Ohio State Weekend Blog III: ESPN College Gameday

Saturday morning Daren, Paul and I wake up and drive to Value City Arena to take in a live broadcast of the basketball version of ESPN's traveling College Gameday show as they and the ESPN A-Crew are visiting Columbus too. The basketball version which is nowhere near as highly rated or attended as its football counterpart is hosted by Rece Davis, Hubert Davis*, Former Drug Czar Digger Phelps and Duke/North Carolina/Syracuse shill Jay Bilas. About 500-600 Ohio State fans attended all positioned to show up on camera. Even we made it on a few times, I'm sure and we were positioned in the back of the crowd. A couple highlights:

1) A story on Michigan's "Fab Five" from 1993 was greeted by the usual boos until they replayed the entire play before Chris Webber's infamous timeout call. The Ohio State fans cheered urging Webber repeatedly to take a timeout until he finally did and then the crowd erupted in ovation. If it isn't the most hatred any fanbase has for any team, Ohio State's hatred for Michigan is the most entertaining. Very funny stuff.

2) A computer graphic marking Jim Boeheim's 1,000th coached game at Syracuse brought a non reaction to all but two fans in attendance. Paul and I clapped respectfully and for the sole purpose of being conspicuous.

3) The ultra catchy "Hang On Sloopy" and the Ohio State Student Song/Chant:

"We Don't Give a Damn 'bout the Whole State of Michigan, the Whole State of Michigan, the Whole State of Michigan. We Don't Give a Damn 'bout the Whole State of Michigan, cause WE'RE FROM OHIO"

*Davis is African-American, put on for diversity reasons playing the role of Desmond Howard, Curt Menafee, Shannon Sharpe and Ron Jaworski.