OT- Most Likable Rivals
This is a thread I've been wanting to get started for a little while now, hopefully now it gets some good responses because we're in peak OT season. Simple Question:
Which rival player is the most likable?
Which Buckyeye/Spartan/Irish/ or other opposing player that played on a rival team is it just too damn hard to hate? Can be in any sport, at any level. Would love input from some of the Buckeyes on this board.
For me it's Cardale Jones. I remember an Ace tweet about his opinion of Michigan fan's was determined on how they felt about Cardale. If he were a Wolverine, I would love him to death.
Other players I can't/couldn't hate: Mike Weber, Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sadler RIP, Kalin Lucas, Golden Tate, and Greg Oden, though he may be revisionist history.
Should have said "Thanks, Go Blue."
Of Sparty, Ohio, ND, I think you go with the Irish but not because you like them. But because they are less unhinged. Don't throw batteries. Aren't a collection of dumbfucks and shitheels. Haven't tried to shivv you on the Bart.
You could ask who the most likable fanbase is who thinks Michigan is its rival. In that case I'd go with Wisco, then Iowa, then Illinois.
I'd definitely give a plug to Wisconsin fans. Even when the team sucked, they always showed up for the party.
There have been enough big games against the Badgers to consider them a rival, right?
No complaints with Iowa fans, but Illinois has been self-loathing whiners for decades.
PJ Fleck
Don't think that qualifies as a rival
Fear None.
Like to beat EveryOne.
Class act, intelligent, and brilliant basketball player
I hate Tom Brady with the white hot intensity of 1,000 suns, but that has 0% to do with his Michigan affiliation and 100% to do with me being from Pittsburgh. So that counts, imo.
If I had to guess, Denard would be the least hated Michigan player.
Who's the Michigan player you hate the most that you actually associate with Michigan?
Like, I was 7 for the Charles Woodson experience, so I have some residual hate just because of how he dominated OSU history, but he never personally victimized me, unless we're talking Super Bowl XLV (which he got hurt in and didn't even play much).
I guess my best answer is Jabril Peppers' hype machine and media coverage. That guy was 0-3 against OSU, never won a thing except some media awards and never made an impact play against a single good team in three years. And yet somehow he was talked about like he was Charles Woodson mixed with Desmond Howard because he looked cool in his uniform and could do a backflip. That's not Jabril's fault and he didn't ask for any of that, so I don't hate him for it, only the people who gaslit him so hard. Now that he's in Cleveland I look forward to Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell dunking on his overrated ass for the next 5 years.
Oh and I'm also still pissed at Chris Perry.
Actually man it was the coaches hyping him because he was a human anti-spread. The media was still trying to wrap their heads around the idea of Peppers playing linebacker while coaches around the country were downloading his film to show their edge players what they meant by forcing the play back to help.
I can't remember ever having an Ohio State player that Michigan fans were all "that dude's overrated," even when it was correct to do so*, but the Buckeyesphere has gone gonzo with the anti-Jabrill stuff. The crazy thing is this is a player who affected the game in ways few players in history--even Desmond Howard--ever could, even when playing out of position.
But I'm 10 years older than you so I remember well how much Ohio State fans did the same thing with Charles Woodson. First it was "he should be a running back." Then it was "he just gets away with PI". Then it was "ESPN is trying to make Woodson a star." And then it was the one David Boston TD as if that was the only play of his career.
I don't get it: whenever Michigan has a nice thing Ohio State fans go into overdrive to tear it down. The Peppers stuff is just silly because anyone who would know agrees he was a transcendent player.
*[We don't knock a guy's skills but Michigan fans are over-ready to judge Ohio State players for off-the-field stuff, as if it's okay to recruit Frank Clark but not Troy Smith. I've been guilty of this in the past and try to discourage it as much as I can]
Generally, I like Michigan players. I particularly liked Denard (seemed like a great guy). I recall being very impressed with Devin Gardner when he came over to shake JT Barret's hand after Barrett broke his leg in the Game a few years ago; but I don't know much else about him.
The only player that jumps to mind that I really hated was Taylor Lewan, for his off-field actions (allegedly threatening to rape a rape victim if she reported it; assaulting an OSU fan, for which I beleive he was convicted).
I also did not like Mike Hart, mostly for him running his mouth. But to be fair, if he was a Buckeye, I would have probably loved him.
You'd think they'd try.
Stillers secondary was/is too young to beat B&B. From a Pat's perspective, I was more zen about that game than any other AFCCG in memory.
It's not even about youth. Or the secondary. We still play the same outdated defensive scheme we've played since 1995. Run zone and pressure from the edge. That's hilariously incapable of beating Brady, who only seems to semi-strugle against man and pressure up the middle. We do the literal opposite.
It was as zen as I've felt too since I knew after the first drive it was over.
Magic actually wanted to go to UM reportedly.
Gibby has to be forgiven for that upset touchdown against us but so many great memories when on the Tigers and Dodgers.
Would you go as far as to say you have no regerts about liking Kurt Gibson?
Three more for the 'tolerated' category, though: Justin Abdelkader, Andy Katzenmeier, and--before he got all rapey-- Mateen Cleeves.
Rosy cheek Aaron Craft with his grit.
Just because.
For me, Craft and Draymond fall into the same category. Both guys seem to have admirable qualities, but after hearing announcers fawn over Craft's grit and Draymond's "coach on the floor"iness for the 1000th time, it became impossbile to like them. I suspect this is the same reason why some rivals claim not to like Jabrill.
Partly because he was a thorn in our side, and partly because it seemed like he was at OSU for like 15 years
For me it's got to be Aaron Craft. Had some epic battles with Trey, but you had to respect the passion, hustle, and defense he brought to the floor every game.
Yep. Take how we felt about Zack Novak and double it.
I swear I've never seen a guy that got away with more fouling on the perimeter on defense. Don't get me wrong, the guy played with a lot of passion, but it was almost like a self-fulfiling prophecy where everyone said he was a great defender, so the refs let him get away with murder, thus making him a great defender.
On offense, he didn't have much game. He was efficient because he always was surrounded by great talent but Spike, for example, was a way better offensive player. I guess I never have understood why Craft got so much hype and credit in the press.
With all that said, I am very, very glad that Craft went to OSU if it had anything to do with them not offering Trey.
Have to say Magic - I always preferred Bird but Magic was great and tough to hate.
And... Bubba Smith...loved him in Police Academy.
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When it comes to Sparty the clear answer for me is Kirk Cousins. An underrated kid who continued to prove himself, and did it with pure class. His Big Ten luncheon speach sticks out as one of the most impressive speeches I've ever heard from a college kid.
Dick LeBeau went to Ohio State, then played 14 years for the Detroit Lions.
He was a tough as nails cornerback who played at one time with "Night Train" Lane and Lem Barney. Those guys were all great.
Now he's in the Hall of Fame, and still coaching.
And Tommy Rees was just that.
ND: Jerome Bettis and Tyrone Willingham. Also Bob Davie and Big Man Charlie the genius
MSU: Kirk Gibson and Magic. Also John L Smith and Bobby Williams. And Denny Stolz. And Darryl Rogers.
I'm sensing a theme here in regards to the coaches.
Gibby is such a good one.
Obviously he's the only Manager in MLB history to idiotically tell his pitchers to plunk opposing players in retaliation.
I mean, surely the practice ended three years ago when this story was written.
remains one of my favorite OSU coaches ever.
Ditto.