Thanks for everything.

Love,

The Ohio State University

sitting in a room with the NCAA while they make their decisions with regards to a rules infraction is like playing Yahtzee with a schizophrenic coke addict.

I’ve gotta say, I’m quite entertained by these college presidents who complain about the idea of a playoff because they are asking their fans to go to 2 or 3 bowl games, then you have someone like TCU join the Big East, and ask their Student-athletes to fly from Ft. Worth all over the East Coast.

I’ve been saying for months: the BCS is going to force a few ridiculous super-conferences and should be prosecuted under the Sherman/Clayton Antitrust Act in federal court. The Automatic qualifying conferences are, as defined by the rules of the BCS, afforded more opportunities than the non-AQs in Division I-A. Sounds like a monopoly to me.

“O, we don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan
The whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan
We don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, we’re from Ohio

For those who knew me growing up, you can probably make an assumption as to how much this day meant for me. My first game at Ohio Stadium was great, but my closest friends know I’ve been waiting to see Ohio State-Michigan at the Horseshoe since I was about 12. It was almost a surreal feeling, after waiting that long.

We’re from Ohio…O-H
We’re from Ohio…I-O

Today was everything you could have imagined. The Horseshoe was remarkably loud, despite the bitter temperatures. I sat about 10 rows from the top of the student section, and my feet were ice blocks by the end of 1st quarter. It was a struggle, but when I’ve heard people talk about the natural hardships fans go through for this rivalry for years, you’re just compelled to stick it out. It is most definitely difficult, but you just have to approach it from an historical perspective. You have to realize that you are witnessing one of the greatest spectacles in sports. It is an event that people base their entire year upon. It is the best rivalry in college football. No matter what the quality of the teams in a given year, it is just as memorable as Sunday at the Masters, as Duke-North Carolina at Cameron Indoor, as a final at Wimbledon, or as the Kentucky Derby. These are events that people live and die for, and whether you’re a sports fan or not, you can’t help but admire the passion that is brought to these games.

O, we don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan
The whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan
We don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan, we’re from Ohio

There were two really special moments today. One was towards the end of the game, my father, who came with me from Chicago to see his first Ohio State-Michigan game since 1967, had a flight to catch and there were transportation concerns with regards to him getting to the airport on time. He calls me and tells me we’re going to leave at 3:15, and as we get closer to that time, the game is clearly over and the clock is slowly draining down. I call him and tell him, “We’re so close. There is no way I am not staying for Carmen.” I had to stay for the Alma Mater. There had to be 75,000 fans still in the ‘Shoe at the end of the game for Carmen. I sprint to the gate to see if he wants to join then I sprint back through one of the tunnels to join my fellow Bucks for one of the many great traditions here: a song that I am not ashamed to say brings a tear to my eye every time I sing it. I can’t tell you how much I would have regretted not staying.

I said goodbye to my father, who I’ll see in my beloved Los Angeles in just under a couple weeks, caught a primetime nap, then spent a very fun evening with a group of friends that have become very dear to me. The whole day told me I had made the right choice in coming to school here. Between the spirit of the campus and the people that I have become close with, I know I have made a home in Columbus. 

At the end of the day, I know “The Game” is just that: a game. At the end of the day I obviously respect Michigan for what they achieve academically. This rivalry is so great though. It is pure hatred born out of elite success. A constant struggle. It is a remarkable thing to witness live, and I cannot wait until I get to see it again.

Now, I leave you, for the last time this year, with our beautiful Alma Mater, “Carmen Ohio”

 Oh come let’s sing Ohio’s praise

And songs to Alma Mater raise

While our hearts rebounding thrill

With joy which death alone can still

Summer’s heat or winter’s cold

The seasons pass, the years will roll

Time and change will surely show

How firm thy friendship … O-HI-O!