Just how long has it been since the Wolverines last beat the Buckeyes?

Buckeyes fans know, because they mark their calendars with this information, they update their voice-mail messages with it, they paste counters on their Web pages. And they do it all while smiling.

Thursday it will be 2,000 days.

That's enough time for a poplar seed to grow into a 30-foot tree, enough time for the Cavaliers to win 316 games (including playoffs), and enough time for 12 season finales of "Survivor" (counting next Sunday night's).

When Michigan last beat Ohio State, Barack Obama was a state senator, YouTube was more than a year away from being born, and Clevelanders were fighting, brother against brother, to settle the question: Couch or Holcomb?

Ask any Michigan fan how long it's been since the Wolverines beat their rivals and the answer will be "way too long."

Ask any Buckeye and you'll get: "Not long enough. Let it ride."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jcampanelli@plaind.com, 216-999-4694

BOX

The daze of the Maize and Blue

2,000

Days, as of Thursday, since Michigan last beat Ohio State in football.

1,855

Longest drought, in days, between Michigan victories (1933-38) in the rivalry before the Buckeyes' current winning streak.

2,191

Days that Michigan will have been winless against the Buckeyes when the teams kick off Nov. 21.

8,043

Days between Michigan's first victory over Ohio State (1897) in football and Ohio State's first victory over Michigan (1919).

On the other hand . . .

(As of today)

2,047

Days since the Cleveland Browns last beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2,099

Days since a Cleveland Indians player hit for the cycle.

3,121

Days since the New York Yankees last won the World Series.

10,225

Days since an Indians pitcher threw a no-hitter.

16,208

Days since a Cleveland team won a major sports championship.

22,129

Days since the Indians last won the World Series.