The time has come for Ohio State to call TTUN ("The Team Up North") by its actual surname. No, not Cheater, which works well as a first name. But Michigan.

Traditions are great. Gimmicks are not. And Ohio State players and coaches refusing to say the word ”Michigan” is  manipulated motivation more than trusted tradition. It is a contrivance whose tired days need to be numbered.

It is one thing to block out all the M’s on campus-area signage during Michigan week. The practice, begun about 20 years ago, helps OSU students and area businesses get into the spirit of The Game. But the “never say Michigan” thing feels less organic, something created during the Urban Meyer era to artificially feed the rivalry.

TTUN was conceived decades ago when Woody Hayes went to rivalry war against the Wolverines, but the acronym, which in the 1970s often was TSUN – school replacing team – was not a four-letter stand-in to keep from committing scarlet and gray blasphemy.

Woody was not above using motivational tricks, but he often said “Michigan,” or rather, “Meeeeshigan.” The exclusive use of TTUN began under Meyer era and continued when Ryan Day took the helm in 2019.

Five years later, it needs to end. Why now? Two reasons. First, respect. Woody was no fan of Michigan, but he respected the rivalry. And the rival. That didn’t mean he avoided taking shots when the opportunity arose, for example going for two points with Ohio State leading 50-14 late in the 1968 Michigan game. But it is hard to picture Hayes, even as much of a micro-manager as he was, issuing a program-wide mandate never to mention Michigan by name. Woody avoided cute at all costs.

Michigan just won the College Football Playoff national championship. You don’t have to like it. You probably hate it. But you have to respect how the Wolverines won – through a combination of toughness and togetherness – even if the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal put them in position to win in the first place.

Refusing to say “Michigan“ now is like former UM coach Brady Hoke saying “Ohio” whenever he referenced Ohio State, a disrespectful jab devoid of tradition. Jim Harbaugh, for all his warts, at least ended Hoke’s “Ohio” charade.

The second reason to do away with Ohio State players, coaches and staffers having to remember to say TTUN is because after losing three straight to UM, the program needs to do something different. The Buckeyes need to execute better on the field, but also need to get nastier in the nooks and crannies of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. And going with TTUN 24/7 strikes me as being more insecure than self-assured.

Woody knew better than to get too cutesy. Expecting everyone inside the OSU program to avoid saying Michigan is trying too hard to be clever. It may have worked under Meyer, but today it comes off stale and, frankly, dumb.

Just be normal. Just say Michigan.

Still waiting for Central Michigan to come clean

It’s been 11 weeks. Only the Jan. 6, Watergate and JFK assassination investigations took longer. Who was that dude in the sunglasses standing on the Central Michigan sideline during the season opener against Michigan State?

Connor Stalions? Sam Rockwell? We still don’t know. CMU isn’t saying, having said it cannot say. Got that? The school issued a statement on Nov. 6 explaining the investigation was being conducted in conjunction with the NCAA.

“Central Michigan continues its review of the matter in cooperation with the NCAA,” CMU athletic director Amy Folan said. “As this is an ongoing NCAA enforcement matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”

Uh-huh.

To refresh, CMU said it would check into the matter after photos surfaced in late October showing a man who looked like Stalions disguised as a CMU staffer at Spartan Stadium for the Sept. 1 opener.

Stalions, the central character in Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, resigned from his staffer position Nov. 3. He may receive a national championship ring before CMU reveals if it was him wearing those sunglasses and keeping an eye on Sparty.

Listening in

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Off-topic

Conducting a survey on the best sports bars in Columbus, considering beer selection, ease and quality of viewing and ability to hold a conversation/sports debate without needing to read lips due to the noise. What you got?

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Time for Ohio State football to call Michigan by its rightful name