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4/23/2008 10:31 AM
 
OG Justin Boren  (United States)
OSU football: Boren's transfer sure to add spice to rivalry
Wednesday,  April 23, 2008 3:27 AM
The Columbus Dispatch

Offensive lineman Justin Boren has decided to transfer from Michigan to Ohio State, and OSU football historian Jack Park thinks it is an unprecedented move.

Citing disenchantment with the new Michigan coaching staff of Rich Rodriguez, Boren -- a sophomore starter in 2007 -- left the Wolverines last month. Coach Jim Tressel confirmed for The Dispatch last night that Boren, who attended Pickerington North, intends to play for the Buckeyes after sitting out the 2008 season because of NCAA transfer rules.

"It's exciting to be coming back home to central Ohio," Boren, who just finished the spring semester at Michigan, said in a statement through Tressel. "I am looking forward to the chance to help the Buckeyes continue their excellence in any way I can."

Tressel welcomed the transfer. Because of Big Ten rules, Boren can never be on scholarship at OSU.

"Justin is a fine young man and an excellent football player," Tressel said. "We are happy that he has decided to continue his career at Ohio State and ultimately earn his degree in his hometown."

Park, considered the walking encyclopedia of OSU football, said he can't recall another high-profile player transferring from Michigan to Ohio State, and certainly not since World War II.

"He is just one player, but I think it's a major moment (in the history of the rivalry)," Park said. "Just that it would happen is one thing. Then you throw in the fact his father (Mike Boren, who played linebacker for Bo Schembechler) had been at Michigan just makes it all the more interesting."

Park pointed out that two players in the 1940s started their college careers at OSU, went to World War II, then played at Michigan upon their return. Howard Yerges Jr. was the starting quarterback and J.T. White the starting center for the Wolverines' 1947 national championship team.

 
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4/23/2008 12:20 PM
 
Re: OG Justin Boren  (United States)

Tressel: Boren coming to Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is about to get even more interesting, now that former Wolverines player Justin Boren has decided to join the Buckeyes.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel says Boren plans to put on the scarlet and gray after sitting out the 2008 season as required by NCAA transfer rules.

The sophomore offensive lineman left the Michigan program last month, saying its "family values have eroded" under new coach Rich Rodriguez.

In a statement released through Tressel, Boren says he's looking forward to helping the Buckeyes continue their excellence. Boren went to high school in the Columbus suburb of Pickerington.

 
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4/23/2008 12:21 PM
 
Re: OG Justin Boren  (United States)

Ex-Michigan lineman Boren going to Ohio State

As if the Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry wasn't already intense, Justin Boren is doing his part to make sure there's even more intrigue in the mix.

Boren, a sophomore offensive lineman, left the Wolverines just prior to spring practice and launched a grenade at new Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez on his way out, saying the program's "family values have eroded."

(What, is this guy running for office?)

Rodriguez, of course, called this nonsense. And he also signed off on giving Boren his release papers. There are some coaches who are stingy about such things.

Now comes news from the Columbus Dispatch that Boren is indeed transferring . . . to Ohio State. Buckeyes Coach Jim Tressel confirmed the transfer to the paper. (Interestingly, Boren, an Ohio native, is not allowed to be on scholarship at Ohio State because of intra-Big Ten transfer rules.)

"It's exciting to be coming back home to central Ohio," Boren said in a statement issued through Tressel. "I am looking forward to the chance to help the Buckeyes continue their excellence in any way I can."

Boren Boren/Scout.com


Boren, of course, will have to sit out the 2008 season because of NCAA transfer rules. But he'll go through practice, go through spring drills and should be blocking for the Buckeyes against Michigan in November, 2009. He was, afterall, the lineman with the most returning game experience of any at Michigan.

But we can probably look forward to something in 2008: reporters quoting Boren the week of the first Tressel-Rodriguez meeting in the fall.

 
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4/23/2008 12:22 PM
 
Re: OG Justin Boren  (United States)
Mark Snyder's Blog

Boren transfers to Ohio State

April 23, 2008

The long-awaited moment finally occurred.

Advertisement

Former Michigan offensive lineman Justin Boren, who left Michigan in mid-March citing a "decline of family values" under coach Rich Rodriguez, has transferred to Ohio State. Boren started all of last season at center and left guard for Michigan.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel confirmed the transfer to the Columbus Dispatch for a story in today's edition.

While Boren will have to pay his own way for his final three years -- this season sitting out under transfer rules and his final two years of on-field eligibility -- the most intriguing aspect is the history made.

The Dispatch consulted an Ohio State football historian, Jack Park, who said this is the first transfer from Michigan to Ohio State since World War II and maybe ever.

He did cite two players who started at Ohio State, fought in World War II then played at Michigan after the war in the Dispatch article.

Park also pointed out how unusual it is because Boren's father Mike played at Michigan under Bo Schembechler.

 
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4/23/2008 12:23 PM
 
Re: OG Justin Boren  (United States)

Boren officially moving to the Buckeyes

Posted by Chris Burke April 23, 2008 08:59AM

The Columbus Dispatch reported this morning that Justin Boren has officially decided to transfer to Ohio State.


Apr. 23, 2008, Dispatch
: "It's exciting to be coming back home to central Ohio," Boren, who just finished the spring semester at Michigan, said in a statement through Tressel. "I am looking forward to the chance to help the Buckeyes continue their excellence in any way I can."

Tressel welcomed the transfer. Because of Big Ten rules, Boren can never be on scholarship at OSU.
...
"He is just one player, but I think it's a major moment (in the history of the rivalry)," Park said. "Just that it would happen is one thing. Then you throw in the fact his father (Mike Boren, who played linebacker for Bo Schembechler) had been at Michigan just makes it all the more interesting."

So that certainly should make Boren a well-liked person around Ann Arbor. You'll remember, of course, that Boren cited Michigan's fading "family values" when he left.

I think I speak for Michigan fans everywhere when I say: Justin, I hope the first Buckeyes' offensive play of the 2009 Michigan-OSU game is a blitz that you're too slow to pick up, resulting in a sack of Terrelle Pryor.

 
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