Ohio State vs Michigan

It's here. I've only waited an entire year for this fateful Saturday to arrive, as it does at the end of every college football season. It is The Big Game. It is Ohio State vs Michigan. Kick off is just minutes away and the anticipation is palpable. 

Ok, so maybe not everyone gets into this game as much as I do, but I know there are a lot that get into it *more* than I do! I'm decked out in my OSU apparel, my daughter is wearing her Poop On Michigan Onesie and has her Brutus plush toy close at hand. We usually host or head out to a party, but this year we're staying home. I'm sick and with everyone up in arms about the Swine Flu, we're playing it low key this year. Just some pizza and soda and family. 

So when did all of this hoopla over a football game start? As far as I can tell, the late 1800's. Some research pulled up a great wiki detailing the entire rivalry and Ohio State's library website goes into great detail as well. 1897 is the year that I've seen a few times. The rivalry has grown over the last century to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the nation.

Today, festivities include the Blood Battle. A competition between the schools to raise money, donate food and blood for the Red Cross. A week long event leading up to the game. There are literally dozens of sites on campus to donate blood, food and money. A great way to turn a rivalry into something beneficial for many, many people.

And who doesn't love all the wings, pizza and beer specials Beat Michigan Week has to offer? Every sports bar, pub and restaurant in the Columbus area has something delicious and wallet-friendly to offer. $.10 wings, $2 buckets and pizza by the slice mmm mm.

Have you ever done the jump? I haven't, but I've known a few who have. I'm kind of a pansy I guess, but I just can't bring myself to do it. You know what I'm talking about, right? Mirror Lake. Every year, on the Thursday before The Game, hundreds of kids leap into Mirror Lake, some naked, some clothed. This tradition dates back to around 1902-1903, though it had nothing to do with the rivalry game. Then it was an initiation activity by one of the men's groups on campus, Bucket and Dipper. The entire story is detailed in an article in The Lantern, the OSU school paper. Definitely a good read. It wasn't until the 90's, however, that Mirror Lake became a Beat Michigan Week tradition. 

Well, I hear cheering coming from the living room. I do believe OSU has scored the first touchdown in The Big Game of 2009. To all of my fellow Buckeyes, happy cheering and GO BUCKS!!!