"Buckeye Nation"

[Triple-S]

I do ponder one thing.

IF, for the sake of argument, MAC/Horizon League Ohio teams were on the same level and not of a 2nd class citizenship within the world of college football, do the Buckeyes have as much of a stranglehold on College Football loyalty?

I'm not talking about being on a Big Ten level either, but say..again, it'll never happen, Kent/Akron/BGSU/Toledo/OU/Youngstown State were at a level of football that Cincinnati currently is at (Tourney Appearances in this existence, Pro Players, Top 25 appearances). Are we seeing kids grow up Golden Flash fans? Are we seeing people decked out and going crazy for the above schools ? Are we seeing crazy student sections like their CBB counterpart?

[Marcus]

I do ponder one thing.

IF, for the sake of argument, MAC/Horizon League Ohio teams were on the same level and not of a 2nd class citizenship within the world of college football, do the Buckeyes have as much of a stranglehold on College Football loyalty?

I'm not talking about being on a Big Ten level either, but say..again, it'll never happen, Kent/Akron/BGSU/Toledo/OU/Youngstown State were at a level of football that Cincinnati currently is at (Tourney Appearances in this existence, Pro Players, Top 25 appearances). Are we seeing kids grow up Golden Flash fans? Are we seeing people decked out and going crazy for the above schools ? Are we seeing crazy student sections like their CBB counterpart?

Prolonged success breeds fandom. The two just go hand in hand. I honestly feel like if one of those MAC/Horizon League teams were on the same level as Ohio State in athletics (no offense to anyone who goes there/roots for them), then yes, we would see a lot more kids raised to be Golden Flash/Zips/Bobcats fans, etc. I mean hell, look at how much support Cleveland State garnered the past couple of years when they were fielding a good basketball team. And who can forget EVERYONE pulling for Kent State when they made it to the Elite Eight several years ago? And I can't think of a single person I knew that wasn't pulling for OU to score the upset against UNC this year in the Sweet 16, despite the fact that none of them were actually OU fans.

[Triple-S]

Prolonged success breeds fandom. The two just go hand in hand. I honestly feel like if one of those MAC/Horizon League teams were on the same level as Ohio State in athletics (no offense to anyone who goes there/roots for them), then yes, we would see a lot more kids raised to be Golden Flash/Zips/Bobcats fans, etc. I mean hell, look at how much support Cleveland State garnered the past couple of years when they were fielding a good basketball team. And who can forget EVERYONE pulling for Kent State when they made it to the Elite Eight several years ago? And I can't think of a single person I knew that wasn't pulling for OU to score the upset against UNC this year in the Sweet 16, despite the fact that none of them were actually OU fans.

I've seen how crazy people get for HS Football in the NEOhio area, to have only one school in college football get the level of attention it does among such a great area for football tradition is kind of sad when you think of it. And in a way, it kind of speaks to how much of a joke the BCS, and the NCAA itself is at the top level.

It's not as if, also, that a school like Kent, or Akron, is small or doesn't have certain academic accomplishments to back them up either. (the alumni of either will be very quick to tell you that ), both of which have enrollments that are un par with a lot of middle of the pack BCS Schools. We're not talking about Mount Union and Malone here.

And, who would you as a sports fan be more proud of cheering on? The school you actually went to, have actual real, physical ties to, or Ohio State?

[Marcus]

I've seen how crazy people get for HS Football in the NEOhio area, to have only one school in college football get the level of attention it does among such a great area for football tradition is kind of sad when you think of it. And in a way, it kind of speaks to how much of a joke the BCS, and the NCAA itself is at the top level.

It's not as if, also, that a school like Kent, or Akron, is small or doesn't have certain academic accomplishments to back them up either. (the alumni of either will be very quick to tell you that ), both of which have enrollments that are un par with a lot of middle of the pack BCS Schools. We're not talking about Mount Union and Malone here.

And, who would you as a sports fan be more proud of cheering on? The school you actually went to, have actual real, physical ties to, or Ohio State?

Ohio State, as that's the school I went to. IDK, it all really depends on what you were brought up on. I was raised as an Ohio State fan anyway, but as a sports fan (hypothetically) going to a different school, I would be more proud rooting for my actual school. I could never really understand how people could put Ohio State before their own school if the two were playing, even if it was a game with huge ramifications for the Buckeyes.

[CHEECHREBORN]

1. The Ohio State University
2. Die Hard
3. I was born and raised near Akron. I have a brother that graduated from Akron and a brother that graduated from Kent. They chose to stay home for college for different reasons (sports & a woman). I knew from the time I stepped foot on that campus for my first football game that I wanted to attend OSU. Even though I am the only member of my family to attend OSU, my entire family is die hard. I've been going to OSU football and bball games since I was in 5th grade, its in my blood.

I'm curious to see what others have to say about this. I know a few guys that attend smaller schools and I'm told there is a strong dislike for OSU. I dont understand this. OSU is the big brother, thats how its always been and its not changing

I attended a smaller school (Baldwin-Wallace College) and I'm a huge Buckeyes fan as were most of the guys there. However, I do have a few friends that went to Bowling Green that found it a bit disrespectful that it is referred to as "THE Ohio State University" as if there are no other universities in Ohio and/or the other universities in Ohio are inferior. Frankly, I don't care because in my opinion; the only university in Ohio that actually does matter is OSU

[cafemerald]

I attended a smaller school (Baldwin-Wallace College) and I'm a huge Buckeyes fan as were most of the guys there. However, I do have a few friends that went to Bowling Green that found it a bit disrespectful that it is referred to as "THE Ohio State University" as if there are no other universities in Ohio and/or the other universities in Ohio are inferior. Frankly, I don't care because in my opinion; the only university in Ohio that actually does matter is OSU

There was only one college in Ohio that was ranked in both football and basketball to end the season this year.....

















and it wasn't OSU.

[Zombie dmhtfld]

There was only one college in Ohio that was ranked in both football and basketball to end the season this year.....















and it wasn't OSU.

I take it your talking about OU. They were not ranked in football at the end of this season and barely made it into the top 25 in basketball.

[cafemerald]

I take it your talking about OU. They were not ranked in football at the end of this season and barely made it into the top 25 in basketball.

How can a team that isn't ranked in football be a team that I am talking about?

[Zombie dmhtfld]

How can a team that isn't ranked in football be a team that I am talking about?

My bad, forgot all about them.

[Triple-S]

Frankly, I don't care because in my opinion; the only university in Ohio that actually does matter is OSU

Akron matters in the world of engineering and it's polymer school is world renowned.

Kent matters, and it was ranked one of the top 200 universities in the world by the times in britain.

Ohio U has one of best Journalism programs in the country, I would say it matters.

Those are just the three I'm familiar with. You can ramble on about Athletics, and that's fine and all, but overall, OSU is not the only school that matters in that regard in the state.

[Czvosec]

How can a team that isn't ranked in football be a team that I am talking about?

That's great and all, but OU finished with the most combined victories (football and basketball) of any division 1 school in Ohio.

Suck on that!

[RealKingofCleve]

Akron matters in the world of engineering and it's polymer school is world renowned.

Kent matters, and it was ranked one of the top 200 universities in the world by the times in britain.

Ohio U has one of best Journalism programs in the country, I would say it matters.

Those are just the three I'm familiar with. You can ramble on about Athletics, and that's fine and all, but overall, OSU is not the only school that matters in that regard in the state.

I love how when stressing academics you bring up mac schools. When schools like Case shit all over them.

[Triple-S]

I love how when stressing academics you bring up mac schools. When schools like Case shit all over them.

Case is a GREAT School. Best in Ohio academically.

was just trying to make the point that TOSU is not the only school in ohio that matters.