FanPost

Why I am a Buckeyes fan...

Why I am a fan of Ohio State... Easy. They are the best. In all seriousness, many of the posts that I am reading about sports fans and their fandom here on this blog and others involves stories of transformation of a non-fan or semi-fan into a full blown fan. For me there is no powerful story of transformation, or incredible moment of discovery. I cannot remember a time when "Go Buckeyes!", or even (especially) "Michigan stinks!" was not interchangeable with "please" at the dinner table. I never had a chance to be anything other than a Buckeye nut, as I was born into it.

I was born in the literal heart of SEC country. My dad is a OSU alum transplant who came here for a job in the 80's and never left (warmer climes probably, maybe his wife? We'll never know). Growing up where the majority of fandom shared my team's color scheme was a little confusing at times, but my young mind eventually wrapped itself around and was able to differentiate our "scarlet and gray" in lieu of the more typical of my community, UGA red n black, or even the occasional GT gold scheme. The alienation I felt as a youngster has in part built me into who I am today, desiring the companionship of others who share my exotic passion, or even hail from the holy land where my heritage still remains. I learned to make due as the outcast, usually backing the better team.

Really, I have two reasons why I remain a Buckeye today, never having attended the school or lived in the state. First, a transcendent connection that persists through the on-again off-again nature of my relationship to OSU through some of high school and through college, although to be fair the majority of the reason for the "off" season was due to the fact that I didn't have a TV as well as having to keep up grades. I emerged from these periods into adulthood with a fandom for Buckeye sports that is passionate at best, obsessive at worst. This has even registered as fandom of other sports, since college football/basketball isn't a year-round sport. The Buckeyes have been a good thing for me in life.

Secondly, there is the twist to the relationship that I share with my dad that the Buckeyes add. In the beginning, Ohio State football was probably just something that he loved that he had going on any given Saturday and had the wherewithal to include me. Over the years we always had Buckeye football to look forward to, and even went to some games when we could. I am glad to say that now, my relationship with my dad is not dominated by sports, but is shaped and strengthened by it instead. For this reason, I will pass on my love for Ohio State to my children (hopefully successfully, right?) and we will share in this together with grandpa.

Even when we get blown out by a southern team, and my friends and neighbors and coworkers will not let me get over it, I will always be a Buckeye. I will always bleed Scarlet and Gray,

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