Carnell Tate Meets a Wolverine

Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate joins the Rich Eisen Show, and what should have been a straightforward draft-prep interview turns into one of the more entertaining exchanges of the week. Tate explains why he chose Ohio State, citing his relationship with Coach Brian Hartline, Hartline's track record of developing first-round receivers, and the fact that Ohio State was his dream school growing up.

Receiver U before Hartline. Receiver U after Hartline. That is Tate's read on the program's future.

Then Rich pivots. He asks Tate if he knows where Rich went to college. Tate does not. Rich asks if Tate follows college basketball. Tate does. Rich asks if Tate knows who won the national championship last week.

Tate does. He just refuses to say the word.

Team up north. That is as close as Carnell Tate will get to acknowledging that Michigan won the title. Rich pushes back. The bottom line graphic did not say Team Up North versus UConn. It said Michigan. But Tate will not budge. The rivalry means more than a correct answer on a sports show, and he wants Rich to feel it.

Rich calls for the photo. The photograph shows Tate standing in the snow after Ohio State beat Michigan, holding up the gold pants given to Buckeye players who win in Ann Arbor. Tate points out that the tradition is ironic. Gold pants. Michigan colors. He has no idea why, but he has a pair, and that is all that matters.

The exchange goes deeper. Rich asks Tate if he can even say the letter M. Tate says he can say words with the letter M. Rich pushes further. Could Tate say Michigan?

Tate finds a workaround. He says he can say the name of other M brands. Snickers. Ice cream bar. Anything but the school.

Rich closes the bit by pointing out that Tate has now officially said the letter M on tape on the Rich Eisen Show, which means the clip can surface at any point during Tate's NFL career.

A young receiver with a great draft profile and an even better sense of humor about one of the best rivalries in sports. The bit works because Tate commits to it.