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When
it comes to the greatest rivalries in sports nothing quite matches up to
the gridiron battle of two major powerhouses, Michigan and Ohio State.
For about as long as I can
remember the month of November was always a turbulent time in my home,
with one Saturday in particular when my mom would go on a five-hour
shopping spree. Even as I became an adult I would go over to watch the
"big game" with my dad. And even then, mom still left the house each time.
Why you ask?
Born
and raised in Michigan, I was always a U of M fan. Born and raised in
Ohio, my dad was always about OSU fan. It was a day filled with jumping
and shouting and yelling in front of the television set as if the
players could actually hear us. Triumph and utter despair seemed to come
on a play-by-play basis until the final seconds ticked away on the clock. I’m sure
our neighbors,
at some point during all of those showdowns, were tempted to call the police
on us for disturbing the peace.
This
year, however, will be different, but not because it’s the biggest
match up in MY lifetime as a Michigan fan. And it won’t be
because legendary University of Michigan coach Bo
Schembechler sadly passed away on the eve of this historic game.
You
see, this past June my dad passed away unexpectedly too. He was such a fan we
even had the athletic ‘O’ of OSU embroidered in the coffin lid.
Ironically, since that time Ohio State has had their best seasons in
over 30 years…but so has Michigan…
 I’ve
missed the weekly chats and "taunts" about our
teams leading up to the big game. And when tomorrow comes I’ll miss
beating him with pillows as he laughs over a Mike Hart fumble. I’ll
miss hearing him curse when Heisman
bound Troy Smith
throws his first interception of the game. I’ll miss him… period.
If
ever there was a Michigan/Ohio State match up not to be missed, it’s
this one. And even
though he’s gone, I don’t intend to miss it.
Besides, I believe
he’ll see it too. I believe that those we’ve lost are always around
us. I believe he will be watching the game with me, cheering on his
team.
And
this year instead of my dad sitting next to me rooting on the
‘Bucks’ it’ll be his granddaughter, my daughter, whom he corrupted
with his wicked OSU ways. Again, it won’t be the same for me, but who
knows…maybe a new tradition won’t be so bad. It might even become
one I continue to look forward to... year after year. And if she ever has
kids…hmm…I’ve seen baby U of M jumpers. I’ll have to make a note
of that for when the time comes. Turnabout is fair play after all.
UB
Nadine Meeker, devout
generation X’er and confirmed campy TV addict, lives in Michigan with
her hubby of 17 years and their 14-year-old daughter. She left a career
in journalism when she knew more than her college instructor did but got
happily sucked back in by UPBEAT Entertainment News Syndicate.
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