Ohio State and Michigan. The two educational establishments are known to many as bitter rivals. This past weekend, I visited both schools to see who really deserved bragging rights.
I have grown up as an Ohio State fan forever. I have always had a jersey, various memorabilia smothering my room, and was raised to view “that university in Ann Arbor” as the enemy. I would play NCAA Football video games as the Buckeyes on amateur mode just to destroy Michigan for my own enjoyment.
My mother grew up in Bowling Green, Ohio, a town in northwest Ohio not too far from the Michigan border. At local sports stores, half of the items are Michigan maize and blue while the other half are Buckeye scarlet and grey. Somewhere along the way my grandmother decided to raise her children as Buckeye fans and the tradition carried on to my generation.
However, after my recent visit to both universities my perspective unexpectedly changed. Thursday night, my parents and I flew to Detroit and drove a brief 35 minutes to Ann Arbor.
My first impression of the Michigan campus was that everyone seemed extremely friendly and happy. That night we ate at Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, where I ordered a delicious burger called “The Griz.” The atmosphere was nice and the food was great.
The next day we participated in the two-hour information session and tour. The campus is beautiful and littered with thousands of friendly students wearing Michigan shirts, hats and backpacks. The school spirit on campus is great and, it was nice to see how proud the students were of their University.
Before heading 190 miles to the south, we had to stop at Zingerman’s, a famous Ann Arbor deli opened in 1982. The line was very long, but the wait was completely worth it. I ordered the Reuben smothered in delicious flavoring, placed between two perfectly toasted slices of wheat bread. It was mind-blowing and absolutely delicious. My preconceived notion that Michigan is synonymous with evil had been proven wrong.
Saturday mornings in Columbus, Ohio when the Buckeyes are playing at home are insane. The streets are shut down and seas of fans in scarlet storm the gates of Ohio Stadium.
I woke up to a disgusting rainy day, Saturday morning, when I was scheduled to attend the OSU-Florida A&M football game. A little bit of pouring rain did not stop 105,000 fans from coming out to support the Bucks, however. Tailgaters were blasting music and grilling, and some fans even drove to the game in their own customized vehicles, including an Ohio State tailgating bus and a tailgating ambulance.
The fans were on their feet and the famous marching performed Script Ohio at the half, a perennial tradition. At the end of the game the score was 76-0 in Ohio State’s favor. Ohio State is very large but also maintains high quality education.
Before opening up my mind, I wrongly despised Michigan. The campus is incredible, the food is great and most importantly, the people are down-to-earth and kind. You will find the same characteristics at Ohio State, though, and Columbus is a great city.
In November, when Ohio State and Michigan play each other, I will most likely be screaming at my T.V. in favor of the Buckeyes. Am I a little bit biased towards Ohio State because of the way I was raised? Possibly. Will I ever say “Go Blue” in my lifetime? Maybe not. But did I like Michigan and think it’d be a great place to get an excellent education? Of course. Just don’t tell my Ohio State relatives.
