Why Winning at OSU is a Big Deal

Let's face it. There may not be a more unfairly scrutinized team in America than the Ohio State Buckeyes. It seems that Jim Tressel and his crew don't get the credit that they deserve. Maybe going to school for four years in Ohio as an Illinois fan gave me a different perspective... But let me share with you some reasons why a win at the "Shoe" should never be overlooked.

In Ohio, the Buckeyes matter. It is as simple as that. It doesn't matter if you are from North, South, East, or West Ohio; you probably live next door to a fan of the Scarlet and Grey on at least one side of your house... And the numbers don't lie. You have to go back over 50 games to find the last time that the "Shoe" had less than 100,000 fans in attendance. Not too shabby.

And it doesn't help when the team turns out NFL players and head coaches at such an alarming rate. At the start of the 2009 season, 40 former Buckeyes found themselves on NFL rosters. If that's not enough, this will be the third time already this year that the Bucks have faced a head coach who used to be an assistant at OSU. Once again, not too shabby.

I don't want to hear about falling short in Bowl Games either. Ohio State has four consecutive Big Ten titles and has played in as many straight BCS games. If that isn't good enough for you, then I'm not sure you're going to be happy with any team.

So now that I have praised the Bucks... My point is that the game this weekend should get you excited. Did you know that Illinois has won 7 of the last 10 games in Columbus? Well you do now. And I assure you that the team already does.

To the winner goes the "IlliBuck", the second oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten, after the "Little Brown Jug" game between Michigan and Minnesota. Since 1925, the teams have battled for the turtle. Two years ago, we took it out of Columbus before OSU came to our house last year and snatched it. What do you say we go and get it back?