Welcome to the Shoe
OSU vs. UM
September 11, 2010
So
I find myself with a bottle of Heineken and a $15 Rocky Patel cigar on Varney’s
lawn tossing bags filled with corn kernels into a hole placed on an inclined
plane just under 12 paces away. This tailgate activity is in anticipation of
the meeting between The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Miami
Hurricanes. Ohio State is ranked number 2 and Miami is ranked number 12 prior
to this early season contest. The football game isn’t until 3:30 p.m. but we
are already in pre-game ritual mode at 10:30 a.m. (I know right away, it’s good
to pace yourself. There will be more beers at the Thirsty Scholar and the Varsity
Bar before the game.)
JV
is an awesome host and he has worked his Columbus network so my boy Ben and I
can sit front row center at the 50
freakin’ yard line. It’s dreamlike and remarkable. We are both Hurricanes,
Ben being of a more recent vintage. The good fortune is too good to be true. I
know Ben and I are both secretly worried that the ‘Canes might embarrass us in
the Shoe, in front of 105,000+ fans, mostly in scarlet, grey and white but this
is something to experience even if you have no stake the game.
It’s
great to have Ben along. He gets a glimpse of my nephew’s success, bravado and
good humor. Jim and Susan Varney are all smiles around their little girl,
Colleen. She’s 17 months old and an absolute sweetheart. Don’t try to double
cross her by offering a cookie without delivering the goods, though. She’s
still a baby, but such an angel. Jim and Susan manage the compound on Sharon
Hill with grace and ease. Still JV is determined to “get off the grid” and sell
the house and eventually get some property with some acreage.
JV
(Jim Varney) is his own man. He’s enjoying a good bit of success after years of
building his roofing business. He is a bootstrap entrepreneur who proudly
accepts his responsibility as a good corporate citizen. Universal Energy is not
a complicated business model but it is one that requires full attention to
details and relentless pursuit of insurance money of which his customers have
claims after storm damage or deterioration over time. Your home needs to be
right. You need to be whole. You need Universal Energy to make sure the job is
done right. Universal Energy signs are popping up all over the state of O-H!….I-O!
and you can’t fault JV for a little pride in his own alma mater.
Team
spirit and school pride are both good things. But Miami has a reputation for
gangsta swagger and Ohio State is the college experience on steroids. This
isn’t a quaint college town and this ain’t just any given Saturday. These boys
came to play. And the alumni, the town and the atmosphere is charged. This is
NOT a neutral site. There are only smatterings of green and orange and white
gear, Ben is sporting the shades and do-rag with a jersey and green pants that
scream “I am a Hurricane” and I’m wearing a Miami baseball jersey. Both brave
apparel choices as we enter enemy territory.
Jim
warned us that Ohio State fans can be assholes, especially on game day when the
pride is pumped up with each cold beer. They walk a fine line between gracious
and vicious. You can see emotions run high. How you interpret trash talk and
how you respond can easily ignite an explosion. It’s all in good fun. But it’s
also wise to respect the away turf. Thousands of people milling around house
parties, parking lots, bars and local taverns are getting ready for the big
show at the Shoe. Not everyone is a ticket holder. This is a celebration and
the game is on n national television.
This
is an event in Columbus, Ohio that you simply cannot ignore. If you are bold
enough to be sporting Hurricane Gear you will most certainly be greeted with
passing comments that fall into three categories:
1.
Pity
– “Oh, I’m so sorry. We hope you enjoy the day.”
2.
Contempt
– “You suck. You are going down.”
3.
Sportsmanship
– “Good luck and Fuck you.”
The
outcome of the game is somewhat predictable. The Columbus Dispatch sports page
put it this way: As classics go, this was
no January night in Tempe, circa 2003. But who wants to live in the past
anyway? Ohio State validated its No. 2 ranking with a big-game victory that was
earned equally by its offence and defense. Now, about those special teams…
A
perfect segue for media to feed on itself. God knows they need to sell
newspapers and provide chatter for talk radio. Why not start the discussion
with how we might improve the Buckeyes? Any expanded conversations about the
Hurricanes play will be used only as a basis for given props to the Buckeyes. Example:
Star of the Game - Ohio State quarterback
Terrelle Pryor. He passed for 223 yards and a TD and, most important, committed
no turnovers. In the duel between him and Jacory Harris – and considering
Harris was intercepted four times – the nod goes to Pryor.
You
see they aren’t trying to dis the Hurricanes. They only wish to seek an
illustration, albeit painful maybe, of how dominant they are as Buckeyes. Fine.
But when the Hurricanes get home they can head to South Beach. The Buckeyes
will have to drive a good distance away from Columbus to escape the smell of
beer, the roar of self righteous fans and the sounds of wet-vacs in barroom
restrooms.
Ohio
remains among the hardest hit states for an ongoing economic downturn[W1] . Ohio State is
a source of hope, optimism and a vision for the future. The Buckeyes, like the
Hurricanes are part of a team that represents so much more. I’m happy for the
Buckeyes and I was glad to witness their success, even though it was at the
expense of My Hurricanes. The cool thing is, a handful of these players will be
pulling down some major coin as professionals playing for the NFL on Sunday
soon enough. Jim and Susan – I can’t thank you enough. Thanks for having us. I know
Ben and I had a great time!
Wes Morgan is founder and Principal of
Morgan Studio/East. Recent projects have included a new product (The Inferno by
Harris), a food color ingredient
campaign around a key industry trade show(ROHA) and a brand assignment for
integrating the trademarks and logo treatments for RehabCare and Triumph. In
September, Wes will start as Director of Marketing and Communication for Crossland
Construction Company, a top100 contractor according to Engineering News Record.
Contact: morganwes@aol.com
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