2010 Tour of Stadiums: Ohio State - The Horseshoe

I'll be spending the next few weeks on a tour of of Football stadiums.  The best way for you to get your stadium on here is to invite me to a game.  Ready? Go!

Last weekend was my annual birthday trip to Columbus to see the Ohio State / Indiana game.  It was an amazing weekend, as always, and I loved every second of being in the CAPITAL of College Football.  If you've never been to a game at Ohio State, there is nothing else like it, and it's sort of hard to describe, but I will try:)

Ohio State Stadium Stats:
Name: The Horseshoe

Date opened: October 7, 1922

Renovated in: 1999-2001

Largest Crowd: 2006 game against Michigan - 105,708 in attendance (and an additional 1500 watching the game outside of the stadium...me being one of them)

My actual FIRST trip in "The Shoe" was back in 2003 during a Spring Break trip to Ohio.  Someone left the gates to the stadium unlocked and well....you can guess what happened next.  (Let's just say there's a picture that exists of me ON the field)

My first game in "The Shoe" was in 2004 against Wisconsin.  We lost and my dad didn't talk to me the whole ride home, so I'd rather not talk about it.

Since 2006 I've been back every year for my birthday.  Ohio State fans LOVE their Buckeyes and never  disappoint welcoming me & dad back to Columbus.

Entrance to The Horseshoe

The Stadium...on the banks of the Olentangy River

Script Ohio - Brings a tear to my eye every time!

The "curve" of the 'Shoe 

Our AMAZING seats this year on the 50-yard line.  Thanks Joe & Rhonda!!

Sign me up for a Conference Call

This is a funny subject for me, so I thought I'd write about it.

I grew up watching college football with 3 goals in mind: 

Ohio State wins.

Ohio State beats Michigan

The Big Ten wins.

 When Ohio State played Miami in the 2002 National Championship, prior to the game Chris Fowler asked Desmond Howard who he wanted to win and he said, "I'm a Michigan man and will always root against the Buckeyes.  I pick Miami."

Let's not focus on what my dad said here, but what my mom said - My mom, who is usually very level headed and soft-spoken when it comes to Ohio State (to balance out my father) yelled at the TV, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  WHERE'S YOUR BIG TEN LOYALTY????"

Woah.

Here's what I've witnessed recently about this:

     Let's call a spade a spade, most people hate the SEC.  I am one of those people, however, I will say, SEC fans are conference loyal.  If their team sucks, they'll root for whichever team is winning.  They just want an SEC team in the National Championship, pulling out a W.  I'm in awe over this because this is the way it should be.

     I always root for the ACC.  I'd love to have an ACC team in the National Championship.  Of course, I'd prefer that team NOT be UVA, but still I'd root for the Cavaliers to take home that sparkly football trophy if it meant recognition for my conference.  

UVA fans root against Va. Tech.  They don't care about the ACC, just that Tech loses.

Texas fans root against Oklahoma.  They don't care about the Big 12, just that Oklahoma loses.

Desmond Howard roots against Ohio State.  He doesn't care about the Big 10, just that OSU loses.

I encourage the 2 people reading this (probably only my mom and dad) to start cheering on your conferences.  It's okay to be happy when your rival ends up losing that game, but let's start showing some loyalty!

Official ruling on the Field

Well, it's official.  Reggie Bush is giving back his Heisman Trophy.

Here's the short:  In order to be eligible for the Heisman Trophy, you have to be in compliance with all NCAA rules.  Since it has come out that Reggie Bush & his family had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from sports agents, there has been a long-going investigation into whether that made him eligible to receive the award.  USC had already given over their Heisman Trophy statue back in July when all of this first started coming out in the public.  They also had already removed Bush's jersey from the stadium before the 2010 season started.

It's just terrible.

I'm starting to get really frustrated with all of this agent crap in college football.  

Again - Dear college football players,

You're not allowed to take money, trips, cars, gifts...anything from agents trying to lure you into the NFL.  

You're also not allowed to have other people write your papers or take your tests.  

You're also not allowed to hold people up at gunpoint and rob them.

You will either: Get kicked out of school, have to give back your Heisman trophy and forfeit ALL games that were played (whether they were last week or 5 years ago) or go to jail.

Let's get some positive news out there.  Anyone else with me?

I mean, dare I say it...but Tim Tebow might ACTUALLY have been a Saint.

Mark Ingram Update

If you thought I was going to write about the Boise State / Virginia Tech game the day after that game, then you don't know me at all.  Obviously I have an opinion, but I'd like to all remain friends, so let's just leave that for another day.

Quick update on Mark Ingram for you: As of this morning, he has yet to return to the practice field at Alabama following his knee surgery last Tuesday.  He missed the opener against San Jose State and according to Nick Saban, it's unlikely he will play this Saturday against Penn State.

     Cons: I love Mark Ingram.  He had the cutest little Heisman Trophy acceptance speech last year and he can do a pushup from a hand-stand.  That's pretty cool.

              Alabama is pretty stacked and they're not hurting in the back-up running backs category. 

     Pros: Could the Nittany Lions use this minor set-back to dethrone the Crimson Tide?

We'll seeeeeeeee!

Game to watch: Saturday @ 7pm on ESPN - #1 Alabama hosts #18 Penn State.

10 words for the Top 10

Ugh, sorry this is a little late.  USA Today released the coach's poll last Friday with the top 25.  Here are 10 words for each of the top 10 teams.

10. Iowa (Big Ten) -Someone else from the Big Ten in the Top Ten?!?!?

9. Nebraska (Big Twelve) - Hit me up after they play some games and I'll re-evaluate

8. Oklahoma  (Big Twelve) -No more Sam Bradford, I might cry myself to sleep.

7. TCU (Mountain West) - Another season with the Horned Frogs rising to the top?

6. Virginia Tech (ACC) - The Hokies usually bomb with a top 10 ranking - grrrrreat!

5. Boise State (WAC) - Number 5 until Tech smokes you by surprise (on) Labor Day

4. Texas (Big Twelve) -The defending National Championship Runner up gets the best ranking

3. Florida (SEC) - No more Tim Tebow, I might become a Florida Fan.

2. Ohio State (Big Ten) - Pryor and Tressel lead the Bucks to Championship number 8?

1. Alabama (SEC) -I would like to start seeing the Tiiiiide roll away.....

Juvenile Delinquents

Alright.  First order of the day each day is to check my gmail.  Second order of the day is to check espn.com.  This is a daily occurrence for me from August - December.

Today - August 5, 2008.

1. Checked my gmail
2. Checked espn.com

The top headlines for college football are:

Is it just me, or are 70% of the college football headlines about players, coaches or teams that are in trouble for something?

Come on, people.  Maurice Clarett had to go to Jail.  Michael Vick had to go to Jail.  Reggie Bush has to give back his Heisman Trophy.  Nothing good comes from being a delinquent!

SHEEEEESH!!!

Well, top 25 comes out tomorrow...so at least I have THAT to look forward to!

JoPa

I realize by making the following statement, I run the risk of being kicked out of my family (by my dad)

Joe Paterno is a legend. 

Homeboy has been the head coach of Penn State since 1966.  In 1966 my dad was in 8th grade.

Seriously, he's 83 years old and he's about to enter into his 61st season as the head coach at Penn State.  In the last few years he's struggled with some health issues keeping him on and off the field at various times through the season.  

• A Wisconsin football player ran into him on the sidelines, JoPa had to get knee surgery
• He was goofing around with his players during practice, JoPa had to get hip surgery.
• He had a reaction to some medicine, JoPa was out for a few more games
• Etc.
• Etc.

I mean, come on, buddy, I'm worried about you!  I was watching an interview from Big Ten Media Days and your voice is quiet, slow and weak.  Please, take a nap or something!

Regardless, he's a super trooper.  Beloved by his players and fans.  Has steered clear of any controversy and has been nominated to President Obama to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest award any U.S. civilian can receive.

When JoPa does finally step down, it will have a huge effect on college football.  I mean, what type of human interest stories will they run on Gameday when Penn State plays? :)

BAM. I'm Mark's daughter again!