AUG. 13, 2006
MeanBrutus.com is the result of being sick and tired of listening to all the Buckeye homers in Columbus, and all of Ohio for that matter, who think Ohio State can do no wrong; that it's always the media's fault for breaking a story that puts OSU in a negative light; that OSU is the be-all and end-all of colleges and universities.
Yes, OSU is a quality institution of higher learning (some may argue that it's a research facility that also offers classes). And yes, the athletics department is an 800-pound gorilla in the collegiate sports landscape. But that doesn't mean criticism isn't warranted when it's deserved. Whether it's the school, one of the athletic teams, an athlete for hire, er, student athlete, a coach or the athletics director, props will be given when they are due. However, when a mistake is made, We here at MeanBrutus.com won't be afraid to say so.
For example, the former athletics director turned the OSU campus into a lifeless, unnatural college environment that values advertising and seat-licenses over tradition, home-field advantage and fun. We like to call it Andyland.
By the same token, things like Thad Matta doing what he has done in his short tenure as OSU men's basketball coach will be praised. To take a 14-16 team with limited talent and turn it into a 20-win squad, not to mention
Yes, this is a Buckeye town. But, shocking as it may be, there is life outside the state borders. And most of the people outside those borders hate Ohio State and all of its fans. We're talking hatred like Woody had for The School Up North (or TSUN for short, which will be the way this site refers to Ohio State's arch rival). And we can't blame them.
The reason is simple: ignorance. Most OSU fans, and I'm stressing the word most, don't do enough research before they spout off about the quality of their team or the perceived inferiority of their opponent. They blindly say OSU is the best this and has the best that. Blah, blah, blah. Parity in college athletics has made it so that many programs are on a level playing field. Tradition has given OSU a sizeable head start, but they have to continue to build on that — and even improve on it.
What we find unacceptable is adding to the OSU tradition by annually having the most hated fans in all of college athletics. Being passionate about your team is fine, but only if knowledge is the basis for that passion. It doesn't take much. A couple minutes of reading a day. That's all we ask.
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