Comment about UM-osu rivalry vs MI-OH rivalry
Inspired by a comment on a recent thread, but perhaps worthy of its own discussion:
Just a reminder to people that this is sports rivalry *not* about the states of MI vs OH. That is minor & meaningless in the grander scheme of things, especially since Michigan is a school of national (and international) prestige. Nearly half of the student body here comes from out of state - and a large portion of them from OH (more than any other state besides MI). The best students in MI most likely go to Michigan, while the best students in OH... *also* most likely to Michigan. Also note that so many of our most prominent sports alumni were born & raised in OH (Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, etc.)
Trying to play this up as a rabid inter-state rivalry plays into osu's favor... which is why they are the primary ones who promote the narrative so heavily. They are not really attracting much out-of-state students (relatively speaking) despite it costing less to attend there, so they need to fight to keep their in-state prospective students (& athletes) from leaving.
Don't help them in this.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:15 PM ^
I have observed that about fan allegiances in Cleveland, but what I can I say, I kind of like the city. It has a lot in common with Detroit.
February 4th, 2022 at 3:35 PM ^
Yeah, well, don't come crying to me when you're all out of moonshine.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
My main reasons for disliking Ohio aren’t sports related… but we can’t talk about that here. Fuck OSU though as well.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
Known competitors for a major job in Ohio starting in 2023 certainly haven’t not completely debased themselves and the entire state in the past few months. Boy these linebacker coach searches really bring out worst in people.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
Some Ohio State fans are decent people. Outside those half-dozen or so, the rest are nasty and give those guys a bad name.
Unfortunately, in Ohio they do not have a 2nd Big Ten team in-state to shunt off the mouth-breathing / knuckle-dragging contingent like we do.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
For myself and my 3 kids, all from Ohio and soon to be U of M grads, its ok to hate on OSU. Hatred for the whole state of Ohio is rude and childish. Some of UofMs best players and coaches have come from Ohio. Not to mention a ton of out of state tuition $.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Especially in light that many of our best players came from Ohio, which really irritates The Main Enemy to no end.
I have to imagine that there is not an insignificant number of people in Ohio who secretly do not like having Scarlet and Gray monoculture shoved down their throat.
Also, congratulations on three Michigan grads!!!
February 4th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
What's rude and childish is harassing, assaulting, and vandalizing the cars/property of people from Michigan. I'm sure that a good portion of this is done by people who didn't attend OSU and may not necessarily even be OSU fans. They just think it's cool to do. My Ohio hatred is in response to that. Sorry, not sorry. Maybe if they grew up and acted like civilized members of society, I could agree with you.
February 4th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Double post, so I guess it's a good place to post this:
February 4th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
Oh and Zavier Simpson and John Teske were from Ohio for those not old enough to know about Bo/Mo/Woodson/Desmond.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
100%
Upvote for speaking the uncomfortable truth.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
BITCH, NO.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
I don't hate the state of Ohio, but from the perspective of someone who wasn't raised in the Midwest. It feels like a very bland state that doesn't really have much of its own persona. Like whenever I want to talk about a generic random place in America my mind first goes to Ohio.
Example usage: "Yeah I mean you know it's different with the traffic for some guy who just moved from Ohio or something." or "Yeah I mean if you're from Ohio or something, you probably think that's some weird food they're selling".
I remember that viral Youtube video from some Clevelander who was dissing his own city pretty much but ended with "at least it's not Detroit". In reality though, you are Detroit minus the world famous industrial heritage and the world famous musicians.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
Good observation.
That blandness must be part of the reason Buckeye fans are so fierce in their dislike of Michigan, that it gives their life some excitement.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:40 AM ^
Plus the river that caught on fire...
February 4th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
Nah fuck Ohio. All of it.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
Interesting point.
Of course it’s hard to relinquish a fun part of the rivalry, but you’re right: it’s not the state, it’s Toeshoe (tOSU) and its fans.
Many Ohioans dislike tOSU and their pretentious little “the” (like bragging about having a small penis) as much as we do.
The Ohio people I met when I was in the Army were all nice, included my best friend, later a Cincinnati cop, and my best desk sergeant. That was a total surprise because before that, the only Ohioans I knew were jerks, the ones who invaded AA on Game Day.
[EDIT] Also, you’re right that blaming the whole state means accepting how Buckeyes WANT to frame the rivalry. Deep down they know they lose a comparison of the universities.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:59 PM ^
Nearly half of the student body here comes from out of state - and a large portion of them from OH (more than any other state besides MI).
Just chiming in to say this isn't true. More students from CA, NY, IL, and NJ than OH based on university figures. MA, FL, and MD are just behind OH.
February 4th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
Pretty sure CA/NY were the top two states in that population when I was in school in the 90s. At least it felt like that in all my classes.
February 4th, 2022 at 2:40 PM ^
Addressed this is an earlier comment - I was thinking back to some figures I had seen years ago but either I am misremebering or things have changed since then (maybe both). Either way, it is not the case *now*, for sure.
February 5th, 2022 at 8:46 PM ^
I never "misremeber" the letter m.
February 4th, 2022 at 2:17 PM ^
We have a good group of Ohio folks where I work in Seattle, whenever I do new hire meet and greets with folks that have migrated from ohio, its hilarious to me when they say "yeah I grew up there, went to school there, and couldnt wait to get out" 100% of the time
All of them buckeye fans.
LOL ohio is just the worst
February 4th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
Went on a road trip back to Michigan a few years ago. All of the sudden my kids were all agitated trying to get my attention. We'd crossed into Ohio and they were upset.
February 4th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Proud papa
February 4th, 2022 at 3:34 PM ^
I'm not from either state, but I lived in both of them for multiple years.
Michigan is a lot more interesting.
Other than parts of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and the Appalachian part of the east border, Ohio is flat, landlocked, and dull.
February 4th, 2022 at 3:55 PM ^
The problem is that Satan has his global HQ directly underneath Ohio Stadium. That practically makes all OSU fans devil worshipers.
I have a seminary degree, so you can pretty much take that to the bank.
February 5th, 2022 at 5:38 AM ^
its no accident that they wear red!
February 4th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
Youd be surprised at how low the actual Ohio :"great Michigan players" there have been over the years ... yes there have been some great ones .but the number is kinda low
February 4th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
It's been a while since I've had to drive that stretch on I-75 between Cincinnati and Toledo to get back home, but IIRC the speed limits were absurdly low... almost as though it were designed to be a pretext for the Ohio Highway Patrol to harass and paper anyone with the word "Michigan" on their vehicle.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:57 PM ^
My wife is a sparty one thing we both agree on is Ohio (the state) is trash.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:41 PM ^
How about living in Florida or down south trying to explain to the inbreds here The MGoBlog? Square that one.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:55 PM ^
Well…I’ll just contribute that I grew up in Canton, OH and have lived in Columbus for 17 years and love it and carry the proverbial UM flag all over this city.
also just got home from meijer where I saw two UM fans and we were yelling Go Blue across the store.
so there is that