Memory lane - attending a game at the shoe

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Schnauzer

Schnauzer

Pretty Sure You are Wrong
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Anyone going to this week's game? I have great memories from the one and only time I have watched the Gophers in Columbus.

Soooooo many kind words from Buckeye fans and one dude in particular flagged me down in an elevator to talk about old Gopher Greats from eras-gone-by. Super nice people. If anything, it maybe bordered on "too nice" at times as it started to touch upon "patronizing." I was waiting for someone to take the extra step of patting me on my head.

My wife and I took our then-11-year-old to OSU homecoming in 2009. Great memories. Stopped at the air force museum in Dayton on the way. It turned out to sadly be Eric Decker's last game as his broken foot that day ended up being a season-ender for him.

By far and away the best experience of the trip involved our evening trip to the Thurman Cafe for their famous burgers. We were intent on gutting it out but they don't take reservations and it was something like a two hour wait to get a table. On top of that they don't really have an organized place or large bar to wait for a table. I went to the bar to order something and the twenty-something guy next to me overheard our plight. He told me that he expected to have his table any minute and we were welcomed to sit with them if the table was big enough. I normally wouldn't take a stranger up on that but I was desperate. We ended up having a great time and stayed late, hanging out with complete strangers (two couples) much younger than us. My wife is still facebook friends with one of them. All in all the single best experience we have ever had at a road game.

It's amazing how an experience like that can warm you and alter your take on an entire fan base.
 

That's interesting...I've heard opposite stories from multiple people (Buckeye fans are notorious pricks).

Still haven't been to Columbus. Need to cross that one off along with Rutgers, Washington, and Oregon to complete the Big Ten tour (for sure doing Seattle next season).
 

My lone trip to Columbus was in 2002. Gophers were 7-1 and ranked #23. Ohio State was undefeated and ranked #6...well on their way to a national championship. Our experience was overall positive, but slightly mixed.

A few of the students were giving us grief pre-game while in a restaurant. But outside the stadium there was an older guy who stopped and chatted our ears off about the Gophers and Buckeyes history, how he was glad that we came, etc., That made up for the sour taste left by the student encounter earlier that morning.

The game itself was interesting. Gophers led 3-0 after the 1st but trailed 3-10 at halftime. By all accounts it was going to be a tight affair but the Buckeyes blew the doors open in the 2nd half, putting up 17 points in the 3Q enroute to a 34-3 pasting. The fans in the stadium itself were fine, which is contrary to my experience when they visit here.
 

It wasn't Gophers v Buckeyes I saw in Columbus, but what I remember is that the OSU band played their school song after every play.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
That's interesting...I've heard opposite stories from multiple people (Buckeye fans are notorious pricks).

Still haven't been to Columbus. Need to cross that one off along with Rutgers, Washington, and Oregon to complete the Big Ten tour (for sure doing Seattle next season).
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Silly. Buckeye fans are among the best if you're not a Michigan fan.
I'm sure its easier to be nice when you've beaten someone 44 out of 45 times or whatever it is
 


Never been to Columbus, but I've had good interactions with Buckeye fans. They seem comfortable enough with us in the sense that they're not threatened.

Michigan fans though, many seem permanently insecure / lashing out over it.
 

Was at the Shoe in 2015. OSU fans were great. Tailgated and was offered multiple drinks and food as we walked around. It felt like they new the Gophers weren't a threat so may as well treat them nice. Was the game where Leidner got lit up and no targeting call. Could have been closer than it was. It was a great experience.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Never been to Columbus, but I've had good interactions with Buckeye fans. They seem comfortable enough with us in the sense that they're not threatened.

Michigan fans though, many seem permanently insecure / lashing out over it.
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I don't think it is insecurity towards Michigan, the two fanbases just hate each other with a passion. My father in law won't even call them Michigan it is always "that team up North".

Couple great commercials that capture it:

Made a handfull of trips to the Shoe....fans overall are pretty nice mostly because like you said they are not really threatened by us. Most of the games didn't go so hot but 2000 was awesome. Ray Christensen's emotional reaction to the U winning that game will always be iconic, I am sure it is out there somewhere.
 

LesBolstad said:
Silly. Buckeye fans are among the best if you're not a Michigan fan.
I'm sure its easier to be nice when you've beaten someone 44 out of 45 times or whatever it is
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Well I didn't say it was 100% accurate, just an anecdotal take.

I have encountered a bunch of prick, arrogant traveling Buckeye fans here over the years.
 



We had an incredible time at the Shoe as well, probably top 3 in opposing fan treatment of the 20 or so road games we've been on. From the minute we landed to the time we left, fans were welcoming us, asking us to stop by their tailgate, asking if we needed ideas of what to see/do, etc. Many said to us that all non-Michigan fans are treated this way there, as they leave all their hatred for that one game.

Go Gophers!!
 

I raised my sports-loving son to be a Gophers fan, and he's always worn the M proudly. Alas, he got accepted into the OSU business school and it was too hard for him to pass up, so he's a Buckeye now and loving the entire experience around football weekends. He told me "this is going to be really hard to cheer against the Gophers, but I have to." I told him Minnesota is my school and Ohio State is yours, and you always support your school, no matter what. I expect we'll be treated well at Saturday's game because, as others have said, we're just not a threat to them nor are we rivals.
 

Another random OSU memory. This one from a home game in the ill-fated 2007 1-11 Gopher season. We had out of town guests to that game in the metrodome. To put us all out of or misery, we left early. We were driving down 7th on our way to 394 when we had to wait after a light turned green as to not run over an OSU fan that was walking in a very labored way and hadn't made it half way across the street before the light turned.

Waiting for this poor disabled OSU fan was a visually upset woman that had left him in the crosswalk to get to the other street corner. A couple of us commented on how heartless this woman was to leave a disabled man in a crosswalk and then show impatient anger on top of that as she waited for him.

Then in a huge "ah-ha" moment, the guy neared the corner and suddenly turned toward us. His khaki pants were urine soaked all the way down the front, down to his ankles. It was then that it occurred to all four of us that he wasn't disabled at all. He was THAT drunk. The woman was his wife. What a mess and it then made sense why two OSU fans would leave a win on the road THAT early.
 

GopherGerty said:
Was at the Shoe in 2015. OSU fans were great. Tailgated and was offered multiple drinks and food as we walked around. It felt like they new the Gophers weren't a threat so may as well treat them nice. Was the game where Leidner got lit up and no targeting call. Could have been closer than it was. It was a great experience.
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I was at that game as well. The fans were great. I had my 12-year-old son with me, and the fans were generous with their time talking to him about going to College someday, and answering questions about Ohio State (he was considering it as a destination at the time).

All in all, one of the better trips to see the Gophers on the road. I also loved the atmosphere of that stadium.
 



Zeppelin Gopher said:
That's interesting...I've heard opposite stories from multiple people (Buckeye fans are notorious pricks).

Still haven't been to Columbus. Need to cross that one off along with Rutgers, Washington, and Oregon to complete the Big Ten tour (for sure doing Seattle next season).
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Lucky you! I've been to the Shoe already. Hoping to do Oregon this season. Have yet to be to Rutgers, IU, Purdue, MSU, Nebraska, and Washington. UCLA is an asterisk. Been to the stadium, but never a game.

Needless to say, I have some catching up to do.
 


Schnauzer said:
Another random OSU memory. This one from a home game in the ill-fated 2007 1-11 Gopher season. We had out of town guests to that game in the metrodome. To put us all out of or misery, we left early. We were driving down 7th on our way to 394 when we had to wait after a light turned green as to not run over an OSU fan that was walking in a very labored way and hadn't made it half way across the street before the light turned.

Waiting for this poor disabled OSU fan was a visually upset woman that had left him in the crosswalk to get to the other street corner. A couple of us commented on how heartless this woman was to leave a disabled man in a crosswalk and then show impatient anger on top of that as she waited for him.

Then in a huge "ah-ha" moment, the guy neared the corner and suddenly turned toward us. His khaki pants were urine soaked all the way down the front, down to his ankles. It was then that it occurred to all four of us that he wasn't disabled at all. He was THAT drunk. The woman was his wife. What a mess and it then made sense why two OSU fans would leave a win on the road THAT early.
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Closet Badger fan?;)
 

I will be at the game this week! Hoping to find some other Gopher fans who will be there tailgating. If you are, please share location if you would like! Would love to contribute
 

Was there in 2000 & 2002. 2000 will always be one of the most memorable Gopher games I've been to. Ron Johnson was a man amongst boys. Their fans were generally pretty nice that day despite the loss. A few drunk students, but then they'd have someone in their group apologize for them.

I do think you could expect them to be a bit mouthier about things than they are considering their dominance. Perhaps it's because we really aren't a threat to them in the big scheme of things & that would change if we suddenly became a blueblood. I'm sure it's an interesting chemistry experiment between them & Penn State fans, considering I find both fan bases respectful, but I'm sure those two are oil & water when they get together.
 

was there last time. very clear they're not threatened by MN and expect to win by 30 so most were just curious to talk football, happy to see us there, and stopped by the table at the brewery we chose to pregame at. was at michigan last year, and can't say I really felt like we got much attention, even when it got close at the end with post game most just remarking that they got a gift.

For both fanbases, you'd probably see more true colors if we won. Was similar at Nebraska until we started beating them consistently.

Will never be as obnoxious as some Skunk and Iowa fans can get, but that's just the nature of rivalries/teams that are close in geography and pecking order. You're never going to have that with OSU, PSU, and to a lesser extent (sadly) Michigan now due to lack of games and lack of a state bordering us. You need both.

As far as the Shoe goes, cool place to see a game, great pageantry. Probably a little more juiced if you go actually see a game they care about. PSU white out was pretty cool though is more so in the lower bowl than up where they put the visiting fans.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
Well I didn't say it was 100% accurate, just an anecdotal take.

I have encountered a bunch of prick, arrogant traveling Buckeye fans here over the years.
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No team has a corner on jackass fans, although the Badgers treat opposing fans poorly when in the stands, I've had more than one come up to me at the bars post-game and buy me a beer for being a good sport.

The worst fans I've encountered in college football are the Iowa Hawkeye fans who did not attend Iowa but still identify with the team. My wife's encounter back at the dome will forever paint that particular group of "fans" as the worst people I've met in my college football travels.
 

My brother and I made our one and only trip to C-town and the Horseshoe in 2000 andI have no reason to ever make that sacred trek again. It was amazing to hear the Rouser echo through the silent famed stadium during the final moment of that incredible game

A good friend and his two young sons from PA met us there. After the game we went around to the side of the stadium where the busses picked up the players and coaches. All the players families and loved ones gathered there as well. It was AMAZING!!!!

When Ray Christianson finished his broadcast and I noticed him in the crowd, I summoned up the will to seize the moment to go have a few words with him. He smiled and admitted that he did the final moment of his live play by play with tears in his eyes. What a gentle and humble man he was that beautiful afternoon.

The crowd cheered and there were many high fives as the players came out to get on their busses to head out for the air port. I must admit, I didn’t want that experience to end.

Finally, when the players had all borded their busses, some members of the road crew came out with some extra KC fried chicken boxed lunches and handed them out to the few of us stragglers who were just getting ready to leave. When we got back to our car ready to head back home, we took time to sit down and have a little lunch and savor the greatest day of football with the GOPHER team I had ever experienced. Amazing…simply amazing!

Both my brother and I agreed that there would never be any reason to go back to C-town.

That was twenty five years ago. My brother and I have Kept our vow to never return.

But: beat that stinking buckeye, Gopher!

Give the 2025 Gopher players and fans a great show in the Horseshoe and something to talk about. You just never know when something GREAT is going to happen!
 
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imthewalrus said:
My brother and I made our one and only trip to C-town and the Horseshoe in 2000 andI have no reason to ever make that sacred trek again. It was amazing to hear the Rouser echo through the silent famed stadium during the final moment of that incredible game

A good friend and his two young sons from PA met us there. After the game we went around to the side of the stadium where the busses picked up the players and coaches. All the players families and loved ones gathered there as well. It was AMAZING!!!!

When Ray Christianson finished his broadcast and I noticed him in the crowd, I summoned up the will to seize the moment to go have a few words with him. He smiled and admitted that he did the final moment of his live play by play with tears in his eyes. What a gentle and humble man he was that beautiful afternoon.

The crowd cheered and there were many high fives as the players came out to get on their busses to head out for the air port. I must admit, I didn’t want that experience to end.

Finally, when the players had all borded their busses, some members of the road crew came out with some extra KC fried chicken boxed lunches and handed them out to the few of us stragglers who were just getting ready to leave. When we got back to our car ready to head back home, we took time to sit down and have a little lunch and savor the greatest day of football with the GOPHER team I had ever experienced. Amazing…simply amazing!

Both my brother and I agreed that there would never be any reason to go back to C-town.

That was twenty five years ago. My brother and I have Kept our vow to never return.

But: beat that stinking buckeye, Gopher!

Give the 2025 Gopher players and fans a great show in the Horseshoe and something to talk about. You just never know when something GREAT is going to happen!
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Great story! My first and only trip to the Big House was the Gophers 30-14 win over Michigan in 2014. I have no plans to go back.
 

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