It means a lot...
Being a Buckeye outside of Ohio, having tOSU football is a connection to home. As a student I don't think that I appreciated it as much... even as a younger adult I didn't appreciate it. If I had to guess it was more because of Coop and being a bit down on the 'program' with him at the wheel than anything.
Now with boys being raised in Chicagoland, having 13 weeks a year where my boys and I get the chance to celebrate being Buckeyes together is a way for us all to connect (the wife is included in that, but she's a BW grad).
We had the chance to be back in Cols this summer to spend time with family and friends. One of our friends who is a prof there asked us what we wanted to do one day and my response was very quick, "I'd like to all go back down to campus and spend the day... take everyone over to Mirror Lake and the Shoe."
So we did. One of the greatest days of my life. Being able to kick around campus and not have to worry about an exam
It was during that trip that it all came to me that the spirit that I have as a Buckeye is in as much as having a great team to root for as it is a matter of having a bond with home. Root for a team... or maybe just my roots. Don't know, don't care. Just glad that it's a part of my life.
Anyhow, one of the best memories from the trip down to campus was getting into the stadium. A gate was left open and we all went in to look at the stadium. We were basically all alone in the shoe and to watch my 5 and 3 year old boys in there and understand where they were and what it was all about was great. Just look at my avitar... that's not posed. They took a couple of minutes, themselves, to just look at the shoe for all that it is. I'd never in a million years be able to get another shot like that again. I'm just thankful that I got the shot when I did.
Also took the fam to the Purdue game this year because the boys were really begging to get to a game. They had to settle for an away game but next year I'm hoping to get three generations into the shoe to create a memory that I'm sure will last a life time.
So, what's it all mean? It's a connection to home and a connection to my family. Two of the most important things in my life. The things that make me who I am today. Things for which I'll be forever greatful. I hope that when it's all said and done that my boys will have the same kind of memories of tOSU experiences with their dad as I have with mine.
:osu: