Ohio State Fan Has No Idea What to Think About Being on National Television

UPDATE: Friday, January 2 at 2:40 p.m. ET

So we've located what appears to be the OSU fan in question's Twitter account. A tweet seemingly authored by a friend alleges that this man is the fan's boyfriend. 

Additionally, the fan's Twitter avatar appears to feature the man in question. All of this is to say, this man is no side piece. They are (almost certainly) together, which is good and well, but doesn't alter the mystery of the moment. We may need Sarah Koenig to investigate.

---End of Update---

Crowd reaction shots are the $20 found in the wash of college football broadcasts—small treasures in their own right. 

Most times, these vignettes are easy to translate. Sad ‘Bama fan is sad. Shirtless Clemson fan is shirtless. Case closed. Book ’em, Danno.

On rare occasions, however, the crowd-reaction shot leaves us with questions—as in the case of one particular Ohio State fan at the 2015 Sugar Bowl.

Cameras cut to a number of relatively innocuous Buckeyes fans standing around early in the fourth quarter. At first glance, all parties are hovering around the expected levels of anxiety for a huge football game. 

Vine user DJ Sourmilk posted video of the incident. Give it a look-see.

You’ll notice one female fan rub a man’s head before promptly snapping her hand away, going from distracted to “I forgot how to breathe” in the span of seconds. 

I do not know the reason for this. I would like to know the reason for this, as everyone everywhere seems to have their own explanation as to what alarmed this woman so.

DJ Sourmilk details the prevailing theory in his Vine caption: “When you’re at the game with your side dude and realize you’re on TV.”

Here’s the reaction again, adjusted for Sourmilk’s theory.

Of course, there are a number of reasons as to why this fan froze up suddenly on national television. Maybe she’s camera shy? Perhaps she accidentally tickled the man standing beside her despondent friend (collateral tickling is the most awkward tickling). Maybe she found a nasty goop of styling glue resting on the nape of this man’s neck?

I have so many questions, and just when I think I’ve nailed down a motive, the entire picture shifts.

Next week, on Serial...

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