ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 23 (UPI) -- Rampant rivalries don't dry during an arid offseason.
And one of the biggest rivalries in sports is live and well. After Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith took a shot at the Michigan football program, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh punched back. Now former Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott has joined the verbal food fight.
Michigan, who is holding spring break practice in Florida, was recently the subject of a Smith slant.
"If we were jump starting our program, I'd probably try to do that too," Smith told Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod.
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Ohio State AD Gene Smith on holding spring practice in Florida: "If we were jump starting our program, I'd probably try to do that too."
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) March 22, 2016
On Tuesday, Harbaugh responded to Smith's jab.
Good to see Director Smith being relevant again after the tattoo fiasco. Welcome back!
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) March 23, 2016
"Good to see Director Smith being relevant again after the tattoo fiasco," Harbaugh tweeted. "Welcome back!"
Smith was also the athletic director at Ohio State in 2011, when then head coach Jim Tressel was let go and the school had a 2012 bowl ban after players were caught exchanging autographs and memorabilia for free and discounted tattoos, all in violation to NCAA rules.
Before Tressel's departure, Smith had a heck of a sound bite when asked if the coach would be fired.
@CoachJim4UM Welcome to the big house coach. Better luck next time pic.twitter.com/TKrXfEthH8
— EzekielElliott#⃣1⃣5⃣ (@EzekielElliott) March 23, 2016
"I hope he doesn't fire me," Smith said, as Tressel's then boss.
Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 10-3 record in 2015, after leaving the San Francisco 49ers.
Elliott responded to the tweet less than an hour later.
STATEMENT: My comments at a soccer press conference yesterday were not meant to discredit our rival. I apologize to ...
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) March 23, 2016
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"Welcome to the big house coach," Elliott tweeted. "Better luck next time." Elliott's tweet included a picture of himself scoring against the Wolverines and holding up his arms in celebration.
...UM student-athletes & my good friend Warde Manuel. We at OSU look forward to continuing the greatest rivalry in collegiate football.
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) March 23, 2016
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The Buckeyes slammed the Wolverines 42-13 on Nov. 28 in Michigan. Elliott rumbled 30 times for 214 yards and two scores in the lopsided victory. But Michigan leads the all-time series 58-48-6.
Smith issued an apology Wednesday on Twitter.
😳😂😂' what a time.. Who made this? 😂 pic.twitter.com/3buDE1nnN2
— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) March 23, 2016
"STATEMENT: My comments at a soccer press conference yesterday were not meant to discredit our rival. I apologize to UM student-athletes & my good friend Warde Manuel. We at OSU look forward to continuing the greatest rivalry in collegiate football."