OSU notebook: Michigan game was just the beginning for Laurinaitis

COLUMBUS - With Michigan coming to Ohio Stadium today, James Laurinaitis' thoughts turned back to his first significant playing time as a freshman, which came against the Wolverines in 2005.

Laurinaitis was rushed into that game when Bobby Carpenter suffered a broken leg on the first play of the game.

"I remember my first play against Michigan was (tailback) Mike Hart blasting me. I got blasted and did a little somersault," he said.

He didn't think it was a case of Michigan picking on the newcomer, though.

"I'm sure they had way more to worry about on our defense than little old (No.) 33 back then, no tattoos on the arms and a baggy jersey that was too big," he said.

SENIORS' LAST GAME: Ohio State has 28 seniors on its roster, including three whose careers were ended for medical reasons.

That includes Tyson Gentry, who was partially paralyzed when he suffered a fractured vertebra during a scrimmage in 2006. Gentry has maintained a connection with the team, attending practices, team meetings and games.

He is one of the nominees for the Football Writers of America Courage Award, which Lima Senior graduate William Bratton, of the Univerity of Toledo, won in 2002.

BOMBASTIC BRUCE: One of the traditions of the week Ohio State plays Michigan since Jim Tressel has been coach has been to bring former coach Earle Bruce in to give a fiery talk to the team.

Laurinaitis was asked, after listening to four of these speeches, if there was anyone who hates Michigan more than Bruce.

"You're talking dead or alive?" he asked. "Because I'm sure Woody would still be classified for that."

RODRIGUEZ NOT GOING ANYWHERE: People who speculate about Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez being on thin ice if the Wolverines don't have a good season next year, might want to check his contract.

If Rodriguez is fired anytime during the first three years of his five-year deal, he is owed $4 million.

Rodriguez makes $2.5 million a year. Michigan also paid another $2.5 million to settle his contract dispute with West Virginia.

STUDENT OF THE GAME: Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan, the son of a former Michigan assistant coach, has been to several Ohio State-Michigan game and remembers watching OSU-Michigan game films from the 1980s.

His father Bill Sheridan, now the New York Giants linebackers coach, was an assistant coach at Michigan from 2002-04.