thoughts on Ohio State

[anthony e]

I was born in Youngstown, Ohio and have always been an Ohio State fan.
However, as a graduate of BGSU, I will be pulling for the Falcons on Saturday. Therefore, why does it seem that some Falcon fans seem to
despise Ohio State? They are an in state school that wins and gives
the state a sense of pride. Why all of the hatred towards the Buckeyes?
I am, and will always be a fan of both of these schools. When OSU
is not playing BGSU, it is my hope they always win. Any feedback
on this subject?

[BGDrew]

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Little brother syndrome is my best guess. When big brother is an asshat, this kind of thing happens.

I'm from PA and was raised a Michigan fan, so my pure hatred for Ohio A&M exists for obvious reasons. It's only grown since I've become an Ohioan and more importantly, since I've become a Falcon.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

I was born in Youngstown, Ohio and have always been an Ohio State fan.
However, as a graduate of BGSU, I will be pulling for the Falcons on Saturday. Therefore, why does it seem that some Falcon fans seem to
despise Ohio State? They are an in state school that wins and gives
the state a sense of pride. Why all of the hatred towards the Buckeyes?
I am, and will always be a fan of both of these schools. When OSU
is not playing BGSU, it is my hope they always win. Any feedback
on this subject?

Well growing up in Cincy, I was not a osu fan, but I didn't have a problem with them. Starting disliking them a lot in 02, when all the bandwagon fans came out, they are one reason I dislike osu. I mean some of these bandwagoners couldnt name a player on the team, and most only support the football team, like its osu's only team, that also gets to me.

Second reason is a lot of them are assholes. I have read the stories from when people went to the game in 03, and my roomate has told me what happened when he went to a hockey game there, and I never got into the whole burning couch thing. Now true osu that know there stuff I can deal with, I have friends who like osu and know what there talking about, its the bandwagon assholes who don't know s**t about the team that I dislike.

[moneymaker02]

growing up in nc and ny, i always saw michigan as annual top 15 maybe sometimes top 10 schools, it wasn't till i got here when i realized how fu**ing ignorant osu fans are. keep in mind i had no feelings towards each of them. but 5 years later, i absolutely hate ohio state and favor michigan everytime they play just because of the osu fans. we went to madison last year and i loved their fans. they are true to the game and actually new and respected us and a program. osu u fans, if it's not osu then ur going to hell in their mind.

[BGDrew]

I'm going to step in right now and say not all of their fans are like that.

[Peregrinner]

At the beginning, my dislike for OSU was merely a superficial one. I was born in Detroit and all of my family lives in Michigan, so naturally I was a Michigan fan.
Unfortunately for me, my father's job took us to Columbus, where I lived a long 17 years of my life. That's when I started to dislike the Buckeyes for deeper reasons.
First and foremost, my dislike was a product of the behavior of their fans. I've lost count of how many times I've been hit, had things thrown at me or been screamed at by complete strangers simply for wearing a Michigan shirt or hat. That is absolutely ludicrous and I will not tolerate it from anyone.
Unfortunately, these were not isolated incidents. I actually had teachers refuse to let me participate in class activities and professionals from the area treat me poorly just because of wearing Michigan gear. WTF? I say.
On top of those reasons (and I don't really feel I need any more), I am turned off by the ridiculous sense of entitlement that OSU fans and students seem to have. They figure that because they have a successful football team that they deserve all of the attention and money of the state and that all the other state schools are merely a nuisance to be dealt with until they can be done away with. I will rightly call BS on that.
The last thing that contributes to my feelings about OSU is the amount of shady business that goes on at the school (students, athletes and administrators all included) that gets looked over or merely punished with a slap on the wrist. I've heard the argument that it goes on at all schools, but until it is proven to me that the same level of indiscretion goes on at BG, I stand by my point. And, if it is proven to me, I will be the first in line to remove any offending party.
All of that said, I will say that there are a good number of decent OSU fans around. I had a particularly good talk with an OSU fan opening weekend of the current season and have known quite a few fans of their team that are kind individuals. They talk it up when it's Michigan v. OSU week (or, more recently, BGSU v. OSU), but they know where to draw the line, and for that, I am grateful. The thing that strikes me as odd, though, is that I find it somewhat surprising and refreshing when I meet someone of the latter description, and that is a bad sign.

Now that I re-read this, I realize it may come across as an angry rant (or, more likely, a 'jealous' rant to an OSU fan), but that wasn't the intention. I just wanted to explain, and there it is.

[FliccGirl]

I grew up around Columbus. Rooted for the Buckeyes (without really knowing why) until BG played them in 2003. Then I realized I just didn't care about Ohio State.

I'm still mainly indifferent to them, with just a pinch of repugnance thrown in due to the utter arrogance and sense of entitlement that seems to accompany the school.

[Schadenfreude]

we went to madison last year and i loved their fans. they are true to the game and actually new and respected us and a program. osu u fans, if it's not osu then ur going to hell in their mind.

This has been my experience -- which is not to say every OSU fan is like this, but this has been my experience.

A friend of mine once put it this way: Every school has fans who are jerks. OSU has a lot of fans who are dicks.

See the difference?

One example: I caught part of the OSU-Iowa game this weekend with friends. Iowa was down by a couple of touchdowns, so, naturally, the cameramen found shots of sad Iowa students.

In each case, the people I was with were MOCKING the Iowa fans. "Awwww. Poor baby. Did you really think you were going to beat Ohio State?" That kind of thing.

If there is any karma in this world, the 21st century is soon going to turn very sour for the Buckeyes.

[Flipper]

Columbus is the dividing line between the hillbillies of southern Ohio and the hicks, dips and humanoids that live to the north. The town acts like a magnet. It draws the worst elements of both ends of the state and pulls them to the middle. As a result, a great number of the state's least desirable people live in and around the State capital. They hope to influence legislative matters on important issues like cigarette taxes, compulsory education and the state's sodomy laws, particularly with reference to livestock.

These people must be provided with bread and circuses lest they revolt. As a result, the state created THE Ohio State University and gave it a football team. This provides the state's least intelligent and most emotionally volatile elements with something to think about while peering through the bedroom window of their closest blood realtive and to talk about while hunting for roadkill.

You know...maybe Schad was right instead. Some OSU fans are just dicks...

[SW-MI Falcon]

At the beginning, my dislike for OSU was merely a superficial one. I was born in Detroit and all of my family lives in Michigan, so naturally I was a Michigan fan.
Unfortunately for me, my father's job took us to Columbus, where I lived a long 17 years of my life. That's when I started to dislike the Buckeyes for deeper reasons.
First and foremost, my dislike was a product of the behavior of their fans. I've lost count of how many times I've been hit, had things thrown at me or been screamed at by complete strangers simply for wearing a Michigan shirt or hat. That is absolutely ludicrous and I will not tolerate it from anyone.
Unfortunately, these were not isolated incidents. I actually had teachers refuse to let me participate in class activities and professionals from the area treat me poorly just because of wearing Michigan gear. WTF? I say.
On top of those reasons (and I don't really feel I need any more), I am turned off by the ridiculous sense of entitlement that OSU fans and students seem to have. They figure that because they have a successful football team that they deserve all of the attention and money of the state and that all the other state schools are merely a nuisance to be dealt with until they can be done away with. I will rightly call BS on that.
The last thing that contributes to my feelings about OSU is the amount of shady business that goes on at the school (students, athletes and administrators all included) that gets looked over or merely punished with a slap on the wrist. I've heard the argument that it goes on at all schools, but until it is proven to me that the same level of indiscretion goes on at BG, I stand by my point. And, if it is proven to me, I will be the first in line to remove any offending party.
All of that said, I will say that there are a good number of decent OSU fans around. I had a particularly good talk with an OSU fan opening weekend of the current season and have known quite a few fans of their team that are kind individuals. They talk it up when it's Michigan v. OSU week (or, more recently, BGSU v. OSU), but they know where to draw the line, and for that, I am grateful. The thing that strikes me as odd, though, is that I find it somewhat surprising and refreshing when I meet someone of the latter description, and that is a bad sign.

Now that I re-read this, I realize it may come across as an angry rant (or, more likely, a 'jealous' rant to an OSU fan), but that wasn't the intention. I just wanted to explain, and there it is.

You can substitute every OSU for UM, reverse where you were born and moved and you get my experience. I've lived in Michigan for most of my adult life. There is very little difference with the percentage of idiot fans of any school. I have first hand experience. Compound that with my love for BG and I get the double whammy. WMU fans are the same.

[CapitalFalcon]

I have to say I'm more with anthony e than a lot of the rest of you. Growing up in NE Ohio and Central Ohio, I was an Ohio State fan by default, but never a ravenous supporter. Actually, I found it irritating that the main reason Columbus didn't have any pro teams was because of The Ohio State University.

However, when I got a job in Detroit, and was stuck in the middle of Wolverine and Spartan country, I became a more vocal OSU supporter, merely to support the state and because of my hatred of the city of Detroit. So I still root for OSU, especially when they are playing Michigan, but most of the time I don't really care. I can't wait until BG gets back to the level of play we have become accustomed to over the past few years...I don't think I can handle a return to Blackney-era football.

[Wauseon Falcon]

Growing up an Ohio State fan and being a former student of the university, I do support what most of you say, in that not all of the fans are morons and it is a part of how and where you grow up. You have stupid fans with every team, whether it being Buckeyes throwing water bottle, Wolverines with pebbles and cans, or, as much as I hate to say it, Falcons cussing out and demeaning the Wisconsin band over the heads of the FMB (who were wishing the rival band good luck at the time). I do hope OSU wins the national championship- it is good for the state of Ohio, of which we are a part. However, I do hope above all else that we have a solid showing against the Bucks and get things together. Even if we don't win, it's an opportunity to get our program back on track- keep the momentum going after a solid Ohio U. game. GO FALCONS!!!!!!

[TG1996]

I do hope OSU wins the national championship- it is good for the state of Ohio,

How so?

[Tricky_Falcon]

I do hope OSU wins the national championship- it is good for the state of Ohio,

How so?

I was kind of thinking the same thing. I can't see anything good coming from this unless you're an osu fan or a bandwagon fan. It's not going to help BG in any way.