I find it necessary to get these thoughts out..take it or leave it.
Born in Columbus, Ohio MOST people AT THE LEAST know that OSU football is a part of our cities life. Being born a male, MOST of MALES KNOW that OSU football is a big deal. So being born in a family that has its roots a few miles from the Horseshoe, I was born with not only a sin nature, from Adam but was born with the passion from my fathers father.. The passion for OSU football. I have loved OSU since I can remember. It has always been a part of me, a part of my relationship with my dad, my family. It has always been a topic of discussion during the holidays. I learned growing up that come fall, OSU football takes it's place on the entertainment forefront.
I think I have a proper perspective of all this. I have not placed my significance in OSU. I'm not obsessed to the point of getting my life excitement out of it. Yes it is hard to miss a game and I would be sad for a bit if we lost but overall...I think I'm dealing well with this passion.
The hard thing is trying to explain this to people who think I have gone overboard. Since my walk with the Lord has taken off, I find occasional opposition to my love for OSU football. I appreciate the challenge to rethink "my obsession" and if I'm spending too much time on it or not. I get boarder line occasionally, like taking the days off work to schedule around the games. Or canceling any event but a life tradgedy in order to watch the games on Saturday. Is that too far?
Here are the facts: I know too much about OSU football. I've followed intently since 1988. That was around the time that I understood and retained what was going on....so we will say I have followed it for around 18 seasons. I remember the 86' Cotton bowl and when we defeated Michigan in 1987, Earle Bruce's last game but I'll say 1988 is when I officially began watching the Bucks. Thus began the John Cooper era....not the best of luck. For the first 8 years, OSU was a better than average team. We won some games, went to a few small bowls and we were 1-6-1 against Michigan. No Rose Bowls and one co-Big Ten Title. It was EVERYONE else going to the big bowls. I began to expect that we just were not as good as Alabama and Michigan and Miami and Florida State etc..
In 1995, it looked like we were going to turn a corner. We had a great team, up to number 2 in the nation! 11-0 going in to Michigan. Lost to Michigan then lost to Peyton Manning and Tennessee. 11-2. Still not the best.
1996, we were on the verge again. 10-o going in against Michigan. Lost to Michigan. We did win the Rose Bowl though...but we finished second.
1997, lost to Michigan, lost to Florida State finished 10-3.
1998 was our best chance to win it all up to this point. We started number one for the first time in my LIFE! That was a cool feeling. We were all over the papers and magazines, the clear favorite! We even beat Michigan and won our bowl game!
The problem was we lost to Michigan State earlier in the year. We were like a 20 plus point favorite. lost 28-24. We finished...second.
1999, 2000, 2001 much of the same.....
Winning the National Title in 2002 is a post in itself. The best season ever. The best feeling ever. We finally did it! I lived to see it! I watched it all! 14-0...we did everything we need to to win. That might of carried me throughout the rest of my life. I would have died a happy buckeye! There were like 34 years in between titles....so I wasnt expecting much....
Now here we are, a few seasons later with another chance to win it all!
I will not apologize today. I will wallow in my passion and obsession. Who knows what the future holds. When kids come or responsibilities change...I'm sure it will change for me but today is our day Buckeye fans. Today is my holiday. I want to enjoy this all I can. Who knows if it will ever happen again. I hope, but you never know.
Go Bucks.
38-10.
