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<br /> In the Toledo War, both states claimed a piece of land, 468 square miles in size, on the
<br />Ohio border: the Toledo Strip. The conflict was virtually bloodless, the dispute was
<br />settled, but despite this, each state still appears to harbor some bitterness for the other.
<br />Thus, Ohio and Michigan broke out into a second war, this one would last much longer
<br />than the previous war. Instead of land, the Buckeyes and Wolverines do battle for pride,
<br />bragging rights and sometimes the Big Ten championship. Between them, the Big Ten
<br />championship has been determined 22 times.
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<br />The most intense, personal part of the rivalry, The Ten-Year War, lasted from 1969 to
<br />1978 between two legendary coaches. Ohio State's Woody Hayes and Michigan's coach
<br />Bo Schembechler fought it out on the field in extreme battles that - in every year but one -
<br />determined the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl bid. With nearly identical coaching
<br />styles, the games were so hard-fought that no team scored more than two touchdowns in a
<br />game, with only three exceptions.
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<br />The two schools compete so fiercely that it does seem the continuation of some ancient
<br />feud, and it's not just the teams. Students, fans, even the states themselves get involved.
<br />Such traditions as the "Gold Pants Club" and the Mirror Lake Jump have resulted out of
<br />students and fans being involved in the battles.
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<br />Today, the rivalry lives on at the College Football Hall of Fame. In the new exhibit, fans
<br />can see such memorabilia as the 1969 Rose Bowl goal post, blueprints from both
<br />stadiums, and uniforms, helmets and letterman's jackets from both teams.
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<br />Inside the gates to the stadium, the Hall of Fame's all time Michigan and Ohio teams are
<br />listed so that fans may vote for which team they think might win. The tally will be kept
<br />and displayed along side the lists and hand written letters from Hall of Famers at both
<br />schools.
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<br />"The Bucks and the Blue: Ohio State versus Michigan, College Football's Greatest
<br />Rivalry," will be on exhibit at the College Football Hall of Fame from April 1, 2009
<br />through December 31, 2009. For more information on this new exhibit and any upcoming
<br />events at The College Football Hall of Fame, please call 574-235-5743 or visit us at
<br />www.collegefootball.org.
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<br /> About the College Football Hall of Fame
<br />One of many programs conducted by the National Football Foundation, the College Football Hall of Fame
<br />is among the nation's premier sports shrines, preserving the history and ongoing story of college football
<br />while promoting an understanding of the positive values of the sport. For more information, visit
<br />www.collegefootball.org
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<br />About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
<br /> Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red"
<br />Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame,
<br />a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in
<br />developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and
<br />12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.,
<br />the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Play It Smart, the NFF-FWAA Football Forum, the NFF Gridiron Club
<br />of New York City, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The
<br />NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl
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