Mark Francescutti

The Sports Monday Column

Sights and sounds of a Columbus weekend

Michigan's 12-point victory made my third (and hopefully final) trip to Columbus this weekend bearable.

The ongoing renovation made the Horseshoe glisten compared to years past, even with unsightly cranes. However, thanks to the construction, an unprecedented 98,000 miserable fans can now watch their Buckeyes lose to Michigan, compared to the privileged 93,000 who saw the home team get dominated a few years ago.

But to Ohio State's credit, its fans are undoubtedly the most passionate in the Big Ten.

Red apparel was omnipresent, and the tightly-packed stadium facilitates a more rambunctious environment. Screaming alumni are commonplace, unlike the Big House where the Michigan faithful's mouths only open to devour a hot dog.

They tailgate early in Columbus, as campers and trailers creep up to the Horseshoe the night before the game. Students were tamer than I thought they would be the night before their team's most meaningful game of the season. Columbus city police, who patrolled High Street all night, left would-be troublemaking students harmless, keeping me and my car (with its Michigan license plate) safe.

As for the diehards - one couple decided to pass on a babysitter, and instead chose to dress their newborn in red from head to toe and bring him outside for four hours to the Shoe. They convinced themselves it would be worth sacrificing their baby in the 10 degree wind-chill so long as the Buckeyes prevail.

Before the game, a scarlet-and-gray maniac triumphantly raised a bloody and decapitated Michigan dummy.

It's a game kids, let's not promote mass murder.

Bellisari booing: After he threw his third interception, fans booed quarterback Steve Bellisari when he came back onto the field.

The criticism "is real difficult," Bellisari said. "It's better when you have people behind you. The crowd got eventually got back into it."

I know Bellisari can't really throw a pass, but in the Michigan-Ohio State game, don't you think you should support your quarterback?

Bellisari recovered and led the Buckeyes to two touchdown drives.

Still, it doesn't look good when you're booing your own team in the season's biggest game.

The fans also cheered when Ohio State's Mike Doss knocked out Jeremy Miller, just one week after Doss knocked out Kurt Kittner with a concussion in Ohio State's win over Illinois.

Hmmn, do you sense a pattern?

Crazy cheerleader: Senior Dan Stultz needs a dose of Ritalin. The kicker/punter hit a 37-yard field goal to trim Michigan's lead to 14-12 and then jumped around the field, madly waving his arms as if his kick gave the Buckeyes the lead or even gave them the victory.

Stultz must have ignored the scoreboard, which displayed that not only was his team still losing, but that there were also three more quarters to play.

Just as shortsighted as their hero, Ohio State fans cheered loudly for the kicker, who minutes earlier shanked an extra point wide left.

No Scoreboredum: Ohio State's scoreboard - complete with two screens, one Jumbotron, and one wide-view screen - had some of the zaniest graphics in college football.

Ohio State fans are treated to exciting messages from Pikachu, Powerpuff Girls and MTV's Daria, all encouraging the team on.

To announce third down plays, a graphic shows a guy slamming three shots. Isn't that over the legal limit?

Finally, the Department of Math and Sciences put up an academic question. For example:

"If Dan Stultz makes 90 percent of his PAT's and he has made four PAT's today, what is the chance he'll make his next PAT?"

The question must have confused Ohio State running back Derek Combs to the extent that he ran into wide receiver Ken-Yon Rambo and fell down. Combs was not alone in his confusion. Fellow Ohio State scholars rushed out of the game thinking Monday morning's upper-level math classes had already begun.

Ohio State may want to try a simpler question, like how many times has John Cooper beaten Michigan? Students can count that on one hand.

- Mark Francescutti will never be allowed back into the Buckeye State. He can be reached a little further north at mfrances@umich.edu.