A Bit Of Perspective

Ok, not to be “that guy”, but like many Buckeye fans I find myself with a huge amount of trepidation regarding Saturday’s game.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a believer in The Wolf’s  mantra about counting chickens, or perhaps it’s because I want to be more satisfied with my cheering/viewing experience. Either way, I’m not seeing this game as the blowout that many fans from both sides are.

Since my therapist and the voices in my head tell me that it’s good to “talk these types of things through”, let me give you a couple of reasons that we should remember that The Game means throwing out the record books.

• 1969– Undefeated in 22 games, the Buckeyes “greatest team” had clinched the Rose Bowl and was preparing for their national title defense. Welcoming them to Ann Arbor was a 7-2 record and a young coach trying to restore the program to glory after an embarrassment the year before in Columbus. Final score, Ohio State 12- scUM 24. To his dying day, Woody held a grudge against Bo for the upset, considered to be the beginning of the Ten Year War.
• 1996– Number two ranked Ohio State was headed again to the Rose Bowl and a potential national championship when 7-3 Mich1gAAn upset them in Columbus, and ended any hopes of a shiny trophy for John Cooper. This was the last time that the Buckeyes visited Pasadena (although I can’t say for certain what the players might do during their free time).

Ok, that was depressing… and eye opening. Two more reasons to never EVER take The Game lightly, these with better endings.

• 1987– Prior to the game, an embattled Earle Bruce is fired, particularly for under-performing against That Team Up North. The team rallies around him, and the 5-4-1 Buckeyes upset the 7-3 hosts in Ann Arbor. Here’s the joy, brought to you by our friend Vico at OHD-

• 2001- The 6-4 Buckeyes headed to Ann Arbor led by their new, previously unknown coach to face the 11th ranked 8-2 hosts wearing the helmets with wings.  The rest, as they say, is history:

With all the rumors swirling around TTUN, with the sense of desperation around the team and the coaching staff, there’s no better time to remember the wisdom of St. Woody–

“The time you give a man something he doesn’t earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.”

This year, as always, victory in The Game must be earned.