WHAT THE HELL IS A BUCKEYE?

This is Part 2 in my I don't know how many part series countdown to the big matchup between the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes and the #2 team from up north. Much of the following is excerpted from one of my favorite coffee table books entitled "Greatest Moments in Ohio State Football History".

"BUCKEYE": from Webster's New World Dictionary, 3rd College Edition: (n) 1. any of various trees of the horse-chestnut family with large, spiny capsules enclosing shiny brown seeds; 2. the seed; 3. a native or inhabitant of Ohio.

What it doesn't tell you is that the Buckeye is poisonous if injested. They do tell you this at freshman orientation at The Ohio State University however. And yes, it is THE Ohio State University, not Ohio University (a cheap MAC imitation) or an Ohio State University or just plain old Ohio State University but "THE" Ohio State University as in, The One, The Only, Biggest, Baddest and Best Ohio State University.

The last thing that happens before all the new freshmen-to-be leave the auditorium from their orientation at OSU is that a guy appears on stage and pulls something out of his pocket and holds it up between his thumb and forefinger and in a tone as serious as any states, "This is a buckeye. A buckeye is a nut. A poisonous nut. If you eat this nut...you will die. So you see, you are about to attend the only school in the country named after a killer nut."

You see, there are legions of Lions and Tigers and Bears out there, but no other Buckeyes in the land. No copy, no imitation, no substitute. Only one, in fact "THE" Only One.

To be a Buckeye is to be a little stubborn, a little arrogant and a little nuts. A little killer nuts. That's a Buckeye.

Now you know.