OT: Going to Ohio for Easter

Submitted by emmekel on

I am traveling with my wife, 8 month old and beagle named Blue to Ohio this weekend to visit my parents who just moved to Springboro, OH.

I wanted to ask the Michigan fans who live in Ohio is it safe for me to keep my Michigan paraphernalia on my truck ( license plate cover, magnet on rear hatch, and Block M tow hitch) or should I remove it.

I wouldn't care if I was just traveling by myself to Ohio but with the baby and the wife coming along, I don't want to get run off the road or have my truck vandalized.

If I am being a bit overly cautious, please feel free to make fun of me in the thread.

Thanks.

KinesiologyNerd

April 1st, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^

I won't make fun of you, but yeah it's a bit cautious. Hell, I visit my friends in Columbus, and most people are fine. Sure some people will be a dick, but as long as you aren't a dick it's all in fun and they're fine. If you really got in trouble just pick a sport that nobody will know whether they are better or not. I usually go with softball.

It's true, we have a lot of OSU loving hicks down here, but you're not going to get chased away by an angry mob.

OysterMonkey

April 1st, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^

By the time a Buckeye fan processes your presence in OH and thinks of something to do to your truck it'll be the 4th of July.

Seriously, though, Springboro is an hour or so away from Columbus, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The stupid dilutes fairly fast as you move to the southwest of C-bus. Maybe take the magnet off, but anything attached shouldn't be a problem.

Block M

April 1st, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^

would be to drive 5 mph under the speed limit. From my experience driving through Ohio if they see MI plates they look for a reason to pull you over.

Bryan

April 1st, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^

I wore my "Worst State Ever" shirt in Ohio walking around and out to the bars in Cleveland and had no problem, and actually received some high fives. You should be fine. I have the block M on my plate and have left my car over the weekend there and have no problem. Then again, it is Ohio.

GOBLUE4EVR

April 1st, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^

for dirty looks from people as they drive past you... almost 4 years ago when my wife and i were still dating we went to a wedding just outside of dayton... she is an michigan alum and has a sitcker on her rear windshield and a license plate holder, every time someone drove past us they would just glare at us as if we were the devils children... we stopped to get food and when we walked into the fast food place everyone was staring at us like one of us had just farted... now granted we were both wearing michigan stuff because they were playing bowling green that day... other than dirty looks you'll be fine, but i do agree with doing the speed limit or under...

StephenRKass

April 1st, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^

You're can't possibly really be afraid of going to the State of Ohio, can you? Ummh, if you are that gullible and paranoid, have I got a bridge to sell to you!

Hemlock Philosopher

April 1st, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^

I live in Ohio. I had the plates "60 BLUE" and the lug nuts were loosened on my wheels, my car was keyed and I was booed on several occasions from drivers of garbage trucks and pizza delivery vehicles. Whether or not these facts are related is up to the reader to decide.

I wouldn't be afraid per se, just be careful. It only takes one nut to spoil the trip.

BlueSCar

April 1st, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^

You really have nothing to worry about. Columbus is the only place in Ohio where I am afraid to display Michigan stuff in my car. Where you're going, there is a 5% chance that you get any reaction at all.

bluebyyou

April 1st, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^

I live an hour outside of Columbus and often wear Michigan clothing when I go into Columbus. Never been bothered - leaving Michigan stuff on a vehicle which is unattended? Dunno. The closer you get to Columbus, the more nut jobs you run into. The number of people I see wearing Michigan clothing in Ohio is surprising.

This time of year, things tend to be a bit calmer than they are during football season.

SysMark

April 1st, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^

On an unattended car you are always taking a chance some low-life will do something. I wouldn't worry about yourselves personally but you might tone down the car for this trip.

kdhoffma

April 1st, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^

My father-in-law (OSU grad) lives in Springboro, and we've never had a problem there. When we lived in Michigan, we would probably visit once a month. We had the UofM license plate, with "Go Blue" holder, and a window decal. Never had our car vandalized in any way. Only on one occasion did a car of teenagers pull up next to us and yell "Michigan Sucks". I always wear M clothing when I'm there, and never had anyone say anything to me.

Blue Ninja

April 1st, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

I also live in Ohio and my old truck had a UM decal on it for years and never had the slightest trouble. Now of course I'm older and wiser and I don't invite any trouble. But seriously I doubt you'll have any trouble aside from possibly a few idiot Buckeye fans who'll laugh at you because they have the upper hand and know we can't say much right now.

JC3

April 1st, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^

I'm driving to West Virginia today with my good friend. I'm going in there with my Maize and Blue blazing away.

Six Zero

April 1st, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^

I once was driving through Columbus and had my car dismantled by a raging mob of OSU zealots and extremists. They then dragged me through the streets and burned my UM gear and made me wear red and silver clothing (ugh) and made me watch videos of Archie Griffith's second acceptance speech before throwing me in a gulag for three years.

And the worst part is, when I finally made it back home they chased me out of town and hunted me through the wilderness before I finally shot up the police station. Oh no, wait, that was Rambo.

The Beard of L…

April 1st, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^

In the midst of all the world travelling gadabouts on this board, we have these agorophobes who have to write to MgoBlog as if it's the first time they've left their parents' basements.

Don't worry, OP. A guy who worries about the trailer hitch on his pick up truck probably would be right at home in Ohio.

tn wolverine

April 1st, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^

Ha Ha, I get to go to Michigan for Easter from Tennessee. I always keep my stuff on the car as we head through Ohio. I do worry about the obnoxious Ohio state trooper that will pull me over just beacuse of my Michigan paraphenalia, but it's never happened and I've been making the trip for many years. I even wore my "Oh How I hate Ohio State " t-shirt at Kalahari in Sandusky and got some looks but no one said a word to me. Which I was kind of hoping for when I wore it but oh well !!!!

jsquigg

April 1st, 2010 at 5:27 PM ^

Represent. I remember going to Ohio in the 90s after we had beaten them 28-0. I made sure people knew about it, but it was the 90s, and the people of Ohio were as dangerous as puppies. It just goes to show how much better the atmosphere is there when the people are held in check.

WindyCityBlue

April 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 AM ^

I have been going to Ohio (Cleveland) for Easter since I was -25 (both my parents are from Cleveland and OSU fans). In fact, I am leaving for Cleveland tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately, its not a big deal to them anymore. Ripping on Michigan has been so overplayed and not fun to them - it has actually stopped in my family because for the first time ever, they pity us.

So, wear it loud and wear it proud, but don't expect anything other than a hearty laugh.