Summary of information provided at media briefing on OSU-UM initiatives

Officials from The Ohio State University and the City of Columbus held a media briefing on Monday (11/13) to assist news organizations in their week-long coverage of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game.

Those making remarks included Athletics Director Gene Smith; Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman; Mitch Brown, public safety director for the city of Columbus; Rick Amweg, assistant chief for University Police; Rich Hollingsworth, vice president for Student Affairs; and Katie Krajny and Robbie Beaulieu, student co-chairs for the Ohio State Sportsmanship Council.

The following information was provided by the university at the news briefing. Scroll down to find
OSU-UM related Story Ideas for Media
OSU v. Michigan Traffic and Parking Plan
Ohio State faculty with Michigan ties

OSU-UM related Story Ideas for Media
It's "Beat Michigan Week" at Ohio State

The impact of the OSU-Michigan game for local business – The rivalry is a great opportunity for Columbus-based businesses to take advantage of national exposure. While this year is bringing even greater focus on the city due to the two teams' top rankings, Columbus has a guaranteed "big game" every other year that offers great marketing opportunities for area business. A professor of marketing in the Fisher College of Business says companies could use this game and the weekend to launch strategic marketing campaigns to capitalize on the heightened exposure. CONTACT: Patty Allen, Fisher College of Business communications, (614) 292-8937.

For Crying Out Loud, Go Easy On Your Voice – Physicians and speech therapists are their busiest during the fall months and most of the vocal cord injuries they see are preventable, according to Dr. Arick Forrest, a voice disorders specialist at Ohio State University Medical Center. "It's not uncommon to find nodules or polyps on the vocal cords of people who have strained or misused their voice," said Forrest. "Some can be treated with rest, medication or therapy while others will require surgery." Forrest, who directs one of a handful of academic voice centers in the country, says every fall he will treat a sports fan who loses his or her voice as the result of vigorous screaming and yelling during a game. It also doesn't help that the cool, damp fall weather creates a harsh environment for the vocal cords. CONTACT: David Crawford, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737.

Lose the Blues Campaign. Several retail partners of Ohio State are teaming up with the Salvation Army in sponsoring "Lose the Blues…Wear Scarlet and Gray!" the biggest Scarlet and Gray Fridays campaign of the year. Through Saturday (11/18), fans visiting select retail stores who donate a blue clothing item and make a minimum store purchase of $10 will receive a free officially-licensed "Top 10 Reasons To Be Scarlet and Gray" T-shirt. Donations will be accepted at the Ohio State Official Team Shop, 555 Borror Dr., Ohio State Medical Center Gift Shop, 450 W. 10th Ave., Barnes and Noble University Bookstore, 1598 N. High St., and all Buckeye Corner stores in central Ohio. All collected blue clothing items will be donated to The Salvation Army. Participating retailers will drop off their initial collection of blue donations to a special Salvation Army truck located on campus on Friday (11/17). CONTACT: Rick Van Brimmer, Trademark and Licensing, (614) 292-1562.

The physics of football. Surely Troy Smith and his teammates are (knowingly or unknowingly) using Newton's Laws and the laws of conservation of momentum and energy to their advantage. Physics professor Andrew Heckler can explain what makes a good pass, a good run and a good tackle.CONTACT: Andrew Heckler, (614) 688-3048 or heckler.6@osu.edu

University Area landlord promotes student safety. Officials from Ohio State have been partnering with campus area landlords to ensure student safety after the game and minimize any type of disturbances. William Graver, vice president and general manager of Buckeye Real Estate (which manages 1,110 apartments in the campus area) is available to talk about the efforts his company is undertaking with student tenants. CONTACT: William Graver, (614) 294-4411.

College of Social Work enjoys both sides of OSU-Michigan – Nov. 17. If you happen to stop by the annual Ohio State/Michigan party at the Ohio State College of Social Work, you may be surprised to see a cake and decorations that are not only scarlet and gray, but all maize and blue. The reason is simple: the college has a number of faculty who are Michigan alums. Each year, the college appoints an Ohio State fan to plan half of the party and selects a Michigan alum to coordinate the other half. The result is a cake that's split down the middle for each team and decorations that involve both logos. This year's party will be held at 3:30 on Friday (11/17) in 115 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Rd. CONTACT: Denise Bronson, (614) 292-1867.

Ohioans can thank Michigan for Emerald Ash borer invasion. As many as 3.8 billion ash trees in Ohio may fall victim to the destructive Emerald Ash Borer in the years ahead, and we can thank our neighbors in Michigan for spreading the pest. The invasive beetle was discovered for the first time in the in the United States July, 2002 in the Detroit area, and has since spread to 22 Ohio counties. The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension are collaborating with state agencies to control the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB). CONTACT: Dan Herms, herms.2@osu.edu, (330) 202-3506. http://ashalert.osu.edu/

History of OSU-Michigan rivalry is archived. An online exhibit that chronicles the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry since it began in 1897 is available in the Ohio State University Archives, which serve as the official memory of the University. The site, http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/OSUvsMichigan/osuvsmichigan.htm, includes sections on Games, Teams, Coaches, Woody vs. Bo, Bands, Trivia, Program Art, and Stadiums. The Archives identifies, preserves, and makes available the documentation of continuing and historical value in documenting the University. CONTACT: Tamar Chute, Associate University Archivist, (614) 292-2409.

Ohio State and Michigan have turned the rivalry into an event that benefits people across school lines:

•Rivals on the field, teammates in fight to save lives – Ohio State University Medical Center and the University of Michigan Health System boast two of the largest and most successful heart mechanical support programs in the country. There are fewer than 15 programs in the United States implanting multiple ventricular assist devices (VADs) and total artificial hearts. Ohio State and Michigan conduct similar clinical trials with the devices, and physicians and researchers from both institutions often consult with each other "because the expertise out there is still very small," says Dr. Benjamin Sun, chief of cardiothoracic surgery and director of cardiac transplantation and mechanical support at Ohio States' Medical Center. The institutions also have partnered in listing heart patients for transplant. Dr. Francis Pagani, director of the University of Michigan's adult heart transplantation and artificial devices program, will be in Columbus Friday (11/17) as a faculty member in Ohio State's annual conference on medical and surgical therapies for heart failure and will join Sun in the stands for the game on Saturday. To arrange an interview with Sun and Pagani about this collaborative work, CONTACT Emily Caldwell, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737. (B-roll of an Ohio State VAD patient and of both physicians available; full news release on Ohio State's VAD program is at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/press/article.cfm?ID=2907 and on Michigan's Center for Circulatory Support here: http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2005/terumo.htm

•The First Buckeye/Wolverine Challenge for Life! – The "state up north" has initiated a community-minded, life-saving competition between the Buckeyes and Wolverines to register the most organ and tissue donors before the annual football match-up on November 18th. You can help Ohio State beat M*ch*g*n in the Challenge for Life! Just complete the Commitment Form at buckeyesforlife.org by noon on November 17th! Results of the Challenge for Life will be announced during the game on November 18, but you can see who is currently winning by checking out the Challenge for Life Live Counter. Visit: http://www.buckeyesforlife.org CONTACT: Sara Huffman, Students for Organ Donation, OSU Chapter, 937-603-4949 or ohiostatesod@osu.edu

•'Beat Michigan' rally, band, bring spirit to rehab patients – Nov. 15. Physical rehabilitation patients at the Ohio State University Medical Center will show their Buckeye pride at the "Beat Michigan" rally noon on Wednesday (11/15) in the Dodd Hall gymnasium, 480 W. 9th Ave. Shelley Graf, Ohio State's first female drum major and a physical therapist at the Medical Center, will perform with the OSU Alumni Band. The band and Graf will conclude the 30-minute rally with a scaled down rendition of "Script Ohio," with Graf leading patients, many in wheelchairs, around the gym. Parking for media is available at the front entrance to the Davis Center, 480 W. 9th Ave. OSU Medical Center's physical rehabilitation program is repeatedly listed as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report magazine. CONTACT: Katelyn Glander, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737, or Katelyn.Glander@osumc.edu

OSU v. Michigan Traffic and Parking Plan
November 17 & 18, 2006

Friday, November 17, 2006

RV/ Motor Coach parking:

•The Buckeye Lots, located across from the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium will open to day-of-game RV/Motor Coach parking at 7:00 a.m. on Friday. The parking spaces will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $50 per vehicle.

•Due to the OSU Men's Basketball Game at 8:00 p.m. in the Schottenstein Center, RV's and Motor Coaches arriving to park in the Buckeye Lots between 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. will be sent to the 660 Ackerman Road lots to park until outbound traffic from the Basketball game is done. Once outbound traffic is done, the sale of day-of-game RV/Motor Coach parking in the Buckeye Lots will resume as long as space is available.

•If parking space in the Buckeye Lots becomes filled, RV's/Motor Coaches will be directed to the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds to park.

OSU Men's Basketball Parking

•Due to the fact the Buckeye Lots will most likely be full with RV's and Motor Coaches on Friday night, those fans attending the OSU Men's Basketball game at the Schottenstein Center are encouraged to park on the West Campus and use the shuttles to the Schottenstein Center. Shuttles will begin running to the Schottenstein Center from West Campus at 5:30 p.m. and will run through one hour after the conclusion of the game.

Columbus Police Parking Ban:

•The Columbus Police Department will be implementing a parking ban at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening through 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, November 19, 2006. Streets affected between High Street and Summit Street are:
Chittenden
11th
12th
13th

•Streets affected between High Street and Indianola are:
Lane
Norwich

•Vehicles must be removed from these streets by 6:00 p.m. on Friday to avoid being towed. Vehicles may be moved to the West Campus Carmack #1 and #2 lots on Friday and remain parked until noon on Sunday, November 19, 2006. No parking permit will be required during this period.

•If the City tows a vehicle on Friday evening, the vehicle will be relocated to the West Campus Carmack #1 lot.

•Once these streets have been cleared Friday evening by the City, vehicles parked on these streets prior to Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. will be towed to the City Impound lot located on 400 W. Whittier Street. The fee to retrieve the vehicle will be $140.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

•OSU Football day-of-game and permit lots open at 6:00 a.m. for parking.

•If and when parking on campus becomes full, vehicles will be directed to the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds and to the downtown parking garages for parking. COTA buses may be utilized to get to and from campus from these locations.

•The Praxis Test will be administered in McPherson Lab on Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. Students taking the test are being encouraged to arrive on campus to park early in the Arps or Ohio Union Garages ($10 day-of-game fee applies), take the COTA bus, or be dropped off.

Source: OSU Transportation and Parking.
Contact: Beth Kelley-Snoke, 292-9944

MEDIA ADVISORY
November 13, 2006
Contact: Amy Murray
(614) 292-8385

Michigan fans lurking in the ivy-covered walls of THE Ohio State University? It happens.The following are some tidbits from Ohio State faculty and staff who, despite divided allegiances, have managed to survive the yearly show-down between their respectively beloved teams. To reach any of these folks for interviews, please contact Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu

Closet Michigan fans

"My husband is a Michigan grad and rabid Wolverines fan. In summer 2005, he took a job at OSU. He also entered the Ph.D. program in my department. We are very happy in our careers at OSU, but we have conflicted loyalties when it comes to OSU vs. Michigan. On football Saturdays, while all our neighbors are at the OSU game, we are at home watching Michigan on TV and singing "Hail to the victors…"Our baby daughter has Michigan gear but has somehow escaped wearing any buckeye outfits! We are closet Michigan fans! (Can I get fired for this? :) )"

Daughters embarrassed by UM parents"My wife and I both have our Ph.D.s from Michigan. My wife, in fact, has very deep UM roots: her mother received her B.A. from Michigan, and her grandfather was on the faculty there. Every November, our daughters, now ages 12 and 13, beg us not to wear our UM gear in public. Little wonder: on the day before the Michigan game their public school has the entire student body march outside and performs script Ohio."

UM-educated faculty keeps allegiance under wraps - mostly"I am a diehard Wolverine who is a faculty member here at Ohio State. Altogether, I received three degrees from Michigan (BS, MS and Ph.D.) and met my wife there. About a year ago, a university official paused when I marched into his office sporting a huge maize and blue golf umbrella dripping from the afternoon rain. He questioned me regarding it, and I responded that it was all I had and that my kids gave it to me for Christmas. I asserted that Michigan made me "who I am." He later confessed that he also received one of his degrees from Michigan too, but he keeps it very hush-hush. We also fly our Michigan flag on football Saturdays, but never leave it out overnight for fear of overzealous nut heads. Go Bucks, win all but one!"

Surgeon wears Michigan cap in operating room"I was born and raised in Ann Arbor and went to undergraduate and medical school at Michigan. I always wear a Michigan surgeon's cap in the operating room the week before the big game."

Even in Michigan they tell Michigan jokes"I am a Michigan alum. In addition, my cousins went to OSU, and my brother, brother-in-law and stepfather all went to Michigan State, so I got it from all sides! I was the sole Wolverine among the bunch. I now root for OSU though. I wasn't sure how I would feel at last year's game, which was my first at OSU, but found myself rooting for OSU. An ongoing joke in my family...The Michigan State folks used to joke with me that all Michigan people were snooty. I usually responded that they just weren't smart enough to get into Michigan."

Devoted Wolverine marries die-hard BuckeyeI grew up in Columbus. While it's true that I earned a graduate degree from Fisher, and though I am now employed by the OSU Medical Center, I spent my formative years in Ann Arbor. That makes me a proud Wolverine. Mind you, this did nothing to impress my wife. As a former OSU University Ambassador, a past member of the OSU Athletic Council and the graduate of not one but two degree programs (and working on her third) at THE Ohio State University, she is a Buckeye to the core.
For 364 days of the year, we choose to do the magnanimous thing and cheer for both teams. But on a single occasion, when Michigan squares off on the gridiron against Ohio State, we pick sides and go our separate ways, typically taking in the game from different locations! We love the tradition and appreciate the rivalry that is shared between these two great schools, but because I'm the one to contribute this story on our behalf, let me state my love for the Maize and Blue with a final exclamation: GO BLUE!

UM-educated faculty member sends Buckeye sweets to counterparts in Ann Arbor"I'm a two-time Michigan grad (BSE 1982, PhD 1985 – both in Industrial and Operations Engineering). Prior to joining OSU in 2006, I spent 20+ years as a faculty member at the University of Arizona. I refer to my time in the desert as my purification ritual in preparation for this position. I'm planning to send my counterpart at Michigan a tray of Cheryl's Cookies (with a Buckeye theme of course!). He'll undoubtedly be watching the game with a crowd, so I thought I'd do my part to sweeten their day."

Stupid pet tricks: Brutus on a Michigan leash"My boyfriend is a die-hard Michigan fan and I am a hardy OSU fan. The most special part of our home is our goofy chocolate Labrador retriever. His name is Brutus, but he wears a Michigan collar and a Michigan leash - our compromise!! Wherever we go, people comment on his "confusion." Brutus will be wearing an OSU hat and a Michigan jersey for the party at our home."

Ann Arbor native - OSU Staff member remains devoted
"I was born and raised in Ann Arbor and grew up watching Archie Griffin (and Ray) beat my beloved Wolverines. I remain a devoted Michigan fan and wear a Michigan shirt every football Saturday, despite having gone to OSU for law school and working for the university for over 7 years."

Father slowly accepts son's transformation to vociferous Wolverine fan "I took my son to every OSU home game from the time he was 4 years old, and he would jump in the air after every touchdown, enjoying the Ohio State victory. Then he went off to the University of Michigan. When he returned he had rapidly and completely changed from Buckeye fan to vociferous Wolverine fan. In 1996 he returned to Ohio State for his medical degree. I thought that now he would be a Buckeye fan again. But to my chagrin and surprise he is still 100% Wolverine fan. I've changed too. Before my son went to UM, I used to feel miserable whenever OSU lost to them. I feel still hurt whenever we lose to them, but the intensity of pain is much less. Nowadays, I want Michigan to win over all Big Ten teams except OSU."