Michigan's Motivational Locker Room Sign Adds Fuel to Ohio State Rivalry

Before Notre Dame players take the field every day, they're reminded to play like champions. But Michigan players, before they leave the locker room for a hard afternoon's practice, are reminded how long it's been since they beat Ohio State.

Revered quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. tweeted out this picture on Wednesday, an inside look at the Wolverines' daily dose of motivation:

The sign doesn't explicitly say "Ohio State," but we know Michigan isn't talking about the Bobcats. That scarlet and gray palette—not to mention the exact amount of days its been since Michigan beat Ohio State—lets us know precisely who they're referring to.

So why the omission? Whitfiled has it covered once again. Apparently, Michigan doesn't use full names for either of their rivals, Ohio State and Michigan State, presumably since they DON'T DESERVE NO RESPECT:

College football's version of North Carolina-Duke, Ohio State vs. Michigan is (arguably) the sport's most bitter rivalry. From the Snow Bowl of 1950 to the Ten Year War waged between Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, this series is lined with moment after moment of antagonistic history.

Michigan is 58-45-6 in the all-time series, but the modern era has been dominated by the Buckeyes. Ohio State has won eight of the last nine and 10 of the last 12, including a seven-game win streak between 2004 and 2010.

That streak ended on November 26, 2011, exactly 565 days before Mr. Whitfield took that picture. Denard Robinson was the hero of that meeting, throwing for 167 yards, rushing for 170 more, and combining to score five total touchdowns.

The Buckeyes exacted revenge as part of their undefeated 2012 campaign, beating Michigan 26-21 in a game the Wolverines needed to tie Nebraska atop the Big Ten Legends. And as Ohio State-Michigan is always the last game of the season, that put to rest any hope Brady Hoke & co. had of making the Rose Bowl.

This year's game is scheduled to take play on November, 30th in Ann Arbor. Whether or not that sign will read "zero" at the post-game press conference...well, that part is up to the Wolverines.