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COLUMBUS — Walt Downing was an All-American center at Michigan, and his attachment to his alma mater will never wane. But there's a bond in his life even stronger than that, and he's developed a rooting interest in the school he loved to hate.

Downing was invited to join about 200 ex-players on the field for last year's Ohio State game in Ann Arbor — all of them in their Michigan letter jackets — forming a human tunnel as the Wolverines made a rousing entrance into the stadium. But with his son, T.J., getting ready to start at guard for the Buckeyes, the elder Downing spent the time pumping up the opposition instead.

"When Ohio State was warming up in the end zone, I walked over and T.J. said, 'Show 'em what it's about, Dad,' " Walt Downing recalled. "I took off my jacket, and I had his Tostitos Fiesta Bowl jersey on. They went nuts."

Because of longtime friendships with the elder Downing, Rick Leach, Dwight Hicks and a few other former Wolverine stars also are switching allegiances for the showdown Saturday.

"I got a lot of calls from my dad's ex-teammates (Sunday) night," T.J. Downing said. "They were wishing me good luck and telling me that even though their blood is blue, they love my dad to death and treat me like a son. And they're cheering for me this weekend."

Walt Downing had a 2-2 record against Ohio State while playing from 1974-77. The Wolverines suffered a 21-14 defeat in '75 — the last time both teams went into the game undefeated — but avenged that setback with victories the next two years.

During the long history of enmity in the series, that period was especially heated and typified the era that's become known as the Ten-Year War. But Walt Downing can't ever remember there being as much at stake as there is in this year's clash.

"It's shaping up to be an epic game," he said.

Keeping the Mohawk, adding some spirit

Having started twice previously against the Wolverines, winning both times, T.J. Downing would rather be nowhere else than right in the thick of it.

He's one of the team's inspirational leaders, a free spirit who brings a much-needed nasty streak to the offensive line. He speaks his mind — dismissing UM's offensive prowess earlier this season by saying, "They ain't been hit by the Buckeyes yet" — and his in-your-face demeanor is evident in how he wears his hair in a Mohawk.

"That Mohawk thing, at first I thought, 'I'm not sure about this image he's projecting,' " said Walt, who played seven years in the NFL, winning a ring in Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers triumphed over the Bengals. "But as it's gone on, I love it. He put himself out there before the season and told his teammates, 'We've got to bring the fight every week.'

"Troy Smith and Ted Ginn came up to me and said, 'Mr. D, T.J. is not allowed to shave that Mohawk off. He's our boy and he's our attitude.' I applaud him for his gutsiness and for taking the team and hoisting it on his shoulders."

T.J. Downing accompanied his father to Michigan functions while growing up in northeast Ohio. But he spurned the Wolverines for the Buckeyes, saying simply, "They showed me more love."

Walt Downing, who is vice president of a trucking company based near Canton, stayed out of the recruiting process because he didn't want to inject his bias. But he believes the Wolverines blew it.

"There was just a whole different energy being presented by Ohio State," he said. "A week before T.J. was supposed to take his SATs, (coach) Jim Tressel called him directly and said, 'Just relax. You're a smart kid. Trust your instincts, and you'll do well.' That meant a lot."

Silencing Bo

Downing was part of a heralded 2002 recruiting class. And during his five years in the program, including a redshirt year, the Buckeyes have won three major bowls and are two victories away from a second national title.

"It was always cool following the Wolverines — they were a huge part of my life growing up," T.J. said. "I loved their success in the '90s, but I'm glad I've been able to help bring an end to that success in the 2000s."

But while Downing's emergence may be creating some temporary converts among ex-Wolverines, his father's former coach is having trouble swallowing it.

"Bo Schembechler was in my ear this past year," Walt Downing said. "I go, 'Bo, let's see here. One national championship, three major bowl victories, three out of four wins against Michigan, and they're ranked No. 1 going into the year.' He just said, 'Aw, shut up,' and walked away."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.