I was both lucky enough and blessed with sufficient smarts to attend and graduate from a prestigious Big 10 university. Ok, THE Big 10 University. Still, with regard to football saturday, I was never THAT guy. I never painted my bare chest en route to the game. Never held up a giant foam finger for the cameras. I never tailgated, never shouted obscenities at the opposing team. I never started a bar fight or even a flame war. I was the guy who went to the library during the big game because I KNEW I would have the place to myself. I was the guy who laughed at all my hard core friends, who went to games during below zero temperatures and blizzard conditions while I watched from my cozy dorm room.
So with all that said, can I tell you how much I really REALLY want to win this game? There are so many reasons, none the least of which the hopelessly overhyped Buckeyes will finish at the bottom of the BCS? All those obnoxious Buckeye fans will FINALLY shut up for at least a year. And with any luck, all of the neanderthals calling for Lloyd Carr's head will also go away for a while.
National Championship? I couldn't care less. It's still all about the Rose Bowl for me. I don't care if Albuqurque Junior College beats us, as long as we win the Big 10. And if we can't do that, at least beat Ohio State. We could have a 1-8 record for the season. But as long as that 1 win is you-know-who, I'm a happy camper.
Not to put too fine a point on it...