Ohio State senior center Billy Price says he’s reviewed a certain controversial fourth-down play countless times. Like his coach, he’s cagily non-commital about it.

Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are inevitably asked about the play, in which the Wolverines folded OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett near of the yardage needed to secure a first down in double overtime last November. Had Barrett been ruled short, the Wolverines would have come away with a 27-24 victory.

Instead, officials on the field judged that Barrett made the first down, and a replay official did not see sufficient evidence to overrule. One play later, OSU running back Curtis Samuel scampered 15 yards into the end zone to finish the game.

U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh felt strongly enough to take a $10,000 hit from the Big Ten by commenting on that play and many others in the post-game press conference. The crucial down will be talked about (and not agreed upon) for years to come.

Price, a senior All-American, would only go so far in his assessment.

“Too many times,” he responded with a grin, when asked how often he’d run through the video.

“We start practice on Thursday. That’s the answer to that one.”

Pressed on why he watches it, since Ohio State was credited with the win, Price expounded a bit.

“It’s a highlight,” he said. “It’s a controversial play, and it’s something that’s a defining moment in our season. The play could have gone either way…

“The work that’s put in, on both sides of the ball, whether you play on The Team Up North, or you play on our side of things, whatever type of work you put into that, that was a defining moment in the game. That’s why it’s observed so many times.

“It’s nice that it’s not a controversial play on ESPN every single day anymore. Let’s move on. College football is what it is. The season is over.”

Looking back on the game itself, Price still shakes his head in wonderment.

“That’s a nitty-gritty game, period,” he said. “The game could have gone either way. We’re down, 21-7 [actually 17-7], and we came back. We began to execute better … and I can speak on our behalf, only.”

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