When I stepped outside for my walk on this morning of the Ohio State-Michigan game, I immediately thought of my father.
It was because of the weather — crisp and clear, with the stars sharply outlined and the steam from breath rising upward into the chill. Those are the kind of conditions that would cause my father to lean back, sniff the air, nod approvingly, and say: “Good football weather.”
Every Midwestern football fan knows exactly what that phrase means. It means dry conditions, because no one wants to watch football or play football in a downpour. It means a day that is not too windy and where there is a significant difference between being in the sunshine and being in the shade. It means a temperature that is cold, but not too cold; in the 30s or 40s, where you can bundle up and layer against the chill and a few hours outside will bring color to everyone’s cheeks. The kind of day when you enjoy having your core warmed by a well-prepared toddy, or Bloody Mary, or Irish Coffee at a tailgate and can hear the crack of the pads echoing through the stadium as the crowd roars.
Yes, it’s good football weather today for The Game. Go Bucks!
Webner House 