6B - Monday, November 20, 2006

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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And you thought the competition
on the field between Michigan
and Ohio State was fierce.
Photos by Zachary Meisner

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COLUMBUS -
J t was dubbed the "Game of the Century," and I didn't
have a way into Ohio Stadium.
Instead of searching for ridicu-
lously priced tickets, I decided to test the
hospitality of Ohio State's studentbody
and the city of Columbus.
In the week leadingup to the game, I
had to come to terms withmy inability
to get into the biggest venue during my
time at Michigan. Once I accepted my
fate, the journalist in me thought it best KEVIN
to write a story about being a Michigan W/r rXW
fan in Buckeye land.
It all started when Dean of Students The Sixth Man
Sue Eklund sent out an e-mail to the
University's student body warning it of
the dangers of the streets of Columbus.
I also heard horror stories fromsome of my friends about
the ferocity of Buckeye fans.
With thatin mind, I checked outarea hospitals to make
sure they had wireless Internet so I could stillfile a story
while recovering from the beating I expected to receive
from Buckeye fans.
But even though my friends forewarned me, it was
Eklund's e-mail that instilled the most fear. The checklist
read like a caution label on hydrochloric acid. Needless to
say, I felt a little nervous about my original idea to wear a
Chad Henne jersey and wander around Columbus before
the game.
Still, Eklund's advice to steer clear of High Street - the
most heavily trafficked street in Columbus - made me
want to walk down it even more.
So, after I left my friend at Gate 36 of Ohio Stadium, my
adventure began.
Dressed in a Henne away jersey ontop of a blue long-
sleeved T-shirt and a Michigan throw towel, I set out for
the infamous High Street.
To that point, I hadn't seen or heard much trash-talk-
ing, mostly because I went to the Wolverine tailgate in the
Fawcett Center. On my way outof the building, a Buckeye
fan warned me not to carry a beer can outside because the
police were handing out MIPs to underage Michigan fans
carrying open containers. I thanked him for his advice, but
told him the can in my hand was just Diet Coke.
Then, just outside the Fawcett Center, Iwitnessed
the official Ohio State effort to promote sportsmanship
between fans. A girl handed me a pin to encourage friendli-
ness between the rival fans.
Armed with my pin, I ventured out to High Street, only
to find that some sporting scarlet and gray had not gotten
the message. I passed by a parking structure, and the verbal
abuse that would come to definethe next few hours ofmy
life began. From their perch in the third story of the park-
ing garage, Ohio State fans let loose with a string of "Chad
Henne is gay" and "Chad Henne is a douche bag." Encour-
aged bythe friendly banter, I waved my arms up and down
beckoning for more, only to find they lacked the mental
capacity to muster a different taunt.
As I finally took my firststeps onto High Street, I was
filled with a sense of pride. I had defied Eklund's advice.

And for all the hype surrounding the Buckeye fans,they
were quite tame compared to what I expected.
No one spit on me, though one guy stopped walking
behind me because he didn't want anyone to hithim with
friendly fire saliva. No one threw a punch at me. And no
one bothered to follow me for more than a block, except
for two drunk middle-aged men who sang"I don't give a
damn about the whole state of Michigan" repeatedly as
they walked behind me.
For the most part, Itook the insults in stride. Buckeye
fans had the rightto make me as uncomfortable as possible
in theirterritory. But one moment sticks out mostclearly in
my mind as the lowest and most disrespectful.
It happened as I reached the intersection of High Street
and Lane Avenue. Forced to weave my way through a scar-
let sea, one Ohio State fan noticed my jersey and voiced his
opinion of me.
First, he let loose a "Fuck you." But that wasn't the mad-
dening part. He then glanced at my Bo Schembechler rib-
bon, shouted "And fuck Bo" and ripped the ribbon rightoff
my jersey. Shocked by the utter disrespect for the legendary
coach who died just more than24 hours earlier, Iwalked
away before the situation escalated.
I continuedc:o walk around the campus, and as game
time drewcloser, I realized I had survived the afternoon
without a significant incident. The Ohio State fans did more
to welcome me to Columbus then to degrade me - other
than the occasional "only gay guys walk alone."
Some were even classy and cordial in their dialogue with
me. An elderly couple made it a point to explainthatnotall
Buckeye fanswere likethe one who had justcalled me an
asshole from across the street. The two wished me a pleas-
ant stay in the city.
At halftime, I walked over to McDonalds on High Street
whereImet a belligerent father who had come to visit his
freshman son. Aftertelling meI sucked, he then stood and
hugged me while proclaiming his love for me. Following
the embrace, he had his wife take a picture ofthe two ofus.
During the game,I stood outside Ohio Stadium and
watched the contest on the JumboTron. There, I saw the
police force out in full. Watching 30 officersabike past and
ranks ofcopswalking into the stadium,you knewthey
were preparing for a riot.But I didn't feel like I would
need them to protect me. A Buckeye fan standing near me
expressed his condolences on the loss of Bo and his hatred
for me inthe same breath. Another Ohio State supporter
explainedthatwhile we may be enemies onthe football
field, we're still human beings outsidethe rivalry.
Fun memories of the day were sweptaway when Ohio
State's Antonio Pittman rushed for a first down on third-
and-oneto effectively sealtheBuckeye win.
At thatpoint, all the insults,boos and jeeringrushed
back into my head.
And what's worse - they all rang true.
I had no more comebacks. I just hadto deal with the smil-
ing Buckeye fans filing out ofthe stadium with pieces ofturf
over their shoulders, telling me to have fun in the Rose Bowl.
- Wright has plenty more stories from his pre-
game walk around Columbus that aren't appropriate
for print. He can be reached at kpwr@umich.edu.

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TOP: An enthusiastic Ohio State fan shows his disapproval for a police officer escorting the Michigan football tearm
through Columbus. Middle: The rivalry goes beyond humans; this stuffed Wolverine felt the brunt of Buckeye hatred
when it was hung in effigy. BOTTOM: Michigan fans take moronic jibes from their rivals in stride.

By MATT SINGER "(Ohio State fans) have been
Daily Sports Editor really respectful, forthe mostpart,"
Smith said.
COLUMBUS - In a hostile sea Before the game, many students
of scarlet,there were a few loud and who made the trip to Columbus
proud oases of maize and blue. attended a free away-game tailgate
Tucked into disparate corners of hosted by the University's Alumni
Ohio Stadium, a small contingent Association. The event was so well-
of a few thousand Michigan fans, attended that it ran out of hot dogs
students and players' family mem- more than two hours prior to the
bers cheered on the Wolverines in game.
person. Other ticketless Michigan Most of Michigan's fans arrived
students and fans made the trip at the stadium early, chanting "Go
to Columbus simply to experience Blue" and singing "The Victors" as
the scene surrounding what some the scarlet-clad Ohio State faithful
called "The Game of the Century." took their seats. The Wolverines'
And the opportunity to witness sections happily greeted Michi-
one of the most momentous games gan greats Braylon Edwards and
in Michigan history led some stu- Charles Woodson as they entered
dents - who didn't receive tickets the field.
in March's away-game lottery - to Buttheymocked Ohio State Heis-
throw financial considerations out man-winner Eddie George with
the window in the effort to secure chants of "Biakabatuka," referenc-
a seat. ing former Michigan running back
"(I spent) $600, and it's well Tim Biakabatuka's 313-yard rush-
worth it," LSA senior Alex Smith ing performance against George's
said before the game. "I'll never see 1995 Buckeye squad.
this again in my life." As game time approached, the
Despite warnings from a cam- hype level at the Horseshoe soared
pus-wide e-mail, which called on to monumental proportions.
students to "keep your Michigan Even the most dyed-in-the-wool
gear to a minimum," the small Michigan fan couldn't help but be
Michigan sections in the Horseshoe impressed by the fervor of the Buck-
were completely covered in maize eye faithful priorto kickoff
and blue. Fans reported wearing "I couldn't ask for a better No. 1
their colors outside of the stadium vs. No. 2 feeling," LSA senior Jona-
relatively incident-free, besides a than Bogs said. "Everybody's so
few "Screw Blue" shouts and other pumped up. It can't get much more
verbaltaunts. exciting, Ithink."

For Michigan fans, it soon got
more exciting. After receiving the
opening kickoff, the Wolverines
quickly marched down the field for
a touchdown, setting off a chaotic
celebration in the Michigan sec-
tions.
Fromthere,thegamewasnothing
short of an emotional roller coaster
for Wolverine fans. They stood in
shock as the Buckeye offense rolled
over Michigan's defense during the
first half. They briefly took over the
stadium from stunned Ohio State
fans as the Wolverines cut the lead
to 28-24 in the third quarter. They
maintained hope as Chad Henne
led the Wolverines on a desperate
drive inthe game's final minutes.
And when the Wolverines finally
fell short by the slimmest of mar-
gins, the pride of Michigan's fans
never faltered. Although disap-
pointed bythe loss, those who made
the trip gave the Wolverines a warm
ovation as they walked sadly off
Ohio Stadium's torn-up turf.
After the game, some Michigan
supporters bolted from the stadium
as quickly as possible. Others lin-
gered forlornly as Ohio State fans
flooded past them to join the party
unfolding on Ohio Stadium's turf.
For the most part, the Buckeye sup-
porters ignored their maize and
blue counterparts, although some
couldn't resist the temptation to
shout a mocking "Good luck in Pas-
adena" ontheir way to the field.

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TOP: A sign referencing Michigan legend Bo Schembechler is left behind by its maker. Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr refused to use Bo's
menory as a rallying cry. BOTTOM: The "Choke" sign is one of many instances of fan ignorance - the official drink of the Wolverines is Pepsi.