OTish- tickets to The Game and self respect
Earlier today, I was offered two tickets to the game this weekend at face value. The issue is that the tickets were coming through my wife's job here in Columbus, and it was made clear that any partisanship not in favor of Ohio would not be welcomed. She works for the Governor, and essentially, anyone in the VIP seats occupied by state employees is a reflection on the office. Somewhat silly, sure, but also I can see why they may feel that way. If it was Minnesota or something, I doubt it would be an issue.
Anyhow, I declined. I figured I've been to the game two times before, and seeing it again wasn't worth having to bite my lip for 3 hours Saturday.
Would anyone here have accepted knowing that they'd have to sit in hostile territory and bite their tongue for the whole game? I just want to feel better about this knowing I'm not the only one who would have seen it this way.
While contemplating this, I was immediately reminded of the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine wore the Orioles hat in the owners box at Yankee Stadium and was then kicked out because she wouldn't take it off.
EDIT: Thanks for the input everyone. Go Blue!
November 20th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
Probably would be the only time you enter that stadium and not get spit on. I'd have a tough time accepting tickets if I couldn't show my loyalty, you probably did the right thing. Especially if you've been there before.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
You did the right thing.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
I get spacy during games and get bothered really easily (e.g. there was a college age girl who sat behind me at the Iowa game who wouldn't shut up the whole time.). It especially bothers me to be around people actively cheering for the other team. I'd rather watch from the comfort of my own living room and not worry about anything other than the game.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
I think you've summed up my opinion perfectly. I don't know that I could keep from cheering, and even if I could, I'd be too annoyed to enjoy myself.
If the OP is more laidback, it probably could be a cool experience, but I think I'd either go nuts holding it in or end up getting kicked out for breaking the rules.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
my Dogs generally hide when I watch football because of the shouts of excitement or anger. Holding in my emotions would be as successful as using gauze as a condom.
November 20th, 2012 at 8:37 PM ^
I've tried that before. You mean it doesnt work?
November 20th, 2012 at 10:10 PM ^
No Daddy, it doesn't.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:42 PM ^
Sit, watch, keep your mouth shut.
But then have a huge ass grin as Gardner / Denard magic unloads on them. When Braxton has the game clinching fumble/INT you can stand and watch as they all filed out crying.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
How much fun is that though, to watch a huge football game, without being allowed to wear your M gear, cheer for your team, groan when the oppenent scores, and so on. Especially knowing that a slip up could negatively affect your wife's employment.
No way I'd take them. It either wouldn't be fun because I obeyed the rules, or I'd screw something up because I didn't.
You're better off paying for worse seats or watching from home. You did the right thing.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:01 PM ^
and then realized how tough (and unsatisfying) it would be to sit there watching when Michigan does something amazing and eventually wins. Like tantric sex I guess? Just waiting for the release.
Haughty contempt and mocking smiles have their place, and are usually my preferred method of expressing disapproval, but biting my tongue during big plays would be difficult. Definitely understand your decision not to go, even if I don't know if I'd make the same one.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:36 PM ^
Not the usual OSU belligerents. Sure they would be talking a bunch of hot air but they would definitely be quieting down when things got tense...
I mean if I thought UM had no chance (like last time we were at OSU) I would not go. But I really think it will be a close game that UM could pull off. I'm not expecting a win but I'm quietly confident after watching wisc on shut them down.
It would be tough, obviously, but i think i could hack in the VIP box. I bet there will be a big wig in there with UM ties that is going to be getting a ribbing anyways. You could have been his ally haha.
seriously, tough. I just think being able to see the game live and then having TVs in the suite for the replays would be a great why to see it. you could say you where there for the beginning of the Hoke v Urban war.
Sure you have to hold it in but your a grown ass man, that should be doable...especially knowing the prize that awaits at the end (walking out the place with the UM W). Seeing the tire fires..etc
November 20th, 2012 at 7:14 PM ^
I couldn't care less if the buckeyes sitting around me didn't like it. This is THE GAME fer God's sake.
November 20th, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
Good job!
November 20th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
Those VIP seats would probably go for $1-2k for the pair. I'd have taken them.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
Based on the topic "Tickets to The Game and Self Respect" I thought this was going to be involve someone offering the OP tickets to The Game if the OP was willing to dunk their head in a bucket of urine. I suspect others here made the same assumption.
But I get the OH Governor's Office's position on the tickets. If you're essentially a guest of the state, it's reasonable to ask you to act like a guest. And it's reasonable to decline if you can't stomach that prospect.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
because there is no way I'd put up with listening to loud mouth Ohio fans insulting M players, without saying anything or even showing my maize & blue shirt.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
If you're sitting in a VIP section it's not going to be the normal mouth breathers that populate most college stadiums. It would be the well-heeled crowd who's just there because it's a big game.
November 20th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
No way. There would be some of those, sure, but there are plenty of wealthy OSU fans with big mouths, and other people who have those tickets for one reason or another. This is Ohio we're talking about, not Duke.
November 20th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
is that going to be?
November 20th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
The right decision was made. By going, any slip up could land your wife in trouble. There's no need to take that kind of risk.
How ohio to have this kind of stipulation though. Your purchase of tickets, parking, and concessions still flows through to the school and increases their bottom line. If you invited a guest who happened to be a fan of a rival school to attend a Michigan home game, would you ever force them to be quiet and wear either neutral or Michigan gear? I would never.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
I've gotten tickets at Michigan Stadium through channels where it was not said, but it was known, that to act the fool in these seats would bring repercussions. Not to the point that supporters of the other team couldn't show colors, but to the point that if you made your seat neighbors unhappy, bad things might happen.
Like the black helicopters will show up and take you away to Area 51 or whatever.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
I'm assuming the OP doesn't want to cause a ruckus though. He would just want to wear a Michigan sweater and cheer the same as any other fan would.
As long as he were a polite guest I would see no problem.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
November 20th, 2012 at 5:14 PM ^
I think you did the right thing.
IF you could keep a cork in it, and if you value the chance to watch Buckeye soul-less souls get crushed, then maybe you take them. There is no way I could keep my mouth shut that long, let alone contain all other reactions. Risking your wife getting backlash at her work isn't worth it.
But how great would it be if your wife was just about to (voluntarily) move jobs! Wear the colors, whoop it up right in a bunch of rich Buckeye's faces! Laugh with disdain and say "Thanks for playing" afterward! Now that right there would be fun.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
I don't think I'd do a lot of cheering regardless of where you were sitting. I took my daughter to the 2010 game. We did cheer for Blue while in our seats but kept quiet and buttoned up before and after. It's not an enjoyable experience but you will come out of it changed --- filled with hate.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:26 PM ^
from what I've heard.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
Yep, just adding to the cumulative voice here: you made the right call. The biggest draw between watching the game live and watching it on your couch is that when you're at the stadium, you get wrapped up in the collective emotions of the rest of the fans there.
To quote Jase Robertson (if you don't know who that is, you're missing out): "That's like on your wedding night, if your wife says 'Hey honey, look at this... no touchy!'" Where's the fun in that?
November 20th, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
might be my favorite show on TV right now. Uncle Si is a riot.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^
I wouldn't trust myself to behave in that situation.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
Don't have the points to make a new topic
We should really be taking more joy out of how badly the bowl ban has screwed Ohio this year.
November 20th, 2012 at 9:02 PM ^
November 20th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
Did accepting the tickets mean you couldn't acknowledge any affiliation to Michigan at all? Would it have been cool to wear an M hat? A sweatshirt? If the only stipulation was to keep the cheering to a dull roar, I think I could've done that. If it meant I had to act like I was an Ohio fan, well then I'm with you, fuck that.
That said, I've been to Columbus before and sat in enemy territory and while I've not been treated well, Ohio fans bark is worse than their bite. Granted Brian's story about mistreatment at the hands of Buckeye fans flies in the face of that opinion, but I think it's a pretty isolated incident. For all their blather about being hostile to rival fans, it's mostly false hubris.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
"it was made clear that any partisanship not in favor of Ohio would not be welcomed."
I assume this includes clothing, skickering, quiet cheering in the corner.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
could have had a sweatshirt on in the seats, but since I've been to that hole as a visitor before and not been treated exceptionally well, I wouldn't really care to walk into to out of the place wearing Blue. Once I went wearing a green jacket and khaki pants and two different sets of bros wanted to fight me because I wasn't celebrating OSU's win (2002). It'd be different if I were going with a group of folks or sitting somewhere friendly.
Generally I agree, they are mostly hot air, but now that I'm in my 30's and have kids, I don't see the need to be putting myself in that situation.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^
I know a former UM football player (big dude) that took his kids to the '02 game. He said he was secretly happy the Navarre didn't end up pulling out the victory because he was fearful for what would have happened to his family if Michigan had won. I can't imagine Ohio has gotten any better since then.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
November 20th, 2012 at 5:41 PM ^
Good idea...... except for the swap part. This is America! Put capitalism to good use and get some $$$.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^
Staking your wifes job status on the behavior of a couple of Ohio fans that you trade your tickets with does not seem wise.
November 20th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
Unless she is making some coin there, and prob not given it's a government job, she should be looking for a better job.
The governor of that God foresaken state can eat a big bowl of dicks for all I care.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
You made the right decision. There is no way I could keep my mouth shut for an entire Michigan/OSU game. I can't believe people are actually saying they would take the tickets.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:51 PM ^
November 20th, 2012 at 5:52 PM ^
I'd rather sit in Block O South than have to keep my mouth shut and be neutral during The Game. At least it's general admission.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^
in 2000 and 2002. It was difficult, but my buddy and I made it through. Strangely enough, the OSU fans were more belligerent after the win in 2002 than the loss in 2000.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
When Ohio loses, their fans act like jackasses. When Ohio wins, their fans act like bigger jackasses. The Game is in Columbus. You made the right decision.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:03 PM ^
To watch the game under those conditions would have been worse than not watching it at all. A man's gotta have a code.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
Should have taken the tickets. If going to the game means I have to wait until we win at the end to stand up and cheer, so be it, it is worth it to attend.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:16 PM ^
you did the right thing. plus i feel bad for your wife having to work for that guy.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
Should have taken the tix and LTT'd them on the internet.
But seriously, you made the right call.
November 20th, 2012 at 6:49 PM ^
You made the right call.
November 20th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^
Call them back and take the damn tickets. Who gives a shit if the Buckeyes around you don't like it.
Also, scream as loud as you can, and otherwise be as disruptive as possible. This is THE GAME.