Michigan and Michigan fans are the epitome of arrogance for this league, especially when they are winning (God, when they are winning). Their school is superior to everyone else and they make fun with that consistently(though more so when they aren't winning in football). Their program "wins the right way" and their guys are "michigan men" (a Ohio man came up with that). They will take any opportunity to degrade fledgling programs as not worthy of their time and will gladly look down their nose at you. The joy when App State beat them and then Toledo...man, it was like we beat them.
For sure, all of our fanbases have bad fan interactions and total jackasses (mostly form those who never attended the school, or drunk frats on gameday) and OSU definitely has some mean fans. But the one quality of Michigan that grinds the entire conference is their arrogance. That is, "pure Michigan", as they say.
Normally, the OSU fan doesn't spout off at the mouth beating programs it should beat handily, given the circumstances of that program. But, we kick it into gear when it's a big night game against a power in the conference. And against USC. And, we are dicks to Michigan, no doubt. We hate them, and we'll let them know it.
I think most Ohio State fans want you guys to succeed (though not against us ;), but we'll tip our hat to you after we curse out every coach we think f*d up. We respect your efforts to get there (hiring Ash, renovating facilities). You guys are trying, unfortunately you're in a tough division with 2 juggernauts.We have teams in this conference that don't even try to earn the money we make for them in the bowl season. We respect the effort and your enthusiasm to this conference. We hope you guys can make this tough gauntlet, to at least get more of your in-state guys to feel the pride to play for the in-state school. That always brings the best glory.
