Getting geared up for this game already. A classic for so many reasons.
First of all, a great personal history with the Buckeyes – been at their games since I was a kid, we are alums, my father played for Woody, my grandfather was an alum.
Amd the schools have a great history, particularly in the Rose Bowl. My dad was on the team for the ‘55 win and national championship; I remember the great ‘69 and ‘74 wins, and still suffer from the ‘73, ‘75, ‘80, and ‘85 losses. I hated John McKay and his teams.
In this century, Jim Tressel and Pete Carroll have arguably been the best coaches with the best programs, albeit stylistically very differently – Tressel is buttoned-up, a solid midwestern values kind of guy. Pete is a flashy new media loosey-goosey kind of guy, and I have hated him.
So a great early season matchup this year, and particularly so, because a family member will now be attending USC! So I am going to have to cheer for the Trojans in every game except the OSU matchup – that is going to take some getting used to.