COLUMBUS, OHIO ? The 103th edition of The Game is being hailed as the biggest day in the storied history of Ohio State football. Many fear it could turn into the biggest riot in Ohio State history.

That was an inescapable facet of Monday’s official kickoff to The Week.

A contingent of local political leaders, university officials and students assured everyone during a news conference that they’re preaching sportsmanship but preparing for anarchy. Players openly pleaded for civility. The chamber of commerce’s motto for the week is “Hug a Wolverine – and not around the throat.”

“We just want everybody to stay cool,” Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith said. “It’s going to be a great game. You’ve got No. 1 against No. 2. You’ve got the greatest rivalry in college sports with the teams ranked 1 and 2 for the first time ever. Emotions are going to be running on high.”

Civic and university leaders expressed concern over OSU’s reputation as a less-than-congenial host. Those who dare don the opposing colors at Ohio Stadium have been verbally harassed and allegedly sprayed upon with fluids not necessarily from a concession stand.

Four years ago, after the Buckeyes beat Michigan for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game, the inebriated joined the insane in taking to the streets and taking out their jubilation on defenseless furniture.

Pushing exhilaration to the border of prosecution is an essential part of the Ohio State experience. My most vivid recollection was coming here in 1980 as a student reporter for the Michigan Daily. Five of us were crammed into a Volkswagen on a jam-packed High Street in the heart of the campus the Friday night before the game.

Several fans, no doubt armed with sufficient amounts of liquid courage, rocked the Bug until it almost tipped over on its side with us in it.

An annoyance? Sure. But it stayed within the spirit of passionate, yet relatively harmless, expression.

Unfortunately, Ohio State is now the face of wanton student destruction and a degree of crowd crudity that would make even the hardest-edged blush.

“We have the best fans in the world,” OSU receiver Anthony Gonzalez said. “That’s why the ‘Shoe is one of the toughest places to play. That’s why we’re very confident when we play at home, but we don’t want things going crazy.”

A consortium of university, local and state law enforcement promise they’ll be ready.

“We’ve had a few skirmishes since then,” said Mitch Brown, director of Columbus’ public safety department. “But nothing to the degree that we saw four years ago. We want to make it clear to all who are coming here for the game that it is our objective to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for everyone, especially those visiting.”

Brown wouldn’t elaborate on specific numbers, only saying that there would be a “significant presence” in and outside Ohio Stadium.

“Perception means so much now,” Columbus mayor Michael Coleman said. “Nobody wants to talk about the vast majority of our great fans who are courteous and respectful to our visitors or the students that celebrate within the law. But the pictures that the country sees on cable are that of cars and trash cans on fire. That’s the image that people have of us, and we’re all working together to change that come Saturday.”

The world is watching, hoping that the only pyrotechnics are limited to on the field.