Once upon a time, I worked with some people in Ohio. They were Ohio State Buckeye fans. On New Years Day 2005, my team, the wonderful Texas Longhorns, played the Michigan Wolverines, hated enemy and arch rival of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the Rose Bowl. Texas won in spectacular, come-from-behind, heralding fashion. I came to work on Monday prepared to revel in the glory of beating Michigan with my Buckeye coworkers. They spoke not a word of the game. Sports radio and ESPN could not shut up about Vince Young, and all these fools at work would talk about was how the Cleveland Browns might not lose as badly next year. So.....
I brought up the subject: "How about that Rose Bowl game?"
Collective consensus answer: "Yeah, it was pretty good. Too bad Michigan lost."
Incredulous thought explosion in my head: Too bad Michigan lost? We’re talking about Michigan. Losing. In a high profile, emotionally crushing defeat. The team you spent a full week in November trashing and insulting. The rivalry you spent an impassioned half hour describing as bigger, harsher, deeper and better than the Texas/Texas A&M rivalry. And you are sad they lost?!
My position is this: if your conference is more important to you than your rivalry.....then your "rivalry" is pretty weak.
But I accept that this is not how everyone feels or should feel. This Thursday night, the Oklahoma Sooners will
Conference vs. rival is a surprisingly divisive issue. The Defensive coordinators for Texas and Oklahoma have expressed to news media that they would rather root against their respective rival than root for them to win and demonstrate conference strength. Comments posted below these news items reflect that fans from both teams agree and disagree.
As passionate as I feel about my opinion, I must conclude that the conference vs. rivalry question is a matter of personal choice. I suppose it has to do with several factors, i.e., how much a person enjoys Schadenfreude, how wronged a person feels by the rival team, how committed a person is to seeing their team judged the best at the end of a season. And, I think, as well, it depends on where the person grew up. I did not grow up in Texas. I was there for the express purpose of going to school at UT. I feel no loyalty to teams in the Texas or South West region or to supporting graduates of Texas high schools. My coworkers in Ohio grew up in Ohio. I bet they feel that Ohio and the Midwest grow superior football players and that plays a factor in their devotion to the Big Ten conference.
Conference vs. Rivalry, something to consider as the Bowl Season winds down. Also, consider this: GO GATORS!!!! CHOMP THE LAND THIEVES TO BITS.
(*) I distinguish the Texas/Texas A&M rivalry and Texas/Oklahoma rivalry the following way. I see A&M as the traditional rival whom I root against because, otherwise, Texas would strip me of my degree. Also, some good friends and a few family members are graduates of A&M, so the rivalry, for me, has an undertone of sportsmanship and respect. Oklahoma is the hated rival whom I root against because Oklahoma is evil. It helps that I know no one from Oklahoma, I have never been to Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma coach is from North East Ohio (where my former coworkers live).
(**) My bitterness over my coworkers’ inability to root for my team when I supported them in cheering the Ohio State Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2002/2003 manifests itself in my inability to ever root for (and sometimes driving need to root against) the Ohio State Buckeyes, as well as any coach(***) or player(****) from North East Ohio. And yes, the win Tuesday night was a little sweeter due to my Ohio State antipathy. (Also sweet because I ate a buckeye in celebration).
(***) This naturally includes Bob Stoops, the coach of Oklahoma. I am slightly torn about Urban Meyer, the coach of Florida, who also hails from North East Ohio. But there is precedent for me allowing Urban Meyer's state citizenship to be trumped by other rooting interests.
(****) Yes, Penn State fans, your quarterback impedes my ability to fully commit myself to rooting for your team.
6 comments:
You shouldn't hold Penn State having a Youngstown quarterback against them. For one, you should look at Penn State as having saved his young soul, a noble act. Secondly, note that Clark readily and heartily left Ohio for the more ethical pastures of Pennsylvania, much as you did upon terminating your position with the Youngstown court. If you're going to hold his time in Ohio (which he escaped from as soon as possible) against him, you're begging others to hold your time in Ohio against you! After all, unlike Clark, you actually left that area (following the internship) and voluntarily returned for 2 more years (GASP!!).
In other words, I think you should view Clark as a refugee, seeking shelter from evil in a friendlier state, rather than hold his place of birth against PSU.
Hmmm. Penn State amnesty and absolution. So that's how you Penn State fans get to sleep at night. (I'll probably lend Clark a forgiving eye, especially when they play Ohio State).
What about Tyrell Pryor? Is he a traitor? Was he seduced by the dark side of the force?
I did return to Ohio, but I didn't stray farther from the Pennsylvania state line than I had to
Interesting isn't it, since this Nittany Red Hawk fellow didn't even attend the purportedly superior school, and went instead to a school in *gasp* Ohio? And before you ask, yes, I attended UF, so I therefore have legitimate cheering rights.
GO GATORS!!
the roommate makes a very strong point!!!
I actually like Ohio! I just didn't like Youngstown much.
Youngstown is apparently a crazy place. One is well rid of it. :) Although I hear it has some lovely parks.
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