan history. Jon Jansen kept saying it reminded him of the drive that culminated in the Remy Hamilton field goal down in Columbus in 1996, when Michigan won, 13-9. Where they just kept running and running and running, and Ohio State watched the clock drain.

“Michigan backed that Ohio State team into a desperate corner. Jon said this had a very familiar feel to it. Michigan backed this Ohio State team into a desperate corner.”

Karsch, on the scene afterward at Michigan Stadium: “It was fun to watch it from up above. I was down in the fray two years ago, when I was doing sidelines. That was fun too. Let’s face it. There hadn’t really been a big home game all year. This was a situation that hadn’t happened in 50 years — two undefeated teams in the top three, playing at the end of the season with everything on the line in Ann Arbor. It’s happened in Columbus, but it hasn’t happened in Ann Arbor, with those circumstances, in 50 years.

“It was a long, 20-year drought for this Michigan fan base. I’m not surprised that they’re still releasing that kind of energy, with a big win like this. This might be the best era of Michigan-Ohio State football, for Michigan fans, ever. Given what was on the line the last three years? And these two teams, going into this last Saturday showdown, the last three years were a combined 64-2. And Michigan’s won all three.

“The stakes have never been higher. The pendulum is swinging, and that’s been awfully rewarding, and Michigan has won all three.”

All eyes onward

Karsch, on the state of the rivalry: “Like I said earlier, had Ohio State won, there would have been a narrative you wouldn’t be able to slow down. Now they’re sort of grasping for what’s gone wrong.”

Karsch, on the Big Ten championship game, and what could almost seem an anticlimactic matchup, against Iowa: “Well, the last two years kind of felt the same way, and Michigan didn’t let down. A couple things were said during the week, leading up to the Ohio State game. It speaks to having the formula you need to have.

“[Grad defensive back] Mikey Sainristil said, ‘Look, we can’t peak too early in the week. You have to build to a crescendo. Don’t make the game bigger than it is.’ Steve Clinkscale said we want it to be competitive, not combative. They’ve got this familiar formula they apply during Ohio State week, and it seems to bring out their best in that game now.

“You used the term ‘anticlimactic,’ so I’d put that in quotes, but they’ve got the formula that’s worked the last two years, to make sure they don’t lay an egg on Saturday. Iowa is a team that invites you to make mistakes. And you need to politely decline the invitation. Just be patient and play your game. Make sure you don’t help them win the game.”

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