Quick Essay: Buckeye Roots

     My grandfather is the reason I am the fanatic sports nut that I am.  He taught me that passion was something that you should spread throughout all areas of life, including sports.  Playing, officiating or just enjoying sports as a fan he always had a blast and that showed me how enjoyable sports can be.  He watched games differently, probably because he played everything and then coached long after he played.  He taught me so many life lessons by using sports as an illustration. Hustle, will, mental and physical preparedness, perseverance, team work, unity, equality and I'm sure 100 more.  The man's hero's were Woddy Hayes and Bob Knight (they were both from Orville/Massilon) so imagine the lessons there!

     I always listened and tried to take the things he said to heart.  As an adult I now realize how many of the values and ethics he instilled me that are now the basis of my daily life.  And a lot of the examples for those lessons were from the Buckeye teams of Coach Hayes.  That's why I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my grandfather would have loved this 2014 National Championship team!

    First off he loved winners.  He always told me to do my best in trying to win and that winning was a worthy goal.  This team won in so many different fashions during the regular season it was exciting and nerve racking at the same time.  "The grinders win games" he used to say, and this team had its share of grind-it-out wins.  Penn State comes to mind quickly as does the Minnesota game.  In both of those games units like the O line, special teams, and red zone D made the difference.  And while no team can be successful without the grinders, the flash and big plays of this Buckeye team were equally important.

     I prefer the excitement of a big play, a game changer!  Offensively this years Buckeyes had their share of fireworks,  From the likes of Zeke or JT breaking big run's during the regular season to Elliot's big time success and Cardale's spirit breaking third down conversions in the post season the run game was throat stomping in effect!  My grandfather would have broken down the blocking schemes and play calling.  He would have pointed out how everything came into place for he big play to develop.  I love that he gave that to me.  It makes watching quality athletics so much more fun. 

     He was still alive for much of the Jim Tressel era of Ohio State football, although he had Alzheimer's pretty severely by then.  To me "The Senator" is my Coach Hayes.  I respect and revere Coach Tressel immensely yet I used to complain all the time about the play calling being too conservative and not having a good passing game.  Grandpa would always remind me that it wasn't about stats or flash, it was about W's. "It's college football, not the NFL where ego's get in the way".  He was right.  Yet I am sure he would have loved this team and the prolific passing attack the an Urban Meyer offense is capable of.

     Spencer, Smith, Thomas, Vannett and Heuerman are one of the better receiving and blocking groups in Buckeye history.  Barrett and Jones made the receivers look good and vice versa.  When combined with the explosive run game the pass game was unstoppable at times. And back breaking as well with big pass plays seeming to deflate defenses at crucial points in games this year.  This kind of production in the air is what made this team complete and dominate and is attributable to Coach Meyer.  Grandpa would have loved the downfield blocking, route running, and precision.  Oh, and the flash too!

     Now that I have two sons I too have been watching games differently, more like my grandfather did.  I now realize why he taught me so many lessons through sports and Ohio State football.  You have to reach boys differently if you want to instill or teach them something and he saw that sports was the way into my conscience.  I see that in my boys too and I can only hope and pray to impact them like my grandfather did for me.  I catch myself pointing out the little things to my son simply because Ohio State football keeps his attention long enough for that to be possible. 
    
     My grandfather Earl David Stauffer passed away in 2004.  My oldest son Truett Stauffer Divelbiss was born in 2009.  I pray daily for what I hope my sons become and I hope to be the kind of dad who can use the fun and competition of sports to help teach my boys to be good men.  I was given the example to follow and the love of Ohio State Football by my grandfather and am so thankful for that in my life.  I'm confident that Buckeye football will be a teaching tool that will bring fun, joy, excitement and memories for the years to come for my boys and me.

     I shed a tear as time ran off the clock in the championship game.  A tear of joy, yes.  A tear of sadness too,  I wish I could have watched and analyzed and talked about this season with him.  Mostly, though, a tear of thanksgiving.  Thankful for my Buckeye roots and this families Buckeye future!  Not sappy, just... well maybe you know. 

     I would love to hear your Buckeye family tree stories!  Hit me up on Twitter @BlueBooya or comment on here!  GO BUCKS!