A Wolverine in Buckeye Land

Many years ago when my father moved us to Ohio, I never gave it thought about living here. To me, it was just a different city and trying to find new friends.

As I grew older, I kind of got a feeling that things weren't always what they seemed. During at least one week every year, my friends were suddenly my enemies. Why? Because I grew into my maize and blue blood while they around me bled scarlet and grey. I learned about the rivalry...Michigan and Ohio State.

When you're young, things like that don't make a lot of sense. My friends (so-called) are now avoiding me? What gives?

It's a rivalry, you idiot. You know, those that actually express a severe dislike to your team...and you.

During the past few years (too many, actually), I've not drawn the ire from friends and family (I'll get into that later) I once did. Not like I did when a guy named John Cooper was in charge of the that program in Columbus. Amazing what a winning streak against your biggest rival will do.

Fashion statement?

Damn Jim Tressel! He's the reason I get laughed at for being a Michigan fan!

Michigan fans can moan and groan all they want about the head Buckeye. As a Michigan fan, I can't. I simply can't. There's hatred and there's respect. You cannot help but respect the sweater vest. What Tressel has accomplished during his days in Columbus is nothing short of greatness.

Dump on him for the BCS title game losses. Cry about the phantom pass interference call that handed then the one BCS Championship he has. At least he got there. My beloved Wolverines haven't got that far. And to my dismay, I can't envision it occurring any time soon.

My family. I didn't really want to get started on that, but I did bring it up now, didn't I?

The only person in my immediate family that wasn't born in Ohio was my sister. She snuck in by a few months. My parents, brother and myself were born in Michigan. Here's where irony kicks in.

My parents converted to Buckeye-dom. My brother chose to ground me in Wolverine-ism. My sister has since leaned the way of Joe Pa-almighty-ness. (Oh, brother!)

Once, my father was meeting me at work and I was wearing a t-shirt that sported the "M" logo. As I was walking out to greet him, he playfully attempted to hit me with his car. His own flesh and blood! Because I was wearing a Michigan t-shirt?

It's not often you hear anything nice regarding Michigan being entrenched in the land of Tressel. But I hear them every once in a great while. My daughter had given me a Michigan hat for Christmas a couple of years ago. I was wearing it in a grocery store when I heard a voice.

"Cool hat."

It was the week of the game and I thought it was a condescending Buckeye fan. That's what it usually means. It wasn't this time. The guy had graduated from UM and was complimenting my taste. Another happened while I was in a Columbia outlet store. As soon as I hit the store, I heard a "Go Blue!".

Shocked, again, I looked up and noticed a young lady that was employed at the store.

"Not used to hearing that around here," I replied.

"You will in my store," she responded.

Now I know where to go for all my clothing needs. Already got a pair of shoes from there.

So this week, I was thinking I would get my share of ribbing from, of all people, my nephew's girl friend. And I do feel sorry for my nephew because he's a Wolverine fan, too. Makes for a weird week for him, I guess. Almost any time I see her, she is donned in some form of Ohio State garb. I truly believe that if I saw her bleeding, it was truly be scarlet and grey blood. Honestly.

And she leaves no stone unturned. If she sees me in Michigan wear, the gloves are off. Hat, hoodie, probably if I even had UM socks, she'd have a line or two.

So far...nothing. Not even a blurb on Facebook. Not a peep from my parents. But I know what's in the works.

Yikes!

When gametime hits and my Wolverine defense is permitting that Pryor guy that shunned Ann Arbor to waltz up and down the field, I will hear something. My parents, my niece, my nephew's girl friend, my Facebook friends that are Buckeye fans.

No, nothing will happen until after the game. If the Buckeyes wins, I'll never hear the end of it.

But what if Rich Rod, Shoelace and the guys pull off the massive upset?

I'll just grin from ear to ear.