This time forty years ago (where did they go?) in the fall of '68, I was a high school senior finishing my football career. We didn't have state playoffs then and I have always felt cheated. Had we, our team was very good and I am sure we would have gone far. Instead, I finished my athletic career and one year later, in the fall of '69, I headed off to Ohio State.

When I arrived as a freshman first thing I did was went out and bought the obligatory beer stein. Don't know why. I didn't drink then, and never have, but hey...you were a freshman and that is what you did, you bought your own Stein.

I still have that Stein. I don't think it has ever held a drop of beer, but you can put a whole lot of pencils and highlighters in it. For forty years, it has sat on the corner of my desk. In the 40 years I have had many desks, several job titles, but one wife, one employer, one favorite football team, and yes one Stein.

I notice that stein every day...it's white ceramic and on the front, imprinted in red letters is the front page of the November 24th Columbus Dispatch Sunday Edition. The big bold headline reads "85,371 See Bucks Stomp Wolves - 50-14".

It's a daily reminder of the most perfect game the Buckeyes every played, the 1968 Michigan game, almost 40 years ago to the day this Saturday. Wouldn't it be nice for history to repeat itself this coming Saturday when Michigan again comes calling? Maybe next year, some freshman too can buy a memory that is good for another 40 years.