Before I get into the sappy goodbye stuff, let's address this incredible tweet from the actual, official, completely legitimate Notre Dame football feed and bask in its glory:
30 MINUTES. #CultureBeatsScheme pic.twitter.com/Tt32yxBuaQ
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 1, 2016
It's perfect because while the hashtag is nothing new (the first Twitter reference to it goes back at least a few years with the Philadelphia Eagles, as far as I can tell) and has been quoted by the Irish all season as their made-for-repetition-and-easily-t-shirtable phrase, it also brilliantly sums up the Notre Dame attitude toward... well, everything, I guess, but football in particular in this case.
"It really doesn't matter how smart the other guy is, or how 'talented' they are. We're just better. Morally better. And that will always be enough."
Claims that Notre Dame culture is pure enough to overcome any obstacles that it might face might be true in a litigious sense, but on the football field that clearly doesn't hold much water as the Buckeyes whomped the Domers with righteous fury and sent out the winningest class in Ohio State history in style.
So bask in the schadenfreude for a bit, but this post truly belongs to the seniors and juniors who have played their last game in an Ohio State uniform.
It isn't just that they accomplished some truly incredible things, it's that they willed a suddenly shaky Ohio State program back to its feet. Braxton Miller, Chris Fong, Jeff Greene, Joel Hale, Jack Willoughby, Cam Williams, Bryce Haynes, Chase Farris, Jacoby Boren, Cameron Howard, Nick Vannett, Jeffie Johnson, Taylor Decker, Kato Mitchell, Josh Perry, Tommy Schutt, and yes, even Adolphus Washington, you guys have had one hell of a run. Thanks for all the blood, sweat, and tears, but mostly thanks for the memories that you helped millions of people create.
I personally have enjoyed Ohio State football immensely in the last several years, but it hasn't been (just) the wins. It's that I have known, week in and week out, that the Ohio State football team is capable of some truly transcendent and hilariously effective football. When this senior class led Ohio State to those heights, you knew that you were looking at something the likes of which has rarely been seen on a collegiate football field. That's pretty awesome.
So let's get to it; the last Twitter recap of the 2015 Ohio State football season.
20 minutes to kick at the #FiestaBowl #Buckeyes #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/ui1sjkUyiI
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 1, 2016
I'm sorry, I love you buckeye nation.
— Joey Bosa (@jbbigbear) January 1, 2016
"I will finish what you started"
— Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) January 1, 2016
The people said, GIVE US THE \_()_/ GIF. And behold, the GIF appeared. pic.twitter.com/fqA1AE2rRU
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2016
Ed Warinner and the slobs celebrate 50 wins in 4 years pic.twitter.com/G5U9oUcCoq
— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) January 1, 2016
One last shrug from Bosa. pic.twitter.com/WxGT5d3gX6
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) January 1, 2016
O-H-I-O pic.twitter.com/lUCuqL9FLs
— Fiesta Bowl (@Fiesta_Bowl) January 1, 2016
2016 Fiesta Bowl Champions pic.twitter.com/AJRove26tp
— Liam McCullough (@LiamMcCullough2) January 1, 2016
Now that's how u start off a New Year... #GoBucks
— Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) January 1, 2016
Not a bad way to end your career, #FiestaBowlChamps pic.twitter.com/GQZ2NYliFC
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) January 1, 2016
And if any of my teammates got pics or videos of me crying in the locker room, don't post them lol
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) January 1, 2016
SUCKA BOY!!!! https://t.co/KHd1lloMS3
— Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) January 1, 2016
50 wins! So honored to have represented my family, brothers, and this great university over the past 4 years. I always will be a buckeye
— Camren Williams (@Camren___) January 1, 2016
The senior @OSU_Slobs. 50 wins #history #legacy. Go #Bucks! pic.twitter.com/AjzoLtuyOp
— Jim Cordle (@JimCordle63) January 1, 2016
It's been at unbelievable 4 years at The Ohio State University, love this team and this group of seniors. Thank you Buckeye Nation!50 wins
— Tommy Schutt (@TommySchutt) January 1, 2016
It's a blessing to be MVP but it was a team effort... Definitely will miss playing with these group of guys #BuckeyeNation #bullets
— Eli Apple (@EliApple13) January 1, 2016
Joey Bosa, following the game: Its been the best three years of my life and Ill remember it forever."
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) January 1, 2016
Happy to be a Buckeye and want to thank #BuckeyeNation for the love and support these last five years.
— Joel Hale (@WHAT_da_HALE51) January 1, 2016
With @markpantoni 's baby pic.twitter.com/Gm7rytaRPL
— Joel Hale (@WHAT_da_HALE51) January 2, 2016
Finally, this last tweet says it all. College football is, by necessity, about transition. You love and enjoy a group of players for a short, finite time, and then they're gone, replaced by the next generation of ass-kickers for us to adore. 2016 will not be 2015 or 2014 or 2013 or 2012.
Both of my boyfriends together @jbbigbear @Sam_Hubbard_ pic.twitter.com/Gobz3wMHGw
— Maggi (@maggi_maynard) January 2, 2016
And I can't wait.
