Game-day Preview: @ Indiana Hoosiers

#2 Ohio State(0-0,0-0) @ Indiana(0-0,0-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
TV: ESPN - Dave Flemming, Kirk Herbstreit, Laura Rutledge

Radio: 97.1 WBNS The Fan - Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, Matt Andrews

8:00pm
Ohio State leads all-time 72-12-5; Buckeyes 21 straight

Headline - New OC Kevin Wilson against his former team

There probably isn't anyone more excited and nervous at the same time than Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. After six season's building up the program in Bloomington, Wilson had to leave under other than ideal circumstances, but left the keys with one of his better friends and defensive coordinator Tom Allen.

Allen probably knows Wilson better than anyone right now and he wouldn't be in the position he is in if not for Wilson turning him lose with one of the more improved defenses in all of the B1G. Allen returns nine defensive starters which is critical to the teams success this season. Some experts believe it will be a top 25 defense in the country, and they have the offensive fire power to support it with seven returners on that side of the ball.

Wilson was not handed a bare cupboard from Ed Warinner either. The Buckeyes offense comes back with just about everybody that produced yardage last season(save for Curtis Samuel). The addition of Ryan Day as the new quarterback's coach has people believing this offense will be a lot like the Tom Herman led offense late in 2014. It will be a battle of two friends who know each other very well at night, in Bloomington and maybe with more Hoosiers fans than Buckeyes for the first time since the Corso era.

Indiana O Versus Ohio State D

Ohio State O Versus Indiana D

Last Time They Met

Final Thoughts - Leadership Reigns

The Buckeyes are led by the first three-time captain in Ohio State history in J.T.(King Boo) Barrett, not to mention eight other captains. That is a first in 128 seasons of Ohio State football. 

There are five captains on the defensive side of the ball and four of them are in the "Rushmen Package"; Tyquan Lewis(two-time), Jalyn Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle and Sam Hubbard. Chris Worley has taken his seat at the Captains brunch as well. 

On the offensive side of the ball Barrett leads the way with Billy Price(two-time), Terry McLaurin and H-back Parris Campbell. 

Barrett and Price both have already graduated from Ohio State and lead an offense that needs to fix some things from last season. Most fans believe that Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin will help lead in this effort and bring along some much needed youth in Binjimin Victor and Austin Mack.

Defensively speaking, the Buckeyes are led up front by Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard and have the deepest position breakdown of any team in America right now. More pressure on the quarterback should give the young secondary time to develop and improve. 

The seven or eight(including Nick Bosa, Robert Landers, Dre'Mont Jones and frosh Chase Young) rotating on the front line will wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks this season.

Speaking of leadership, Urban Meyer is 93 and 15 in first time match-ups with coaches. 

Enjoy the hype video courtesy of @OhioStFBhttps://twitter.com/OhioStateFB

BUCKEYE BQ ( FROM BEHIND ENEMY LINES)

Happy Game day & greetings From The State Up North,

For those of you from Twitter world I'm Brad of The Buckeye Under Ground , living behind enemy lines & making Weasel fans lives miserable here since 1977. I'm also a bit of a BBQ aficionado & from time to time will be sharing some recipes & grilling tips  my own smartass opinions on The Football Season , the people's Communist Republic of _ichigan , Booger err captain Khaki err Woody & Bo wannabe err Harbaugh.


Today though we are going to start with a simple rib recipe that only take 10 -15 minutes of prep time & about 2/12 to 3 hours of grill time, however if you are a low slow person like myself it can take 6.5 to 7 hours. depending on the choice of cooker you have at home will depend on time & flavor if you have a smoker or Pellet smoker would be the optimal for low & slow. for those of you who have Propane or natural gas grills I would recommend adding a small smoke box to your grill for smoke flavor

Prep : remove your country style rubs And rinse them under cold water
      Pat them dry & put them on a cutting board or large pan to prevent the mess you will make when seasoning them.

Step 2  for those of you in NW & NE Ohio I would recommend using a very liberal amount of Stadium Ball Park mustard , Here in the state up north Pelican and anywhere south of Columbus in AHIA Phils Dusseldorf or Ben's mustard will do the job. as far as rubs go if you make your own or store bought is a personal preference, 1 Tip I will give is add a layer of brown sugar over the top of the rub this will add a nice sweet flavor especially if you had heat to the rub.

Grill  & Smoker
You want to set you grill or smoker at around 225 for a slow cook & make sure the heat is indirect when using a smoker you want the smoker going for at least 2 hours before cooking if using a propane gill you can increase heat to about 325 -350 close the door & let cook for about 3 to 4 hours.
a digital Thermometer is preferable for temperature how often you open the door to check will determine cooking time so try not to lift the lid.


when 30 minutes are left base the rubs with another layer of mustard and the ribs should look like this.

make sure the internal temp is around 150 to 160 then close the lid or wrap them in foil to cook them a little faster this will also help them come out more tender as well they are done when the internal temp is 180 t0 185 . you don't have to let them rest before serving but I recommend at leat resting for 10 minutes for optimum flavor.



So if you have the time try them tonight for the game or over the Labor day weekend  & enjoy.

Have a safe & happy weekend everyone & enjoy the Game tonight, and as always GO BUCKS













For you

2017 Rules Changes: A Year To Late

With only a few days until the 2017 college football season really gets underway, it is a good time to take a look at the rules changes that will be taking effect this season.  Every offseason the NCAA rules committee sits down and reviews proposals for rules changes, implementing some and discarding most.  Some years the implemented changes are major and are immediately noticeable by fans while other years the changes are much more subtle and are easy to miss.  This year’s changes are fairly subtle but one of them will certainly get Ohio State fans talking.  Below I will summarize the rules changes and my own view of them as a high school football official.

Horse Collar Tackles

The horse collar tackle rule has been expanded to include more actions.  Previously a horse collar tackle required the defender to grab the inside back or side collar of the shoulder pads or jersey, under the new rule grabbing the nameplate are on the back of the jersey can now be considered a horse collar.  It is important to note that for something to be a horse collar tackle, the defender has to grab one of these specific areas and then immediately pulling the ball carrier down backwards or to the side.  It is not a horse collar tackle if the ball carrier breaks free or if the defender then uses their other hand to pull down the ball carrier another way.

I think this is a great tweak to the rule.  Horse collar tackles are a safety issue the danger of grabbing and dragging a player down from the back of their upper body is the same whether the hand is inside or outside the collar.  This will require players to be much more careful about where they are grabbing on the ball carrier, as opposed to just making sure that they didn’t get their hand inside the jersey/shoulder pads.  From an officiating perspective, this will be pretty easy to call as the nameplate area is obvious and it is easy to see when it is being grabbed.

 

Field Goal Blocks

In a rule that Ohio State fans wish had been implemented last year, it is now a foul for a defensive player to run forward from beyond the neutral zone and then leap or hurdle in an obvious attempt to blog a field goal or extra point try.  A player may still leap if they start from a stationary position but the blocked field goal by Penn State’s Marcus Allen last season would now be a foul because Allen had a running start. 

This is another player safety rule that was implemented due to injuries that occurred when the leaping defensive player landed on the back of an offensive lineman.  This will be another easy one to call as it will be easy to notice the defensive player getting a running start. 

 

Pants

Beginning in the 2018 season, players will have to wear knee pads and pants that cover these pads and the knees.  This had previously been recommended in the rules but not required.  The reason for the delay in implementing this rule is because many schools had already purchased equipment for this year and while schools like Ohio State could afford new equipment easily, smaller schools aren’t in the same situation.

This is primarily a safety issue as wearing more pads obviously will reduce the number of injuries that occur.  I also support it because the really short pants that look like biker shorts look rather stupid.

 

TWSS: #BSUBooWatch...King Boo J.T. Barrett

Each week the sassy ladies of BSU are going to highlight a player of the week, hence, the birth of BSU Boo Watch! A fun, interactive feature each week that will drum up excitement, as if we needed anymore. For week one there was no better choice than Joe Thomas Barrett, King Boo himself!

Loved so much by us he IS our logo

  JT Barrett is poised to have a Heisman type senior season. The addition of Kevin new offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson and QB coach, Ryan Day will help bring back the JT we saw in the Tom Herman offense, that's enough to get anyone excited!

  I expect JT to come out firing on all cylinders. He will be sure to utilize the potent Zone 6 guys, quick hand offs to our ground guys, and knowing when to tuck and run. I have heard rumblings from insiders that the maturity and leadership JT is showing on the field preseason, will make Buckeye Nation and college football take notice.

  Get on your feet fans, the day we've waited for all year has finally arrived! Get ready to support our guys in what should be a very impressive season...Go Bucks!!! O-H...

TWSS: #AskTheBSU: Indiana

BlackLion‏ @Only1CieGrant - 1. Which Buckeye will score the first TD of the 2017 season?

Diana -   JT Barrett. He's going to make it look easy too! #ThatsMYQB

Mel - Mike Weber….I think he's going to have a huge 2017 season

Jane - Binjamin Victor….he will be the go to WR this year.

Lindsay - Johnnie Dixon...I really think he's finally healthy and will have standout year!!

2. Which Buckeye will force Indiana's first turnover?

Diana - good ole sweeeet Nicky Bosa. ❤️

Mel - Sam Hubbard

Jane - Jerome Baker - lookout.

Lindsay - Nick Bosa. He finally lost the reins that were holding in him last year, he will be a man possessed!!

#TwitterlessSean:  How important do you feel it is for the Buckeyes to come out with an emphatic performance in the first game to shake off the disappointment of last year.

Diana- My sweet Miami Hurricane husband would ask this….

I was nervous before the game started and just did not have a good feeling. We all saw the outcome. I think these boys have done a lot of maturing since the loss and they are going to come out with a chip on their shoulders. I am confident this team will silence the doubters! #HowSheGonnaEat

Mel-To say I don't think of that game every once and awhile is a lie. But I think they come out ready and play like the Buckeyes we all know. Excited to see JT do his thing!

Jane - imperative. A huge loss like that always lingers in the recesses of the mind. A decisive win will be the confidence boost that this Buckeye team needs to start the season.

Lindsay - Sean!!! I think it is crucial to have a significant victory. I know Urban and his players and they are ready to make a statement…they’re hungry!! The addition of Wilson and Day will be seen and seen early, this offense will be potent!!

Screamin Yeti‏ @Cincy235Shawn  Who will be the difference maker in the game? and why?

Diana - With the hiring of Day and Wilson my answer is JT Barrett. He is cool, calm and now he has the right tools to make it happen.

Mel - I think the team as a whole will be a difference maker

Jane - Production from our Tight Ends. And, my girls know I love me a Tight End. #81Vannett

Lindsay - JT being JT!!! I think fans and naysayers alike will be impressed by the maturity that the first ever 3 time captain will display. If great offensive minded people like Wilson and Day couldn't wait to work with JT, we should all sit back and enjoy. This will be more the JT we saw with Herman, but even better!! #ThatsOurQB

Ryan‏ @Ryan_1828 - 1. Who will come in in relief for JT when we're up by 30 in the 3rd quarter now that Joey Burrow is out for the season?

Diana - Haskins no doubt. I cannot wait to see him light it up. #NextManUp

Mel - Dwayne Haskins lol I mean it's pretty much set in stone he's the backup at this point

Jane - Hands down, Haskins

Lindsay -  Haskins. The injury to Burrow put this question to rest.

2. How many touchdowns will J.T. be responsible for?

Diana - at LEAST 3.

Mel - Well considering I love JT..all of them lol jk I'm gonna say two

Jane - Hat-trick

Lindsay - JT will be responsible for 4 TDs

Darrell Dotson‏ @DarrellJDotson - Will the score be over or under Lee Corso's age?

Diana - My brother has jokes. Hahaha!! Under by 41.

Mel - lmao...under by at least 40 yrs

Jane - Lee would love this question. Under by 45

Lindsay - Haha!!! Under

PREDICTION

Diana -  I'll be at the Buckeye Bar starting the celebration of my 31st. I want to say 31 so bad but I'll go with 20.

Mel - I don't do predictions lol it's the superstition thing...lmao Momma and Linds

Jane - Mel doesn't predict...she does laundry. Buckeyes by 17.

Lindsay - Not a fan of predictions, I may do laundry with Mel!! The Good Guys by 19

Sunday Brunch And Tea: Parris' Mom

I have had the pleasure of meeting parents of some of the Ohio State football players. The section I work in at Ohio Stadium on game-days is where a lot of the new incoming parents sit but it is also where some have been for a couple years now.

Me and Shelly during the weather delay

My favorite parent of all time is Parris Campbell's mom Shelly. She and I have gotten to know each other over the two years she and her family has been coming every Saturday. I got the opportunity to sit down and have brunch and tea with her recently. I know you will enjoy this woman as much as I do, and you will see quickly why Parris is the human that he is.

Chris - Describe Parris' recruiting process in high school from your perspective.

Shelly - My son’s recruiting process was an amazing experience. We enjoyed the entire process as it was not a

long process by any means. My son has wanted to be a Buckeye since he was a small child. He started

playing football when he was 7 years old for the Patterson Park Vikings. But, one thing he knew was that

one day he would be an Ohio State Buckeye. 

Parris was not on Coach Meyer radar as he was at the state Championship game to see Parris teammate Dante Booker. However, from the start of the game until about half time, Coach Meyer had the chance to see Parris’ speed, his leadership and his ability to be able to perform on a large stage such as a high school state championship game. After the game the next week Coach Vrabel went to St Vincent to see Dante and had the opportunity to speak with Parris. 

I remember as if it was yesterday even though it was Parris junior year of high school. Parris text me and

said “MOM” we have a system whenever he text and says “MOM” it’s something big or some big news. I

immediately responded with a “What” text and it took him about an hour to finally call me. I was a

wreck, I didn’t know what was going on. He said “ I just talked to Coach Vrabel from Ohio State” I said

“No” he said “Yes” he said we are invited to come to see the campus and take a tour of the facility. He

said “My dreams are coming true”. 

After that day we went down to OSU and the rest is history on our second unofficial visit we went to a basketball game and before the game we were in Coach Meyers office and he made the offer for Parris to play for him and we humbly accepted and that day he closed his recruiting process.

Chris - How has your time as a parent at Ohio State been and have you been involved with the FPAOS?

Shelly - Our time at Ohio State has been an experience of a lifetime. We have enjoyed being a Buckeye

family at The Ohio State University. We are thankful for the opportunity God has provided for us. We

have been members of the FPAOS since Parris’ freshman year. We take advantage of every opportunity

presented to us as a family unit.

Chris - How has the process been getting more parents involved as a group and who leads the organization right now?

Shelly - I have been a board member for FPAOS for the past 2 years. This year my husband Reuben and I are the

Vice Presidents along with Michele and Mike McCullough. Our presidents this year are John and Susan

Taylor. We have a great committee and we are very active. 

We also have several other families as office holders such as the Drake’s, Jordan’s, White’s, Borland’s and the Hausmann’s. The process has been good getting all our families involved in such a great organization. We are really a family unit here to support the entire program. 

This past August we had our second annual backpack drive for the fifth graders of a local school in Columbus. We collected close to 90 backpacks from the parent organization. We are not just parents of football players we want to make a difference in our communities. We also have can food drives during the spring game. The FPAOS is a great way to get every family involved in our community events, tailgate, and prayer gate and just to be a unit to represent “One Strong”.

Chris - What has it been like for you and your family to see Parris' development so far?

Shelly - Parris arrived on campus as a 6’1, 180 pounds and 16 years of age young man. I have enjoyed watching

my son grow and develop as an Ohio State football player, leader, team captain and a Man. I am very

proud of my son and all his accomplishments.

For many years it was just him and I along with my support system my parents. Needless to say we are a very close family and along with my husband and my parents we haven't missed a beat. We have all helped him get to this point with our love, encouragement, prayer and support. The relationship my son and I have is something special as he was not able to sign his letter of intent without me being a part of that and we still joke about it today.

Parris skipped kindergarten, he was very advanced as a 5 year old. I remember his pre-school teacher gave me

a letter of recommendation to have him tested for 1st grade. I prayed about it and decided I would just

enroll him in the kindergarten and see how things worked out. Parris completed a couple of days when I

was called into a meeting with his school principal. During the meeting I was told there was nothing the

kindergarten could offer him and he would be a 1st grader beginning the next day. 

I am a firm believer what’s meant to be will be especially when you put it in God’s hands. Over the years I've never worried if he would be mature enough to handle any task. Parris has always been a leader from his younger years.

The reality didn’t set in until summer going into 9 th grade he was growing up. Parris only played one year

of Junior Varsity in Peewee football because he was 12 years old going into the 9th grade when most

boys were starting their summer season with varsity Peewee football. 

I can remember I would go sit in the parking lot at St. Vincent St. Mary high school every day after work. I would watch my son practice from my car. One day I decided I would stand outside the car and some of the other parents began to stand around as well. As I was standing there one player’s father said “Hello” is your brother out there

playing? I said; No he said is your dad one of our new coaches? I said no. He said okay who you are here

to see, because we don’t want strangers watching our boys practice as he began to laugh. I said I’m here

to see my son… Of course he needed to continue with the questions. Finally he said if you have a son

out here you must have been a kid yourself when you had him. I said Nope my son is Parris Campbell

and he just turned 13 years old July 16th. 

I was 22 years of age when I had him and married. Needless to say we became friends after the conversation but I still laugh when I think about that story. Watching Parris get to this point has been very exciting for my family and me. As it seem he grow up right in front of our faces. He is a very responsible young man and he has always been that way. I know the way we raised Parris and teaching him to always put God first has made him the Man he is today. I’ve always told my son “Nothing is impossible” and the scripture him and I have always said to one another before he has played a game of football, basketball or ran in a track meet, Philippians 4:13 I can do all things

through Christ who strengthens me.

Chris - What has he felt like has been his toughest time since being in Columbus? 

Shelly - My son toughest time at Ohio State University had to be moving away from home in the beginning . He

really had a hard time not seeing his family on a daily basis. Our family is very close and Parris and I were

together every day outside of school and work. Daily I would call him or he would call me and we would

pray together or text each other. I would send him encouraging text messages as well as prayers and

scriptures to help get through his day. 

Being that he was only 16 when we moved him onto campus that was when I saw him as a young adult. Parris was doing everything the older guys were doing because as a football player at Ohio State University you are expected to work hard and your age has nothing to do with it. We knew freshman year would be a red-shirt year for him as he was not ready he needed to grow up and he needed to do it quickly. 

Chris - His best time?

Shelly - There are several things Parris has liked about Ohio State. One of the most important has been the fact that even though we weren’t with him he still had a family being at Ohio State University. Parris doesn’t have any brothers that he grow up with only sisters. Once he arrived at Ohio State he gained several brothers and relationships were built. He became close with his coaches and their families and that has really helped him develop even that much more. He is a young man that is after God’s heart and he will help, encourage, strengthen and lead anyone toward the promises of God. He wants everyone to have success on and off the field and his attitude, smile and personality is infectious.

Chris - What advice would you give to parents of players coming into the program?

Shelly - The advice I would give to the parents coming into the program is to pray, encourage, pray, encourage

and then pray and encourage some more. When Ohio State coaches recruit young men they recruit the

best of the best. And when that happens the young men arrive on campus as the big man from

whatever state they have come from. 

The real reality is that everyone is here at Ohio State University because they were the best of the best. Which means when those young men arrive on campus there is a real humbling experience as most of the upperclassman may not even know your name and some of the coaches. Coming from being a superstar in your hometown to being a regular player who has to prove he deserves to suit up in the scarlet and gray on the football field can be a huge test. 

As parents we have to remember we have given our young men the tools needed to be great and to step up to the

opportunity and make the best possible situation out of the task at hand. That includes given your best

on and off the field. Our sons need us when they accept the challenge of playing for The Ohio State

University the best school In the land. 

The players need the encouragement because they are no longer a superstar they are just average and they have to work hard to change average into great which is what you need to be in order to play for The Ohio State University. Talent is all around them on the field and so as a parent we have to make sure our sons are being encourage so they keep pushing themselves to be great.

Chris - If you would like to preach, we would like to know about your faith and how important it is to you.

Shelly - My faith is very important to me. I have a personal relationship with our lord and savior. This is my

second year leading the FPAOS prayer gate with the families before each game. Prayer is the most

important part of our day. I pray for our family unit, coaches and the players for both teams.

I pray for God's will to be done in everyone lives. I pray for safe travels to and from our locations weekly. I believe

that God is in total and complete control of everything that happens in our lives. I have faith in God that

he will continue to use and guide us in the direction we are to go. I know there is nothing impossible for

God. 

Each day that I wake up I give God all the glory for allowing me another day to get it right and I make sure to take advantage of the opportunity. I am thankful for all trials as well as the tribulations because they made me the person I am today. I know the people around me as well as myself wouldn't be who we are without the Almighty God. God has our backs even when we fall short of the mark. Even when we don't deserve his unfailing Love on a daily basis. God see and knows the heart so live life according to his word. 

If you fall down get back up and dust yourself off and continue forward as God is a forgiven God! Somethings I have always instilled in my family is prayer changes things and always keep God first and the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains so have faith and trust God!

I want to thank Shelly for taking the time to open up her world to us and some insight to her relationship with her son who we are all starting to realize is a very special man outside of football. I look forward to a great season hanging out with my favorite parent and her family, who all know who they are . . , 

and join them in remembering Philippians 4:13
 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

That Buckeye Superstition

The day we've waited on since our loss to Clemson, is now only less than a week away! What a more perfect time to talk about those crazy superstitions and traditions that all of us loyal fans succumb to during sports. Also, a chance to let you in on the craziness that is, "Lindsay during football season." It all started with the perfect season that was capped off with a national championship victory against the University of Miami. That season began my bevy of superstitions that take place year after year, and is one I will never forget.

  Every single game during that season I spent at my dad's house. We both had specific Lazy Boy recliners that we sat in, and no one was allowed in our spot, much to the annoyance of my brothers. We started off our morning by eating McD's breakfast while watching ESPN Gameday, that was the last thing we would eat until after the game. Too nervous for food. I had a spot on the wall, a knotty pine wall, that I would bump with the edge of my hand, cross my fingers, and blow three kisses up to heaven, while saying "Grandma, God, and Woody." Crazy, but it worked whenever we needed some extra luck. During OT in the national championship game, my dad and I were sitting on the floor as close to the big screen as possible, hands intertwined, as nervous as ever. During the last play we jumped up, screamed with joy, and hugged each other for a long time ... a memory that will never be replaced.

  That season put in motion many traditions and superstitions that follow me today. The beginning of the first game week of the season, my ringer is changed to The Ohio State University fight song, that stays in place until the scUM game, when it's changed to "We Don't Give a Damn ... " I still refuse to eat during a game, I have just all kinds of nervous energy. Now to game day attire, my favorite part! I refuse to wear a top or hat again during the season if we do not play well that game. I like to call it "bad football karma" and I want no part of it! So if I really love a shirt or jersey, I have to consider the game and if I should really pick that for that specific game. It is very scientific ... just trust me! For this reason, I may or may not have a whole guest bedroom closet that is just filled with OSU attire. Don't judge me. I still do the finger cross and blow a kiss to heaven three times, it definitely pays off.

  I am not alone with my craziness. My girl Mel saves up her laundry for Saturdays in the fall and she expends her nervous energy by tossing in laundry if she's frustrated with our guys. She turns off the game but tweets us to see what she missed.

My girl Diana was at the Palm Beach Buckeye Alumni Club Bar in South Florida during the revenge game against Virginia Tech and had a mishap with her lucky Buckeye flip flops. Braxton decided it was "Miller Time," hit the "B button" and did the spin move no Buckeye fan will ever forget. Diana was standing up on her barstool with her feet anchored around the legs and jumped so high she blew out her lucky flips and the bar went crazy.

 My Jane, lovingly known as Momma MJ, made a BSU sign for one of our games and we loved it. She attended the MSU game later in the year and we all asked where the sign was. She forgot it, and well we all know the rest ... we lost! The four of us swore we lost because she forgot the sign, or it's new name, "the Goddamn sign."

  Superstitions and traditions are fun and a vital part of enjoying sports. As this season starts, embrace your craziness and don't think you are weird. I mean look at all I just told you. I think you're safe. Less than a week away Buckeye Nation, buckle up for a season sure to impress us and make us proud ... GO BUCKS!!!!

  

  

Journey to Buckeye Grove, Part 3

Ask someone to give their earliest memory as a Buckeye fan and folks will often recall a shared memory with their parents, specifically their father. My earliest Buckeye memories are of Carlos Snow and Keith Byars running wild in the Shoe with my dad. A deep and abiding love for the Buckeyes was inculcated into me by my father very early, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Last week, we touched on a very special father-son relationship between that of Chris Spielman and his dad. Spielman at one point expressed a desire to attend Michigan. He recounted in the HBO special, "Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry"  "My dad said, 'OK, where are you going to go?' I said, 'Dad, I want to go to Michigan.' And he said, 'You traitor. I'll tell you where you're going. You're going right down 71 South and you're going to play for the Buckeyes ... Better not go there (Michigan). Don't ever come home if you do.' "

The elder Spielman’s parenting style is refreshing because it stands in stark contrast to our modern day politically correct guidelines, that we must stay neutral and introduce our child to all teams and let them decide for themselves. Fathers like Spielman’s have gone the way of the dinosaur. That’s what makes my next story about a father and his sons’ shared Buckeye heritage, so significant.

Born in Texas on May 24, 1943, Jay Gelbaugh was the son of a World War II veteran. After the war, Jay’s dad moved to Marion and then eventually to Findlay to raise his own family. He raised his sons Eric and Adam as Buckeye fans from their earliest moments. Eric recalls, “I knew the words to the Buckeye Battle Cry, Across the Field, and Carmen Ohio by the time I was three. To my dad Woody was god, Archie was a saint, and TBDBITL was the sound of angels.”  Mr. Gelbaugh loved the band so much that he would by tickets for the games just to watch their ramp entrance and halftime show. In those days, Script Ohio was only performed a few times a year and you were lucky if you saw it. The Buckeye Battle Cry album often bellowed through the Gelbaugh household on the family turntable.

The most memorable game that Eric remembers watching with his father was the 1984 Illinois game. Eric was 13. This was the game that Illinois broke out to an early 24-0 lead in the second quarter. His father said, “If they give up one more point, we’re getting the hell out of here!” Keith Byars quickly ran for a touchdown and instilled Mr. Gelbaugh with a surge of confidence. “Were going win this game, Trust me,” he said. This was the game Byars lost his shoe at the 50-yard line and ran for a 67-yard TD. The Buckeyes went on to win 45-38, no doubt with the help of the Gelbaugh family. How often do we think our own superstitions and actions affect the outcome of Buckeye games? That's how emotionally invested we get. 

Mr. Gelbaugh’s favorite player was of course two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin. He was at the game against North Carolina when Archie ran wild for 239 yards. Being at the Shoe where Archie catapulted himself into Buckeye lore was one of his most treasured memories, a memory he often related to his sons.

Game day at the Shoe with his sons was always special for Mr. Gelbaugh. Like many Buckeye fans, most of their time was spent on the North side of the stadium at the old Holiday Inn for Hiney Gate. Some of my fondest memories are with my own father when we would go over and grab a bite to eat at the Holiday Inn before making our trek to the stadium. The Gelbaugh family would then make their way to the Skull Session before heading to the Shoe. As is often the case, life gets in the way and Mr. Gelbaugh never made it to Buckeye Grove with his sons. With his health declining, Eric and Adam’s father talked a lot about the Buckeye Grove. Perhaps Mr. Gelbaugh was admonishing his sons to visit the Grove, an experience they had never shared together.

On December 21, 2015 Jay Gelbaugh passed away unexpectedly. While one chapter in a great man’s life had closed, another one was about to be opened. Eric and Adam made their way to the Grove with their father’s ashes. The proud sons spread some of their father’s ashes around Archie’s trees in the Buckeye Grove. 

Adam and Eric at the Grove the day they spread their father’s ashes:

That day Eric and Adam were given a whole new perspective on Buckeye football because of their visit to the Grove. “Of course, I felt a sense of obligation to him, to do something that both honored him as well as something that gave my brother and I a sense of closure. My brother and I thought that my dad was definitely smiling down on his Buckeyes that day and we were proud to have been able to leave a little of him at his favorite place on earth, Ohio Stadium”

Picture of Mr. Gelbaugh’s hat that Eric wore (with pins his dad had gathered throughout the years.)

I hope you enjoyed my three-part series on the Buckeye Grove. It is my sincere desire that you earnestly guard that precious gift of Buckeye fandom bestowed to you by your parents. Cultivate a love for OSU in your own children, one that will abide for a lifetime. Treasure each day you have with your parents as well as your children for our life is but a vapor. For as the words of Carmen Ohio so eloquently put it:

These jolly days of priceless worth

By far the gladdest days on earth

Soon will pass and we not know

How dearly we love Ohio.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

Until next time,

Nick Jackson

Copyright 2017 Nick Jackson- All rights reserved

BIO - Born in OSU hospital, I've literally been a Buckeye fan from birth. I live in Central Ohio and in addition to writing, I enjoy hiking, photography and following all things Buckeye. Feel free to drop me a note for article ideas. Thanks for reading!

Twitter: @Gobucks2204

Email: gobucks2204@gmail.com