The State of Ohio is the first in NCAA history to have four teams advance to the sweet sixteen in one season. An incredible feat that deserves mentioning over and over again.
Ohio State, Ohio, Xavier, and Cincinnati have all made the entire state proud. Nobody could have predicted that all four of these teams would’ve been where they are right now. Really, Ohio State would’ve been my only pick to make it to the Sweet 16. So, is this just a fluke as I have heard some suggest?
As we all know, Ohio has been a huge football state since the sport began. I mean, this is where they put the NFL Hall of Fame. Football has been King in Ohio, and will continue to be. It’s primarily because young kids are trained from the age of three how to play the game. That is why you see SEC and other conferences preying on Ohio kids. Urban Meyer supposedly had to stoop down to SEC recruiting rules in order to get some of them. (LOL at Bret Bielema)
So, are we seeing a new trend in this great state of Ohio? Four schools in the Sweet 16, with mostly Ohio kids on their rosters means that something is happening in the background. Things don’t happen like this by accident. Ohio is clearly making a statement that there is more to this state than just football. For example, Xavier has been in the sweet 16 five times in the last nine years. Ohio State has been in the sweet 16 for the past three years, while also turning out many NBA players. And if Lebron James would’ve went to Ohio State, well that would’ve been insane. Clearly a trend is beginning to take shape to prove Ohio is a not JUST a football state.
Winston Churchill said that “History is written by the victors”. So then, Ohio State, Ohio, Xavier, and Cincinnati can look back at this year and say we made history. Whether or not that means anything to them as individuals or not, it means something for the State Of Ohio. It also means a lot to us Buckeye fans, because we can finally teach ol’ Pillsbury up north that there is a difference between Ohio and Ohio State.
Of course, some of the credit should be attributed to college coaches ability to recruit outside the state. Again, the majority of the teams rosters are Ohio kids. However, All the players and coaches should be commended. Whatever state they are from, they joined forces with these four great Ohio schools. At least in my mind, you have made this great state of Ohio very proud.
In conclusion, we all know Ohio is a football state. But, let’s make a little room for the game of basketball. Besides, what else would the state of Ohio, or more specifically, Ohio State, Ohio, Xavier, and Cincinnati be doing in March?
