by Xudash » Tue Jul 09, 2019 2:09 pm
So, though I'm sure a number of fans here probably dislike them, to put it mildly, my favorite team is Ohio State.
If you think about college football in terms of its traditions and, let's call it pageantry, it doesn't get much better than what happens in Columbus on a Saturday afternoon in the fall.
105,000+ of your friends in an iconic stadium being treated to both great football - in most years - and THE best marching band in the nation. As far as the band goes, no bullsh!t flags or twirlers - - the band is comprised of 228 student musicians. The band's instrumentation is unique among college bands, patterned after the traditional British military brass band. The skull session in St. Johns Arena prior to the game, the march in, and most significantly being in that stadium for when the band does Script Ohio truly is something to experience, whether you like Ohio State or not.
As for the football team, 7 NC's and multiple Heisman Trophy winners, and with Archie Griffin still remaining the only Heisman winner with back-to-back trophies.
Then there was Woody Hayes. I actually spent 10 minutes with the man 1:1. He was a legend. If you know anything about his story, you know that his hero was George S. Patton. That's what got Woody to "3 yards and a cloud of dust". He probably had visions of him commanding the 3rd Army in the Horseshoe, grinding up and down the field. It was Woody who noted: "There are three things that can happen when you throw a pass, and two of them are bad." He loved his players and he was very big in supporting youth programs. The Gator Bowl incident was so unfortunate, but probably not surprising, given what a fierce competitor he was. Years after that occured, he gave a speech at Clemson and received a standing ovation. He and Bo went at it for so long, with Woody having mentored Bo, yet they respected each other to the end.
The tradition and overall experience you find in college football cannot be matched by the NFL. Whether it's Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin, Alabama, Texas, USC or Army and Navy, it's just great viewing.
While Ohio State is my favorite team, the Army/Navy game is my favorite rivalry. It doesn't get any better than that, and that includes Ohio State/Michigan. I take that position because it's done with nothing but class. They can't stand one another during the game, but they go to each other's corner to sing their respective fight songs and show respect. Of course, beyond that are the legendary pranks they pull leading up to the game:
- West Point cadets sweep down to Annapolis one year and kidnap the goat.
- The next year, the Midshipmen bring in a bundle of goats so they can't do it again. It's like Blowfeld trying to fool James Bond with his body doubles.
XAVIER