Ken
Guest
HOW FIRM THY FRIENDSHIP: O-HI-O
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Here is an article from guest writer Brandon from The Islands. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.)
HOW FIRM THY FRIENDSHIP
It is something that is embedded into your make up as a young child growing up in Ohio or as a supplanted Buckeye family. It is really hard for anyone to pinpoint when you exactly became a Buckeye fan. For some, it is what they were brought up into and for others it was when they first made the decision to attend the Ohio State University. The earliest memories I have as a young Buckeye fan are watching Carlos Snow and Jay Burson dominate teams. I was too young to know about Snow taking off the 1990 season to battle a tumor on his hip but I simply enjoyed watching him play. The same goes for Burson, who was and still is my favorite Buckeye basketball player of all time. I remember being a heartbroken nine year old as Burson lay on the floor after his collision with Ed Horton. These two relatively unknown Buckeyes to today’s generation are my first Buckeye memories and helped form what in my fandom today.
Each person has their own version of when they first became Buckeyes but we can all agree that it is a great thing. Honestly, being a Buckeye fan is something like being in a relationship. At first, things are very casual. You are generally interested in the university and their teams but it does not consume your life. Then, out of nowhere, it hits you that you are fully engrained into the Buckeye world and you constantly want to be a part of it. Nine year old me would never dream of flying around the nation attending football games but it has evolved into something more than simply being a fan. It is a family which we can’t take for granted.
For those living in the great state of Ohio, the Buckeye fandom is just a way of life. Everywhere you go there are Buckeye flags and people wearing Buckeye gear head to toe. You pass by them as if they are the complete stranger they truly are and you go on with your day. There is not a second thought given to the non-interaction but this is not the case for all of Buckeye nation. For many Buckeyes around the world, this opportunity was a chance to share a bond with a complete stranger or make a friend. It may be as simple as saying “Go Bucks!”, tossing an “O-H” or sending back an “I-O” but each three to five second interaction reminds you that you are part of something special. These are all things that happen on a daily basis throughout Ohio and most of the times go with no extra thought put into it. It has gotten to the point where many Buckeye fans openly despise getting or sending an O-H to a fellow Buckeye because they feel like it is lame which is unfortunate.
For those living thousands of miles away from Ohio, every chance they get to have that Buckeye bond they take advantage of it. I am far from an outgoing individual but whether I’m in Ohio or across the country, you will never see me pass by a Buckeye fan in the grocery store and not say “Go Bucks”. These little moments are things we have to remember and cherish. We are all lucky enough to be a part of the fan base that was able to take over California Memorial Stadium in 2013. The fan base that travels very well to all of the bowl games to represent our team in enemy territory. The fan base that proudly chanted “S-E-C” at the end of the 2011 Sugar Bowl after getting the SEC monkey off of the teams back. On second thought, disregard that last one because it allegedly never happened even though I literally have pictures to prove otherwise.
This weekend is one of those opportunities to share in that special Buckeye Nation bond. The athletic department has made a decision to black out the stadium which includes the controversial black uniforms. These uniforms have caused a complete tear in the Buckeye fan base between three very distinct fan groups; traditionalists, modernists, and neutral. No matter where you stand on this subject, Saturday is your chance to become a part of something very special.
We have to remember that being a part of Buckeye Nation goes beyond the uniforms and players on the field. It is about a bond where millions of people who don’t know each other can come together and support a university that they are proud of. There is no specific way each erson has to show their support but each person has their own way of doing this. Whether it is the Buckeye fan in Australia waking up at 3 am on a Sunday morning to watch their Buckeyes take on a lower tier team or a Buckeye fan in Texas who superstitiously has to miss the opening kick-off every game to help the Buckeyes win, Buckeye Nation is something we should all feel privileged to be a part of. For 4 hours on Saturday night, put your feelings about tradition aside and become a part of the Buckeye bond. Don’t feel like you have to go buy a new black jersey or brand new shirt, grab a black sweatshirt or jacket from your closet and go enjoy a chance to celebrate our team with 107,000 of your closest friends.
The post HOW FIRM THY FRIENDSHIP: O-HI-O appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Here is an article from guest writer Brandon from The Islands. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.)
HOW FIRM THY FRIENDSHIP
It is something that is embedded into your make up as a young child growing up in Ohio or as a supplanted Buckeye family. It is really hard for anyone to pinpoint when you exactly became a Buckeye fan. For some, it is what they were brought up into and for others it was when they first made the decision to attend the Ohio State University. The earliest memories I have as a young Buckeye fan are watching Carlos Snow and Jay Burson dominate teams. I was too young to know about Snow taking off the 1990 season to battle a tumor on his hip but I simply enjoyed watching him play. The same goes for Burson, who was and still is my favorite Buckeye basketball player of all time. I remember being a heartbroken nine year old as Burson lay on the floor after his collision with Ed Horton. These two relatively unknown Buckeyes to today’s generation are my first Buckeye memories and helped form what in my fandom today.
Each person has their own version of when they first became Buckeyes but we can all agree that it is a great thing. Honestly, being a Buckeye fan is something like being in a relationship. At first, things are very casual. You are generally interested in the university and their teams but it does not consume your life. Then, out of nowhere, it hits you that you are fully engrained into the Buckeye world and you constantly want to be a part of it. Nine year old me would never dream of flying around the nation attending football games but it has evolved into something more than simply being a fan. It is a family which we can’t take for granted.
For those living in the great state of Ohio, the Buckeye fandom is just a way of life. Everywhere you go there are Buckeye flags and people wearing Buckeye gear head to toe. You pass by them as if they are the complete stranger they truly are and you go on with your day. There is not a second thought given to the non-interaction but this is not the case for all of Buckeye nation. For many Buckeyes around the world, this opportunity was a chance to share a bond with a complete stranger or make a friend. It may be as simple as saying “Go Bucks!”, tossing an “O-H” or sending back an “I-O” but each three to five second interaction reminds you that you are part of something special. These are all things that happen on a daily basis throughout Ohio and most of the times go with no extra thought put into it. It has gotten to the point where many Buckeye fans openly despise getting or sending an O-H to a fellow Buckeye because they feel like it is lame which is unfortunate.
For those living thousands of miles away from Ohio, every chance they get to have that Buckeye bond they take advantage of it. I am far from an outgoing individual but whether I’m in Ohio or across the country, you will never see me pass by a Buckeye fan in the grocery store and not say “Go Bucks”. These little moments are things we have to remember and cherish. We are all lucky enough to be a part of the fan base that was able to take over California Memorial Stadium in 2013. The fan base that travels very well to all of the bowl games to represent our team in enemy territory. The fan base that proudly chanted “S-E-C” at the end of the 2011 Sugar Bowl after getting the SEC monkey off of the teams back. On second thought, disregard that last one because it allegedly never happened even though I literally have pictures to prove otherwise.
This weekend is one of those opportunities to share in that special Buckeye Nation bond. The athletic department has made a decision to black out the stadium which includes the controversial black uniforms. These uniforms have caused a complete tear in the Buckeye fan base between three very distinct fan groups; traditionalists, modernists, and neutral. No matter where you stand on this subject, Saturday is your chance to become a part of something very special.
We have to remember that being a part of Buckeye Nation goes beyond the uniforms and players on the field. It is about a bond where millions of people who don’t know each other can come together and support a university that they are proud of. There is no specific way each erson has to show their support but each person has their own way of doing this. Whether it is the Buckeye fan in Australia waking up at 3 am on a Sunday morning to watch their Buckeyes take on a lower tier team or a Buckeye fan in Texas who superstitiously has to miss the opening kick-off every game to help the Buckeyes win, Buckeye Nation is something we should all feel privileged to be a part of. For 4 hours on Saturday night, put your feelings about tradition aside and become a part of the Buckeye bond. Don’t feel like you have to go buy a new black jersey or brand new shirt, grab a black sweatshirt or jacket from your closet and go enjoy a chance to celebrate our team with 107,000 of your closest friends.
The post HOW FIRM THY FRIENDSHIP: O-HI-O appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...