The Portland Buckeyes

Buckeyes,

Portland area TV will not televise the Buckeye’s game today at 4:00pm PDX time so rush down to The Blitz to watch the game!

Looking for the perfect place to watch the Buckeyes take on Tennessee in the NCAA Basketball Tournament? Come watch the game with The Portland Buckeyes at Blitz Ladd!

Tip off is tonight at 4:07 PM PST, and I don’t know about you, but I think these Buckeyes have got a great chance to continue this run!

Blitz is family friendly and Buckeye friendly.

Blitz Ladd
2239 SE 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97214

(503) 236-3592
blitzpdx.com

In early February, the Alumni Association and the university came to an agreement that opens the door for a closer relationship between the two organizations.

The first question we heard from many alumni was: “You mean you weren’t already a part of the university?” The answer to that question is: Officially? No. In our organizational mission? Yes. The Alumni Association has existed for more than 130 years to serve the university and its accomplished alumni. The only real distinction is that as a separate non-profit entity, the Association has been a largely self-supporting organization funded primarily by member dues.

The next question we received was perhaps the most natural one: “What is going to change for me?” I want to re-emphasize that the commitments alumni made to us via membership dues will be honored.  It would not be right for us to take away things that have been promised, and we have no intention of doing that.

This brings me to the third common question, “OK, so why make this change now?”

For starters, I can say that much thought and effort went into considering all aspects of the change. A joint university and Alumni Association task force led by our former board chair, Bill Lhota, and former board member, Tami Longaberger, spent many months studying best practices in alumni engagement at leading public and private universities. The task force adopted the best elements they saw in their final recommendations. It was important that we give careful consideration to make certain the change would result in a win for all parties involved.

Ultimately, we decided to make the move. Two important reasons factored in the decision.

One, there is nothing to be lost by strengthening our relationship in the university. (more…)

What an incredible first day of March Madness!!!!!!

Come join the gang for happy hour at The Blitz and watch the #2 seeded Buckeye’s open their bid to win the NCAA National Championship!! Tip-off is Friday @ 6:45pm PDX time so come down and drink some 3 day old green beer (or some really good fresh Micro’s) and root the Buckeyes to vistory!!

The Blitz is located at:

The Blitz Bar
2239 SE 11th Ave.
Blitz Ladd
(Corner of S.E. 11th and SE Sherman)

GameTime Programs has the official game programs from the 2010 Rose Bowl game, commemorating the Buckeyes win over Oregon from their New Year’s Day bowl game. Buckeye alum and fans can have a great souvenir from the 2010 Rose Bowl, even if they didn’t go to the game! Cost is only $15 (including shipping)….but you must enter promo code: BUCKEYES, to receive this discounted price. To order or for more information, go to gametimeprograms.com.

Tressels,

This is the space where all my Ohio State Rose Bowl memories would go.

It would include recent images of Rose Bowl heroes breaking historic touchdowns that we’ve all seen replayed over and over. It would include stories about how the whole room erupted when such-and-such made the key interception to end the game. Or, how we always make that special good-luck appetizer for January 1st. Maybe, it would even include tales from a trip or two out to Pasadena. I’d also have those heartache moments that fill out the drama and keep you coming back. Hated Pac-10 rivals, players I can’t stand, bad-luck TVs and remorseful “if-only” plays.

I’ve always viewed the Rose Bowl as the pinnacle. It is the ultimate game in the only sport worthy of complete devotion – and always will be. But, my Buckeye-related Rose Bowl memories are mostly of one single game. Germaine to Boston and all the moments that preceeded and followed. Outstanding, but pretty limited.

I wish I experienced all the historic Rose Bowl games of the past.

Jan. 1st, 1955: Ohio State 20 Southern Cal 7…Woody’s first National Championship.

Jan. 1st, 1969: Ohio State 27 Southern Cal 16…the Super Sophs become legendary.

Four straight for Archie.

The first line I wrote this year prior to the Navy season opener was — I don’t know about you, but I’ve been ready for uncertainty and it’s finally here. In a season where the motto at the outset was “embracing uncertainty,” my Rose Bowl memories will be doubled within 48 hours. I’m so excited — I’m going to wear a Buckeye jersey and white headband with “EARLE” written across the front into the office tomorrow.

Twelve games later, I’m a lot more certain now…and I believe in this team at this point in time. Spare me all of the recent bowl game futility counters. Got it. Well aware.

Different team, different situation.

Late this season, there definitely has been something refreshing about this group of Buckeyes. After the Purdue debacle, they’ve played like a team. By the time they headed into Ann Arbor, they were limping to the finish. But, they found a way to win out in November and get to Pasadena. Forty days later, it sounds as if all the key players who have been injured at some point this season — Terrelle, Boom, Brandon, Justin Boren, Brewster, Ross Homan, Hines, Larimore, Pettrey, Cordle — are more healthy than they have been for some time.

Different team, different situation. (more…)

The Rose Bowl:  No. 7 Oregon  vs. No. 8 Ohio State
When: 2 p.m., Jan. 1
Where: Blitz Ladd, 2239 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

I can’t speak for all of you, but to me, this is the most important game in the history of  The Portland Buckeyes. Even though the Bucks are 7-0 against the Ducks, Oregon hasn’t had any “fans” until now. With how seldom this matchup is, a win for local bragging rights is huge.  I don’t know about you, but I would like to be the one who gets to brag. We need all of you to come out for the Grandaddy Gamewatch at Blitz.

Let’s. Do. This.

Tressels,

I want the Bucks to beat Michigan BADLY this weekend. I don’t want to see the Bucks play a good game, but come up short. I don’t want to see a moral victory. I want to see them win BIG. I want to beat Michigan because of Tim Biakabatuka. I want to beat Michigan because of The Slip. I want to beat them because of wide-left FG attempts in the Eighties. I want to beat them to make the winter seem shorter. I want to beat them to make beer taste better. I want to beat them because of their annoying fight song. I want to beat them because of their ugly helmets. I want to beat them for Charles Lovett Palmer III, Charles Lovett Palmer IV and Charles Lovett Palmer V. I want to beat them because of Charles Woodson. I want to beat them because of Braylon Edwards. I want to beat them for my Uncle Garth. I want the Bucks to pull a “Woody Hayes” & go for 2 even if they are up big late in the 4th quarter. I want Michigan fans to know that OSU is no longer an automatic win – as it was during the Cooper era. I want Michigan fans to quit their annoying counter that Michigan State is their big rival. I want to beat them, so people wearing Michigan apparel in Columbus put that crap in the closet. I want to dash Michigan’s hopes of salvaging their season. I want to beat them for Mr. Kingsboro who annually led us as kids in Script Ohio on the playground @ Tremont Elementry the Friday before the Michigan game. I want to beat them for the Portland Buckeyes. I want to beat them because of Prescott Burgess and Mario Manningham. I want to beat them for Tino. I want to beat them because of Mike Hart. I want to beat them for Austin and his proud singing of his “Ohio State Football Song.” I want to beat them, so we can go win the Rose Bowl (keep your fingers crossed). I want to beat them for Jason “Mr. Green Jeans” Blackburn and his Buckeye-fanatic wife who go to every game — home and away. I want to beat them for (or because of) apple bottom jeans. I want to beat them because of the little dog that bit my friend John after the IU game a few seasons ago. I want to beat them for the Congo van. I want to beat them for kids playing football at Northam Park until early late-Fall sunsets. I want to beat them for 1711 Cardiff Road. I want to beat them for displaced Buckeye fans who think of home. I want to beat them for our gracious host in Phoenix for the 2002 Championship Game. I want to beat them for bragging rights to the biggest rivalry in College Football. I want to beat them for Nels and his generous tailgates. I want to beat them for the Dougherty brothers and their outstanding fried turkey. I want to beat them for those long-time fans who revere the Rose Bowl as the ultimate College Football game — and always will. I want to beat them for my cooking, pacing friend who hosted me for the Penn State game in 2007. I want to beat them because of my frustration trying to get a hot dog in Evanston. I want to beat them for memories under the Buckeye tree in my grandma’s side yard. I want to beat them for family reunions using football Saturdays as the catalyst. I want to beat them for the Buckeye necklaces my Aunt Penny made. I want to beat them to make the Friday night Tommy’s wait shorter. I want to beat them for “Jake’s Place.” I want to beat them for Steiny-gate. I want to beat them for Mike’s sloppy joes. I want to beat them for Brandon Saine taking the time to sign an autograph for every kid in Mrs. Emery’s third grade class. I want to beat them for the kids at Children’s Hospital who unexpectedly received a visit from Troy Smith and Antonio Smith a few years ago the night before the #1 vs. #2 Michigan game.

This list could have no end…

For this game, forget everything you know about these teams up to this point. It doesn’t matter. The numbers don’t mean anything. The previous wins and previous losses have no affect on the outcome of this one game. This game IS the season. All the other games just give us things to cheer about. They are a nice distraction — reasons to get everyone together despite errands and bills. They are comforting traditions — like Buckeyes from the tree in Grandma’s sideyard, running around the stadium with family early gameday Saturdays and the Sunday morning Dispatch.

This week, I’ve been conflicted with simultaneous feelings of masochism and paranoia.

I find myself hoping that Michigan is not this bad. Is there something wrong with me? Oddly, it gives me no pleasure having the sworn enemy viewed as a museum. A place where people can go to view artifacts from a great war that took place a long time ago. An antagonist preserved at 72 degrees and 50% humidity. No real threat of modern-day escape.

However, I can still vividly remember when things were all too real. When Buckeye wide receivers prematurely guaranteed victory. When Jonathan Wells mistakenly cut a run back to the middle of the field and was caught from behind. When pompous Heisman poses were struck.

I find myself projecting these images to 2009 and become uneasy. I know there is something wrong with me.

On paper, the Michigan defense wouldn’t seem formidable. (more…)

The Ohio State University Alumni Association has emailed us asking how many tickets we want.  If you would like to request tickets through our club, you’ll have to be a dues paying member to both our club and the home office and there will be a  limit of 2 each. We need to get back to home office by end of Friday in Ohio.

If you would like to put in a request, please send an email to John Bruns – JBruns1119[AT]aol.com – with a subject line of “ROSE BOWL TICKETS”.

This isn’t guaranteed that everyone will get them, but the chances are good.

Tressels,

Jan. 1st, 1955: Ohio State 20 Southern Cal 7…Woody’s first National Championship.

Jan. 1st, 1969: Ohio State 27 Southern Cal 16…the Super Sophs become legendary.

Jan. 1st, 1997: Ohio State 20 Arizona State 17…Joey Germaine to David Boston in the final minutes.

Four straight for Archie.

It’s the pinnacle…still is and always will be.  Ohio State first went in 1921…a couple weeks before Southeast Ohio native Kenesaw Mountain Landis became the first baseball commissioner…and it feels as if it’s been that long since their last appearance.  It creates history and rememberance.

So, here we are.  In a season where the motto at the outset was “embracing uncertainty,” words like “rememberance” are within reach.

Before the season began, one of my buddies said that he thought this season would be like 2004.  A young team would show flashes but have an embarrasing, early stumble.  Things would start to come together as the season progressed (see: Troy Smith and the Shot-Ginn in 2004) and end on a high note.  You kinda get the feeling he will be right.     (more…)