From: doel@bae.bellcore.com (Michael Doel)
Subject: Re: no respect for tOSU
Organization: Bell Communications Research
	<1992Nov23.132620.9158@cis.ohio-state.edu>
	<1992Nov23.180116.12367@infonode.ingr.com>
Distribution: na
Date: 23 Nov 92 13:46:48


Michael J. Oatley writes:

> How about no respect from tOSU? I went up to Columbus for the game, my 
> first UM-OSU game. (I grew up in MI, now living in Alabama...) I don't 
> think I have ever been made to feel so unwelcome, at the very least, and
> actually threatened, at the worst, on an opposing campus. Very, very 
> disappointed with the poor conduct and lack of class exhibited by the
> OSU fans.

OSU has it's share of classless jerks just as any other university (even
Michigan) does.

> Now, the noise in the stadium - no complaint. The home folks are the home
> advantage, right? But having a beer bottle tossed at you while walking 
> down the street? Verbal harassment from passing carloads of fans? Granted,
> I was alone, wearing a UM sweatshirt and an easy target for the spineless
> types who evidently are in abundance among the OSU student body & fans.

There's no excuse for the beer bottle.  That's just plain wrong and
certainly doesn't reflect the actions and attitudes of the "abundance" of
OSU student body or fans.  Yelling something at an opposing fan is something
else and as long as it's not threatening, you're probably being a little
sensitive if you let it bother you.

... soliloquy about Iron Bowl week deleted ...


> I thought all the bitchy, whiny shit that's showed up in this newsgroup,
> and eminating from Columbus couldn't be representative of the true sentiment
> in Ohio. Alas, it is hardly the tip of the iceberg. Such a lack of class!
> Such a display of no restraint! Bitter & frustrated, the Buckeye faithfull
> seem to be. And quick to blame Michigan for it all, too! 

Relax already.  I haven't seen a tremendous amount of truly classless stuff
on this newsgroup.  Sure, there's been the typical jokes at Michigan's
expense, but that's not exactly classless.  You're deluding yourself if you
think folks in Michigan don't tell the same jokes with Ohio State being the
target.


> I'm with Mo on this one: UM-MSU & UM-ND are much bigger games for the
> Wolverines.

Maybe so.  Only Michigan players and fans can accurately say which game
represents a bigger challenge for you.  OSU fans may want to be your biggest
rival, but if you don't feel the same way, big deal.  I for one don't think
Moeller showed a lack of class for saying he didn't think of OSU as the
biggest rival any more.  It was kind of a stupid thing to say the week
before the game, but he's just reflecting reality from his point of view.
I suspect that with the improvement OSU has shown, the OSU-UM game will once
again grow in importance for you wolves.


>             I tell you, this series could use a big dose of mutual respect,
> but for OSU fans that may be a bitter pill to swallow. Their actions 
> indicate a lack of SELF-respect.

Give me a break.  Most OSU fans respect Michigan and treat them as the power
that they are.  If this weren't the case, the Michigan game wouldn't be as
big a game for us as it is.  Beating Michigan is such a big deal precisely
because OSU repects Michigan so much.  If anyone lacks respect, a case could
be made that Michigan (by not thinking of OSU as a big rival any more) does.
I don't think they do, but your statement about OSU fans is baloney.


> As for Michigan, 8-0-3 or 3-0-8, they've got nothing the be ashamed of. A fine
> football team that always comports itself with style and dignity. A tradition
> that is much envied. Say what you will about the lack of MNC's or Rose
> Bowl losses - those things obviously bother the rest of the football-following
> nation than it does U-M and it's fans, who seem to have a better sense of
> what's really important.

I agree.  Michigan is to be congratulated for a fine season.  For the most
part, they are a tribute to the Big10.  I wish them well in the Rose Bowl.


> It's a true shame that the Buckeyes are unable to hold up their half of what
> could be one of college football's centerpiece games!

How are the Buckeyes not upholding their half?

By not winning in recent years?
   This year's season seems to indicate that OSU is definately back on
   track.  I think we can look forward to more OSU wins in the next few
   years. 

By not keeping the games close?
   Only once in the last N years (N > 7) has the game been a blowout.

By having supposedly classless fans?
   Your anecdotal evidence can hardly be extrapolated to the whole student
   body or fan base.  Most OSU fans are indeed respectful of the Michigan
   following.


The fact is that every school has it's share of poor sports.  OSU and
Michigan are no exception.  And this isn't exactly a new thing either.  It
will always be this way.  So don't assume that an abundance of OSU fans are
the beer-bottle chucking, insult throwing, unrespecting types that you may
have met in one day in Columbus.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Doel				<doel@bae.bellcore.com>
444 Hoes Lane RRC 1B-209
Piscataway, NJ 08854

"For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat
 and wrong." - H.L. Mencken
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college