Michigan football coach Brady Hoke says 'Ohio' not disrespectful to Bobcats; won't stop using it
Brady Hoke, just like millions of people in this country, sat down Sunday night to watch the NCAA tournament selection show.
As the Michigan basketball team's seeding flashed across the screen, wife Laura sitting next to him, the Michigan football coach knew where this was headed.
The Wolverines will play Ohio on Friday night in Nashville, Tenn. That's Ohio University, and not Ohio State, which Hoke calls Ohio. Got that straight?
"I thought it was ironic," Hoke told AnnArbor.com during an interview in his office Tuesday. "But it’s Ohio. Ohio University. The Bobcats."
Hoke has called the Buckeyes "Ohio" since he was a 10-year-old in Dayton, Ohio. He started doing it to irk buddies, who were Buckeyes fans, he said. Even then, growing up in the heart of Ohio, he was a Michigan fan.
Brady Hoke
He never gave it up. And, after refusing to use "Ohio State" in a news conference after his hiring, it has become more or less institutionalized at Michigan. "Ohio" was used on the scoreboards at the Big House and Crisler Center. Fans chant "Beat O-hi-o," rather than the old refrain "Beat the Buck-eyes."
Wolverines basketball coach John Beilein and athletic director Dave Brandon also have picked up the naming convention.
So when Michigan's pairing against the real Ohio was released, Hoke knew he would have some explaining to do this week.
"Oh yeah, there’s no question," he said. "You guys (the media) aren’t dumb. Sometimes, dumb questions, maybe. But there’s a difference between the two. We're playing Ohio University."
It's not all fun and games, though, after Ohio basketball coach Jim Groce called the system "disrespectful" last month in an interview with Ohio's student-run newspaper, The Post.
“It is kind of disrespectful, but it is what it is,” said Groce, who also is a former Ohio State assistant. “You can’t control what other people say. You can only control what you’re doing on a daily basis. That’s how we operate here, and I can assure you that’s how Coach Matta operates in Columbus.”
Hoke said he had not previously heard the quote, but didn't back down when it was relayed to him.
"It’s his opinion," Hoke said. "It’s not (disrespectful). We have a lot of respect for Ohio."
Can Hoke envision a scenario in which he would stop using Ohio as way to reference Ohio State?
"No," he said. "I’ve been doing if for 43 years. I'm 53 years old. I was 10 years old when I started the Ohio, and I'm not stopping now.
"Believe me, I get all kinds of letters from both sides."
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Ohio University
Tue, Mar 20, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
Hello, school up north. It's spelled "O-H-I-O". Any doubts, just check the scoreboard.
mikeoblue
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
Hey Buckeyes, if you don't want to be known as Ohio, stop running onto the field before games with the Ohio state flag, pretending you're representing the entire state.
Tom Edwards
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 2:56 a.m.
Oh, The Buckeyes (or at least their administration) want to be known as Ohio. They tried to copyright the name for their athletic gear sales a few years ago. We're talkimg a lot of money here. There was a lawsuit which settled out of court in our (Ohio University) favor. If you watched our recent wins, you'll notice that the media (TV, Newspapers) use "Ohio" for us and "Ohio State" for them. So, if your coaches want to continue to identify the schools incorrectly, so be it -- but they are in error.
Tom
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.
Their own fans chant O-H-I-O. Beat Ohio!!!
aajc
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Hey John Beilein, Dave Brandon, & John Goodman aka Brady JOKE. Look at the scoreboard!! OHIO 65 scUM 60 Which one is Ohio now? The one that just kicked your butts 65-60 in bball. or the one that kicked your butts, 9 out of the last 11 years in football? LOL
truebluefan
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
Another thing that odd about Hoke is the fact that he never wears red. He is proving to be a good football coach for Michigan but his obsession with Ohio State is borderline maniacal. I hate Ohio State as much as any true Michigan fan but I think Brady takes things a step too far. You may argue that being maniacal about OSU helps the team prepare and get up for The Game. I don't buy it. Preparation, execution, the 20-something ranked defense and a good offense matters. Wearing red or saying "Ohio State" doesn't matter.
truebluefan
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
Of course, Hoke is free to use it but I just cringe when I hear it. And now, unfortunately it appears to be the in thing to say. I think if we would've lost to Ohio State this year then the phrase's use amongst Michigan fans may have sputtered out. But it spread like wildfire after the win. It just sounds...dumb, for lack of a better word and it makes us look stupid, silly and petty. Talk about tradition, they have been "Ohio State" to Michigan fans for the past 100+ years. That should never change.
Tom Edwards
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 3:29 a.m.
OHIO 65 - michigan 60
catfishrisin
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:39 a.m.
Keep using it Brady...it helped Ohio disrespect your team on the court 65-60
Brady73
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
I think Ohio is looking forward to playing the Yellow Michigan team, and if they get a little further in the tournament, they might meet the Green Michigan team.
Tom Edwards
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 6:26 p.m.
Potpourri I'm going to step back to the days before Woody vs. Bo. The later was head coach at Miami of Ohio, our arch rival. In 1968, Ohio was 10-0 in football and in a news conference after the game, Bo, in a great show of sportsmanship, was quoted as saying, "They can play football at Ohio (note, not Ohio State), until Hell freezes over and never be a champion." That was disrespect. Bo was never a favorite of mine from then on -- and that leaked over to Michigan (not Northern, Central, Western or State). I was born and grew up in Columbus, but have never really been an Ohio State fan. To me, this Ohio vs. Ohio State argument goes more to overall attitude toward OU than athletics. The fact is that Ohio University was the first college in the Northwest Territory, and the ninth public university in the nation -- chartered by the Ordinance of 1787 and founded in 1804. That was 70 years or so before Ohio State. (And probably Michigan as well) The eleventh black man to graduate from college in the US was from Ohio University. We are not a tiny, Johnny-come-lately institution of higher education. The tension between us and the folks in Columbus gets old. Ohio University is Ohio on cable and TV scoreboards. Ohio State is Ohio State. I also worked in TV in both Columbus and Detroit and could only chuckle at the Woody/Bo wars. Coach Hoke may not mean to disrespect Ohio University. That really doesn't matter -- to many, he does. As for the Ohio State band and Script Ohio -- I'm just glad the spell it correctly. I'll stick with the Ohio Marching 110.
Bmore_Wolverine
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Tom, stop being so provincial. You said yourself, that you've "worked in TV in both Columbus and Detroit." So, of course you've run into almuni from Michigan and OU. When you get further away from home you'll start running into fewer people from OU. My point of obscurity is not the quality of the school, rather how famous it is. Sorry, but people, in general, around the country don't know OU. In fact, if they read this comment out of context, they'd probably guess OU meant Oklahoma University or Oregon University NOT Ohio University. I love how you set up the premise, "take away the athletic program [from Michigan]." Right, take away the thing the University is most known for. I hate to inform you, but outside of Michigan, most people only know Michigan for its athletics. Only people within a certain industry would know about Michigan's Law School, Engineering, etc. People don't turn on the TV and watch Math majors work equations, they watch sports. And that's OK to be known for your athletic teams. OU will benefit from this Sweet 16 run. Next year you will see an increase in OU's applications. That's happend at Butler, George Mason, etc. The more fame your school gains through athletics, the more known they are, and the more interest in future students to attend the university. If that happens for decades, perhaps more people will know about your school than Notre Dame, a school almost half your size but 100 times more famous. (BTW, they're famous for their football. You know, the Gipper, the Four Horsemen, Knute Rockne, the Rocket, Lou Holtz, Paul Hornung, Touchdown Jesus, the Golden Dome, gold helmets, etc.)
Tom Edwards
Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
Bmore, You're not bursting any bubbles. But you're wrong in a couple of ways. I've been in sports television since 1967, and our industry is full of Ohio University graduates. I've even met a few from Michigan. Radio and Television production and journalism are some of the programs of excellence we're known for. So, take away the athletic program and Michigan would still be known as the best in some things. But it would probably be considered an obscure school that few outside the State of Michigan even know about. It's a matter of priorities. For Ohio State as well.
Bmore_Wolverine
Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
BTW, the University of Michigan was founded in 1817, 20 years before Michigan became a state. Be proud of your school. That's cool. But I hate to burst your bubble, it's still an obscure school that few outside the state of Ohio even know about.
aawolve
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.
Calling it "Ohio" is more reasonable than calling it "The" Ohio State University.
mookienation
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.
Who cares if it's disrespectful? Seriously, though. This is sports. No, this is a RIVALRY. Were Woody and Bo respectful of each others respective schools? Heck no! I mean, there's definitely a line you can cross, but this ain't it. In high school sports (and probably college as well, to a lesser extent), there's often pranks and vandalism used against the opposing school. Calling a school 'Ohio' instead of 'Ohio State' is nothing. Disrespectful? Maybe. But get over it.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
as a native townie who hasn't followed football religiously yet gotten lots through osmosis I can attest that Ohio to me always meant OSU. Perhaps when playing Ohio University we could just say OU, as in we will being playing O U again and we beat O U again. Like Oh You
David
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
He's a fool if he really believes it's not disrespectful. Would it be disrespectful if I decided to call him Brandi or call him Woody? The correct name is important for an individual and an institution. I suspect Brady knows that and is being less than honest.
Bmore_Wolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
David, calling Brady Hoke "Brandi" isn't an equivalent analogy. A more accurate one would be for me to call you Dave, instead of David (Coach Hoke is shortening the name). Calling tOSU "That school down South", now that would be disrespectful.
David
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
And saying it is disrespectful isn't saying it's horrible. Disrespect is a huge part of sports rivalries. No big deal. Denying it is disrespectful or intended to be disrespectful is the issue.
GOBLUENO1
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
You mean when they call us the school up north. That isn't disrespectful!! I can't believe there new football coach thinks our coach is disrespectfull for calling them "OHIO". Being disrepectful would be to call them the school down south. GOBLUE!!
Jeff Bihl
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
Yes, jcj, just as dispectful as Michigan is to Michigan State, Western Michigan, etc., when they refer to themselves as Michigan and not the University of Michigan.
jcj
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
I wondered how long it would take for someone to catch that. Good Catch.
jcj
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
How is it disrespectful to Ohio University? Ohio University IS being disrespectful by saying THEY are Ohio! What about... Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio Northern University Ohio Dominican College Ohio Christian University Miami University of Ohio No they are Ohio University!
Jeff Bihl
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Or as A2D2 posted... This is just hilarious! All along all of us up here in Ann Arbor thought the OSU should be just a little miffed that Coach Hoke referred to them as "Ohio", when all along it was Ohio University who was offended..... I can just hear it now, "Don't drag us into this - we don't like 'em either". Or perhaps, "hey wait a minute, don't sully our good name by associating them with us"!!! YES, A2D2, that's pretty much it.
Jeff Bihl
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
As on Ohio Graduate all I can say is of course it is disprectful. In my opnion this has nothing to do with athletics. The fact that Hoke when asks what he calls Ohio he responds "The Bobcats" and thinks that solves the issue tells me exactly where his priorities lie. He thinks that Universities exist for the sake of athletics. I attended a USA Today ranked University (Top 60 while I was there) with 20K students and when I am in a job interview and someone aks where I attended am I supposed to say "The Bobcats." Half of the time because of Jerks like Hoke and the jerks at OSU doing Scrpit Ohio they don't they think I attended OSU if I say I went to Ohio. Up until recently OSU has been intentionally trying to steal our Indentity for a Century. We think it is strange that Michigan of all schools decided to take OSU's side in this. To the poster that said "Why not refer to the two schoold as Arm Pit north, and Arm Pit South?" all I can say is that's more than fine. That doesn't bother me at all. Now you have crossed back into typical sports rivalry fun and games rather than intention mistaken Identity or two Universities which is a totally different issue. The later isn't funny. You can't say "Ohio placed on probation" and defend it with I always have called OSU as Ohio anymore than I can say Brady Hoke was responsible for the Holocaust and defend it with I always refer to Aldolf Hitler as Brady Hoke.
Bmore_Wolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
Jeff, when you're in a job interview, tell the potential employer that you're a graduate of Ohio University. If that interview is taking place outside of the state of Ohio, you will receeive one of the following two responses: 1: Interviewer "Where's that?" Jeff "Athens, OH" Interviewer "Where's that?" 2: Interviewer "Can you believe that Tressel lost his job over tattoos?" Jeff "That's Ohio State. I attended Ohio University." Interviewer "Where's that?"
jcj
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Whaa! Whaa!
RJ12688
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 5:53 a.m.
It amuses me that something a 10 year old came up with gets under everyone's skin. Are people really getting that sensitive these days? Gimme a break. I agree with Jarhead's previous comment that were are becoming a society of marshmallows.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:10 a.m.
Are people really this sensitive? IT IS A RIVALRY, and for goodness sake the tOSU band writes out 'Ohio' in script. I'm sure Ohio University is a fine school, but they have nothing to do with this.
treetowncartel
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:55 a.m.
Why not refer to the two schoold as Arm Pit north, and Arm Pit South?
Terry Star21
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.
because the people in east losing would get jealous.......
Mark
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 2:06 a.m.
All these people complaining about being disrespected, it's laughable really. This is no different than the countless ohio/michigan jokes that get tossed around each year before the big game, and if you get offended by those then your priorities in life are really out of whack. It seems to me that ohio fans used to have thicker skin, but I guess things are more stressful down there now that they have to follow the rules like everyone else.
r treat
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
Lake Superior State is offended by Urban Meyer calling Michigan the team up north.
ohiowolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 11:30 a.m.
Michigan is not offended by Urban, who by the way has a 0-3 record against Michigan, for calling them the team up north. Woody was doing it over 50 years ago. At least Brady had his own idea and didn't have to steal from someone else.
Marty
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
I live in Dayton. All folks I know, including students, parents, & alums, refer to Ohio University as "OU," and rarely "Ohio U." I've never heard them mention "Ohio University." And as others have noted, there's no "State" in either the Script Ohio or the Buckeye "OH-IO" cheer. So get over it Buckeye & Bobcat fans. Go Hoke!
Jarhead
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:39 a.m.
We are building a society of marshmallows. Everything is disrespectful and everyone is so easily offended. We all have to speak Lawyer Talk. Grow a pair!
Scott
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
Ohio is far better than I ever refer to that school in Columbus. hoke is a true gentleman.
MRunner73
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
I have always referred to the other ohio as Ohio U (home of the Bobcasts). The campus is located in rolling Southeast Ohio in Athens. Back in the day, had to drive through Columbus to get to Ohio U and it wasn't fun, even scary for a moment and that was in the early days of Bo and Woody. Ohio U will remain Ohio U for me. As for the Buckeyes, they spell script ohio with the marching band so I don't see any confusion there. Maybe TOSU will overreact and have the band start spelling Ohio State; oh- I know, too many words.
MRunner73
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
(home of the Bobcats)...I am not from ohio.
lugemachine
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
I love Hoke, love the coaching staff he's assembled and what they're doing with the program. I believe he's a good guy and is running an elite program as Michigan football should be. I just wish he'd stop this "Ohio" nonsense. It lacks dignity. You can hate the Buckeyes, but respect the institution.
Jarhead
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
So hate is dignified? I have respect for the buckeyes and their institution and the rivalry and I'll still refer to them as ohio.
Jarhead
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
Now let me get this staight, Hoke (and a whole bunch of us) calls OSU "ohio" and whole bunch of people in ohio get their panties in a knot? Man, I just can't make up crap like this.
heartbreakM
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
As I said yesterday, and as my shirts say, "Beat Ohio". (And Worst State Ever). Gotta LOVE Hoke. In 10 minutes of being the head coach, he established a new tradition that will outlive us.
Tag
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
Move along please. Let's focus on the game and W I N for Michigan.
Terry Star21
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
It doesn't make a whole lot of difference to me; Michigan 40, ohio 34 or Michigan 40 ohio state 34.....as long as the name comes after Michigan in the final results.....like normal times. But our leader says ohio, and that it be !
Tom
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 11:29 p.m.
Where did you go to school, Terry? "Our" leader?
Marcus Ray was Right!
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
I really don't care about what the people of Ohio University or OSU think about being called OHIO. Even the cheerleaders at the flagship school of the state of Ohio can't even spell it correctly. Link to picture: <a href="http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/display.aspx?sp=6778814&s=2&p=6778814#6778814" rel='nofollow'>http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/display.aspx?sp=6778814&s=2&p=6778814#6778814</a> As far as I am concerned, the whining coming from both of those two schools is equivalent to debating who is the tallest of the seven dwarfs.
southernblu
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
All of this is really a function of the obscurity of Ohio University and a reflection of the low esteem that the people of the state of Ohio hold for all other colleges other than their hallowed Ohio State University. As a previous poster pointed out, Ohio State often references "O-H-I-O" sans the "State" part in cheers and other activities, so why should we, their enemies, give them any more respect than they give themselves? At least in the great state of Michigan, you have no choice but the specify which Michigan college you're talking about. That's because Michigan and (though I hate to admit it) Michigan State are competitive on the highest levels. Regardless of whether Ohio University somehow pulls an upset Friday, they'll still be treated like a redheaded stepchild by the people of their own state and will never be looked at as a near equal to Ohio State. If they want to be angry, they need to direct that anger at the people of OHIO as well as holding a mirror to themselves for not breaking out of mediocrity.
Bmore_Wolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
@OUGal. Sorry, but Ohio University is an obscure school. OU is bigger than Notre Dame (just under 12K total students in 2010-11: <a href="http://nd.edu/aboutnd/profile/)," rel='nofollow'>http://nd.edu/aboutnd/profile/),</a> but I bet you I can find more people on the streets of L.A., D.C., or NYC who know of ND, but have no idea OU even exists. Size does not override obscurity. Case in point, my sister graduated from Grand Valley State University. They're a Division II school with an enrollment HIGHER than OU's (~25K: <a href="http://www.gvsu.edu/gvnow/index.htm?articleId=A3D9A60C-FA3F-3A25-AB5340EC7D4CC6B6)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.gvsu.edu/gvnow/index.htm?articleId=A3D9A60C-FA3F-3A25-AB5340EC7D4CC6B6)</a>. You've probably never heard of the school. It's obscure, just like OU is.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:18 a.m.
So Rod, old Rutherford was only -27 years old when he died? OUGal - Please see my other post. There's no intention of insulting Ohio University, and as you and others point out, the history is such that tOSU often call themselves Ohio, whether you like it or not. This really isn't a big deal, you can't go through life being offended by everything or you'll be quite unhappy.
treetowncartel
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 3:54 a.m.
Ohio is in the MAC
Rod Johnson
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
How's that again? Rutherford B. Hayes (1922-1893) screwed OU at the end of the 20th century? Please tell me you didn't major in history there at OU.
OUGal
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
Ohio University isn't an obscure school. We have 20,000 students, plenty of famous alumni, including Matt Lauer, and we also make national lists outside party school rankings, ex: <a href="http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools" rel='nofollow'>http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools</a> . Ohio University as well as other state universities were screwed by at state bill at the end of the 20th Century (The Eagleson Bill in which the former president Rutherford B. Hayes used lobby power to make OSU the only school that was allowed to conduct doctoral education or research. So Miami and Ohio were screwed out of Big 10 bids the following year despite being founded earlier and the same number of students as OSU). Now Ohio is once again being screwed over by Michigan making Ohio State, Ohio. Calling Ohio State Ohio is giving the university more power and insulting a long established institution. FYI Ohio State tried to be called Ohio in 1917 but couldn't because Ohio University was already established. Michigan is just giving them what they've long craved. Just because OU isn't as large as the other Ohio school or has a large of sports programs as that institution doesn't make it obscure and doesn't mean it shouldn't deserve respect. Thank you Hoke for disregarding a brand established way before you called OSU Ohio to piss off your friends. I'm an Ohio grad but have always been a Michigan fan through and through since I was born on there years ago. I hate Ohio State as much as the rest of them but if the University continues to call Ohio State Ohio I don't think I can respect Michigan anymore. I know the difference between Michigan and Michigan State. Its time you acknowledge the difference between Ohio State and Ohio.
OUGal
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
Ohio University isn't an obscure school. We have 20,000 students, plenty of famous alumni, including Matt Lauer, and we also make national lists outside party school rankings, ex: <a href="http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools" rel='nofollow'>http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools</a> . Ohio University as well as other state universities were screwed by at state bill at the end of the 20th Century (The Eagleson Bill in which the former president Rutherford B. Hayes used lobby power to make OSU the only school that was allowed to conduct doctoral education or research. So Miami and Ohio were screwed out of Big 10 bids the following year despite being founded earlier and the same number of students as OSU). Now Ohio is once again being screwed over by Michigan making Ohio State, Ohio. Calling Ohio State Ohio is giving the university more power and insulting a long established institution. FYI Ohio State tried to be called Ohio in 1917 but couldn't because Ohio University was already established. Michigan is just giving them what they've long craved. Just because OU isn't as large as the other Ohio school or has a large of sports programs as that institution doesn't make it obscure and doesn't mean it shouldn't deserve respect. Thank you Hoke for disregarding a brand established way before you called OSU Ohio to piss off your friends. I'm an Ohio grad but have always been a Michigan fan through and through since I was born on there years ago. I hate Ohio State as much as the rest of them but if the University continues to call Ohio State Ohio I don't think I can respect Michigan anymore. I know the difference between Michigan and Michigan State. Its time you acknowledge the difference between Ohio State and Ohio.
OUGal
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
Ohio University isn't an obscure school. We have 20,000 students, plenty of famous alumni, including Matt Lauer, and we also make national lists outside party school rankings, ex: <a href="http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools" rel='nofollow'>http://www.collegemagazine.com/editorial/2282/Top-10-Journalism-Schools</a> . Ohio University as well as other state universities were screwed by at state bill at the end of the 20th Century (The Eagleson Bill in which the former president Rutherford B. Hayes used lobby power to make OSU the only school that was allowed to conduct doctoral education or research. So Miami and Ohio were screwed out of Big 10 bids the following year despite being founded earlier and the same number of students as OSU). Now Ohio is once again being screwed over by Michigan making Ohio State, Ohio. Calling Ohio State Ohio is giving the university more power and insulting a long established institution. FYI Ohio State tried to be called Ohio in 1917 but couldn't because Ohio University was Already established. Michigan is just giving them what they've long craved. Just because OU isn't as large as the other Ohio school or has a large of sports programs as that institution doesn't make it obscure and doesn't mean it shouldn't deserve respect. Thank you Hoke for disregarding a brand established way before you called OSU Ohio to piss off your friends. I'm an Ohio grad but have always been a Michigan fan through and through since I was born on there years ago. I hate Ohio State as much as the rest of them but if the University continues to call Ohio State Ohio I don't think I can respect Michigan anymore. I know the difference between Michigan and Michigan State. Its time you acknowledge the difference between Ohio State and Ohio.
A2D2
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.
This is just hilarious! All along all of us up here in Ann Arbor thought the OSU should be just a little miffed that Coach Hoke referred to them as "Ohio", when all along it was Ohio University who was offended..... I can just hear it now, "Don't drag us into this - we don't like 'em either". Or perhaps, "hey wait a minute, don't sully our good name by associating them with us"!!! Kind of like the guy who used to called Massachusetts "the people's republic" - until he visited the beautiful city of Shanghai. Then he was forced to apologize to all the Citizens of China.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:45 p.m.
I have a friend who grew up in Ohio and doesn't know what the fuss is all about. For her "Ohio" always meant OSU and Ohio University was the Bobcats. I suppose we can force ourselves to call them OSU when they learn to do a chant that isn't limited to "round on the ends and high in the middle" or just four students framing the letters OHIO, or doing a script "Ohio State" instead of just "Ohio". Call them what they call themselves. By the way, when their cheerleaders run on the field with flags how many do they use and what do they spell?
Bmore_Wolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
@RobPollard. If Urban Meyer referred to Michigan as the "Yellow and Blue" (instead of maize and blue), I for one counldn't care less. If they take "Ohio" as the highest form of insult, they have an inferiority complex.
Terry Star21
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.
Stephen....that is the best I have heard. Saying ohio is no insult, compared to the names I have heard/seen them call us...
Rob Pollard
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Right. And if Urban Meyer referred to Michigan as the "Yellow and Blue" (instead of maize and blue) he'd be OK in doing it b/c it's the alma mater? <a href="http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/umosu/umsongs.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/umosu/umsongs.htm</a> Beyond that, you miss the point - who really cares what OSU thinks? The problem is "Ohio" (the actual school) doesn't like it. If Hoke called OSU the "red and gray" or "O State", I don't believe Ohio (i.e, the Bobcats) would have a problem. It would be disrespectful to Ohio.
rightmind250
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:44 p.m.
Hey Hoke I have news for you, If Ohio coach Groce says it's disrespectful, it's disrespectful. Do you also have cute little disrespectful names for people from other areas of the country. On the other hand in Columbus, you are not known as Hoke. We call you Jabba or Flounder. It's not really disrespectful, it's just funny.
Steve McQueen
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 5:10 a.m.
boo hoo lil baby
Jarhead
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.
Hoke did not call any one person names, nor would he have "cute little disrespectful names for people from other areas of the country". On the other hand in columbus, you single out a person and call him Jabba or Flounder. Not so rightminded.
Britain W.
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
Thread over, Boo wins.
rightmind250
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Cheers! HAHA that was really good.
AMaizing_Blue
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
rightmind, I like to call you "ironic" It's not really disrespectful, but your name and your comments make it funny. Cheers!
Boo
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
You so poorly contradict yourself in your comment, mlive should delete it to prevent others from wasting 10 seconds reading it.
Rob Pollard
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Sigh. On the one hand, this is fun - juvenile slights (which is literally the case here, as Hoke admits he started doing this when he was pre-teen to annoy his friends) are part of what can make sports and rivalries fun. On the other, of course he's being disrespectful to Ohio University. He should be smart enough to realize it. He's calling OSU "Ohio" as a pejorative, and Ohio University considers themselves to be "Ohio". Ohio's coach said that and in another article, so did their asst athletic director. That's their brand, which I'm sure is important for the smaller school in a state dominated by OSU. But Hoke is saying Ohio U doesn't have control of that - "Ohio" applies OSU, too. Beyond that, it's confusing - when Hoke says "We have a lot of respect for Ohio", who is he talking about - the Bobcats or the Buckeyes? Too bad the ten year old Hoke couldn't have come up with something that stood on its own and didn't drag the poor Bobcats into this. Oh well - unless Doc Brown fires up the DeLorean and talks with him, we're going to have more of this silly stuff.
Rob Pollard
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
Actually Bmore, I'm a proud graduate of U of M; I've never even been to Athens (or Columbus, for that matter). Regarding Hoke having "respect for Ohio (University)", can anyone demonstrate the way he has "a lot of respect" for them"? Or does he just say he does, but when he has the chance to show it, b/c he wants to stay true to his 10-year old self, he can't bring himself to change what he does even when they say it's disrespectful? (BTW, that's Athens, Ohio I was referring to - didn't want you to think it was Georgia or Greece)
Bmore_Wolverine
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
@RobPollard. Really, you can't figure out by context to whom Brady Hoke is referring when says "We have a lot of respect for Ohio."?!?!?! You must be an alumnus of Ohio. I'll leave you to figure out to which one I am referring...
longtime AA
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 1:56 a.m.
The real disrespect is that shown by Ohio State to the rest of the schools in Ohio by calling itself "THE Ohio State University." Its their way of saying that no other college in Ohio counts.
1bit
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
Why exactly is saying "Ohio" an insult to the Bobcats? It is a slight to The OSU.
OUGal
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.
Very well said. OU is often over shadowed by its little brother OSU. Ohio University is the first university in the state. As an OU grad and Michigan fan I find it insulting and annoying. I hate Ohio State as much as the next person but I feel there has to be a better way of insulting them without insulting another institution. I expect better from Michigan.
ferdcom
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
So I can call someone anything I feel like and if I don't think it's disrespectful it isn't. OK Brandy Hoakum (no disrespect intended).
rightmind250
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
As your homeboy,, mit likes to say " schools are people". That's a pretty lame excuse. Did your momma ever tell you people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
Boo
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.
An individual and a school are two very different things
brimble
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
Isn't it great that energy and attention can be focused on something so trivial, silly, and fun? I wonder, though, why does Ohio University's Coach Groce bristle at being associated with the gang in Columbus?