Why are you cheering for Ohio State?

[hammb]

Great stuff....I've come to the point in my life where I loathe everything about the OSU fan base. I, personally, have nothing against OSU or their athletic program. It's the obnoxious, arrogant & demeaning attitude of the majority of Buck$ fans that I hate...many of these same people went to MAC schools.

This is my exact attitude Freak. I don't begrudge the school or team. They are in a system that is stacked in their favor, and they take advantage of it. I wouldn't complain if BG were in the same position.

But I cannot stand all the Buckeye fans. The ones who told me Florida didn't have a chance last year. The ones who tell me I should move out of Ohio if I'm not going to be a Buckeye fan. The ones who act like it's okay to root for BG so long as I realize we'll never be as great as the mighty Buckeyes.

I'm with you on those that don't root for their alma mater when they match up with the mighty Bucks. It bugs the hell out of me.

Personally I usually let the betting line determine if I'll be rooting for OSU or not on any given day.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I always make sure to point out to folks wearing scarlet and gray at BG games they are wearing the wrong colors.

Same here, luckily only saw three people wearing osu gear at the Temple game, but thats still three too many. I'll never understand why people go to games and wear gear of teams in the same sport that aren't playing in the game your at. The only college gear that should be seen at the Doyt on Saturday should be BG and WKU

[NY-BG-FAN]

1. Very nice article

2. As much as the BG students rooting for OSU epidemic bothers me, in all fairness to Ohio State it's a problem that goes far deeper than they. Living in this part of the country, I've actually had people ask me if I'm an Ohio State, Michigan, or Notre Dame fan. Like those are the only three choices I have living in the midwest. What the hell? And then when I say I'm a Bowling Green fan and couldn't care less about the other three, people laugh at me like I'm less of a football fan. I usually get a response like "well good for you", like it's a freakin act of charity that I throw all my support behind a MAC school, even if I graduated from it.

I understand the whole nature versus nurture debate when it comes to football fanship. Nature says I'm Syracuse fan, it's where I'm from and the team of my youth. But I was nurtured to be a Falcon fan. I'm in the camp that thinks it just fine for BG students to be OSU fans as I've said several times. But I agree with hammb, it blows my mind to think anyone could put their own school second. It's not like BGSU is in Division II. Then it might be ok. But we're in the FBS, same division as Ohio State last time I checked. And I hate hearing all this, "well the MAC is non-BCS" crap. See what Minnesota has to say about that.

And no one is "telling anyone who to root for" here. I think all anyone can ask is for BGSU students to get their priorities straight if they're fortunate enough to be students here. BGSU is doing students the favor, NOT the other way around.

I'm still a Syracuse fan, but wow have they become a distant second. So much so that I'm skipping watching their game this week so I can spend my afternoon tailgating at the Doyt. It's my first homecoming as an alum, and I couldn't be more excited. Well, this is way more than I wanted to write because this is an uphill and never ending debate that just runs in a circle, but thanks to those who keep taking it on. Keep fighting the good fight.

GO FALCONS! (and Orange!)

[The Niz]

A friend and I were at Frickers watching the game against Minny, and all the B10Network was doing for the entire game was showing OSU clips and stats. By the third qtr we couldn't take it anymore and I shouted who gives a rats azz? One table behind us in red and grey yelled back that they did, then half the bar turned to them and told them to go watch their game at b-dubs instead. It was heart warming.

[tiznow]

I always make sure to point out to folks wearing scarlet and gray at BG games they are wearing the wrong colors.

Same here, luckily only saw three people wearing osu gear at the Temple game, but thats still three too many. I'll never understand why people go to games and wear gear of teams in the same sport that aren't playing in the game your at. The only college gear that should be seen at the Doyt on Saturday should be BG and WKU

Your right on. When I see people wearing scarlet and gray, I automatically know they are a douche bag.

[1987alum]

I always make sure to point out to folks wearing scarlet and gray at BG games they are wearing the wrong colors.

Same here, luckily only saw three people wearing osu gear at the Temple game, but thats still three too many. I'll never understand why people go to games and wear gear of teams in the same sport that aren't playing in the game your at. The only college gear that should be seen at the Doyt on Saturday should be BG and WKU

Glass half-full: I was VERY impressed by the amount of BG gear I saw at the Temple game. The overwhelming majority of students I observed were decked in orange or at least a BG-imprinted shirt. It was the best display I've seen in some time.

[jeebus]

before i start here i'm gonna make some things clear: i'm a falcon fan. i own a falcon flag and no osu flags, a falcon shirt, no osu shirts, a falcon hat, no osu hats.

NOW, here's where people are gonna flame me...

ive been an osu fan my entire lif...still am, i'm also a reds and bengals fan so i don't give up loyalties easily (even when my teams are really really...really bad) furthermore, my coming to bg was not because of football or family pride or anything, it was because they have a film program. osu does not, (we have osu's film program they basicly sold to us) nor does ou or toledo or anywhere else in the area. thats why i became a falcon. so if the "rules" are osu fans have to go to osu...well im breaken em. i get pumped for osu just like i do for bg, i root just as hard. i'm torn when they play each other and generally just want to see both do well. i don't dillude myself into thinking bg can just as easily win a national championship as ohio state can...they can't. it would take probably 3 undefeated years and tougher schedules to do so. i know this, it angers me, i've gotten over that. but because of that, however, osu and bg are rarely (read: never) in competition for #1 on the rankings. so its not exactly being a traitor to root for both. i don't harbor any unwarranted hostility toward osu because they're bigger and get better players and have more money.

this article just seems...whiney. ok, i admit that flying osu flags alone around bg is kinda sad, but students are allowed to be osu, or michigan, or penn or florida or notre dame (haha but why?) fans. and im tired of taking crap because i root for the bucks. like i said, i also root for bg, im allowed to. seasons like last year are why we don't pack the doyt...its not osu's fault. if i was a freshman coming in and that was my first taste of bg foozeball then i'd be turned off too. combine that with AWFUL game times (day games on saturday don't lend well to bringing out the students...horrible for getting in the casual fans) and isn't that what it boils down to deep down? we look around half-empty stadiums and say "why aren't more people here?" then we blame osu for stealing our fans, or bush or whoever else usually gets blamed around here. i promise you...we mount a solid campaign and a string of mac championships and all the sudden you'll see more orange shirts and flags and alot less empty bleachers.

[bgsuman]

A friend and I were at Frickers watching the game against Minny, and all the B10Network was doing for the entire game was showing OSU clips and stats. By the third qtr we couldn't take it anymore and I shouted who gives a rats azz? One table behind us in red and grey yelled back that they did, then half the bar turned to them and told them to go watch their game at b-dubs instead. It was heart warming.

classy..

[KeyWestParrot]

Jeebus....I don't think anyone is saying not to cheer for OSU, Michigan, Penn State, ND etc. I think the point everyone is trying to make is that when you attend a BG event, wear BG stuff and cheer for them. If you are an alum you should back BG more than OSU if they play each other.

I happen to be a Michigan fan also but if BG were to play Michigan again I am cheering for BG to win. And we have seen this year that is possible.

GO BG......BCS CONFERENCES SUCK

[1987alum]

my coming to bg was not because of football or family pride or anything, it was because they have a film program. osu does not

jeebus:

This makes perfect sense. I would submit, however, that the majority of hardcore OSU fans who attend BG do not do it because Ohio State doesn't offer a degree in their field of choice. You are, I suspect, the "exception to the rule."

I ran across a BG student's (an Education major, I believe) blog a while back. Her blog was almost entirely about her trips to C-bus to party with her Ohio State friends before Ohio State football games. Her apartment/dorm was entirely scarlet & grey; she and her friends were decked out in Ohio State garb in every picture.

Now I believe BG may well have a superior education program to Ohio State. But if I loved Ohio State as much as this young lady, I couldn't see missing the chance to attend, especially if I could get the degree I wanted. I mean, I could have gotten a journalism degree from Ohio State, Kent, Ohio U., etc. But I chose BG. I think the program, at last at the time, was superior to most, but even at the time I didn't believe that one school was going to give me a decided advantage after graduation.

OK. I'm rambling. Enough for now.

[MacGuy]

Most of you are assuming that the average student attends a school either because of its athletics or wants to attend athletic events when they enroll. Other than at some national powerhouses, that's not true.

Students usually go to a school that offers their major, is close to home, isn't too expensive....... Going to football games might interest 30% of all students. The others are more interested in studying, parties, going home for the weekend, working to pay for tuition etc.

To expect the 70% who don't care much about athletics to only wear BG gear is a lost cause. Since they don't see the athletics-academics connection, they will never understand where you're coming from.

[redskins4ever]

before i start here i'm gonna make some things clear: i'm a falcon fan. i own a falcon flag and no osu flags, a falcon shirt, no osu shirts, a falcon hat, no osu hats.

NOW, here's where people are gonna flame me...

ive been an osu fan my entire lif...still am, i'm also a reds and bengals fan so i don't give up loyalties easily (even when my teams are really really...really bad) furthermore, my coming to bg was not because of football or family pride or anything, it was because they have a film program. osu does not, (we have osu's film program they basicly sold to us) nor does ou or toledo or anywhere else in the area. thats why i became a falcon. so if the "rules" are osu fans have to go to osu...well im breaken em. i get pumped for osu just like i do for bg, i root just as hard. i'm torn when they play each other and generally just want to see both do well. i don't dillude myself into thinking bg can just as easily win a national championship as ohio state can...they can't. it would take probably 3 undefeated years and tougher schedules to do so. i know this, it angers me, i've gotten over that. but because of that, however, osu and bg are rarely (read: never) in competition for #1 on the rankings. so its not exactly being a traitor to root for both. i don't harbor any unwarranted hostility toward osu because they're bigger and get better players and have more money.

this article just seems...whiney. ok, i admit that flying osu flags alone around bg is kinda sad, but students are allowed to be osu, or michigan, or penn or florida or notre dame (haha but why?) fans. and im tired of taking crap because i root for the bucks. like i said, i also root for bg, im allowed to. seasons like last year are why we don't pack the doyt...its not osu's fault. if i was a freshman coming in and that was my first taste of bg foozeball then i'd be turned off too. combine that with AWFUL game times (day games on saturday don't lend well to bringing out the students...horrible for getting in the casual fans) and isn't that what it boils down to deep down? we look around half-empty stadiums and say "why aren't more people here?" then we blame osu for stealing our fans, or bush or whoever else usually gets blamed around here. i promise you...we mount a solid campaign and a string of mac championships and all the sudden you'll see more orange shirts and flags and alot less empty bleachers.

See this is the thing that is so infuriating about OSU fans... somehow they are victims. Everyone is attacking them. No one else likes us, everyone is so mean about being a buckeye. We are not so bad. The rest of the country doesn't get what being a buckeye means. I wouldn't care so much except that the people I run into in Columbus believe everyone's born a buckeye or otherwise you are a lepper. They don't have the best fans, personally I think they have some of the worst fans I have ever encountered being obnoxiously rude and annoying. They can consistently put down anyone and everyone else, but don't dare say something horrible about them, because if you do, you are an evil bastard.

I was brought up on BG football, I graduated with Miami football, and I root for both to be successful, but you will never see me wear anything but Miami. Ever.

[Lizzizzie]

Jeebus, you REALLY missed the point.

Others, thanks for your enthusiastic reaction! I was laughing out loud earlier today while reading the thread. I had no idea so many people would even read the article, let alone respond! (If anything, I was expecting to be egged by rabid 'Buckeyes'). I had to wait a bit for my account to be activated or I would have responded sooner.

Thanks again!! You all are wonderful.
--Lizzie

"Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon."

[bgsufn]

No Lizzie... thank YOU for writing this article. This really needed to be said!

[San Fran Falcon]

1. Very nice article

2. As much as the BG students rooting for OSU epidemic bothers me, in all fairness to Ohio State it's a problem that goes far deeper than they. Living in this part of the country, I've actually had people ask me if I'm an Ohio State, Michigan, or Notre Dame fan. Like those are the only three choices I have living in the midwest. What the hell? And then when I say I'm a Bowling Green fan and couldn't care less about the other three, people laugh at me like I'm less of a football fan. I usually get a response like "well good for you", like it's a freakin act of charity that I throw all my support behind a MAC school, even if I graduated from it.

I understand the whole nature versus nurture debate when it comes to football fanship. Nature says I'm Syracuse fan, it's where I'm from and the team of my youth. But I was nurtured to be a Falcon fan. I'm in the camp that thinks it just fine for BG students to be OSU fans as I've said several times. But I agree with hammb, it blows my mind to think anyone could put their own school second. It's not like BGSU is in Division II. Then it might be ok. But we're in the FBS, same division as Ohio State last time I checked. And I hate hearing all this, "well the MAC is non-BCS" crap. See what Minnesota has to say about that.

And no one is "telling anyone who to root for" here. I think all anyone can ask is for BGSU students to get their priorities straight if they're fortunate enough to be students here. BGSU is doing students the favor, NOT the other way around.

I'm still a Syracuse fan, but wow have they become a distant second. So much so that I'm skipping watching their game this week so I can spend my afternoon tailgating at the Doyt. It's my first homecoming as an alum, and I couldn't be more excited. Well, this is way more than I wanted to write because this is an uphill and never ending debate that just runs in a circle, but thanks to those who keep taking it on. Keep fighting the good fight.

GO FALCONS! (and Orange!)

I totally agree with NY-BG Fan. Being from Philly as a kid, and having a close relative teach at Penn St. and always take me to games, I have always been a huge Nittany Lions fan.
Then, when we moved to Ohio (which I was none too happy about), I was forced to listen to all the OSU propaganda from knucklehead Buckeye fans. Couple that with being in NE Ohio and dealing with Cleveland fans, I knew very quickly that I wanted out of Ohio after high school. When it came time to decide on a college, my choices were narrowed down to BG and PSU. Obviously, I chose the brown and orange.
I was in Happy Valley to watch JoePa go for his 300th all-time victory back in '98. Low and behold, guess who PSU was playing? Good 'ol BG. Needless to say, we got throttled 48-3. But I was decked out in BG gear and was going nuts when our kicker hit a 50 yd. FG just before the half.
Basically, just as many of you have stated, you ALWAYS root for your alma mater first. PERIOD! I didn't want to see Paterno get his 300th victory at the expense of BG. Little piece of trivia, JoePa also got his 200th vs. BG.
Unfortunately, it will always be a struggle for the "mid-majors" (I hate that term) of the world to get due respect. All we can do is cheer loud and proud for BG to roll along!