BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS - It won Charles Woodson the Heisman Trophy and made Antoine Winfield an All-American.
That is how far-reaching the glow can be from center stage of the college football world (national TV, ABC) on the third Saturday in November.
"Ohio State vs. Michigan" will be reprised Saturday here at Ohio Stadium. Annually, it is a reputation-maker or a resume-breaker. Last year, in a 20-14 loss at Michigan Stadium, OSU cornerback Winfield had 10 solo tackles and played flawlessly against the pass.
Woodson caught a huge 37-yard pass to set up the game's first touchdown, then returned a Brent Bartholomew punt 78 yards for a TD and a 13-0 halftime lead . . . and, as it turns out, the Heisman Trophy.
Michigan won 20-14 its third straight victory in the series and its eighth win in 10 tries against the John Cooper-coached Buckeyes. Woodson has gone on to the NFL, but Winfield is back and leading a once-vaunted secondary that includes fellow cornerback Ahmed Plummer (Wyoming High). It is a secondary eager to regain the luster it lost two weeks ago in a 28-24 defeat by the other team from Michigan (State).
"Let's face it, this isn't a regular game," Winfield said. The Buckeyes' two units - offense and defense - are each blaming themselves for the losing streak against the Wolverines. The theme this week along the banks of the Olentangy River is "make the big play."
Winfield, 21, intends to do his part.
"Myself, Andy (Katzenmoyer), Gary (Berry), Damon (Moore), we have a lot of seniors out there, a lot of great ballplayers on defense, and one of us needs to go out there and make a (game-breaking) play, score on defense like we've done a couple of times this year."
Cooper has called Winfield the best cornerback he has ever coached, stratospheric praise at a school renowned as a producer of NFL players at every position, but especially running back, wide receiver and defensive back.
"Antoine plays better than we coach him," Cooper said.
Winfield is the leading candidate to win the Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.
"He makes plays with a vengeance," said OSU defensive backs coach Jon Tenuta.
Winfield, a graduate of Garfield High School in Akron, was the 1994 Ohio Division I Defensive Player of the Year. He made an immediate impact in Columbus, playing in all 13 games as a true freshman and finishing eighth in the team in tackles (56). He is one of the few seniors on this year's team who wasn't watching as a redshirted freshman four years ago when Ohio State recorded its last victory over Michigan (22-6 in the Horseshoe).
Winfield said his four years in Columbus have "flown by."
"I remember when I first came here how excited I was those first two years," he said. "But, now it's business, my last (regular-season) game and I have to do whatever I can to help the seniors get a win." He has never tasted victory in any form over the Wolverines. How incomplete would his collegiate career be if it doesn't happen?
"Very incomplete," Winfield said. "This is my last time in the Horseshoe. I'm just trying to go out with a victory."
Like his fellow Buckeyes, Winfield can't explain the losing streak.
"Ever since I've been here, we've always had the better players," he said. "Somehow, when we get to that Michigan game, they (the Wolverines' upperclassmen) step up to the occasion and make the big plays."
One of Michigan players who has to be stopped Saturday is senior split end Tai Streets, who like Winfield has never been redshirted.
"Yeah, he's been around for awhile," said Winfield, smiling at the memory of some of his on-the-field battles with Streets. "He's on a good streak right now. He's had touchdowns catches in (each of) the last seven games. I think I'll be matched up with him man-to-man the whole game like I was last year. I'll just try to break that streak."
Winfield is spending the whole week studying film of Streets, watching the moves he has put on other Big Ten corners and how he handles bump-and-run coverage. Winfield has also watched film of last year's OSU-Michigan game.
He'll have his tackling shoes on Saturday. Last week against Wisconsin, Michigan running backs Clarence Williams and Anthony Thomas each had 100-yard rushing days. It's only the 30th time in UM history it's happened.
What is Winfield's response to that?
"We're not Wisconsin, but who knows, anything can happen." Would the Buckeyes like to "make a statement" in this game, its last chance to impress poll voters and computer programmers and bowl committees?
"I'd like to go out and win the game by 20 or 30 points, but it's college football and they (the Wolverines) are on scholarship, too," Winfield said. "We'll know more Saturday around 4 or 4:30 (p.m.)."
Kickoff is at noon.
