Cheer on OSU? Forget about it
By JODY MURPHYArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - West Virginia University fans still stinging over the breakup with former football coach Rich Rodriguez can't bring themselves to cheer on Ohio State Saturday against Michigan.
As the 10th-ranked Buckeyes prepare to host the Rodriguez-led Wolverines, conventional wisdom might hold many West Virginia fans would sooner cheer for Ohio State rather than pull for their old football coach. Not even a Michigan team led by Rodriguez is going to convert longtime Ohio State haters into fans -not even for a day.
"I just can't do it," longtime West Virginia University fan Mike Flanagan said. "You are talking to the wrong guy. I'm leaning the other way.
"Other (WVU fans) say, how can you do that,'' he said. ''It's easy, I have never been a Buckeye fan."
Saturday, Rodriguez will makes his debut at Ohio Stadium as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Ordinarily, the game has national implications and a major role in deciding the Big Ten champion.
While the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1) still have a shot at the Big Ten title and a possible BCS bowl bid, Michigan is only playing for pride.
Michigan has struggled under Rodriguez, who departed his native West Virginia for Ann Arbor following the team's stunning loss to Pittsburgh.
This Wolverine team (3-8, 2-5) is the worst in school history, having already broken a school record for losses. They are also suffering their first losing season since the pre-Bo Schembechler era and will be left out of the post-season bowl picture for the first time since 1974.
Rodriguez's team goes into Columbus a near-21-point underdog.
Rodriguez hasn't exactly endeared himself to Wolverine fans, stepping in to make unpopular changes to traditions - like assigning the famed No. 1 jersey to a defensive back -and earlier this week telling negative message board fans to "get a life."
Fans might be able to swallow such slights if their coach had a better record - or beat Ohio State.
"Michigan fans are pretty upset about him," local Michigan fan Andy Woofter Sr., said. "This is the first time in more than a 100 years they have lost eight games. If he beats Ohio State that would help out a lot."
Michigan fans would be well-served to remember Rodriguez was 3-8 in his first season with West Virginia, before leading the Mountaineer program to unprecedented heights.
"You have to have a little faith and hope for the best," Woofter said.
"I feel really bad to see him lose nine games and having the worst record in school history," WVU fan Dan Dooley said. "But not bad enough to root for Michigan."
Dooley may be in the minority when it comes to pulling for Michigan.
While there is no love lost between Rodriguez, the one-time favorite son of West Virginia, and the legion of WVU fans, most of those those fans just can't bring themselves to root for THE Ohio State Saturday.
"A lot of people were upset with him when he severed ties with West Virginia, and so was I," said WVU fan Joe Tucker. "There was initially some animosity, but not anymore. He didn't want to be at West Virginia and that's fine. He obviously didn't leave under the circumstances that he should have left under, but he's gone and I have made the break."
Tucker said a 0-0 tie would make him happy.
"I typically root for Michigan one game a year." Fred Earley said, "and Rich Rodriguez going to Michigan didn't change who I root for in this game."
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Budman
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11-24-08 1:50 PM
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I am really not sure why the paper chose to print this particular article and why some more research was not done on the subject to begin with. I am the sports marketing coordinator for suddenlink cable media and I live in Parkersburga and I am a life long WVU fan. I interviewed 200 local WVU fans due to this article. 161 of them said they are rooting for OSU, 17 for Michigan and 22 said whaever happens, happens. I SAID GO BUCKEYES!!!! This was not a well thought out article and I hope Buckeye fans realize that 2 picked out people do not speak for the Mountaineer nation. I look at the Ohio State and WVU rivalry as friendly and not hate driven. We hardly ever play anyway. What Rich did to Mountaineer fans and the state of West Virginia will not soon be forgotten or forgiven. Thanks for your time.
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Birdlover
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11-23-08 10:19 AM
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Totally agree with your post, buffster1!!! I always thought there was somewhat of a camaraderie between OSU and WVU but if this is how they really feel then guess I won't be rooting for them anymore! GO BUCKS!!
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MatthewBB
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11-22-08 4:31 PM
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This thread is bringing a smile to my face. blah blah blah... anyway, OSU kicked butt....so did WVU. So i think everyone is a winner this weekend. Unless you arent happy unless someone else loses, then thats just sad
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MatthewBB
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11-22-08 4:31 PM
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This thread is bringing a smile to my face. blah blah blah... anyway, OSU kicked butt....so did WVU. So i think everyone is a winner this weekend. Unless you arent happy unless someone else loses, then thats just sad
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REALLYDISTURBED
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11-22-08 12:39 PM
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Sunnydays4me...you need to check your facts. The last time OSU played WVU, (which was in 1998) OSU won. I can't find where WVU ever beat THE OHIO STATE....
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REALLYDISTURBED
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11-22-08 12:34 PM
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buffster1, I couldn't agree more.
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buffster1
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11-22-08 11:20 AM
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I think that alot of reason why wvu fans hate osu fans is for one simple reason. Jealousy. Mountaineer fans know deep down that thier beloved little team simply cannot compete with the awsome power ohio state posseses. Or any big ten team for that matter. Poor Rich Rod is finding out the hard way that he is playing in a big boy conference now and not a cupcake one.
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ladynoogs
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11-22-08 12:09 AM
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what happened to football just being a GAME? people take thier sports way to seriously around here.
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zoomeister
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11-21-08 10:08 PM
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Wow, the small-minded spitefulness on display in this story is mind-boggling! Is this for real? Who really cares if WVU fans hate OSU? In the first place, why would they hate OSU? Not any logical reasons I can think of, but many obviously irrational reasons exist. In the second place, why write an article about it and place it in the headliner? This borders on the ridiculous. I think we have a new entry for the 2008 Darwin Awards. Good grief, we're neighbors here! I am a border Buckeye fan, and every border Buckeye fan I know roots for WVU in every single game they play (unless they play OSU). People, get a life! Rodriguez gave you the shaft, not OSU!
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Sunnydays4me
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11-21-08 9:10 PM
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It's plain and simple..OSU doesn't want to play WVU...they played them twice that I am aware of..the first time they won...the second time WVU won and kicked them out of a chance for the Rose Bowl and they haven't played WVU since. Irregardless, I'm a WVU fan and I will not cheer on Rodriguez and Michigan. And likewise, anytime OSU plays Michigan, I'm for OSU. besides my grandson lives in Columbus and I want to see him happy. I don't want to miss his call saying "Go Buckeyes" and then hanging up. That is too funny.
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REALLYDISTURBED
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11-21-08 8:17 PM
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Hey crash36 (great name for a WVU fan by the way) yeah we went, and yeah we lost to GREAT teams from a GREAT conference. I was REALLY hoping last year that ol WVU could pull it through and get a shot at the national title with a dream match up of OSU VS. WVU. But ya'll CHOKED. Pathetic really. But, it looks as though Mr.Tressel will have aleast one year of kicking WV's favorite sons' arse. And by the way, looks like the bearcats are taking the Big East, what happened there? Ol well, there's always Marshall for you guys and the beloved Coal Bowl on ESPN 3 (or was it 4).....I just don't remember.
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Satchmo
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11-21-08 8:07 PM
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One can only imagine the stress that Coach Rod brought on himself by the way he chose to leave WVU. The pressure is self-enduced, and anyone's best bet is to buy stock in rolaids. I am sure the purchase of antacids has increased in the State of Michigan this year.
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bassman
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11-21-08 7:55 PM
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I'm a WVU fan...born and bred in Parkersburg. I'm also cheering for OSU. I've always liked OSU and have always cheered for them (esp. against Mich). RR is just one more reason to cheer louder.
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crash36
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11-21-08 7:55 PM
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JEALOUSY of the Buckeyes. I don't think so. I hate the buckeyes but that is what makes sports so fun If we all liked the same team how boring is that. I live in ohio but I have a #1 wvu fan on my car. GOOOOOOO EEEEEEEEEEEERS.
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crash36
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11-21-08 7:47 PM
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Hey reallydisturbed you talk about your winning tradition and you did go to the big dance 2 years in a row only problem is you keep letting the other team lead the dance, and as for RR salvaging his football career YEA RIGHT his record would say otherwise. I personally don't think he threw the pitt game, but we all know his decision to leave came way before that game don't we? I hope the the game ends in a tie. I can't stand either team.
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notamyname
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11-21-08 6:27 PM
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WV fan here, and we all cheer on OSU when they play Michigan
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Boogitybear
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11-21-08 5:17 PM
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Being from Ohio I am shocked..Myself and Everyone I hang around has always supported WVU..Since west virginians hate us so much the might change
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mariettaman
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11-21-08 12:46 PM
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WVUFanatic - I can recall many instances of hearing the same type of stuff from WVU (and Michigan - and any other sporting team) fans as you cite in your comment. Some have a few more - some a few less - arrogant fans, but they ALL have them. Point is - shouldn't hold that against the rest of the fans or team. I sure don't....
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REALLYDISTURBED
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11-21-08 12:38 PM
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Pcchix..Threw the game, huh? And ruin WVUs (and his own) one only chance in this millenium to compete for a national championship? I don't think OL'RR is that stupid,...But he did spend A LOT of time in WV.....(and made A LOT of cash) But you can believe whatever your little blue and maze heart tells you....GO Bucks
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WVUfanatic
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11-21-08 12:16 PM
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There are enough classless OSU fans who spew their arrogance to give the entire fan base a bad rep. It doesn't have to be that way. Sooner and Cornhusker fans are both known for the classy way they handle themselves and those programs have been as successful as OSU. An example: my niece (a WVU grad) married into an OSU family. Upon hearing where she graduated, her future father-in-law said, "Oh, we'll take you to a REAL game." It wasn't just good-natured kidding, he is a classless, arrogant jerk when it comes to OSU football. Nevertheless, it appears this journalist only chose to speak to 4 WVU fans and only 3 of them said they'd be rooting for Michigan. I can tell you that I talk with hundreds of WVU fans in person and online and not a single one will be rooting for Michigan. We may not like the arrogance of OSU fans, but we despise Product Rodriguez
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Pcchix
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11-21-08 11:59 AM
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When we aren't at a WVU home game we are with 5 other couples having a WVU party. One of those oouples are the ultimate OSU fans. Tomorrow we will be at their house, flipping between the OSU and WVU game - but we'll be wearing OSU shirts for them like they do for us. I do not agree that the majority of WVU fans hate OSU or that they hate us. I believe that all football teams have arrogant fans. It's part of the game. You win or you lose, you act like an idiot and tomorrow, life goes on till the next week. REALLYDISTURBED - if you think that RR left WVU because he lost to Pitt instead throwing the game so he'd have an excuse leave - you are also REALLYCONFUSSED.
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dontlikehimeither
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11-21-08 11:57 AM
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oh-io, from a born & bred West Virginian. RR, you're going DOWN!!
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KeninVa
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11-21-08 10:39 AM
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This thread is bringing a smile to my face. For every post that opens with no understanding why WVU fans dislike OSU, the rest of their post provides it. Classic!
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compet
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11-21-08 10:27 AM
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I am a die-hard WVU fan, and I hope Ohio State beats Michigan by 50 points!
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REALLYDISTURBED
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11-21-08 10:15 AM
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And to GoldNBlue...considering our winning tradition, don't we have a right to be arrogant?
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