“Perhaps, the Buckeyes will be back at the National Championship Game to claim their title this year. There may even be a Heisman trophy with a Buckeye’s name on it,” Padma Sastry
Padma Sastry
| Guest columnist
Ohio State 2024 football schedule: See big games, key matchups
Here’s everything to know about the 2024 Ohio State football schedule.
Dublin native Padma Sastry began her career at Bell Labs and has served as a consultant to major health insurance providers. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Ohio State University and Franklin University.
The most awaited night of the year for millions of Americans was over early this year with Superbowl LVIII, grossing over $17 billion with over 123 million viewers, trailing the Apollo moon landing which boasted over 150 million, according to NPR.
But for many Ohioans, the most awaited season is about to begin — that of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
A game of teamwork, strategy, strength, speed and endurance will keep thousands of Buckeye fans glued to each game, rooting for their home team in “The Shoe” for hours, week after week, as they battle against other universities, all eventually culminating in the final, rewarding National Championship game.
The players are focused on not just the outcome of the game but hope to eventually be drafted to a pro football NFL team.
A lucky nut and The Shoe… and Sloopy
The history of the Buckeyes and Ohio State dates to 1950s.
The “Buckeye,” a brown and tan nut of the official state tree, folklore suggests its resemblance to the eye of a buck deemed a lucky charm when it was adopted as the official emblem.
“The Shoe,” the fourth largest on-campus athletic facility in the country, celebrates its 102nd birthday this year, boasting a seating capacity of over 102,000 fans, adorning the center of the large University campus.
Woody Hayes, the iconic coach who led Buckeyes from 1951 to 1978 to win 5 National Championship titles and 3 Heisman trophies, still enjoys his celebrity status to this day. Coaches Tressel, Brown and Meyer retained winning streaks leading the Buckeyes to multiple national championships. Cris Carter and Eddie George, to name a couple of players, adorn the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame.
The Buckeyes brag a total of 484 draft picks, claiming the most first round picks than any other college teams.
Ohio State: Football, basketball, sports news, scores, analysis
A legacy: Remembering Woody
The famous rivalry with Michigan stands at 19 wins, but that does not abate its fierceness annually from striking out the “M’s” around campus.
The catchy tune of “Hang on Sloopy,” attributed to John Tatgenhorst who in 1965 successfully cajoled his superior to try it out during the halftime entertainment, is the fully adopted song, punctuated with rhythmic spelling out “O-H-I-O”.
No other game contends with football
As an immigrant student on her first Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the student center of a Big Ten university, I watched with fascination as entire turkeys were relished by men of physiques I had rarely seen before.
I was about to learn all there is to know of football.
Years later, my manager, asking about the outcome of a project, asked, “touchdown?”
I promptly replied, “first and goal,” which elicited a proud nod from him.
The fact I have never played a single scrimmage or game of football — even flag football —does not in any way reflect my own infatuation with the game, especially with that of Buckeyes.
The first fact I learned was the difference between American football and soccer.
Differences lied not just in the shape of the ball, the game and even the width of the field, a sprawling immaculate playing area of over 100 yards in length surrounded by seating for over a hundred thousand spectators, not including the viewers over television.
No other game in all its complexity contends with the strategy and tactics that lie within football.
Eleven players of various sizes, shapes and forms constitute each team playing to a clock ticking to a precision of seconds. The quarterback, running back, cornerback, receiver, halfback, kicker, tight end, tackles and guards, play symbiotically, depending on the defense or offense, each in his specific position and role.
HISTORY: Iconic Horseshoe has grown with, become synonymous with the Ohio State football program
Each playing to catch and run towards the endzone, pass to another player, or to block the opposing team’s player who may be positioned to tackle the one with the ball.
The coach, the overarching force over the team, guides and directs along with the quarterback throughout the game.
My crystal ball
I await this football season with much anticipation. I confess to no clairvoyance, but I do see a couple visions in my crystal ball.
Perhaps, the Buckeyes will be back at the National Championship Game to claim their title this year. There may even be a Heisman trophy with a Buckeye’s name on it.
Dublin native Padma Sastry began her career at Bell Labs and has served as a consultant to major health insurance providers. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Ohio State University and Franklin University.
Source link : https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2024/07/10/osu-football-season-hang-on-sloopy-the-shoe-love/74327390007/
Author :
Publish date : 2024-07-11 19:10:37
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.