The game starts, Michigan receives the ball first and the first pass Devin Gardner throws is an interception by Vonn Bell the stadium erupts and we think the will be an early rout. The Buckeyes go right down the field and score to take an early 7-0 lead. Michigan stormed back to score 14 unanswered points to take an 14-7 lead, in the process they milked a lot of clock, called nice plays and took a lot of steam out of the ruckus crowd. The Buckeyes answered right before the half to tie it at 14. During the first half we got to see Cris Carter acknowledge the crowd and the unveiling of Troy Smith sign on Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes had a great tribute to Troy as they showed highlights and allowed him to acknowledge the crowd at mid field.
Halftime was eventful as we waited in like the whole time for hot chocolate and candy. The best thing is that hot chocolate saved my voice, I could tell I was on borrowed time with all the yelling and screaming I was doing, I bet the people in front of me hated me, probably wonder who the hell I was. I’m nobody in the grand scheme of things, but hey some people are impressed when I tell them I’m a part of the media and my own site, blah, blah. I think the person next to me thought I was Mike Conley and that I was lying when I said I only have a little bit of basketball in my background (I think my friends will find that line funny).
The third quarter started we still were in line and Barrett led them down for a quick score to take the led 21-14. The defense seemed to have picked up intensity after halftime. The Buckeyes went on to score again to take a 28-14 with full control of the game a play that may change the rest of the season for the Buckeyes happened. J.T. Barrett faked a jet sweep to Jalin Marshall and began to make his way through the Michigan line, he’s tackled and a big pile came together, after the dust settled Barrett was still on the ground with a mangled lower leg, in obvious pain the next thing we know the cart comes out and during this who sequence you could hear a pin drop in a record breaking crowd at Ohio Stadium. We soon found out after the game that he was out for the season with a broken ankle, another QB blow after losing Braxton Miller a few weeks before the season started. Now it’s Cardale Jones time in Columbus. He went on to led the Buckeyes to another score as Ezek Elliot scored on a 4th down and 2 to seal the game put the Buckeyes up 35-21. The Buckeyes added another salt touchdown to go up 42-21, but the Wolverines scored before the end of the game to make the final score 42-28.
It was cool to witness live the end of the Brady Hoke era in Michigan. Also what happened next was even cooler, we all fans running towards the field, so being ambitious and slightly athletic we started hopping fences and gates until we made it to the field. We took pictures on the field, made it to the 50 yard line, Tebowed in the end zone and just plain had a great time. While on our way out of the stadium, which when tried to walk through the field we couldn’t because it was blocked, we into “Big Nut”. Literally if it the field wasn’t blocked it would’ve been no way it would’ve happened, but for some reason we just kept getting lucky, we snapped a picture with him and the rest his history.
After fighting with traffic and getting some grub we returned down I 71 South to hit Cincinnati. The day was over the memories forever; it felt good to get one of the biggest things off of the bucket list. O-H!!!
