The Wiz of Odds

Urine for Trouble Jumping Into Mirror Lake

Last night was the jump into Mirror Lake by Ohio State students, the tradition that takes place the Thursday night before the Michigan game.

But what exactly were students jumping into?

Students from the College of Earth Sciences tested the water last year before, during and after thousands had taken the plunge.

What they found was a lake-wide temperature increase of approximately 3 degrees during the course of the night. They also found a spike in ammonia. That means urine.

"It went from a background of 5.2 parts per million to a peak of about 42 parts per million," Steve Goldsmith, a postdoctoral research associate, told the Columbus Dispatch. "So it was an eightfold increase."

Goldsmith's advice: "Have fun, but don't open your mouth."

Another Michigan Cheap Shot

Watch closely as Michigan left tackle Mark Ortmann (No. 71) sends a left uppercut to the groin of Illinois' Corey Liuget (No. 93) after the defensive tackle recovers a fumble by the Wolverines' Tate Forcier. Liuget complains to an official before hobbling back to the sideline.

Ortmann should be suspended for at least one game for this cowardly act

This is the second time the site has featured a Michigan player for a cheapie. The Wolverines' Jonas Mouton was suspended for one game after punching Notre Dame center Eric Olsen.

Halloween in Champaign

This has been a season to forget for Illinois. The team had beaten only Division I-AA Illinois State entering Saturday's game against Michigan, but a visit by the Wolverines was all the Fighting Illini needed to lift the curse of the 2009 season.

Illinois blitzed Michigan, 38-13, sending the visitors home with their fourth Big Ten loss in a row.

The Illini fans were into the Halloween spirit during the pregame tailgate, and Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin was in Champaign to take in all the craziness.

You can view Greg's gallery by clicking here.

A Big Ten Football Saturday

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin made the trip to Ann Arbor for Saturday's Big Ten game between Penn State and Michigan in Michigan Stadium. Wolverine fans were smiling beforehand, but not so much afterward. The Nittany Lions scored an impressive 35-10 victory to improve to 7-1. Michigan is 5-3. To view Greg's gallery, click here.

A Big House Divided

There's a disconnect in the family.

Rich Rodriguez is deep into his second season as Michigan coach, but a group of former players continue to express their dissatisfaction with his hiring, which broke the Bo Schembechler lineage.

That group, which supported the hiring of former Schembechler disciple Les Miles as coach, may never be happy. They continue to express displeasure over Rodriguez's first team that finished 3-9, ending Michigan's bowl streak of 33, and an investigation that was launched into alleged misconduct regarding NCAA practice rules.

Then there is Lloyd Carr, the former coach who hasn't publicly supported Rodriguez and his staff.

Play to the Whistle? Perhaps Not in the Big Ten

Hasn't been the best of seasons for Big Ten officiating crews. Michigan State safety Roderick Jenrette gets flagged for a late hit on Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway.