NOVEMVER 30, 2019
THE DAY XICHIGAN FOOTBALL DIED
Many of us have had people we know die after a long, extended illness. For loved ones watching them go from a place of health to becoming a shell of their former self is difficult to both assimilate and navigate through. We have all heard of the seven stages of grief: Shock, Denial, Bargaining, Guilt, Anger, Depression and finally Acceptance.
It is my belief that Xichigan football started to die the day Jim Tressel took over as the HC of THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES. He was the original wolverine slayer. And with the exception of one year we saw a slow but consistent decline in the health of their football program. Oh, they tried different doctor's (Head Coaches) but the program never really looked the same or felt the same. These "specialists" were never able to treat the programs ills. And it only got worse over time.
But there came a time where hope was renewed because a new doctor came upon the scene. Certainly he would remedy the ills that plagued the program. He would wave the magic wand and life and vigor and strength would return. He, you see, was a Xicigan Man. But it wasn't to be because Urban Meyer continued and built upon what was started by the original wolverine slayer. And their condition only got worst.
When it all began the first stage was shock. How could Ohio do this to the winningest team in CFB history? Then came denial. No way! It's the refs who are making us lose. Ohio is paying their players. The academics are inferior to ours and that's why they get so much 5 star talent. And on and on and on it went, ad nauseam. Then came bargaining followed by guilt. "Why are we so inferior?" they would think to themselves. Why have we sunk so low? Why are we no longer respected? "I don't like how this makes me feel like such a loser!"
Then came the anger and the outbursts and the insults. It really came as a result of a 62-39 beat down. No one had scored that many points against them in the history of the program. The anger rose and blame was cast everywhere. Then, on the fateful day of November 30, 2019 the end arrived and a heartbeat was no longer to be found. It was over. Now everyone accepts the death of a once great program. And what Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer started, Ryan Day finished. The end.