Once it got closer to game time, we headed over to Kinnick where there were more Buckeye fans milling around.  A good old “O-H” and “I-O” plus numerous fist pumps and high-fives were dosed out among us.  It was like a secret little message passed between our eye contact that let us know we were all in this together.  Win or lose, we were proud Buckeye fans to the core of our bones.

I rarely go to football games for several reasons.  The most obvious reason is that my team is from Ohio, an eleven-hour drive away.  Other reasons include the expense of tickets, the cold weather, the lack of easily-accessible restrooms, etc. etc.  But this was a game that we didn’t want to miss.  If my boys are in town, I better pay my respects.  It makes the rivalry all the better when most of my family are Hawkeye fans.  (Four of us are Buckeyes fans: my sister, Carla, her husband, Arneelius, my brother-in-law, Mark, and myself.)

I was pleased to see my “friends” scattered throughout the stadium.  Represent.  (Also, for the record, the Iowa marching band has nothing on TBDBITL.)

There was a lot of cheering when the Hawkeyes came out onto the field.  Each seat had a yellow pom-pom.  I gave mine to the woman in front of me (after I stepped on it).

Here comes the tears and the Buckeyes.  All these bits of Columbus right here in Iowa City just for me.  Okay, maybe not just for me, but it suddenly felt like I was home.  It was such an overwhelming feeling that I both screamed and choked.  Then I choked back my tears and yelled, “Go Bucks” as loud as I could possibly yell.

Here we go, boys.  This is it.

At half time, I was very thankful for my OSU snuggie and I wore it proudly.  In fact, funny enough, the woman beside me said, “Oh, I didn’t know people actually wore those.  But I’ll admit that I’m a little jealous right now.”  It was definitely cold out, but with my snuggie and all of the screaming and jumping, I kept warm.  

The first half, I had kept myself semi-calm by saying, “There’s still plenty of time.”  But in the second half, boys, it’s time to buckle down and get it done.  So I was pretty much a case of nerves the entire second half.  I battled between sulking silence and lung-burning screaming.  

At the very end, with only minutes left, OSU was at the 2 yard line and I couldn’t see what was happening so I just watched the OSU fans in that corner and if they started jumping up and down, I started screaming.  (Also, a plus to watching from home is that you can actually see what’s going on at the opposite end of the field and you can see the TV-induced yard line to see if you’ve made it to the next 1 and 10.)  

When there was a minute left, OSU up by 3, and OSU with the ball, people starting leaving.  I was dumbfounded.  I still wasn’t confident in our win; anything could happen.  We gave an interception early on in the game and, until the time is at 0:00, there’s no telling what could happen.  It wasn’t until the very end, that I finally drew in a deep, raggedy breath and concentrated on my Pilates breathing to slow down my heart rate, which had been literally visible from the outside of my hoodie.

The game had been too close for comfort of any kind.

Buckeyes, you know I would’ve been proud of you no matter what, but I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for pulling out the win.  It was sweet victory.  Next time, please be the first to put points on the board and please keep the score in your favor the entire game.  It would be helpful for my health.  Thanks for coming to Iowa City and for bringing me pieces of Columbus.  How I’ve missed you!!

For extra photos, see this album.