Groovy Sputum

Great OSU Moment #1

2003 Fiesta Bowl

The reason this moment tops the list for me is because it was the first national championship that I ever saw with my dad. It was also the last. I remember thinking at the time how cool it was that we were able to share that experience. The Burtons have been Ohio State fans far longer than I have been alive and Buckeye football has always been something that brought the family together. On top of that, when the Bucks made it to Arizona in 2003, it was a the first time that OSU had done so in my lifetime. Sure, dad had seen Woody Hayes win 4 or 5 titles during his tenure, but this was a first for me. I had no idea that Tressel would lead the boys back in ‘07 and ‘08, so I was determined to enjoy the moment. For all I knew, this wouldn’t happen again for another 25 years.

I remember watching the game in dad’s unique way: weird food, radio turned up loud, and the tv sound turned off. He preferred the radio play by play over Mr. Woah Nellie, and I can’t say I disagreed with him there. I don’t recall specifically what he snacked on that evening, but I can tell you that it probably involved some unique combination of items that, individually would be delicious, but put together was sure to raise an eye brow or two. Sauerkraut juice and V8, or pancakes with olives in them. Maybe it was something sweet, chocolaty perhaps, with a big old jalapeño on it, or some kind of dried mystery meat with a stinky, moldy cheese. He had his ways of doing things.

Dad had just put in a hot tub on his deck and I remember sitting in it at half time and watching the steam rise from the surface of the water. We lived in Plain City at the time so enjoying the hot tub was not a regular thing for me. I tried to convince dad to hook up a tv in the corner of the deck so I could watch the whole thing out there, but that didn’t happen.

There was, of course, the ceremonial blasting of the marching band music, the buckeye necklaces, and dad yelling at the tv, as if the players could hear him. “Come on, Bucks!” or “Get ‘em!” or even “Break his leg!” The last phrase was always qualified with, “not seriously, though,” a few moments later. I think he felt bad for thinking that way, but he couldn’t control himself. I find myself shouting these same things as I watch football. I guess the intensity of watching football is genetic.

The game went well into the night and I remember the excitement of it all as I finally fell asleep. If I had known that this was the last championship game I would share with dad, I may have stayed up a bit longer and let the moments linger. I love to see the Bucks win and I love to see them play for the crystal football, but if I could watch OSU football with dad again in exchange for the Bucks never winning another game, I would take that trade in a heartbeat.