This may come as a great surprise to many; it certainly came as a surprise to me. However, I'm actually glad that OSU won. I can't say that I was actually rooting for them, but I wasn't really rooting against them all that strongly as the game went on. The reason: This was the day 11 years ago that my mother-in-law passed away. She was an OSU graduate and a great Buckeye fan. My wife, in her honor, was decked out in a red outfit as we watched the game. Her brother sent her texts during the game about how much her mother would have liked to see an Ohio State win. With such emotion all about me I have to confess I had to soften somewhat my general dislike of the Evil Empire. For this night only I gave them a reprieve. My wife just went to bed happy and her brother is happy,too, as is my son. So, I'm happy that they are happy. Now, tomorrow, I'll go back to my normal mode.

Oh yes, I did receive a master's degree from OSU, the year they won a National Championship the old fashioned way -- by polling. None of this extraneous proving it on the field stuff. ;-) Today, while looking for other things, I happened upon a handwritten banner that a friend of mine had made that heralded the 1968 OSU team. This friend, a personal friend of the Hayes family, is a very big OSU fan himself. Tonight I'm scanning this old banner and sending it to him. As I recall he originally put this banner on the front door of our apartment in Columbus, which was, I guess appropriately on Stadium Drive. Anyone know where that is?

I am OK with anyone who received a degree from Ohio State rooting for them.

Acceptable:
1. Undergraduate
2. Graduate
Unacceptable:
1. Everyone else/Walmart.

Continue on, OCF.

I'd say Frank grew up with smash mouth football, if anything the sabbatical was the beginning of his change away.

Ohio has won more games in the 4 seasons since the Troy game than in the 4 seasons prior.

I completely support catering to the Walmart fan to grow the fanbase. I've actively campaigned for it (at length) on this site.

That doesn't change anything I've said above. You should root for the school you went to. Period. If some other fanbase can steal your allegiance, good for them. In today's NCAA money race, that is how championships are won. Why rely on strictly alumni as donors when you can convince others to help the cause? That is brilliant strategy. It's like free money.

To my above post, I would add that I also excuse family ties. Your parents, siblings, or kids went to a school. Go ahead and root for them. Still should be after your own school...

Billy and Perimeter, I am talking about what have you done lately (the last 31 games). We all know you win with players, I get that. But, if you are going to copy an offense, try copying one from a National Championship team. Who in their right mind copies Troy? And, if you are talking success, other than year #1, FS & Co did much better those early years than they have lately. More East titles and even a MACC game. Then we go Troy...ugh!

If you watched that game last night, on offense you saw what pulling guards and blocking tight ends can do for an offense. And, on defense, please give OHIO some more nasties on the D-line. We are no longer the most physical team in most games, we like to be cute.

You know the saying...RUN the Ball, STOP the run and WIN games. It all starts with physical guys up front on both sides of the ball. Let's get back to that.

Never said not to support where you went to school only that one can also root for other schools. Have six basketball and five football tics for over twenty years and will be for Ohio all the time no matter who they are playing. but feel as alot of others that you can have other schools you root for, for what ever reason. Have three kids, two Shawnee State grads and one West Point grad. One is Michigan fan, one Ohio State fan and the other an Ohio fan. Who knows why, just their choice. My connection is going with my dad, if he could manage to get us a ticket, maybe once every year or so to an OSU game. Some of the best times I had with him as he is gone now. I also worked there for six years. So people have many reasons to root for whoever, maybe some just like to follow a winner (get on the band wagon), you did say that if not a grad or undergrad of the school it is unacceptable to root for them. Just don't understand the problem.

89 fires set, several reports of shots fired, one goal post torn down and tear gas used in Columbus last night and only a "handful" of arrests?

Meanwhile Halloween in Athens = 80 arrests?

That's because they are just kids blowing off steam. but in Athens we have a drinking problem so we warrant the extra attention from the LCB.

Typical OSU - make a statement even though it is false.

Penn State is #1 - Michigan may be #2. OSU may get the bronze.

I'm not sure how you find the total alumni base, but the current enrollment is:
Ohio State - 57,466
Minnesota - 51,853
Penn State - 45,518
Illinois - 44,520
Michigan - 43,625

If I recall correctly, Minnesota has been over 50k for a long time, so I would have guessed them for the largest alumni base.

I looked around the web, and couldn't find any firm answer. Here's a discussion that didn't reach any conclusive answer: http://tinyurl.com/o9f3gel

Here's a web site that claims U. of Illinois is the largest at 460,000:
http://tinyurl.com/nqhtltl

Penn State has the largest dues paying alumni association, there is no actual list of living alumni of Universities, and many claims, OSU is right there at the top.

LC there is no actual list, but several claims.

And as I said, there is actual list, simply claims....However, OSU is right there and without question in the upper tier of alumni base.