Hey everybody. I'm sure a thread like this can found somewhere on here but I wanted to post something that I just wrote. I am currently a student at The Ohio State University and I am studying abroad. I was able to go to the Marshall game this year and the following day I left to come over to Germany for four months. The Miami game was the first game I have missed since I was four years old and Ohio State played Northwestern in 1992. Currently, I'm doing a blog for my study abroad experience and the most recent post I made was about dealing with homesickness. Currently, I'm not having any problems with homesickness but it was a concern I wanted fellow friends to read and I wanted to post it for students in my major who have the opportunity to study abroad next year. The big reason I'm not having problems is due to Ohio State football and the bond I have formed with other people and with my family (especially my father) over Ohio State football. Anyway, I wanted to post the excerpt about why Ohio State football will not only help me get through not being in Columbus with my fmaily for four months, but it's something that can help me throughout life. I'd love to hear what other people have to say as far as what Ohio State football means to them and I just wanted to share with all of you what I wrote and how much Ohio State football has meant to me since 1992. I'm not the best with writing and I'm pretty sure I may have gone off on some random tangents in this but it was important to me and it came from a heart that pumps nothing but scarlet and grey though my veins. So aside from it not being the most well written piece of literature, here for your reading pleasure is what Ohio State football means to me. Enjoy.
Exceprt from "Dealing With Homesickness While Abroad"
6) The last, most important thing I think I can give as advice for dealing with homesickness is to have something that no matter what, puts a smile on your face. Something that has deep significance and meaning to you. I’ll share with you what I have with me that I know if I’m feeling down, it can always, no matter what, put a smile on my face. Ohio State football. I have A LOT of great memories that have come from Ohio State football that are more than just memories of a game. I’ve been going to games with my dad since 1992. We’ve been to over 120 games together. Since I was four years old, each and every Saturday became that day of the week I got to spend with my dad and be excited about with my family. OSU football means a lot to my family and it’s a great reminder of all the great things in my life. Heck, I’m choking up writing this little part, no lie. I actually remember my first game I went to with my dad. My favorite NFL team was the Minnesota VIkings. Ohio State was playing Northwestern and at the beginning of the game, I was actually rooting for Northwestern. They were purple and the Vikings were purple. At that age I thought I was watching the Vikings play out on the field. I remember wanting to leave at halftime. My dad bought me so many hot dogs to keep me there. At three years old I probably ate more hot dogs that day than any one else in the stadium. Takeru Kobayashi had nothing on me that day. From that day a special bond was formed.
I was fortunate enough to go to the Marshall game with my dad on September 3rd and filled my heart and my mind with as many great memories on that day. When the band marches out on the field. When the band does Script Ohio (hands down the greatest thing in the world) and dots the I. Carmen Ohio. When the team comes out on the field in all their scarlet and grey glory. When there’s a hole in the line and we bust through for a score. When there’s a sack, an interception, even a punt. It is all special. It reminds me of the wonderful things I have in life, that being friends and family. I’ve shared a lot of great memories with friends and family throughout all the years, all the games, the wins, and the losses. Rushing the field with my friend Bud after Ohio State beat Michigan in ‘06. Everybody around us (except for our friend Steven… he likes that dreadful team up north) jumping up and down, smiling, cheering on the great victory. Taking my friend Jamie to a game when she moved back to Columbus. Going to a couple games with my good friend Angela last year when my dad couldn’t go and getting pictures with Archie Griffin. I still remember rushing the field in ‘02 with my friend Bryan after Ohio State beat Michigan. We sprinted down from C deck to run onto the field. It was an amazing experience. Thinking of these things reminds me of great times I’ve had with the amazing people that I care about. The bus ride home from games with my dad could be one of the most special things I’ve ever gotten to experience. From a young age, coming back from football games has always been something that has touched my heart in a way it’s near impossible to explain to someone. There’s something that was always special about putting change in for the bus ride home. A bus ride that, since 1991 was always from the bus stop in front of the Wendy’s on campus, has never changed when we would go home. Always hitting the button for out stop not he way home as soon as we got to the Donatos in Clintonville. It’s a tradition that I cherish and value. I remember being younger and racing my dad home once we crossed High Street. He never won. Not because he was slow, but because he was my dad. He loved me, and we formed a strong bond that is unbreakable thanks to all these small things. Always getting home and sitting down on the couch with him and my mom, watching the other games throughout the day or throughout the night. Ohio State football means much more to me than most people. It means much more than the team winning. It means much more than beating Michigan. It means great memories of friends and my family. Memories that, yes, I will admit this, bring tears to my eyes as I type this. Not tears of sadness, but tears of happiness and hope. Hope that when the seasons start to change and it’s time for football again, I can be there each and every home game, sitting next to my dad. And then we can take the bus home. I can put the money in the bus (even though with my BuckID it’s free for me). I can hit that strip on the bus as we pass Donatos and we can cross High Street together and walk home. Like I said, Ohio State football means much, much more to me than it does to other people. It makes me think of home. Makes me think of friends. Makes me think of my loving family. You may think I’m a little homesick but that’s not the truth. Having these great memories in my heart and in my head will get me through much more than being abroad for four months. It’s something to get me through life, and I urge that if you are homesick, think of something like this. It is impossible to not smile and feel good when you think of that one thing that is special and ever so dear to you.
- Thanks for all the hot dogs dad
