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Game Thread For the Natty vs ND, “One More, Then Forever”, Jan. 20th, 34-23 Buckeyes!

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This is the third national championship in my life time. I’ve been a little numb for the last 24 hours but I’ve had time to reflect on it and it’s been a cathartic experience.

Numb probably sounds odd but my Dad passed hours before the 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta bowl. The memory of that day and the game is still so vivid to me. I felt like the game and the loss of my Dad were somehow connected.

Football was very important in our relationship. He was severely damaged mentally and spiritually by his experience in Vietnam and football was one of the only things we were able to bond over.

As is often the case when someone loses a parent my priorities shifted and I made the decision to leave a lucrative sales career and go to work in behavioral health with a focus on trauma informed care.

I facilitate a weekly trauma peer group for veterans and living an hour drive from Happy Valley means most of my group are Penn State fans. Being a peer based group they know the story of my relationship with my Dad and how the Clemson game is linked in my mind with his death.

There’s always a lot of good natured ribbing during college football season and I was prepared to hear all the O$U Luckeye stuff today but when I walked in one of my guys gave me an OH. I of course responded in the only way a lifelong Buckeye can and then we talked football for the entire hour.

I shared the story of Ryan Day’s father and his struggle to come to terms with his own trauma. They were fascinated that he reached the pinnacle of his profession on the anniversary of his father’s death.

As I drove home I had my iTunes on shuffle and hang on sloopy came on. I had this sense that it was finally okay to just enjoy the moment. For almost a decade since Dad passed I still watched every game and it’s been fun but I haven’t enjoy it quite like I did before.

So now I’m up a 2:30 in the morning watching old Buckeye videos on YouTube and telling internet strangers about my Dad’s death and my job.

When the weather warms up I’m going to drive back to western Ohio and celebrate with Dad. I’m going to find a florist willing to do a block O flower arrangement for him.

I posted last week about how the Tressel team was special to me but this one means so much.
 
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Cicero2 said:
This is the third national championship in my life time. I’ve been a little numb for the last 24 hours but I’ve had time to reflect on it and it’s been a cathartic experience.

Numb probably sounds odd but my Dad passed hours before the 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta bowl. The memory of that day and the game is still so vivid to me. I felt like the game and the loss of my Dad were somehow connected.

Football was very important in our relationship. He was severely damaged mentally and spiritually by his experience in Vietnam and football was one of the only things we were able to bond over.

As is often the case when someone loses a parent my priorities shifted and I made the decision to leave a lucrative sales career and go to work in behavioral health with a focus on trauma informed care.

I facilitate a weekly trauma peer group for veterans and living an hour drive from Happy Valley means most of my group are Penn State fans. Being a peer based group they know the story of my relationship with my Dad and how the Clemson game is linked in my mind with his death.

There’s always a lot of good natured ribbing during college football season and I was prepared to hear all the O$U Luckeye stuff today but when I walked in one of my guys gave me an OH. I of course responded in the only way a lifelong Buckeye can and then we talked football for the entire hour.

I shared the story of Ryan Day’s father and his struggle to come to terms with his own trauma. They were fascinated that he reached the pinnacle of his profession on the anniversary of his father’s death.

As I drove home I had my iTunes on shuffle and hang on sloopy came on. I had this sense that it was finally okay to just enjoy the moment. For almost a decade since Dad passed I still watched every game and it’s been fun but I haven’t enjoy it quite like I did before.

So now I’m up a 2:30 in the morning watching old Buckeye videos on YouTube and telling internet strangers about my Dad’s death and my job.

When the weather warms up I’m going to drive back to western Ohio and celebrate with Dad. I’m going to find a florist willing to do a block O flower arrangement for him.

I posted last week about how the Tressel team was special to me but this one means so much.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this, it really puts everything into perspective. Bless you and your father.
 
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