spreading myself beyond the PSU lines...

so, i've NEVER, in my entire life, been a fan or patron of the Ohio State Buckeyes. i grew up in a small town, Jeannette, Pennsylvania, until i was 4, where we had a buckeye tree growing in our yard. my only real influence of buckeyes was with that tree, collecting them in a small plastic swimming pool and playing with them. they weren't edible nuts (though a relative of the chestnut) but they were kind of fun to play with because they were hard, made a cool noise when knocked together, and were especially fun to run your hands through if you had a huge pile of them. but i digress...

the OSU Buckeyes have always been an enemy of mine, consider the following facts:

• I am a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University.

• PSU and OSU are both in the Big Ten.

• OSU usually beats PSU in the season. They didn't this year.

• I am from Pennsylvania and have some family and friends from Ohio...forming a natural rivalry.

• A lot of Ohio State fans I know, have always been a little negative toward my boyfriend, JoePa.

However, with all of this against me ever doing anything positive in the light of the Buckeyes, i've turned over a new leaf. i present to you:

YES! You are seeing what your eyes are telling you. I did bake a cake and make it into an Ohio State "O." if it weren't for the cold, hard fact that a friend from Bunko, Carrie, was a HUGE Ohio State fan, this never would've happened. however, carrie, who has been a part of this group since it started (3+ years), is moving to Ohio in January and we're all very sad to see her go. last night, at her last bunko, we gave her a little sayonara with a "Virginia-themed" gift and an Ohio State cake. Carrie, we will miss you...and you've seen another side of me that may NEVER happen again...but should be cherished in all of it's Ohio State glory.

Hope you enjoyed the other side of my leaf. I will be returning to my usual buckeye inspiration (the nut) for the rest of time.

and they said he'd never have another good season...

not to say that #6 Penn State is a powerhouse now that they're up in the rankings, but as an '04 PSU grad myself, i think i have room to speak. graduating from penn state in 2004 gave me a few more rough football years than good ones. i faltered through the 5-7 2000 season. i was at the game in 2001 when PSU upset Ohio State and gave JoePa his 324th win, making him the winningest NCAA Division I coach. it wasn't the greatest of seasons...we were 5-6 overall, but at least Joe passed Bobby and the world was at peace. then my junior year, we were 9-3 and went to the Capital One Bowl...it was such a big deal for me since my 1st two years were so tough. and then...2003...we ended the season 3-9...and i was a senior and our nittany lions looked like nittany kittens that year. after that, everyone started to say JoePa needed to retire and his time in the limelight was over...he needed to finish while he was ahead...blah, blah, blah...



well, i always stood by Joe Paterno. Joe lived on McKee down the street from me my junior year when i lived on north allen street...right next to Sunset Park.

i used to pass him a lot up on Park Avenue...and during the 2002 season, i left him PSU cookies on his Brady Bunch style 70s home doorstep. i donno if Joe ever ate those cookies, but i still feel a special connection to him.

i've just always supported joe. when my Pitt alumni father dogged on him and the rough seasons, when fellow Penn Staters said, "Maybe he should retire," when the media said he was going to die on the football field...i supported him.

and now, it's 2008, and the Nittany Lions are 6-0. joepa may have coached from the press box yesterday afternoon, but his Lions are strong this year.

it may be just another year of college football...it may be that our almost-82-year-old Joe has had many years of success...but it doesn't mean that he's at the end of his journey.

Joe Paterno is my man...I just wish he was running for President. i'd vote JoePa!