OK, this time it's from the player's mouths.  Enjoy.

http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/main.asp?SectionID=2&Sub...

After reading from the player's point of view, it makes me wonder how all the red and gray on campus effects recruiting.

I enjoyed reading this as well. 

I'll admit (nothing earth shattering) to being an OSU hater.  To me, it's what you do as a sports fan.  I'm an OU guy, I hate Marshall, Miami and OSU.  Those are the schools in close enough proximity.  I like the Browns, I hate the Steelers and the Bengals.  I like the Reds, I hate the Indians.  It's sports hate.  It's nothing personnel, don't make it more than what it is.

I've grown to understand the people who "want to support the state" etc.  I've come to understand the culture and why people feel the need to root for both.  I don't agree with it.  I think it's short-sighted, but I understand.  I will still call you out and let you know that at least one person in Ohio thinks it's a bad judgement call, but it's your judgement to make.

I'm glad the players are saying these things.  Because, ultimately, it's going to take a group of guys on the team to band together to change things.  It won't be a switch where everyone who graduated Ohio, or has SE ohio ties will wake up Sunday bleeding Green and White.  However, if we're ever going to make serious inroads on changing the culture, it needs to be done inside the white-lines at the enclosed horseshoe at some point. 

If OU could become a consistent winner in meaningful and important football games, I think things will change for the better and you'll see more green and white on campus versus scarlet and grey. I was born in this state and have lived here most of my life. If there's one thing I've noticed about Ohio sports fans in general, or at least NE Ohio fans, they're fairweather fans at best. Ohio State is so huge in Cleveland because the rest of our sports teams blow. If Ohio State consistently lost in sports like Indiana of the Big 10 does while our professional teams were consistent winners and won actual championships, Ohio state wouldn't be so popular. Ohio State's popular because every other team in this blippity-blip state loses.

I will say that maybe things are improving on campus. As I helped my daughter move into campus 2 weeks ago, I noticed there were FAR MORE students wearing OU apparel then when I was on campus, way more. From afar I've gotten the impression student spririt's actually improved. There was no OZONE in 1985.

I think things have changed for the better in recent years. When I was in Athens on Saturday for the Toledo game, I was actually pleased with the ratio of red to green uptown when you considered how big OSU's game was that day. I have also noticed on facebook that several of my alumni friends that I know to be big OSU fans are making it known that they are wearing green tomorrow.

I understand people who went to OU that still want to be OSU fans. You can be a fan of both. It's unrealistic to expect someone to abandon OSU after years of emotional attachment to them. I don't get the hating on Ozcat. He's wearing Bobcat gear tomorrow. He wants Ohio to win, but if we lose, it's fine for him to want OSU to go on and win the national championship. All I want to see is that when you are forced to choose between the two, you side with your alma mater.