By RYAN AUTULLO, Toledo Blade

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - There is not one snapshot moment in the past year that signaled the apparent shift in power in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.

A coaching staff almost never gathers before a football season and predicts the outcomes of games. They've got better things to do.

So it comes as no surprise that Michigan's Brady Hoke said this week he didn't give a moment's thought in the preseason about what his team's record might look like after eight games. But "I thought about the month of November an awful lot," he said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When Michigan senior Will Heininger stands up straight in practice -- a stance that renders a defensive lineman useless -- his head will start hurting.

"We have chutes that we practice out of every day, and they're made of metal, so if you're too high, your head's going to be ringing on that metal," said Heininger, who's 6-foot-6 and almost 300 pounds.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - When Michigan senior Will Heininger stands up straight in practice -- a stance that renders a defensive lineman useless -- his head will start hurting.

"We have chutes that we practice out of every day, and they're made of metal, so if you're too high, your head's going to be ringing on that metal," Heininger said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - If anyone should be credited with creating a method to marginalize Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, it's Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges has a list of qualities he'd like to see in this year's starting running back.

"The ability to win in the open field, break tackles, make people miss and understand our protection schemes," Borges said.

There's a guy on Michigan's roster who exhibits every one of those traits -- but Denard Robinson plays quarterback.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - After he finished tinkering with the game plan for the Baltimore Ravens' next day opponent, Greg Mattison would crawl into the bed in his hotel room and flip on the TV to a college football contest.

On many Saturdays, the Michigan game was being broadcast. For Mattison, who is in his second stint as the Wolverines' defensive coordinator, it wasn't easy to watch.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jim Tressel has resigned as head football coach at Ohio State.

In a statement released to the media Monday morning, Tressel said, "After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach. The appreciation that (wife) Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - There don't seem to be many great Brady Hoke stories floating around.

Guys who have played for and worked with Hoke don't readily burst into laughter or tears when thinking back to something he once did or said. An Internet search on Hoke doesn't reveal anything overwhelmingly odd or interesting about the 52-year-old coach who grew up in Kettering, Ohio.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The last time Michigan played in a bowl game, its coach knew ahead of time it would be his final time leading the team.