Published: Monday, April 2, 2007
Local nightspots haven't had time to plan big events like they had in January.
Local nightspots haven't had time to plan big events like they had in January.
By HAROLD GWIN
YOUNGSTOWN — After learning the teams would meet in January for the football championship, Randy Brashen was the guy who said it would be "neat" if Ohio State University got a chance to play the University of Florida for the NCAA basketball championship, too.
The Buckeyes had a shot at the Gators in the Bowl Championship Series national championship football game but lost 41-14.
Brashen's wish turned out to be prophetic, however.
The two schools meet again at 9 tonight to determine the best basketball team in the country.
"They are making me one happy little Buckeye," said Brashen, a Canfield Township trustee and the president of OSU's Mahoning Valley Alumni Association. "I'm very excited. I'm optimistic. I know we're underdogs."
Brashen pointed out that the Florida Gators have annihilated its tournament opposition.
He will be in Columbus on business today so he will have to watch the game from his hotel room.
No time to plan
Unlike the football game when local nightspots had a month to plan for the big event, those same venues had little time to arrange special activities for tonight's game.
"We'll be rocking inside," said Jeff Gordon, manager of the Youngstown Sports Grille in Boardman.
Unlike the football game, when the Sports Grille put up a tent and had time to get an extension-of-premises permit from the township to serve alcohol outside its building, there was just no time for that type of planning for this game, Gordon said.
"We have a very loyal OSU following here," he said, adding that he expects the place to be full come game time.
Likewise, Buffalo Wild Wings in Austintown and Boardman said they expect a big OSU crowd tonight, but also they haven't had time to plan special activities.
The OSU fans were out in force Saturday night and will be out again tonight, said Mark Miller, manager of the Austintown location.
The Boardman restaurant gave away OSU T-shirts during the championship football game, but, as of Sunday night, had no special plans for tonight, said Manager Jeff Marling.
Likewise, O'Charley's in Niles is expecting a big crowd but also had no time to plan any specific OSU-related activities, said Manager Debbie Battin.
Longtime fan
"A lot of people think, 'vindication,'" said Charles Kramer of Struthers, a self-admitted diehard OSU fan, a trait he picked up in childhood and maintained despite having graduated from Youngstown State University.
"I'm sure it could heal some wounds if we take it tonight," he said.
Kramer had a "Fear The Nut" sign in his yard for the OSU-Florida football game which depicted a Buckeye with a Gator tail hanging from its mouth. He was thinking about bringing it out again for tonight's matchup but changed his mind.
It didn't work so well last time, he recalled, adding, "Buckeye fans are superstitious."
For example, his wife, Janet, doesn't watch the Buckeyes with him, he said.
She has to watch on a television in their bedroom, he said, explaining that she feels they won't win unless she's in that room watching.
His father-in-law, Gene Janecko of Austintown, who was a left halfback on the 1944 undefeated OSU football team, said he's been watching the tournament and will be focused on his television set tonight.
"Let's hope we don't wind up with the same shameful ending," he said, worried that OSU has been "shaky" in some of its tournament wins, barely squeaking out some of its victories.
Brashen went to Glendale, Ariz., for the football championship game in January and got upset to the point that he left the game early, something he never does.
"I just can't stand that Gator chomp," he said, suggesting that a win tonight might put the chomp to rest.
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