The Enemy

Pearson remembers last Ohio State win

The Ohio State Lantern

The clashing of Maize and Blue against scarlet and gray. Wolverines vs. Buckeyes. It's a tradition that's become a legend, and for many Buckeyes fans it's the game of all games.

To senior tailback Pepe Pearson, one of the few remaining Buckeyes who participated in Ohio State's last victory over Michigan, it's the last chance to prove himself.

AP PHOTO Although Ohio State tailback Pepe Pearson rushed for 100 yards last week against Illinois, he hasn't performed up to his own expectations this season.

Ohio State's leading rusher realizes the significance of tomorrow's game. As a candidate for the NFL, this is one of his last opportunities to show his true colors.

"A win for us this week, as a team, would mean the world," Pearson said. "As far as I go, if you perform well in the Michigan game, everybody knows you're a good player. I'm looking forward to playing my best game and coming out with another victory."

Pearson rushed for more than 100 yards for the third time this season in the Buckeyes' win over Illinois last Saturday. This year, he has only carried for 724 yards, a solid number, but nothing compared to the 1,484 yards he rushed for last season.

"Last year is last year," Pearson said. "Each year is a different team with different situations in the game. This year, I did go through some things mentally, some things I had to adjust to, but I'm stronger now."

Strong enough to overcome the mental block so often associated with Michigan?

"It's just like every other game, it all boils down to the physical game." Pearson said. "It's just playing the game of football. When you're out on the field, it's who wants it the most, who the better team is. Forget the mental block."

Although it may be just another physical game to Pearson, he admits that the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is something special. After all, he still has his gold pants from the Buckeyes' last victory over the Wolverines, a 22-6 trampling in 1994.

"This is what we came here for, this is the game," Pearson said. "In that game we played hard the entire time. We gave it everything we had and came out with a victory. That's what football is all about."

11-21-97