COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State managed to snap its four-game losing streak to Michigan Saturday with a come-from-behind 13-13 tie with the Wolverines. The question now is whether it was enough to save Coach John Cooper's job.
Cooper's failure to beat Michigan in his four previous tries had rumors circulating that this would be his final chance, although he still has three years remaining on his contract.
Saturday's tie, which came when Kirk Herbstreit fired a fourth down, 5-yard touchdown pass to Greg Beatty with 4:24 remaining, did little to calm those rumors.
'I will not answer a question about my position,' Cooper said when asked about his job situation. 'Ask the board of trustees, (OSU President) Gordon Gee, (Athletic Director) Jim Jones or maybe the local press.'
With that, Cooper, for the second straight home game, exited his post-game press conference in a huff.
The remark about the local press referred to a story that appeared in a local newspaper this week which said Cooper would be fired if Ohio State did not beat Michigan and also win its Florida Citrus Bowl game against the Southeastern Conference runnerup.
Prior to his hasty departure, Cooper praised the performance of his team, which rallied from an 0-2 start in the Big Ten to finish second at 5-2-1 and 8-2-1 overall.
'For this football team to go out there today and lay it on the line after all the adversity we've been through, I just couldn't be more proud,' said Cooper. 'We fought off a very good football team.
'We got a break here and a break there and I thought we were going to win the game. But give Michigan credit. They are going to the Rose Bowl.'
Ohio State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Tim Williams' 39-yard field goal in the first quarter.
But the Michigan power then took over. The Wolverines, led by the running of Tyrone Wheatley and Jesse Johnson, scored touchdowns in the second and third and quarters to take a 13-3 lead into the final period.
Quarterback Elvis Grbac scored the first Michigan touchdown on a 3- yard run, but suffered what was thought to be a bruised kidney on the play and did notreturn.
The other Michigan score came on a 1-yard run by backup quarterback Todd Collins in the third period.
After Grbac's touchdown, Michigan kicker Peter Elezovic missed the conversion attempt.
30-yard Williams field goal early in the fourth quarter cut the Michigan lead to 13-6.
The Buckeyes then put together a drive that carried them to a first down at the Michigan 2-yard line. But three running plays lost three yards and it was fourth-and-goal on the 5.
After a timeout, quarterback Kirk Herbstreit hit Greg Beatty on a slant-in pass for the score.
Cooper, with a chance to take the lead with a two-point conversion, elected to go for one to tie at 13-13. That's the way it ended.
'I never thought of going for two with over four minutes left,' Cooper said. 'We wanted to hold them and get the ball back, which is what happened.'
The Buckeyes, who got the ball on their 45, came up short at fourth- and-4 on the Michigan 49 and punted with 1:03 left in the game. They never got the ball back until Walter Taylor intercepted the final, desperation pass by Collins.
Michigan Coach Gary Moeller wasn't crazy about his team's second straight tie and third of the season, the first time since 1910 the Wolverines have tied three games.
'I'm not happy at all,' said Moeller, 'but I am pleased with the character of my team. We fought hard all the way and it was an uphill battle.
'Not only did we fight a very good football team, but we had to fight the elements as well,' said Cooper. 'The field conditions were horrible. It was like an ice rink out there.'
Wheatley had 100 yards rushing in 19 carries and Johnson 65 in 13 for Michigan. Ohio State's Robert Smith had 61 yards in 20 carries, but only 9 in the second half. Herbstreit completed 28 of 47 passes for 271 yards.
