 |
| "The Game" is back |
Here we are, at a week like no other on the calendar. There are other big weeks in the sports world. The first weekend on the NCAA Tournament, the Final 4, the Super Bowl, maybe even the Indianapolis 500 are all great weekend. However, each of these weeks pales in comparison to the week that is Michigan Week.
Michigan Week (this is the last time I will refer to that school by name) is more then just the end result a Saturday football game. It is a week of activities, hype, and anticipation. The campus is alive, the sports radio shows are dominated by talk of the game, and social media full of OSU vs TSUN talk.
Anyone who remotely cares about sports and spent time in the Buckeye state as either a resident or student (as I was) gets a special feeling during this week. I was lucky enough to be a student at tOSU from 1993 – 1997, I personally saw the Bucks play many a great game (including the 1997 Rose Bowl victory) in fact I saw us dominate many an opponent, but none of those games gave me the same feeling I had during the game against TSUN.
In my 4 years in Columbus I went to three games against that team, including one in that giant hole in the earth that they call a stadium (even in victory they are the quietest 100,000 people I have ever been around), I watched the 4th game on TV. Unfortunately my record as a student for the game was 1-3 (not nearly as good as the OSU students have had it recently). I remember each of those games very well. The first, third, and fourth games were ugly losses. In fact at least 2 of losses kept us from Rose Bowls or even shots at National Titles.
 |
| Records never seem to matter |
By the time we lost my Senior Year, the team had already clinched the Rose Bowl Berth, so as devastating as Shawn Springs falling down in coverage was, at least the team had a great Rose Bowl, and not a Citrus Bowl to look forward too. Let’s take a look at that other game, the one the Buckeyes won. Before the game a receiver for that other team (the one from up north), stated that his team will get John Cooper fired after the game. The Buckeyes came out inspired, and beat up on the other team and scored a 22-6 victory. I remember rushing the field on the fall day back in 1994. I remember digging up part of the south end zone, and replanting it in a cup in my room. What a great day!! Now let’s look ahead to this Saturday, November 26, 2011.
Our boys are wounded and beaten up. They aren't playing for a championship, not for a Rose Bowl or BCS berth, no they are playing for pride. They get to play the role of spoiler. With a win TSUN has an outside shot at an at-large BCS invitation. They only have this shot if they beat the Buckeyes. Well, even with the Buckeyes being a 5 loss team, and even with their coach calling THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, plain old OHIO I think they are in for a rude awakening. I don’t know what Luke Fickell’s coaching future is, this Saturday could be his final regular season game as head coach. Well, if this is true, and it very well could be, don’t think that Fickell does not know this, he along with his staff and his players have read the quotes, they have watched ESPN they know what is happening.
With all of these distractions Fickell is a true Buckeye, he knows the meaning of this game. He knows that if his team beats TSUN, that even though the record will be 7-5 the season will be seen as a success. So, I don’t pretend to know what will happen on Saturday and beyond. If I look at the records, listen to the talking heads then it would seem that we have no shot. But that is not me!!
 |
| All day |
On Saturday morning, I will get up put on my jersey (I will go with my #45 Jersey this week), and my hat. I will put out my OSU items (got to keep the superstitions going), and I will make my personal kegs and eggs. Once all this is complete I will lock myself in a room (safely away from, you know, other people) and I will watch THE GAME!! I will yell at the TV, I will scream, and hopefully I will do a lot of cheering. I can’t wait!! Finally, let me say: Let’s Go Bucks!!! O-H-
