Bye Weeks are terrible. A Saturday without football in Columbus is like Star Wars
[caption id="attachment_84" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Don't worry, Buckeyes. Ohio Stadium will be filled on the 29th against Wisconsin."]
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without Darth Vader. While there are five Big Ten Conference games this weekend, all containing large implications for the conference standings, the Buckeyes will be sitting at home. Well, hopefully they will be studying Russell Wilson, Nick Toon, and the tandem of Monte Ball and James White to the ‘T’, because if they hope to get by the Badgers, they will have to find a way to stop the highest scoring offense in the NCAA, while putting points on the scoreboard against the nation’s 3rd best defense. This bye week might come as a blessing to the team, giving them an extra week of practice to ready themselves for the 6th ranked Badgers.
Meanwhile, what is there for an OSU fan to do this weekend in the absence of meaningful football? Here is a list of the Top 5 Things for a Buckeye Fan to do this Saturday.
5. OSU v. Michigan State – Women’s Volleyball
The 23rd ranked Ohio State Women’s Volleyball team is set to take on conference foe Michigan State Saturday at 7 pm at St. John’s Arena. The women have been playing well in a stacked Big Ten conference, where seven teams are in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. Go experience a fast paced, exciting game featuring another great Buckeye team!
4. Do Some Scouting of Your Own!
With the big game against Wisconsin coming up, sprawl out on your couch, enjoy a brew and some pizza, and watch Wisconsin travel to East Lansing for a Legends Division battle. In what will truly be a Big Ten game featuring two dominating defensive teams, the entire nation is in for a treat, as the sixth ranked Badgers do battle against the sixteenth ranked Spartans. Try to find ways for Braxton Miller to be successful against Wisconsin’s stifling defense, and ways that Bradley Roby and Travis Howard can shut down Nick Toon.
3. Congratulate Eddie George on his Induction to the College Football Hall of Fame
Back in May, Eddie George, the 6th Heisman Trophy Winner from The Ohio State University, was elected to be part of the Class of 2011 for the College Football HOF. Next week, Eddie will be commemorated during halftime for his achievements as a student athlete. Eddie holds the single game and single season rushing records, and ranks only behind the great Archie Griffin for career rushing yards as a Buckeye. While you are at it, make sure you stop into Eddie George’s Grill 27 right across the street from campus. You will not find a better burger in the campus area than at Eddie’s. Guaranteed.
2. Catch Former Buckeyes who now play in the NHL
With the NHL season a week old, there is no better time to jump in and catch the fastest game on earth. The Buckeyes have developed a decent number of players who now play at the highest level in the NHL. R.J. Umberger will be looking to lead his Columbus Blue Jackets to their first win of the year in Ottawa at 7 pm. Dave Steckel will be playing in a Canadian battle, when his Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens at 7 pm. Superstar Ryan Kesler just returned from his injury, and will lead his Vancouver Canucks in a Northwest Division game at 4 pm. Recent graduate Zac Dalpe and the Carolina Hurricanes will be playing the NHL’s newest team, the Winnipeg Jets, at 7 pm. Watch as these talented Buckeyes show the NHL what Ohio State can produce.
1. Watch Any of the OSU-Michigan Games From the Past Seven Years
What a glorious seven year stretch it has been for Buckeye fans, as Ohio State has defeated the team from That State Up North in each and every meeting. Ohio State fans everywhere take great delight in putting a licking on the Wolverines, and should take the great pleasure of re-watching the smack downs that were laid upon them. For best results, re-watch the game from 2006, as the first ranked Buckeyes defeated the second ranked Wolverines in Ohio Stadium, in what will be remembered as The Game of the Century.
Lighten up, Buckeye fans. Football will return to The Horseshoe in one week, and we will all revel in TBDBITL when they do Script Ohio under the lights. For now, stick with one of the five outlined suggestions, and you can’t go wrong.