2023 MGoPhotos of the Game (Week 12): Ohio State
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Michigan vs Ohio State 2023 (Patrick Barron)
Michigan vs Ohio State 2023 (Bryan Fuller)
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No More Excuses
They did it.
Again.
And again.
Every year going into the Ohio State game I tell people something along the lines of "this is the biggest game I've ever covered" and this year it was, once again, and without hyperbole, the biggest game I've ever covered. With the scope of college football changing next year, rivalries dying, regional conferences going extinct, and everything surrounding the Michigan football program in the last six weeks, the stakes have never been higher.
It was an incredible experience, once again. Mostly because my favorite sports team won, of course.
The student section was nearly full 60 minutes to kickoff. Big Noon Saturday and College Gameday were both set up on the field. The weather was perfect. I was living off of four hours of bad sleep and felt as awake as possible. I know many of you were in the same boat since many of you were tweeting at 2am the night before alongside me.
On January 9 of this year, Blake Corum announced that he would return for his senior season, citing "unfinished business."
With everything, all of it, the whole damn program on the line, Blake scored on a 22 yard touchdown run after Zak Zinter broke one of the most painful bones to break.
Then he pounded the hell out of Ohio State on what would be a seven minute field goal drive that almost ended the game.
He came back for this game. For this touchdown. For that drive. For Zak. For Frodo.
And he still has unfinished business.
This team has the tools to win the whole damn thing and they will not be denied. This team feels like what my life as a fan has been building up to. What their lives have been building up to.
I've been in several crowd rushes and this one felt almost... polite by comparison? The 2016 Iowa game crowd rush was incredible because I didn't know a football field could smell like booze within seconds. 2016 and 2018 Ohio State were quite rowdy. I foolishly wasn't expecting a crowd rush after the 2021 game and that one got to be a bit aggressive. Crowd rushes make me nervous because I know someone is going to get seriously injured eventually and ruin it for everyone.
But this game, fans seemed to jog onto the field and just stood around like it was a fun, routine gathering. I didn't experience much pushing and shoving, no body compression, no acts of aggression. I said "excuse me" and people just kinda shuffled out of the way. There were a lot of people who did this like they've done it before. Because they have.
Even Carl Grapentine was polite about telling everyone to exit the field.
(That being said, getting off the field sucked but that's mostly due to volume).
I've never met Big Nut in person. From all accounts, I've heard he's a really nice guy who does a lot of charity work.
So in taking this photo... again. It truly is nothing personal. It's just sports. None of it is truly real. My first rule of sports is "none of it really matters."
BUT.
See you in Indy. My phone automatically connects to the WiFi at Lucas Oil Stadium now.
Three games to go.
About the Photographers
If you'd like to support us, one of the simplest things you can do is follow us on social media (links just below) where we post way more photos than here. In the offseason I also do a LOT of wildlife/national park photography. While we're not allowed to sell any of our sports photos per our credential agreement (sorry to anyone who reached out asking about one), I sell prints from my adventures which I sell on FineArtAmerica. You can buy prints (or just look at some pretty pictures) here: Patrick Barron Art Collections Or if you'd like, you can simply support me by buying me a coffee!
Social Media Accounts:
Patrick Barron:
Twitter: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram: @BlueBarronPhoto
Instagram (BUT WITH BEARS): @BlueBarronPhoto_Wild
Bryan Fuller
Twitter: I have been informed that Bryan's Twitter was hacked and is currently INOP :(
Instagram: @BryanFullerPhotography
[Mikey and Quinten have strong opinions about you and footballs after THE JUMP]
November 26th, 2023 at 8:20 PM ^
Been waiting for that glorious Big Nut photo. Thank you!
November 26th, 2023 at 8:38 PM ^
Did they ever say what the significance of the flyover was? Just looked like a passenger plane.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:51 PM ^
A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft. Basically they search for ships and submarines and can be equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine munitions if needed.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:52 PM ^
Awesome, thank you!
November 26th, 2023 at 10:23 PM ^
It's also a strategic reconnaissance platform, specifically electronic surveillance. In other words, that plane steals our enemies' signals.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:29 PM ^
Coincidence? I think not
November 27th, 2023 at 10:32 AM ^
The Big Nut picture . . . the annual Don / Blake The Great TD picture . . . the annual Stover end zone pass breakup picture . . . at this point I am convinced that you are not just taking these pictures, you are causing them.
Thank you for your service.
You have a mandatory appointment for November 30, 2024.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:26 PM ^
“Thinking of the precious again” is gold.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:26 PM ^
Amazing dude.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:27 PM ^
Zach Peterson for best hair in college football 2023.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
For the love of fuck please stop showing me pics and video of some 300lb white, bald, Ohio face painter dresser upper.
Every
Fucking
Year
For
40
Fucking
Years
November 26th, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^
As long as each picture is accompanied by a Michigan victory, I’ll gladly see that picture each year.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:31 PM ^
He's kinda like a cyberpunk Mona Lisa.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:30 PM ^
I really want a poster of all the BigNut photos with the scoreboards...
Maybe next year when we have 1 for each corner....
November 26th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^
Fans that dress like that know what they are doing. I hope you keep getting pictures of him.
I would really like to know what he thinks of the photos of him.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:33 PM ^
Patrick, does this guy know you're the source of his internet sadness infamy? Like does he recognize you sneaking up on him near the final whistle to get another snap? I'm curious about the sidestory/process of this.
Great work btw.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:38 PM ^
Also, I fixed this one for you. You're welcome.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
People have told me that he's seen the photos but I doubt he knows who I am.
I shot pretty much the entire 4th quarter near where he was sitting so I was probably blended in by the end of the game (just walk by, click click, walk away).
November 27th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
Dude was posing with Michigan and osu fans on the way out. Had a line about 15 people deep. He's just there for the attention.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
It's part of what makes college sports great.
I was at the basketball Big Ten Tournament championship game against Wisconsin in DC. Fans of both teams followed Bucky the mascot around like a rock star. I got a high five from Bucky and though it was great, even though I wanted to kick Wisconsin's ass.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:34 PM ^
Awesome as usual!
November 26th, 2023 at 8:38 PM ^
Magnificent work!
November 26th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^
LOL'd at the Tom Holland comparison.
The wife, who is even older than I am and mostly football ignorant, looked on as I was watching JJ's postgame presser and wondered "Is that Matt Damon?" 😂😂😂
November 26th, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
Great shots! One of the special things about this rivalry is also just the contrast in the colors of the uniforms and your photos just highlight that. GO BLUE
November 27th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Now that we have USC and UCLA in the conference who play their rivalry game color vs color, we should go back to Michigan vs Ohio State with color vs color, the way it used to be until black and white TV in the mid 1950's.
November 26th, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
See you in Indy. My phone automatically connects to the WiFi at Lucas Oil Stadium now.
Nice.
Some quality pics here for sure!
November 26th, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
The photo of the Ohio State players on a knee while Zinter was being cared for was touching. I love to see competitors set the battle aside and show humanity and respect in times like this. The Michigan players would have done the same for a fallen OSU player.
The rivalry is bitter, but most of the players are young men with good hearts. It's admirable.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
It looks like Big Nut has been losing some weight since 2021.
Three straight losses to Michigan with Ryan Day as your head coach and will do that to you.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:21 PM ^
Ya gotta give Big Nut his due -- he had to know he was going to be the subject of schadenfreude pictures. But he stood there and let people take the shot with the score over his shoulder. If they let Buckeyes in heaven, he'll probably be the first.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:24 PM ^
Right next to this guy in "sad Buckeye heaven". :)
November 26th, 2023 at 10:12 PM ^
Wonderful work.
AND great fun!
November 26th, 2023 at 11:45 PM ^
Can’t wait for the Harbaugh-Petitti handshake photo and all its glory. Please capture Petitti walking off; would love to see the non-TV look he will give.
November 26th, 2023 at 11:54 PM ^
Watching the Ravens tonight with Mike Macdonald, I'm reminded of Michigan's real and absolutely proper unfair advantage, its relationship with the Ravens. For example, it's obvious that Minter is a better defensive coordinator than most NFL teams have. If Michigan can't keep him, will John Harbaugh be able to recommend a replacement? If he does, the odds are high that the new hire will be great and won't embarrass Michigan, although I'll bet Michigan improves its vetting any new hires. The Ravens should be at least the second favorite pro team of all Michigan fans as long as John Harbaugh is there and Jim coaches the Wolverines.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:19 AM ^
I thought about the same thing. I know there was another Ravens defensive coach that just went to UCLA last year as their D Coordinator. UCLA's defense got a lot better this year, maybe that's a possibility, especially if Chip Kelly gets canned. They seem to love him there
November 27th, 2023 at 12:05 AM ^
Anybody notice Blake rocking the Booby Miles Permian jersey from Friday Night Lights?
November 27th, 2023 at 12:13 AM ^
Keegan’s face paint is terrifying
November 27th, 2023 at 3:57 AM ^
Thank you for your truly artistic contributions to this site and the preservation of Michigan's football history, Sir Patrick. The results are priceless.
November 27th, 2023 at 4:25 AM ^
The Precious pic! HA!
November 27th, 2023 at 7:00 AM ^
The sweetest thing of all is it was a total team victory. Their bitter fans struggle to scapegoat anyone, so they condemn the whole program! LOL Gameday performances by all. They were lucky we didn't pull away by 2 or 3 scores from the fumbles and interceptions.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
These signs mean "I'm not lion when I say your season is dead."
LOL. You retroactively win the internet on Saturday.
November 27th, 2023 at 3:46 PM ^
I don't expect OSU fans to be rational regarding the Wilson td review, these are the same people who simultaneously say there was nothing wrong with the officiating in their favor in the 2016 game.
The bottom line about UM the last three years is they have been the most mentally tough team in the Big Ten. Nothing embodies that better than a td right after seeing a devastating injury to your teammate. Also second straight year they had to beat OSU without one or more of their best players for all or part of the game. You combine a good level of talent with that kind of mental toughness and you get results.
November 27th, 2023 at 4:25 PM ^
Shrug. We wouldn't be if the circumstances were reversed. How many here remember The Phantom Touchdown?
November 27th, 2023 at 10:34 PM ^
Great review. Thanks for all the great work you guys do.
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