Mike Meals
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The View From Beyond The Shoe: Crossing Enemy Lines
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
March 31st, 1835.
A day that will forever hold special in the hearts of Ohio State football fans, even if they don’t know that date or why.
You see, on March 31st, 1835, Ohio Militia Commander-In-Chief (and Governor) Robert Lucas arrived in Perrysburg with 600 fully armed militia men from the Ohio Militia. The intent was to seize control of the “Toledo Strip”, a small swath of land that included the area around Toledo and the mouth of the Maumee River. Ohio wanted this land for the economic value that port would offer the young state. Governor Lucas showed up with intent of getting it back from Territorial Governor Lewis Cass, of the Michigan Territory. This started the famed “Ohio-Michigan War” (which Ohio won, of course).
Ohio managed, as a State, to get the federal government to side with them over a territory. In all, despite having 400 more men in the area from their militia, Michigan sustained the only wounded person in the war. A sheriff from Michigan was stabbed in the leg when he tried to (unlawfully) arrest Ohio Major Benjamin Stickney (Yet another Ohio victory…I am sensing a pattern here, Michigan starts doing things before Ohio, claims they are better, and then gets beat by Ohio…hmmm).
From that time on, Michigan and Ohio would forever be at war. Not always over land, not always with firearms, but always with passion and general disgust for their counterparts. It goes from debates over better cities, roadways, maple syrup, and all the way to sporting events.
Many marketing people have tried to play off this. Most notably, ESPN and Nissan. Everyone who follows Ohio State sports remembers this set of ESPN commercials:
(copyright ESPN)
But can a Buckeye and a Wolverine really live together? Can an Ohio State fan, with all that is glorious and wonderful about being a Buckeye, co-exist with a Walmart Wolverine? Can he bite his tongue while laughing at UM fumbling a punt snap and eventually losing to Michigan State? Can he go on for years without mentioning how great of a coach both Brady Hoke and RichRod were?
Evidently, he can.
I have a confession. A year ago this week, I married a Michigan fan. September 2015, I vowed that I would take this Michigan fan and, no matter how many times the TTUN steps on their own **** and screws the pooch, I would comfort and console her. And I do it with a smile on my face. Not because I enjoy my bride being sad, but because her team has let her down so much, I have gotten good at it. It’s tough not to laugh, but I do what I can out of love.
So this week, I want to take a step back from all the talk about bad college officials, players buying stuff in the book store on campus and violating NCAA rules, and everything else bad in this world. I want to say “Thank You!” to Governor Lucas for showing up in Perrysburg that March day. If not for you, I would have to find something else to give my wife a hard time over.
Happy Anniversary, Lauren. I love you, even with all your faults.
Go Bucks!
September, 2015…What a glorious Grooms Cake.
The post The View From Beyond The Shoe: Crossing Enemy Lines appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
March 31st, 1835.
A day that will forever hold special in the hearts of Ohio State football fans, even if they don’t know that date or why.
You see, on March 31st, 1835, Ohio Militia Commander-In-Chief (and Governor) Robert Lucas arrived in Perrysburg with 600 fully armed militia men from the Ohio Militia. The intent was to seize control of the “Toledo Strip”, a small swath of land that included the area around Toledo and the mouth of the Maumee River. Ohio wanted this land for the economic value that port would offer the young state. Governor Lucas showed up with intent of getting it back from Territorial Governor Lewis Cass, of the Michigan Territory. This started the famed “Ohio-Michigan War” (which Ohio won, of course).
Ohio managed, as a State, to get the federal government to side with them over a territory. In all, despite having 400 more men in the area from their militia, Michigan sustained the only wounded person in the war. A sheriff from Michigan was stabbed in the leg when he tried to (unlawfully) arrest Ohio Major Benjamin Stickney (Yet another Ohio victory…I am sensing a pattern here, Michigan starts doing things before Ohio, claims they are better, and then gets beat by Ohio…hmmm).
From that time on, Michigan and Ohio would forever be at war. Not always over land, not always with firearms, but always with passion and general disgust for their counterparts. It goes from debates over better cities, roadways, maple syrup, and all the way to sporting events.
Many marketing people have tried to play off this. Most notably, ESPN and Nissan. Everyone who follows Ohio State sports remembers this set of ESPN commercials:
(copyright ESPN)
But can a Buckeye and a Wolverine really live together? Can an Ohio State fan, with all that is glorious and wonderful about being a Buckeye, co-exist with a Walmart Wolverine? Can he bite his tongue while laughing at UM fumbling a punt snap and eventually losing to Michigan State? Can he go on for years without mentioning how great of a coach both Brady Hoke and RichRod were?
Evidently, he can.
I have a confession. A year ago this week, I married a Michigan fan. September 2015, I vowed that I would take this Michigan fan and, no matter how many times the TTUN steps on their own **** and screws the pooch, I would comfort and console her. And I do it with a smile on my face. Not because I enjoy my bride being sad, but because her team has let her down so much, I have gotten good at it. It’s tough not to laugh, but I do what I can out of love.
So this week, I want to take a step back from all the talk about bad college officials, players buying stuff in the book store on campus and violating NCAA rules, and everything else bad in this world. I want to say “Thank You!” to Governor Lucas for showing up in Perrysburg that March day. If not for you, I would have to find something else to give my wife a hard time over.
Happy Anniversary, Lauren. I love you, even with all your faults.
Go Bucks!
September, 2015…What a glorious Grooms Cake.
The post The View From Beyond The Shoe: Crossing Enemy Lines appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...