By: Mark Snyder (Detroit Free Press) —
Ohio State week usually qualifies as desperate times for the Michigan football team.
But rarely, if ever, has the desperation been this extreme.

The teams have faced off repeatedly for Rose Bowls, Big Ten titles and even, in 2006, a spot in the national championship game. This year, with the Wolverines 5-6 with six straight Big Ten losses, Michigan needs the win to save the miserable season in the final regular-season game. A victory would be the first over Ohio State since 2003 and would make Michigan bowl eligible.

“What’s a better way than to beat O-State and get into a bowl game off them,” senior defensive end Brandon Graham said. “That would feel so much better and everything else would erase itself. You’re always thinking about, we might have had a bad year but we beat O-State.”

As a result, Graham and offensive lineman Mark Ortmann planned to call a players-only team meeting Monday afternoon.

“It’s something the seniors have talked about, and we usually try to determine that (having a meeting) based on how practice goes — and we’ve had great practices — but things haven’t been going our way in the games,” Ortmann said. “It’s something Coach Rod mentioned after the (Wisconsin) game,” said Ortmann. ” ‘If you’re not all in, don’t bother showing up.’ That’s something we’ll have to reiterate.”

While he said he hasn’t seen anyone drifting, he knows it might be possible after six straight conference losses for the first time in 50 years.

“Just explain to them … if they don’t know already how serious this is,” Graham said.

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