By davey jones on 23:43:49 08/27/03
While my wife and I have attended several OSU games and too many tailgates I always felt like she was in it more for the social aspect. I often joked with her on the very issue.
That was until 1/3/03. In the moments following the last play my wife witnessed her husband embracing another grown man, perhaps holding him as tight as he had held her. Than as I turned to my wife a solitary tear rolled down my face. She walked over and gave me a hug and kissed the tear away, stating "I think I understand".
The next morning she admitted to never really understanding my passion until the night before. Trying to play it cool I explained the tear was simply one of joy. She responded by stating I was not being true to her or myself. The tear she said, represented passion, happiness, pride, satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and years of frustration. The tear represented what it meant to be a true fan, to care about something so deeply that you drop your guard and hug a complete stranger and shed a tear that represents much more than meets the eye. For my wife that tear crystalizes what it means to be a Buckeye.
Some 68 hours before kickoff I want to raise a glass to the greatest, most knowledgeable and passionate fans in the college football world.