March 24, 2016 As the second-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team (5-1) makes its way to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend to take on Ohio State (5-4) in Ohio Stadium (the Buckeyes only recently have begun to play regularly in their football facility), it’s a reminder there’s no shortage of interest no matter what the sport (or anything else) in which the Irish and Buckeyes compete. Here are the watchwords for the matchup: history, defense, attendance, ride and connections. — Notre Dame’s series history with Ohio State outlasts anything else in the Irish lacrosse record book. The teams have met 40 previous times, including every year since Notre Dame lacrosse became a varsity sport in 1981 (including twice in 1981, three times in 1982, then twice in 2008 and 2009 when the two teams shared membership in the Great Western Lacrosse League). The next most expansive Irish lacrosse relationship is with Air Force-and those 22 previous match-ups (the last in 2009) are barely half the number of times Notre Dame and Ohio State have faced off. This is the 36th year the two programs have met and that brings back memories of some previous meetings: * Just two years ago, Notre Dame and Ohio State had to dodge a blizzard. After the teams warmed up at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, a snowstorm hit, delaying the game for a half-hour. Recalls Irish assistant coach Gerry Byrne, “When you see photos from the game, it looked like someone splashed Cool Whip on the players’ helmets.” Standard white lacrosse balls used during warm-ups disappeared in the snow, and officials went looking for orange balls. Ohio State staffers had to shovel off lines. Once the game began, then-Irish sophomore Matt Kavanagh took over, finishing with a Notre Dame single-game record-tying seven goals. The Irish won 13-7…
Continue Reading: Notre Dame-Ohio State: It’s a Big Deal in Lacrosse—or Just About Anything Else
