Well, it has been 16 days since the Disaster in the Desert. I was not going to write my column about this. I should be moving on by now, but the fact is, I’m still grieving. I think a lot of people are.
After that day, many people had to completely re-evaluate their stance as a Buckeye fan. Why does a stupid game matter so much to us? Where do we go from here? I took a look back at my short 22 years in Ohio to try and answer these questions.
Ohio’s recent history is full of failure and disappointment. The failures of Ohio’s sports teams are well documented. As a life long Cleveland sports fan, I have known nothing but heartache. Cincinnati fans can relate. We are perpetually expecting the worst while hoping for a high draft pick.
Unfortunately, our great state’s misery extends far beyond athletic competition. For the last eight years, we have been living under the leadership of the nation’s worst governor. Our economy is stale and losing jobs. The funding of our K-12 school system has been ruled unconstitutional four times. A college education at a state university costs 47% more in Ohio than the rest of the country. After earning their debt, I mean diplomas, college graduates are picking up and leaving Ohio faster than they are leaving any other state. And yes, we are responsible for re-electing President Bush. Ohio does not have much going for it.
In fact, in my lifetime, I can only think of one great Ohio achievement – the 2003 National Championship. Absolutely nothing else has delivered for the people of Ohio. In these less than prosperous times, Ohio State football has been the only constant beacon of success. It is the only thing we have as a state to be proud of. And if you grew up on the mean streets of Youngstown, like I did, Tressel has been the bearer of this torch for as long as you can remember.
And that is why Buckeye fans care too much about college football. It is certainly not right to put expectations like this on an athletic team. But like it or not, until our state starts delivering on things that actually matter, Ohio State football is all we got. Because of this, Ohio State football has turned into a state religion. At the very least, it has reached cult status.
And so In Tressel We Trust. Twelve times a year, Tressel and his 11 apostles hold sermon on the football field in which they offer healing to their Ohio disciples.
If OSU football is your religion, the utter annihilation of the infallible Tressel could be enough to lead to a crisis in your Buckeye faith. What do you do after a loss like that?
Do you try and justify it by saying the power of Urban is stronger than that of the Tress, and then avoid the State of Florida for about a decade? Should you forsake the game and find another sport to worship? I hear our synchronized swimming team is pretty good. Or do we find a new, high and almighty savior? Notre Dame is known to abandon their promised one in troubled times, only to replace him with the first overrated NFL offensive coordinator they find.
The correct answer is probably none of the above. Notre Dame need not be reminded that even Peter forsook Jesus at his darkest hour, only to return to him in triumphant glory. And so, after a short period of disillusionment and disbelief, I return to the Temple of Tressel and pray that better times lie ahead for the State of Ohio.
Dan Klempay is a senior in political science and communication. He can be reached for comment at [email protected]
