The Big Ten loves to hate the Buckeyes

Tag : spring sweater


Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Midwesterners are generally regarded as nice people, not the typesto be categorized as haters. But one football program has rankledthis normally genial crowd for most of the last decade. One programhas earned the title as the Big Ten's most hated team, or, as OhioState would put it, The Big Ten's Most Hated Team.
The hate for Ohio State can't be pigeonholed.
Despite the Maurice Clarett saga and several other off-fieldstains, this isn't Miami. Jim Tressel is lampooned for his sweatervests, more suited for professors or politicians than footballcoaches. In many ways, he's the anti-Woody Hayes -- composed,reserved, even bland at times -- but he projects an image seen bysome as arrogant and inauthentic. Still, Tressel doesn't stoke thefire like the Head Ball Coach, Phil Fulmer or, more recently,Charlie Weis. Ohio State's fans, regarded by some as crude andclassless, probably heighten the hate more than anything else. Therioting after the 2002 game against Michigan certainly didn't helpthe image of Buckeye Nation. But there's more to it.
Success breeds contempt and Ohio State is enjoying more of it thanany other Big Ten program. Since 2002, the Buckeyes are 66-11 witha national championship, four shared or outright Big Ten titles andthree national title game appearances. The program has produced aHeisman Trophy winner in Troy Smith and dozens of NFL players. Asannoying as it is to hear former Buckeyes introduce themselves ascoming from " The Ohio State University" on Monday Night Football, it's also atestament to the program's ability to recruit and develop talent.
Ohio State has been condemned nationally for its flops in the lasttwo BCS title games, and cries of "Overrated!" can usually be heardwhen the Buckeyes are brought up. But in the Big Ten, Ohio Statecontinues to dominate, losing just two league games in the lastthree years. The Buckeye vitriol has undoubtedly increased amongMichigan fans, accustomed to seeing their team as the Big Ten'sbest, and, consequently, the most hated. But after four consecutivelosses to Ohio State and six in the last seven seasons, Michigan,like its Big Ten brethren, is looking up at the Buckeyes. Michiganused to be the league's most arrogant team. Now the Buckeyes haveearned the right to that title.
For the Buckeyes to get knocked off their perch atop thehate-o-meter, the rest of the Big Ten has to catch up. Ohio Statehas consistently recruited better than any other league team,culminating this spring with the signing of quarterback Terrelle Pryor , who botched the school's official title ("University of OhioState") and left out the all-important definite article before thename. Rich Rodriguez's arrival at Michigan could shift the league'spower balance, and Illinois' recent recruiting surge puts it closerto Ohio State. But for now, the Buckeyes are the clear choice.