OT- Most Likable Rivals

Submitted by FatGuyTouchdown on

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. 

EGD

June 5th, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^

I had a lot of respect for Manti Te'o. It's got to be tough concentrating on football when your girlfriend is dying of leukemia. What a gamer.

7words

June 5th, 2017 at 10:37 PM ^

Golden Tate is your likeable Irishmen??  Guy always seemed like an arrogant ass.  Always jawing.  And i'm a Lions fan and still think that when i watch him play for them.   

The Krusty Kra…

June 5th, 2017 at 10:41 PM ^

Eddie George and Ezekiel Elliott. Two mercurial talents, an absolute joy to watch when they weren't playing Michigan. I also loved George's personality off the field when he was with the Titans in the NFL, a very interesting character. Zeke, not as much since he's with the Cowboys but damn he was good.

evenyoubrutus

June 6th, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^

It's impossible to not like Spielman. Plus, if you saw the HBO special on the rivalry, he practically said he preferred to go to Michigan but his dad insisted he go to OSU. There seemed to be a little easement in his voice when he told the story.

JFW

June 6th, 2017 at 11:45 AM ^

Loved the guy. 

Loved his game.

Love the way he's a family man. 

Despite his OSU'ness he's one of my favorite athletes period. 

Football Heaven

June 5th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^

Grant Hill, Dook.  I hated dook, but always thought he was good.  Loved him as a piston.  Hated it when he left.  

Nothin from msu, osu or nd.  They all suck.  

yossarians tree

June 6th, 2017 at 11:09 AM ^

ND: Bill Laimbeer, Kelly Trypucka, Golden Tate, Theo Riddick

MSU: None (loved Gibson as a Tiger but I have the feeling he was and still is a jerk though I feel bad about his health problems; also awful as Tigers analyst)

OSU: Spielman natch; plenty of great players over the years but no others stand out as favorites