This #BuckeyeBaby is warming up his #buckeye battle cry for #TheGame! #BeatMichigan #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/F7NM2su60v
— OSU Wexner Med Ctr (@OSUWexMed) November 28, 2015
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what The Game is about.
Literally swaddled in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, the voice of that infant, which is now being used to convey basic wants and needs, will one day be used to cheer on the Buckeyes in some future iteration of a football game that stretches back a hundred years in the past. And when that happens, that voice will be joined by a hundred thousand voices, all shouting for the same purpose. It's a scarlet and grey thread that connects generations upon generations of people, starting before the Spanish-American war, working its way toward the Great Depression, winding through the Civil Rights Movement, wrapping around the rise of the rust belt, and it continues on today.
I mean, yeah, it's football. Ultimately it's a silly sport played by thoroughly (and entertainingly) silly people. The importance that we give to individual games probably shouldn't compare to the importance that we give to stuff like friends or family.
But on the other hand... football in Ohio kind of creates family and friends. In a state of almost 12 million people, from all different backgrounds and walks of life and political persuasions, the one constant that we can almost always rely on is Ohio State football. I can walk into a gym or a restaurant or a park or wherever and after a few minutes of awkward conversation with someone that I meet there, we'll inevitably shift to the Buckeyes and why isn't Braxton more involved in the offense and man Jalin Marshall is an underrated receiver and dang we're going to miss Joey Bosa. And then a connection is made, and the world gets a little less grim and a little more friendly. Even if it's for like 30 seconds.
That's the value of the Ohio State-Michigan game. It's not that we're all invested in a game, it's that we're all invested in a game. Those bonds, created by sacks and touchdowns and interceptions, mean a lot. So congrats, Screaming Baby! You're in the club! And when you're old enough to get a decent grasp on the English language, we'll be here to welcome you to the party.
Today's Twitter Reax post is going to be divided into two parts: The Game, which is the fun stuff, and Family, which is still the fun stuff but it's a little more poignant. Here we go!
The Game
Braxton Miller and Buckeyes head to the field for warmups #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/sYlRQ92gu0
— Kyle Robertson (@KRobPhoto) November 28, 2015
There were a lot of boos. pic.twitter.com/BKKHkc36Yi
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) November 28, 2015
The Middletown Middie is a bad man. #7. #OSUvsMICH
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 28, 2015
Jalin Marshall hauls in Ohio State's third touchdown of the day. #BeatMichigan https://t.co/uDOTuEtOd1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 28, 2015
GO BUCKS! Wolverine fans beginning to boo their own team. Welcome to the Jim Harbaugh era, assholes. #OSUvsMICH
— DeadSchembechlers (@BoBiafra) November 28, 2015
Run the score up please.
— Boom Herron (@BOOMHERRON1) November 28, 2015
Remember I told y'all this would be a blowout
— Maurice Clarett (@ReeseClarett13) November 28, 2015
HOLY @EzekielElliott BLOCK https://t.co/GYJpN5wWWs
— RT Ohio (@RT_Ohio) November 28, 2015
O-H-I-O chant in Ichigan Stadium #BuckeyeNation #GoBucks #WeAintDoneYet @ArrogantUrban @Brutus_Buckeye @1960sBrutus pic.twitter.com/Gq7bBZKsF8
— Dustin A. (@ANut1331) November 28, 2015
Family
please check out this pregame text from MY son. he kept his promise! him!!! pic.twitter.com/UNJS6bNoJ0
— oa, o & oy (@itz_mizdee) November 28, 2015
You talking about me vs you for a @Skyline_Chili eat off? https://t.co/2kjeuPAafC
— Kyle Berger (@K_Bergs) November 28, 2015
Thank you #BuckeyeNation for the support up north... O-H-I-O around their stadium will be one of my favorite memories #GoBucks
— Joel Hale (@WHAT_da_HALE51) November 28, 2015
No better feeling in sports!Great day with the bro. #BeatMichAgain pic.twitter.com/afwqLKMMb9
— Reid Fragel (@Fragel79) November 28, 2015
Winning!!! #Buckeyes 10 tackles, 2 qb hurries, 1 TFL pic.twitter.com/e56A0vYNcf
— candice (@candicenbc4) November 28, 2015
Sing along! Sing it! SING IT LOUD! O-HI-O! https://t.co/xexQQ9dkLp
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) November 28, 2015
Dab on them then. #Dab pic.twitter.com/D1yOTOiH9L
— Jerome Baker Jr. (@Lastname_Baker) November 28, 2015
Family that beats blue together, stays together. Love my people. #blessed #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/NtUxW90BA9
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) November 28, 2015
4 Slobs earn their 4th pair of Gold Pants! Billy gets his 3rd pic.twitter.com/ju9hioSSO8
— Ed Warinner (@4Warinner) November 28, 2015
WIN COLUMN: OSU has won 18 cons. true road gms (gms on opponents home field), longest streak in nation. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/H17DIJLt1u
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) November 28, 2015
It's a little weird not having a Big Ten Championship Game to get pumped for, but things still look good for a marquee New Year's Day Bowl. See you guys then!