So, the Buckeye Battle Cry 2010 is out in newsstands across the state (full list below) and as alluded to a couple of weeks ago, it boasts a stellar lineup of your favorite writers breaking down the Buckeyes ahead of the 2010 season. Which is a good thing, because if it were left to us to write all 128 pages of glorious ad-free Buckeye porn that you get in the annual, we'd likely produce something awesome, yet not quite as diversified as what you'll get in the final product. Some of you have already picked up the book from your favorite retailer, but if you haven't, please allow me to convince you of the need to do so. What follows is a quick summary of the articles found in the magazine:
- Primed - I break down the position groups and likely starters and backups heading into this season. From running backs to defensive backs, the opener has you covered.
- Know Thy Enemy - Hawkeye State from Black Heart Gold Pants previews the roadblocks standing in the way of another national championship run. Special attention is given to Miami, Iowa and Michigan, but Marshall and other "trap" games get equal treatment.
- Extending Best Practices - Alex reviews what went well in the 2009 season and explores how the Buckeyes can improve upon these successes this fall.
- Pryor Emerging - Brandon Castel from The-Ozone dives into the growth of Terrelle Pryor and what to expect from the talented junior this season.
- A Meeting of the Minds - Ross Fulton, or BoulderBuck55 from Buckeye Football Analysis breaks down the Ohio State offense and the transition from a hodgepodge approach that led to disaster against USC and Purdue into a unit that exploited "series football" on the way to winning the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl against Oregon.
- Exceeding Expectations - Matt Markey of The Toledo Blade explores the emergence of Dane Sanzenbacher from a spot on the Ted Ginn Sr. tour to playmaker and potential captain at Ohio State.
- Buckeye Battalion - Our own Sam breaks down the loaded running back situation by touching on the backstory and skillsets of the seven-headed monster lining up behind Pryor this fall.
- Protecting Pryor - Dave Biddle of Bucknuts previews the deep and experienced Buckeye line, while giving us unique insight into the personalities on the unit. You'll find out that Bryant Browning not only led the group in minutes last season, but he might also be the class clown of the group.
- Bigger, Better, More Often - The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises profiles Cam Heyward and his relentless pursuit of awesomeness.
- Back on Top - Ramzy Nasrallah of Bucknuts chronicles the rise of Ohio State from big-game bust to national championship contenders, and the danger of high expectations.
- Roadmap to Glendale - Dave and Drew from The Silver Bullet preview the keys to another championship appearance.
- The Fall of Michigan - Tony Gerdeman of The-Ozone explores the chaos in Ann Arbor and what it means to the rivalry. If you're a fan of his "Michigan Monday" features, it's more of the same, only deeper. And more profound.
- Marquee Talent & Intriguing Potential - Vico from Our Honor Defend takes a look at the class of 2010 with the same thoroughness that he he brings in his "Better Know a Buckeye" features.
- Ohio's Finest - Alex has the top seniors in Ohio covered, many of whom will be Buckeyes next fall. Hello, Braxton!
- Winds of Change - Luke chronicles the latest in Big Ten expansion, including the addition of Nebraska and what the future might hold for the conference.
- Graduate School - Corey takes an in-depth look at former Buckeyes doing their thing in the NFL. A glorious shot of Will Smith in the Super Bowl is provided at no extra charge.
- When Chic Harley Got Away - Todd Wessell, the great nephew of the Buckeye icon and man responsible for Ohio Stadium gives readers a glimpse into the life of Ohio State's first superstar.
- One Game Short of Glory - 35 years later, Joe recaps the 1975 season, touching on the many highs of one of the greatest Buckeye teams to ever take the field.
- Remembering John Cooper - I explore the tenure of John Cooper, who despite all of the heartbreak his teams brought, was responsible for cranking up the Buckeye recruiting machine to a new level.
- Jim Tressel, Future Athletic Director - The 11W staff imagines a life after Tressel on the sidelines and whether that future might include an AD role for The Vest.
By now you're probably wondering what the title of this post has to do with the contents. As amazing as this book is, and trust me, it's amazing, it went to press with an omission of sorts. Twitter user @ScriptOhio picked up a copy and rightfully pointed out that one Jonathan Newsome wasn't mentioned in the linebacker breakdown. Though he was included on the team roster page, this was an oversight on our end and it's regrettable on many levels, particularly because "Double Nickel" is one of our favorite young Bucks. Luckily, Newsome has forgiven us and has vowed to "ball out" this season, which is a great thing for us and a bad thing for opposing offenses and special teams. So, with that, I heartily encourage you to pickup the annual and pencil-in Newsome in the linebackers section, making an otherwise awesome book truly badass. To make up for this, we have three copies to give away to the commenters that best describe their favorite Buckeye moment in the comments below. Please include your email address when commenting to be eligible. Finally, here's a full list of retail locations carrying The Buckeye Battle Cry 2010:
- Kroger
- Giant Eagle
- Walgreen's
- CVS
- Rite Aid
- Walmart
- Meijer
- Target
- Kmart
- Barnes & Noble
- Borders
- Waldenbooks
Comments
I'm sold. Leaving work right now for lunch to buy it.
Damn.. missed the part about 3 free copies at the end. While reading the list of features I got way to pumped, didn't finish the article, and ran out and bought it. Oh well, I don't think that I could have picked a favortie anyway. Plus, I am glad to pump some money into the BBC so you guys can produce a great publication next year. If I had to pick, it would probably have to be re-watching the 2002 title game the next day to fully appreciate it. I was pretty inebriated (as I am sure everyone else was) the night of the game and didn't fully grasp the domination of the defense and the grit that Krenzel and Co. showed that night. Can't wait to start reading this years addition. Keep up the great work.
My favorite Buckeye Moment:
I was in basic training during the 1997 Rose Bowl. On the day after the game I was walking through the chow line (eyes forward no talking). I took a risk and I whispered to the civilian serving our food, "Who won the Rose Bowl?" Knowing the chance I took, he whispered back, without drawing attention to us "Ohio State"
It didn't matter that we were being screamed at by drill instrutors to "Hurry up and shove that food down your throats," I was in Buckeye heaven.
I will never forget how happy I was at that moment. This moment was so special because I left for basic training the Monday after Shawn Springs fell down in The Game. I was at that game.
mine is in or will be in the mail soon
1968, when I was 15. Went to the MSU game with my Dad who got the tickets from the "Golden Bear" (they golfed together at the Scioto CC). After the game (we won) we went back to the club for lunch and I got to meet Jack. I had a club sandwich and a coke. In January we got to watch the Buckeyes beat OJ. My dad and I had a rough relationship that never really got much better, but that day was magic. If I could grant myself a do-over, it would be that day. RIP Dad
$5 shipping, FML
2006 Ohio State vs Michigan, I was in one of my senior years, had my student ticket. My little brother was in his freshman year, had his senior ticket, my dad and my other brother (who decided to go to Ohio, but was a buckeye fan from birth) managed to score a couple of tickets.
So, I was in 15A, my brother in 1C, my Dad and other brother in the south stands, game ends, we all rush the field, get a picture taken by a state trooper on the field, with the scoreboard in the background. No other football experience will ever top that game. We actually have a family photo from the "Game of the Century." I have the professional photo from the last play in the big frame with the ohio state coin hung up in my living room, and tell people who aren't buckeyes that it's a family pic, and they don't get it till I show them the pictures we took.
whoops, forgot to include my email, it's on this post. I should definitely win one, just cause where the hell am I going to get one in western NY?
do what i did an order online.
My best Buckeye moment of all time....easy: When Woody went for 2 in the 50-14 drubbing of the scUM in '68.
2002 National Title Game, my dad and I had watched every game that season together and decided not to jinx the undefeated season. We both went to the scUM game from Mississippi and flew out to AZ for the championship. On the walk in we watched a Miami fan fork out $1400 bucks for one ticket (I laugh every time I picture his drunken smiling face thinking he was going to witness a massacre). My dad never said a word the whole game and I cheered my head off. I had just applied to Ohio State and as if the deal wasn't sealed should I get accepted, the 65,000+ fans in that stadium that were all as crazy as me certainly sold it. Cie Grant ended the game, we all cheered, and three weeks later I got a scholarship to The Ohio State University.
2005 was pretty good too.... Troy Rallying the troops for 2 scores in the final few minutes of the game to steal one (again) in Ann Arbor..... That Catch by Gonzo and the broken tackles by Smith--wow!!!!
My favorite Buckeye moment:
January 1, 2010. Pasadena, CA. The Rose Bowl. 4th Quarter. 7:02 remaining (at the end of the play). OSU up by 2. QB Terrelle Pryor throws a beautiful, perfect back shoulder fade to Devier Posey for a TD.
The whole game I was getting the same feelings as Texas '05, Texas in the Fiesta bowl, USC '09. We had command at points and had our chances. All I wanted was a 2+ score lead, and we couldn't do it. This was the first time we did it, and at that late in the game I knew it was over. It cemented the Rose Bowl. And the end of the BCS losses.
More importantly than the Bowl win, it marked something else. That throw to me marked the arrival of TP2. From that point on, he's no longer and athlete playing QB. He's an athletic QB. That throw marked the start of the 2010-11 season's anticipation. It was the end of 09-10, and the beginning of these agonizing 9 months.
Go bucks!
My best moment was my first OSU game in person, a 24-6 beatdown of Penn St in 1993. It was also PSU's first game vs OSU in the Big 10. I was a wide eyed sophomore in college (not at OSU), got to the game late on a borrowed student ticket, and was ushered into the remaining seats of the student section, corner endzone, 2nd row from the field. The view was not great, and most of the action was at the other end of the field, but we were able to rush onto the (since removed) track when the players entered the field, and I was close enough to join the crowd and give Jeff Cothran (wearing #8) a smack on the shoulder pads. The weather was a rain/sleet mix, the game was classic OSU football, and we stormed the field after the game.
The 1997 Rose and 2003 Fiesta were sweeter (and for the latter I was also there in person), but as the saying goes you never forget your first time.
2002 National Championship Game...after weeks of hype, debate and general berating by other fans, to which I simply responded "Remember the Patriots", came the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, I sat on the edge of my couch, with my then 2 year old daughter who was sleeping, 11 year old nephew and my wife watching the game slip away...thinking how we got robbed with Gamble being held on third down, making the catch, no call and pass ruled incomplete (funny how NO ONE remembers that play)...fast forward to "Game Over, bitch" and fireworks, and for the first time in my life, WE WHERE NUMBER 1!!!! (And yes, I woke my daughter up to see the celebration).
I ran out screaming and shouting throwing Tostitos and got greeted by a neighboor who was from Cleveland and we danced and shouted and went nuts in general.
I was broke as hell, since I was still a frocked E-6 (E-6 getting payed for E-5, and I had just went through a flood in my house due to a burst pipe that insurance didn't cover 100%), but I had to buy the DVD and I watched it every week for six months.
As an adult, I'll admit to crying 2 times that did not include the birth of my daughters or death in the family: the day WE beat Miami, and the day I found out I made Chief.
The 2006 OSU v. UM game. It was my senior year in undergrad, my sister’s senior year in vet school and my parents had tickets as well. I'm having lunch at the faculty club with a potential future employer and my phone keeps blowing-up (on vibrate of course). Eventually the wait staff comes to me and tells me they have a message that I need to call my mom immediately. I excuse myself and call my mom who is hysterical because my dad is having a heart attack. I was able to talk to him where he assured me that it was just a “routine” heart attack and he’ll be fine. I excuse myself from lunch, and go pick up my sister to drive 2 hours home. Apparently, one of the last things my dad said to my mom as he was being wheeled to the operating room was “make sure the kids go to the game”. Much to our objections my mom made sure that we complied with his request and we went to the game the next day. The surgery (quadruple bi-pass is hardly routine) was a great success, as was the game. My dad was in and out of consciousness because of the drugs and has absolutely no recollection of the game but for me being in the stands to see No. 1 vs. No. 2 knowing my dad’s surgery had been successful made the victory that much sweeter.
I later learned that my mom had called the business school to try to track me down, and obviously was successful. For such a large school, that was a great personal touch.
My favorite Buckeye moment was in the national championship year of 2002. I was a junior at OSU and all of my friends had a block of tickets in the south stands right behind the band (about 15 or so rows up and relatively close to block O). "The Game" that year was something I will never forget. We all went to a bunch of pre-game house parties and were extremely juiced to start the game. I will never forget the ups and downs of that game and how every play seemed so incredibly important since it had the chance of sending us to the national title game. When Will Allen intercepted Navarre's pass in the south endzone right in front of us, we all just totally lost it and stormed the field. Whenever someones asks me about my favorite OSU game, I have to mention that one. Second favorite was being there to watch Beanie run all over Michigan at the Big House in the final game for Hart, Henne, and Long. Nothing better than seeing Mike Hart's whiny ass cry as he left UM 0-4 vs. the Bucks.
Bear with me:
You have to think back to what it meant. As a 5th year senior in 2002, the football highlights of my academic career had been a 1998 win over Michigan (which paled in comparison to what transpired 2 weeks prior) and the 2001 win in AA, which was just about the only good thing that happened from 1999 to 2001. Even with that first win up there in 14 years, and even with JT and the team gutting out close wins all season, the shortfalls of 93, 95, and 96 were still fresh. Optimism was guarded and with good cause: beating Michigan when there was so much at stake just didn't happen, and hadn't happened since 1979, a good 9 months before my existence started.
When the offense sputtered to start the game and Michigan converted 28 3rd downs to net a FG on their opening drive, it was all too familiar. But this team, this crowd... it was different. We should've died in OT against Illinois; we should've died in West Lafayette or in Madison, or even in Cincinnati FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! But we were still alive. What doesn't kill you...
The child molesters were up 9-7 at halftime. After a quarter and a half of classic Big Ten football, we got the ball with about 7:00 to play but it felt like 0:07. If we didn't score on this drive, it probably wasn't going to happen. So when Brandon Schnittker "intercepted" a pass for Michael Jenkins, the tide turned. A QB sneak converted a 4th & 1 at midfield. Then after the most glorious wheel route in history, a hackneyed option to the NE corner provided the lead. Everyone cheered, but everyone knew there was plenty of time left.
Those elitists drove to our 30... then fumbled the game away!!! But again - it's never that easy. There was too much clock to milk and they got the ball back with a minute to go. I mean, after Shawn Springs slips, after your Heisman-winning RB gets outrushed by 200 yards, and after your best team loses to their little brother, there's only one worse way to have your heart ripped out. So when they surgically marched to our 24, converting 2 4th downs along the way, it just seemed predestined. With 0:06 to go a shot to the end zone sailed too far and time ran out, but NO! There was stil 0:01 to go. HOW!?!? That play took 3 minutes!!!!
So this is how it's going to be? Michigan 15, Ohio State 14. Another heartbreak in the worst way possible. A perfectly run and thrown post from Navarre to Edwards is what did it... except that Will Allen knew. Sweet Woody, did he know! He darted in front and clutched that ball like a baby. Brent said, "Let's party, Columbus!" and we did. We surely did.
The National Championship that followed was the delirium of "Did that just happen?!?!" But that Michigan game, that INT, that MOMENT was an exorcism, a power shift, and an orgasm all rolled into one play.
2002 OSU v scUM game. I was a sophomore, and it was the only year I was in Block O (although I've attended every home game since 2001). It was also the only game I've painted my face, and I still have the foam tostito chip hat they handed out. I was in the 3rd row of Block O, it was so loud in the 4th quarter that I couldn't hear the the Block O "leader" shouting through their crappy PA system.
After we won, everyone ran out to the concourse, as their are two "ramps" of sorts that lead onto the field with only a small gate at the end. I picked to turn right, started down the ramp and got a hand to the chest from a cop. Went to the other side, and students formed a sort of phalanx, you locked one arm with the person next to you, leaned forward and put your opposite forearm on the person in front of you. One step every few seconds, as there was a line of cops trying to stop the students. They eventually gave up and we stormed the field. I smacked Clarett on the shoulder, forgetting about his stinger problems, and I got a great photo with Brutus on the field.
This game, and the whole 02 season, was a nail biter, but it was so worth it.
Thanks for sharing Pam. And the 68 Sparty game was a good one! 25-20 tOSU I believe!
My favorite Buckeye moment..
#3: Every time Katzenmoyer laid out a player.. specifically that QB from Missouri...
#2: 2002 OSU @ Purdue... "HOLY BUCKEYE" - Krenzel to Michael Jenkins during the season of destiny... 99.9% of the viewers thought that game was over...
#1: 1997 Rose Bowl v. ASU & Jake the Snake... Joe Germaine to David Boston with 20 seconds left, FOR THE WIN.
Go Bucks!
My heart will always hold the 2002 Michigan-OSU game as the nearest and dearest -- storming the field from C-deck (that takes effort) and getting pepper sprayed and punched by the cops after grabbing a piece of the then-real turf. That evening's tear gassing was epic.
But in reflecting upon memories, I also think back to the 2004 Michigan-OSU game. The 2004 year was a nightmare and still stands as a complete anomaly for Tressel. We lost to Northwestern, for shit's sake. Michigan was heavily favored coming into the game and many feared we would revert back to Cooper times -- we had won two in a row against Michigan (2001-2002), but had lost the previous year in 2003. Even though I was a senior, I did not have tickets to the 2004 game because I mistakenly thought I would be overseas during the season. I watched the game from a friend's house on Indianola and 16th street. I lived and died on each Troy Smith and Teddy Ginn play. Then, with around 3 minutes left in the game with the outcome no longer in doubt, a sudden impulse came over me. I had to be there, in the flesh, for the victory, my last as a student. All of the sudden and without saying anything to my friends, I stood up, ran out the door, down the street, and towards the shoe. I was drunk and operating on about an hour of sleep. I was not in shape. I kept running anyway, and the entire campus was empty, with everyone at the game or in front of a TV. My friends tried to follow me but soon got tired of running and gave up. I finally arrived at the base of the stadium, on the South East side, out of breath, with about 20 seconds remaining in the game. Shockingly, there were no ushers at the gates. I did not miss a step and kept running into the stadium, right up the ramp to AA deck, and into the Shoe. Along with many others, I poured over the railing just as time expired, and landed near the team while it got ready to sing Carmen Ohio. From the door to the house on Indianola to hitting the turf of the field, I had never stopped moving.
Standing exhausted and victorious about 10 yards from Coach Tressel, I sang Carmen Ohio while standing next to Simon Fraser. It was a good day.
Pretty chill book you bros got there.
One of my greatest Buckeye moments was the 1997 Rose Bowl. I remember feeling cautiously optimistic as the fourth quarter was winding down, then being absolutely crushed when Jake Plummer dove into the end zone with just over a minute left. This feeling was compounded by the fact that I had complete disdain for Jake the Snake, I just didn't like the guy. I remember feeling the burning of tears welling up in my eyes, feeling like we were so close, only for it to be ripped from our hands. We just didn't come back in games like that under John Cooper. But then there was a glimmer of hope as Joe Germaine led the team back down the field. I can still perfectly remember Germaine's pass to David Boston and him doing his strut into the end zone, I've got goose bumps just writing this. I remember just sprinting around my house, hugging everyone in sight. One of the best Buckeye memories ever.
2002 MNC vs. Miami. I was living in South Florida at the time, went to a house party that was watching the game. I walk in and see wall to wall Hurricanes fans and I have on my E. George. The whole game I am playing up trying not to piss the whole lot off, "of course your going to kick our ass! We are lucky to be in this game!" The tension starts to mount as the buckeyes just kill in the field position. Then in the fourth, they are in it and I am not being apologetic! Screw them, GO BUCKS! It goes into overtime, I start railing on this one kid who was talking shit all game. BEAT THAT MISERABLE DORSEY INTO THE GROUND! They win it! Fuck me, they win it! My brother calls me (buckeye grad and reason for my fandom amongst other reasons). WE ARE GOING NUTS! My crowd, PISSED, but I don't give a shit! I down my drink, eat my last pot brownie, get my ride and tell everyone to fuck off as I walk out the door. I sat there and took their shit for 3 quarters. Payback is a bitch!
Great game and even greater memory.
The "Cardiac Kids"
What's your next run? I just ran a 5K out here, eligible for 3 divisions (Military/ Age/ Clydesdale) picked Clyde, finished 4th...would've place in Military or Age. You change your mind out the Rock and Roll yet?
I meant race.
My favorite Buckeye Moment was watching the 2006 Ohio State/Michigan game in the 'Shoe with my best friend who is a Seminole. I always told him that no college sports event beats the Ohio State/Michigan game. That game of course was one of the greatest matches played between those two teams. When it was over my friend said, "That was the greatest sports spectacle I have ever witnessed." I remember very little from that night following the game as we proceeded to get wasted on High St, like everyone in C-bus that day. Ah, memories! I want that book!
As a former Brutus Buckeye, I can remember the 1998 Michigan Game. I was Brutus the following year, so this year I was in the stands, A deck next to the OSU locker room (pre renovation). After suffering a week before as Joe Germaine threw that final interception in the corner of my endzone in the heart wrenching loss to Michigan State, it was time for redemption. I realize there were many bigger moments since, MNC 2006 OSU MICH, but after losses in 1995, 96, 97 to that school up north, on a cold, sunny day to beat Tom Brady and company to get that proverbial monkey off the back was unbelievable. Storming the field, tearing up the turf, and lauding the only UM victory during my undergrad years is the best memory I can think of. Anyone else enjoy that game.
I was at that game too! So many great games. It's hard to pick one.
Did I mention I want that book?!
freshmen year of college. 2002. played football at w&j noted college of roger goodell and coaching assistant richard mcnutt also coached there. never got to see a single buckeye game the entire year because we always played at the same times. national championship game myself, and four best friends from high school watched it together. two die hard miami fans and three buckeye fans. intense screaming match the entire game. on dorsey's incomplete pass I am standing in a doorway behind the couch and I leap in joy at the sight of the buckeye victory...and promptly knock myself out cold on the doorway. slump to the ground in a heap. I am awakened by celebratory beer being dumped on my head.
two other memories from that season; watching nuge nail a game winner with coach nutt on the team bus and catching will allen's interception with my dad in the dorm room after our game that day. yea bucks.
Not really making fun of Michigan, more making fun of the recruiting process generally, but...
http://www.theonion.com/articl...
I want to say the 2002/3 National Championship because it was the most important in lifetime. I have no flashy story, no entertaining antic dote. So as not to sound so repetitive I'll pick the 2005 Bowl game against Notre Dame. Season in Recap: Notre Dame barely lost to a heavily favored USC by an illegal Reggie Bush Push. They had looked pretty impressive offensively all year long. This was the first year of the hyped, “Savior of Notre Dame”, Cheeseburger Charley. We were a defensive Juggernaut and were coming into our own on offense. We lost a game we shouldn't have to Texas (National Champions) and got out played by a good Penn State team. I work with several Notre Dame Fans and we decided to watch the game together. We agreed to keep things civil and discuss calls and plays with a level head. Going into the game we had kept our word and they were gushing over our defense and I was complimenting their offense, all of us trying to be humble. So day of, I show up at my buddies house and he has his non-profession buddies there along with three other friends from work that were closet fans. The other guys whom I did not know were talking smack to me, the lone Buckeye there. So my co-worker tells him to be polite and to knock it off. Fast forward to the kick off and Notre Dame score on that first drive easily. The co-worker stands up and throws chips at me yelling, "Take that $#!+, f'er!!" What the hell happened to this atmosphere we agreed to keep? This is the first time that I have ever felt a fire for any other team outside of _ichigain. I sat there and tried to remain meek and passive. We responded with a quick pass to Teddy Ginn (when he had hands), who beat his man by ten yards before he even caught the ball in the end zone. I jumped off of the couch and somehow hit my head on his ceiling fan, a feat I was not able to duplicate any other time, and began a slew of obscenities that I didn't know I was capable of. They all hung their heads in disbelief. Furthermore after that, touchdown it was all us. Our defense was brilliant. The look on their faces after trying to initially humiliate me was priceless and the fact that I got to see that look for near 2 hours only made it that much more enjoyable. That feeling can only be repeated when we beat an SEC team in a championship game. (Oregon last year came close) The SEC since then has become the second "Team" I have learned to have a fire for. Due to this experience and fans like theirs I have learned to love college football more passionately than I have ever before. Sometimes I feel that if I know more about the teams we face, somehow my direct knowledge will result in our team playing better against said team. Crazy I know, but I wouldn't be a fanatic if I weren't a little crazy now would I?
Forgot the email, thanks!
I had a great time at that game. It was such a mess that day, but I was right in the middle of Block O, painted face and all, and also rushing the field with the rest of the students (I was an OSU junior at the time).
My favorite Buckeye moment is an easy one ... November 1987, Earle's last game, and my 8 year old ass is sitting in the Victor's Club section of Michigan Stadium with my dad (my dad's boss at the time was a scUM grad). Not only did I get to delight in annoying the ever loving out of these old curmudgeons, I got to bear witness to Chris Spielman's greatest game, a redemption of sorts for Earle, and have a long lasting memory of getting the best of those fans that day.
There are so many, from my first OSU game (Iowa, 1985), to my first OSU/U-M game (the infamous 1992 tie, Herbstriet crying at midfield afterwards), the OSU/PSU slogfest in 1993, last year's Navy game (first game I'd been to in years), and ones I didn't go to, such as the whole 2002 season, which I watched from flight school in San Antonio.
But my best memory is my final game as an OSU student, the OSU/U-M 1994 game, where Cooper FINALLY best U-M. A few of us in USG found out that Phantom Band would not be marching that Thursday night, which we found horrible and wrong. So about eight of us decided to create our own phantom band, complete with a boom box with a CD player (remember those?) and kazoos (we were drunk, c'mon) and made the march that Phantom Band would have done. About an hour and thousands of people later, we ended up at Enarson Hall and made a run at Mirror Lake, deciding that to go back to the stadium would have been useless, and took a freezing yet cathartic swim, while leaving campus in a TP filled mess, even leaving some street signs in the lake. Two days later we finally beat U-M, and it still represents some of the most fun I've ever had, and probably the only time I ever willfully incited a riot. Good times!
I was sitting in the south stands, section 37 B for the infamous 2005 POO PANTS GAME. It was a 3:30 game, and we were all hammered which made it even better. JoePoo the meme that will never die.
2006*
As a follow-up, my worst OSU memory was the OSU/U-M 1993 game, where a tremendous season completely imploded in AA. A buddy of mine and I had tix in the south end of their stadium and thought we'd be partying it up all night; instead we left at the end of the third quarter, down 28-0 and the game wasn't even that close. It was a long drive back, but we decided to go to Cleveland instead and hang with some friends over at one of the CSU bars, where the proprietors took pity on us being witness to such a horrible game and let us judge a wet t-shirt contest they were having that night. It softened the blow, but I'd never felt worse immediately after a game than then. (That was later trumped by 1997 World Series Game 7 and the 2006 MNC game.)
I had it FedEx'd to where I was the *weekend of the 4th*! Great read!
I was a sophomore in 2002, and was at all of those Big Ten home games, including the thrillers against Penn State and Michigan. I had seats 5th row C-deck on the 50 yard line my senior year, even though that was 2004 and we had a less-than-stellar showing until the Michigan game. And I was at this year's Rose Bowl, and practically cried after the Buckeyes won and talked to my Dad on the phone as I was exiting the stadium.
But the game I find most special to brag about was being at the 1995 Illinois-Ohio State game, where Eddie broke the rushing record. It's rare you witness something that's historically important, but there's an unfortunate catch to the story. I was only 13 at the time, and quite scrawny. And for those of you who were there, you know just how flippin' cold and windy it was that day. I distinctly remember the half-time show trying to make use of scarlet and gray banners of which they quickly lost control and blew all over the field. So, right around the time it got dark, it became just too cold for me in those south stands. I couldn't feel my hands or feet, and we had to leave to go back to the car to warm up. We heard Eddie break the record on the car's radio in the parking garage, and unfortunately weren't able to witness it. I didn't know at the time I would go to Ohio State for college, and now kick myself for not seeing the actual moment. But I do get to say I was at that game.
Flash forward 2 years, we were finally able to get those ticket stubs signed by #27 himself. So in the end it worked out alright.
Last years State Penn game was one of the happiest moments of my life. That shut-out in Happy Valley was amazing. I knew we were in for a treat of a game from the minute Ray Ray got his hands on the first punt with about 40 yds of open field in front of him. From TP making Bowman look downright foolish (on a bum knee no less) to Homan flatbacking Sean Lee (most over-rated "LB" ever IMHO) to the most beautiful PA bomb of the season, where Posey makes the catch, and in bumbling State Penn fashion, their CB's tackle...wait for it...each other. I also like run-on sentences...
Keith Byars on his way to the end zone, wearing only one shoe. I don't recall how old I was, but I remember laughing my ass off, and thought, "damn, those Buckeyes are some pretty dedicated dudes! F**k Michigan! "
That was the beginning of my Buckeye Obsession.
That has to be one of the best OSU/UM games of all time. I still remember all the players wearing headbands with "EARLE" on them! Very touching.
It's tough to follow a legend.
Lighty having 47 parking tickets is the LOLest thing since LOL
fail on the gravatar
They put people like me in charge, folks. Be very worried.
I know. Lighty could've gotten a chauffeur for the same price! Maybe even a hot, tan one.
My favorite Buckeye memory is, actually, a two-parter.
I was in Michigan Stadium, rooting for the Bucks, in 1973. I was 8. It was my first time attending The Ohio State-Michigan Game. Both teams were undefeated. And, of course, Ohio State came out and tried to tear the M Club banner, to pieces. To this day, I have never experienced a more intense and hostile reaction in a football stadium. Bob Ufer's call is epic.
The following summer, I got to meet Woody. He was pushing his book, "You Win With People", up here in Toledo, at Walden Books, in Southwyck Mall.
I told him, "Coach, I saw the game in Ann Arbor. I like how you got the team to tear down Michigan's banner."
Like a good grandfather he chuckled, "I didn't tell them to do that. I scolded'em for doing that! Learn from their mistake, sonny! They're all good boys and I'm proud of'em. But, that was not good sportsmanship, on our part."
There have been so many! One that stands out in my mind was the 1957 home game against a very strong Iowa team that year. Down by about a 10-14(?) score, Ohio State took the after-score kick off at the north end of the shoe with about four minutes remaining in the game. Not sure how many plays it took but Bob White carried on six of the last seven plays leading to the final touchdown and held off Iowa for the minute or so remaining for a 17-14 win. The were Big Ten Champions that year as a result. May have been named AP national champs that year as well. Details are getting fuzzy. I was a soph at OSU then.
Might get bashed for this but my favorite Buckeyes moment was the day I found elevenwarriors.com...and the day everyone on the site got out of hound ha haaaa. If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.
But actually witnessing the Buckeyes winning the National Championship in 02/03 was pretty much a dream come true.
My favorite Buckeye moment is probably the first OSU game I can remember ever attending. It was 1995 against Illinois, and I was 9 years old. I was sitting up in the C-Deck in the closed end of the 'Shoe. Eddie George had just broken free for his second touchdown, and that was the endzone closest to me. The most memorable moment of the first game I can remember being at was the entire stadium chanting "EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE" over and over again. I believe it took that moment for me to realize just how special Eddie George was, and to this day, I still have that ticket stub. Eddie ran for a school-record that day of 314 yards and 2 TD's, along with a receiving TD.
I'm not even trying for a free copy, because so many of you have great stories. I just wanted to say my favorite Buckeye moments were all with my dad at the stadium. My first Spring game with my dad... sitting in the sun and watching the Buckeyes. Doesn't get any better than that.
Ah...basic training. Nothing like shoving down two loaded cheeseburgers and a plate of fries in less than 5 minutes. Tell me, can you still recite the chain of command all these years later?
My favorite moment?
The day I saw Belisorry graduate. Seriously...life on campus was hell then, so we all got drunk and celebrated at our apartment. 3 kegs later, a visit by CPD and the Ghetto Bird (police helicopter), and I was feeling pretty good about the Buckeye future.
Shirtless, Smoking cigars and shot-gunning beers outside on a frigid, dark Saturday morning in January. Of course, the evening began on Friday, January 3rd, 2003. In the words of Dr. Dre', "I gotta say it was a good day."