Why are you cheering for Ohio State?

[1987alum]

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.

I didn't come to BG for the athletics. But as a sports fan (and sports writer), I knew that once I landed on campus, that would be the team (and school) I supported.

[1987alum]

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."

Come to the AZZ.com tailgate area Saturday - they'll treat you well!

[Lizzizzie]

I received an email invite, actually, so I'll be sure to stop by sometime!



Oh, and for the record:

The title I entered when I sent this 'article' in WASN'T "Why are you cheering for Ohio State?". It was "Falcons First." The BGnews must have changed it.

[eRichFalcon]

I kind of feel this whole thing has been blown up a bit. Lizzie, I really appreciate and personally agree with what you have to say. I myself have been a big Ohio State fan for as long as I can remember, but I have rooted against the team exactly twice - the two BG games (and for the record, when the '03 game was played I was still just a sophomore in high school, but was already determined on going to BG.)

That being said, I really don't see any minds being changed. Anyone who posts on this site clearly holds BG athletics in high esteem (save MACMAN, perhaps), and isn't the target audience for this kind of article. However, those who value their major programs more than their own school aren't going to change their mind anytime soon, and I'm not too worried about them. I'd rather enjoy my games with people that really love BG, even if there's a few people fewer.

[hammb]

eRich,

I agree you won't change many minds. The reason why I love to see an article like this is because there are many new students on campus each year who don't even realize that we play football on the same level as OSU. It's also quite possible that a lot of the new students don't realize how seriously some of us take Falcon football, and wouldn't even bother to check it out.

An article like Lizzie's can potentially open a new student's eyes and make them check out a BG game. Once they do that I'm sure they would be hooked when they see how many of their fellow students DO go root for the Falcons & wear their Orange & Brown.

It is doubtful that you'll ever change the minds of those that are already made up, but you can certainly plant some ideas into the open minds that are out there

Lizzie, I'm glad you made it over here. Our esteemed leader made a recent career move (now working for the University) so it might've taken him a little longer than usual to get your account approved, but we're glad you made it eventually. I told you that you were already pretty popular over here I do hope you come on over and say hi during tailgating.

[Falconfreak90]

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."

Lizzie,

Keep up the great work! Please stop by our AZZ.com tailgate area Sat! We are a rabid bunch of FALCON CRAZIES!!!!!

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!

[Falconfreak90]

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

I agree. It was GREAT seeing very little OSU gear Sat. It used to be much worse.

[eRichFalcon]

eRich,

I agree you won't change many minds. The reason why I love to see an article like this is because there are many new students on campus each year who don't even realize that we play football on the same level as OSU. It's also quite possible that a lot of the new students don't realize how seriously some of us take Falcon football, and wouldn't even bother to check it out.

Fair point....I suppose I forget that most of my fellow students didn't quit watching morning cartoons as a kid in favor of watching the same SportsCenter repeatedly, didn't have a dad that would quiz them on college conferences, and weren't super excited to come attend the school and watch the team that had Josh Harris and Omar Jacobs, even Urban Meyer.

That's what I love about this site though. Few, if any, of my friends enjoy BG athletics quite as much as I do. On Saturday, my partners in crime left in 4th with the game out of hand and I watched the last 12 minutes with some very enthusiastic total strangers. This site gives me enthusiastic total strangers any time of any day, and I love it.

[Falconfreak90]

Talk about being nauseaous. Where I work plays oldies in the background. I was rereading the article and Hang on Sloopy came on.

That's OK! Just shout "B G S U" during the part when all the Buck$ are screaming for Ohio U...ya know, O H I O. The Freaklings do it all the time! I'm so proud of those boys.

[CapitalFalcon]

...but you will never see me wear anything but Miami. Ever.

Exactly! (even though grossly misguided...) So I assume we can see you sporting some of the following Miami garb???

[FalconTurf]

I like the article and really feel for the athletes at BG when students wear the OSU stuff around campus. This happened at my HS when 3 hooches were wearing the DI neighboring school football jersey around our school. We rarely played them in anything since we were in the smallest division but I still resented this all the same. As it turned out they were nothing at that school but a joke (and a good time) just like their own school.

Real OSU alums and students don't consider these wanna-be-Bucks that dump their own school to be real Buckeyes and thus they are really nothing at the bigger college as well. I have on several occassions been around a group talking about OSU football when an OSU grad will make the comment on how they are the only "Real Buckeye" in the room. I think that would wake some of these folks up to the fact they are second class in Cbus.

So, I consider myself a "REAL FALCON" that on occassion roots for another team but I will always remember I am Falcon first and Falcon forever.

[BGSUfalcons]

Since we are beating dead horses....

Many, many more students wear BGSU apparel on campus than wear OSU apparel. I have actually counted numerous times while walking across campus and the ratio has always been in BGSU's favor, sometimes to the tune of 6:1 or 7:1.

[Lizzizzie]

It's not even JUST about athletics or just about football, either.

This OSU crap is just indicative of the bigger problem.
It's more about the spirit issue in general. The people who don't enjoy themselves here and don't have any BG pride are the ones that sit around and do nothing all the time, whereas plenty of us are active on campus, grow to love BG, and then naturally want to scream sport our BG apparel and support the athletes at games. That's sort of what I'm trying to inspire.

I came here out of convenience (I'm from Sylvania: suburb of Toledo) and thought orange and brown were gross when I came. I'm the first in my family to come here. I was trying to urge younger kids to FIND something to be excited about/proud of, because if you find something you enjoy, the BG pride & spirit develop naturally.

--Lizzie
"Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon."

P.S. I'm actually part of a student organization called Student Alumni Connection, so maybe I'll invite some other members to come visit the AZZ tent with me. (As you can tell from our name, we're all about alumni).

[Metz]

I came here out of convenience (I'm from Sylvania: suburb of Toledo) and thought orange and brown were gross when I came.

That must mean you went to Northview

[eRichFalcon]

I came here out of convenience (I'm from Sylvania: suburb of Toledo) and thought orange and brown were gross when I came.

That must mean you went to Northview

Good observation