Tribalism

College football brings out tribal instincts in us all. I was engulfed by the atmosphere and tradition of Ohio State. I am from Ohio. I was born, bred, and educated here in Big Ten Country.

As I stood on the sideline Saturday night and watched the crowd's noise build to a crescendo when the Ohio State Band marched out in precession, I felt a fierce pride I have never felt before. Not so much for the Buckeye football team, but for the fact this was part of me. The fight songs the band played were the same I had heard when I ran out on the field to play football in high school. The spelling of Script Ohio I had seen a thousand times on TV, but today the noise on field level was overwhelming. The crowd moving in a tribal ritual spelling O-H-I-O made the old concrete structure take on the complexion of a living breathing beast. When the band played Ohio State's alma mater, "Carmon Ohio" the choired voices sounded like a hymn for a secular church with 106,000 fanatic parishioners. I felt a shiver down my spine. All the fall afternoons of my youth in front of our television came racing back to me. I had been initiated with these tribal laws and customs for many years. Scarlet and grey, The Horseshoe on the banks of the Olentangy River, songs, salutes, passions.

However I am a Trojan. I am stirred within my tribe by other customs and ceremonies. Just as symbolic. Just as revered. And the clash of the two tribes was absolutely magnificent, a masterpiece of competition painted on a green field.

As I watched the game from field level, I was amazed at the size, talent, and speed of the players on display. I was also amazed that at its purest level, football is in reality hand to hand combat. It is simply one tribal warrior battling against the other. The record crowd of 106,033 formed a valiant foe. Ohio Stadium became the ultimate 12th man. Encouraging to their scarlet clad foot soldiers, when USC took the ball, the crowd noise become more than deafening, and it was downright oppressive. I couldn't hear the voice of a person right next to me. How Matt Barkley called signals is a complete mystery.

The game takes on a different perspective at field level. Angles and depth are distorted. Time seems to slow down. I heard on Sunday that the final Trojan Drive took 20 minutes of actual time. To me it seemed to be second and 19 then Stafon Johnson was walking into the end zone. What a performance by SC to hang on and mount a drive that will now be placed into the tribal lore of Troy.

The funny thing about the attitude of our current college footbal, had it been Ohio State driving, the nation would have braced for a monumental upset. However, with SC the nation was just waiting to see how the Trojans would pull out a win.

I asked some Ohio State fans when they knew it was over, and they all replied that they knew when SC entered Ohio State territory. Mysticism within our tribe is completely restored. It's only a surprise when we lose.

In the end it was really a shame Ohio State had to lose. They played a wonderful game. The stadium was eerily silent except for the sounds of Conquest. The beast had been slain. The visiting tribe was finally victorious in enemy territory. There were tears from the Buckeye faithful. They exited in a silence becoming a funeral. I'm sure there were tears of joy from Trojans somewhere.

As for me it was an experience I will forever cherish. I was an eyewitness to tribal history from the sidelines of the Shoe. It was the game of the season. Where the season leads for both teams is a mystery to us all, but one thing is for sure. Tribal love will be renewed on every Saturday. Not only in 2009 but forever. FIGHT ON!