The Flash Back

A flashback to Ohio State football a year ago shows one of the worse Ohio State teams in the history of the program. Leading up to the Wisconsin game, Ohio State had lost to Miami, Michigan State and Nebraska due to horrible offensive production and a lack luster defense resulting in a record of 5-3 (1-2). A win over Illinois the following week showed some glimmer of hope for the Buckeyes but even that wasn't enough for what was to come. A few hours, later a play had been written in the history books that burns in the minds of Badger fans. A Hail Mary against Wisconsin from Michigan State. Before their eyes and with one play, Wisconsin hopes of going to a title game was dashed and with their title hopes dashed, they were going to take it out against Ohio State. Under running back Monte Ball, quarterback Russell Wilson and other talent, this team was putting up absurd numbers that would make their opponents think they had no chance of winning. 

Fast forward one week later; senior year, everyone you've ever seen in school gathered to see the execution of the Buckeyes to the hands of the rivaled Badgers who were favored in Ohio Stadium. The numbing feeling that your last game as a student would be a defeat was hard enough to comprehend especially after seeing your team go down in Madison,WI the year before. Homecoming night, Halloween weekend, the Buckeyes take the field to a scarlet crowed of nuts who were underdogs in a place that was suppose to be intimidating to visiting teams. The band plays the fight song, the teams enter onto the field and the ball is kicked, game on... A closely battled contest occurs between two teams but what happens next is something one could never forget. After hitting WR Jared Abbrederis with a wide open pass, the Buckeyes looked done for and the night was ruined. Surely this isn't going to happen. Less than two minutes later, Braxton throws a 40 yard  pass to Devin Smith to send the crowd into a frenzy. A few plays later students, friends, alum and I rush the field to celebrate one of the greatest victories in OSU history and to cheer on the team. The Buckeyes had did it and managed a difficult win over a favored and talented team. A win that forever changed the way everyone thought about the football team, to never give up and never take for granted the wins over an opponent. What a game…