. . . It makes some people sick to see Ohio students or graduates wearing scarlet and gray. It should make them even sicker to think about them sending charitable gifts to OSU. Do you doubt that it happens? . . .
I can give you one concrete example: John Wilmer Galbreath, Ohio Class of 1922. While he gave money to OHIO for such things as the chapel that bears his first wife's name, he gave much more to OSU, and particularly to their football program. This information was given to me years ago by someone who was "in the know" about OHIO development office history. Now, his daughter, Jody Galbreath Phillips, gave proportionately much more to OHIO, and a good deal of that was to our athletic program. She also was generous to the medical school, among other academic areas.
I personally know of another OHIO graduate, my wife's pediatrician when she was growing up in Columbus, who did the same kind of thing. The man graduated about the same time as Galbreath, got his M.D. degree from Cincinnati, but coming under the influence of the Evil Empire in Columbus, he was more generous to it than to his alma mater. This gentleman even played in the OHIO marching band. He marched next to a very famous person he once told me -- Sammy Kaye.
So, L.C., you've put your finger on a real problem. And, I think your supposition is correct that in both cases what drew them to OSU was the football program. If OHIO had had a more successful football program with at least some national recognition in those years, I think it would have made a huge difference in their giving habits. That this is silly beyond belief is not in question by me, but that it's true also seems beyond reasonable argument.