I am so grateful for the Buckeyes. I could write a whole novel, but the compare & contrast the Browns, as a FOIL to the Buckeyes truly illuminates how awesome tOSU is.
In this corner, we have:
-A QB controversy with 3 QBS. What do we get? A tweet from 1 saying "WE got this", the backup has his phone screen saver to the only team that beat him last year (he gets in and throws a TD after a 40 yard run), and the 3rd one? Oh yeah he became a hybrid player and what we like to do is get him the ball in space. He was yesterday's MVP and not only had a killer spin move, but also a diving catch, and another touchdown where he managed to keep on his feet. They have a great o-line and this running back who seems like a stand-up guy too - and he is always doing the little things when he isn't doing the big things like 80 yard runs. But the best part about the team is how they compete. They blow people up, they run through people, they chase them down and gang up on them. They are happy to play angry, if that makes sense. It just seems like their coaches have them dialed in to this consistent level of intensity. That coach makes me proud.
-The Browns? Well one of their coaches was arrested for beating his wife. That actually came on the ticker as I was watching the OSU game. Then this backup QB went to rehab but he isn't starting, but that's great that he might prove to be a non-bust - like at least there's something to hold on to: he hasn't yet been officially declared a complete bust. That's where we are at as Browns fans. Our starter at QB is the old guy who played a good stretch once before for the Bears. The other players sound high on him, which is good, but Bowe sounds high on everyone. Maybe he just sounds high. The threads in the Browns forum are about if we should get a new GM, the picks he has missed on, and this running back who we traded for nothing - he was a bad egg but I will always remember him for tweeting a dude's wife and getting called out for it. So that's good - we got rid of something bad, so addition by subtraction. This is the year we turn the corner though. This is the year where winning cures all. The division is crumbling and several guys are flashing and really showing out. I have somehow pinned my hopes on a rookie RB who happens to be injured, but he's going to revolutionize the game.
I can't help being a fan of either of these teams. I can't help where I am from and rooting for them. But I will tell you, the Browns have given me some sort of sick context for enjoying the Buckeyes even more, and for that, I am forever grateful.