Living in Ohio has its perks. There's the thrill and pride of living in the state that can boast that its "The Birthplace of Aviation". There's Wright-Pat Air Force base, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Skyline Chili,The Bungals, The Reds, The Cavaliers.....even The Browns (poor Bastards). There are quaint towns like Versailles and Greenville within an hour's drive. There is King's Island and Cedar Point...the list is long and distinguished. But, Ohio has a darker, more sinister side......College Football.
Every November, right before Thanksgiving, the normally calm, quiescent residents of the Buckeye State turn into scarlet and gray wearing, 'OH-IO' chanting, beer consuming heathens of society as they take on their neighbors to the North, the Michigan Wolverines.
It really is a site to behold. These normally mild mannered, hard-working folk toss their coffee and donuts for Kegs 'n Eggs and throw caution (along with their inhibitions) to the wind as they cheer on Brutus the Buckeye and Jim Tressel to (whey they always expect) victory against their dreaded foes.
J & D, however, could hardly care less. J is from Indiana, and she can hardly boast a good Big Ten allegiance in The Hoosiers or the Boilermakers. Dan was born here in Dayton, yes, but he was raised watching Donovan McNabb tear it up in Syracuse before he started to suck in Philadelphia.
No. There is no chanting of "OH-IO" in the Weber Household during this fabled rivalry game each year. Instead, D & J have found common ground in rooting for God's Team, the mighty Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. And, keeping with tradition, we have begun to teach our daughter the fine morals and values that are Notre Dame football. Gooooooooooooooo IRISH!
