Ohio State Fan Stuck in Michigan Country

When my girlfriend decided I could move into her apartment, I was excited. Starting a life together with the one I love is thrilling.

Yet, one problem. The city is Adrian, Michigan, a mere 35 miles away from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Home of the University of Michigan Wolverines. This would be great if I was  Michigan fan. But I am not. I am a Ohio State Buckeyes fan. Let the dirty looks and look-aways begin!

I am a proud Ohio State fan. In every sport I might add. And I have a whole wardrobe of Ohio State gear. And just because I have moved to enemy territory does not mean I have slacked off on wearing the scarlet and grey. I wear my shirts and hats proudly.

When I first moved up here, I wore a Ohio State shirt to the local retail outlet. Before I even stepped one foot in the store, I received dirty looks from a couple walking back to their car. I then decided to count to myself how many dirty looks I would actually get.

As I walked in the doors, a old man standing at the door, was wearing a Michigan hat. I assumed he was the greeter and thought maybe I would at least get a smile since it is the mans job. But no. He looked me into the eyes, then my shirt, and turned his body and head 180 degrees. I walked by with a smirk on my face.

I counted 11 dirty looks in 30 minutes of shopping. Yet the count for total dirty looks while living here has to be in the thousands.

While sitting around thinking of something to do, I decided to go to Ann Arbor to visit the "other sides" camp. To visit Michigan Stadium. No, not on a friendly tour, but me, wearing my Ohio State shirt. Ah yes, I did not expect to make it out alive. But needless to say, I was saddened by the results.

It was a cold, snowy day, but I still expected somebody to say something. I mean, if a Michigan fan wore Michigan gear on Ohio State's campus and made a trip to the Horseshoe, I'm sure someone would do or say something!

But no. I did not garnish one look or honk or anything. I took some pictures at the back of the stadium doing the legendary "DX chop". Then, we made our way to the front of the stadium, where the big M is located on the back of the scoreboard. I took some pictures, standing on the side of the street, giving the logo my one finger salute.

Yet, no honks or obscene comments. Maybe it's because we've owned them for the past eight years. Or maybe it's because they went 3-9.

All in all, I was disappointed in the reactions, or lack thereof, while on my visit to Ann Arbor. Yes, it is the biggest rivalry in sports. Period. But I felt like a kid in a candy store having my way.

You ever feel like you "own" a person, where they know you are superior in the fact where you can be the hated person in the room, yet they can not do anything about it. That's how I feel living up here in Michigan. And if anybody challenges me on that, all I have to say is "Toledo?"