OSU notebook: Words, shoves enliven OSU-Michigan pregame

COLUMBUS - There was a little pushing, a lot of talking, but in the end the pregame confrontation on the field between Ohio State's players and Michigan's players probably looked familiar to linebacker James Laurinaitis' professional wrestler dad, Joe, who was in the stands.

Except maybe that no chairs were thrown.

"It was just a bunch of talking, no big deal," wide receiver Brian Hartline said. "It definitely fired us up. The whole team came into the locker room screaming and yelling. It was something I was surprised they did but I was glad they did."

Safety Kurt Coleman said, "I guess when they went to their locker room they kind of said some words and pushed some people. I was just trying to calm some people down so it wouldn't happen when the game started."

Not surprisingly, 6-foot, 8-inch, 320-pound OSU offensive tackle Alex Boone, who has often voiced his distaste for Michigan, was an active participant in the pregame activities.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor laughed it off. "It was fun, it gets your blood flowing a little bit," he said.

ON THE BORDERLINE: Toledo, sitting just 50 miles from Ann Arbor, Mich., is a city with divided loyalties when it comes to the Ohio State-Michigan game.

That fact made a win over the Wolverines even sweeter for sophomore wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, a Toledo Central Catholic High School graduate.

"I had an extra incentive to beat Michigan because of where I'm from. It definitely added more to the game for me," he said.

ALL-BIG TEN SORT OF WEDDING: At least two Big Ten football programs will be represented in the wedding party when Hartline gets married next year.

Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman will be one of the groomsmen, Hartline said after Saturday's game. Michigan State defensive lineman Brandon Long, a high school friend of Hartline's, will also be in the wedding.   

A FEW NUMBERS: Chris Wells' 134 yards rushing moved him past Keith Byars into fourth place on Ohio State's all-time rushing list with 3,276 yards.

The Buckeyes' seniors have won 43 games in the last four seasons, which ties the school record that belongs to the 1995-98 group and the 2002-05 group.

Michigan allowed 21 points or more in all but three of its games this season - Miami of Ohio, Toledo and Minnesota.