It has been 234 days since we Buckeye fans enjoyed a meaningful moment of Ohio State football. Â Did you hear me? Â Two hundred thirty four days. Â That’s 5,616 hours – 64% of the year without the football that we love!! Â What did we do to deserve such cruel and unusual punishment that is the desolately long off-season? Â What we’ve endured is a practice in patience that Tibetan monks would envy. Â But frankly I’m running out of it, and I’m guessing you are too. Â So let me provide you with a few methods to make these last five days a bit more bearable.
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet” -Aristotle
Hype Videos
Is there a better preseason appetizer than reliving the past in a series of clips set to dramatic music? Â We are currently breathing the rare air of defending champions, so the cup overfloweth with exciting mementos of rising from the ashes and lifting trophies inside confetti littered stadiums. Â Here, and here, and here you can find excellent examples. Â Just don’t send me the bill when you run through your cubicle wall or smash your wife’s favorite glass coffee table. Â This stuff is going to amp you up: you’ve been warned.
If those three aren’t enough, do not fret. Â This is the internet and if you somehow stumbled upon this article then I’m guessing you’re savvy enough to find your way to other corners of the web. Â The corners where they hide two hour videos of coin-flip-to-final-whistle action. Â Go watch our boys stomp the Ducks in the National Title game. Â Go watch the downfall of the mighty SEC at the hands of Ezekiel Elliot and Company. Â Go watch the 59-point drubbing of the Badgers that was a foreshadowing that the CFP Selection Committee should have taken notice of before letting the Buckeyes into their little playoff. Â Hell, go watch the entire season if you have the time. Â It’s all out there somewhere and I can say with confidence that it’s the most satisfying way to pass the time between now and kickoff.
“Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.” -Guy Kawasaki
Get Educated
I know some of you are probably sneaking a peak at this while you sit at work, bored beyond belief and daydreaming of next Monday night. Â And some of you may not have the ability to check out the videos that I linked above. Â (I get why companies block You Tube from their employees’ PCs but come on… it’s 2015, how else do you expect us to make it through the day?) Â That’s a bummer and I know your pain. Â But you don’t necessarily need a video to get you over the hump.
Now is the time to fill your mind with as much Buckeye knowledge as possible. Â You’re going to need it. Â This team may be returning a boatload of starters on both sides of the ball, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing to learn. Â If you rest on your laurels you may be asking yourself, “Wait, did Doran Grant graduate? Â And who is that guy wearing #1 on offense? Â He looks familiar…” Â You don’t want to be that guy. Â And don’t forget about Urban Meyer’s ability to recruit monster athletes. Â They will see the field, even if it is during mop-up duty, and they will make an impression.
You can find a plethora of the info you need right here on this site. Â Here are a few that should be considered required reading:
- Jason’s preview of The Rivals
- Ryan’s guide to being a True Fan
- Jeremiah’s 5 Must See Games
- Richard’s WR Outlook post Noah Brown injury
- The MotSaG Podcast
“Rivers know this: there is no hurry, we shall get there someday.” -Winnie the Pooh
Diversion
It may seem simple, but finding things to help divert your need for college football is a kind of art that must be practiced over time. Â I remember growing up waiting for Christmas day and having this same feeling in my stomach. Â I would watch all the movies, help my parents decorate the house, and get excited when cards from my family from out of town would come in the mail. Â But nothing quenched the thirst quite like the 25th day of the month eventually would.
The week before opening day doesn’t have to be like that for you. Â Why? Â Because unlike waiting on Christmas, we Buckeye fans can find some joy in watching the other children open their gifts for their own holidays. Â This past weekend I watched FCS foes Montana and North Dakota State face off. Â I’m not joking. Â I watched almost every minute and it was actually pretty good… in the way high school ball is pretty good if you squint your eyes just correctly. Â But it helped. Â For a moment it was football season again. Â For a moment I could taste it and the itch was subsiding just a bit.
There are more opportunities to divert the impatience upcoming this week. Â Thursday you get to sit back and watch Harbaugh’s Fightin’ Khaki Pants take on Utah and the TCU-Minnesota rematch. Â #5 Michigan State and #4 Baylor play on Friday, unfortunately not against each other. Â Then there College Gameday on ESPN and a full slate of games on kickoff Saturday, highlighted by the Wisconsin versus Alabama game in Arlington, Texas. (Of course it’s in Arlington – we all know Bama won’t come north of the Mason-Dixon line) Â Tune in to as many of these games as you can. Â It should help make the time pass just a bit faster until Monday night. Â Hopefully.
234 days and only 5 more to go. Â Tick tock.
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