Michigan and Ohio State are bitter rivals, but Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner showed a human side when his Buckeyes counterpart was hurt.
Words like “hatred” and “bitter” are bandied about freely when discussing rivalries, particularly the classic rivalries such as the one between Michigan and Ohio State.
The 111th renewal of that rivalry was staged Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, with the Buckeyes winning the game, 42-28, but losing redshirt freshman sensation J.T. Barrett to a broken ankle.
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Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner went to Barrett to offer some encouragement as the fallen player was being tended to by medical personnel.
It was a gesture that did not go unnoticed at Ohio State, who sent Gardner a letter in appreciation for showing his human side to a fallen rival.
The win was Ohio State’s third in a row and 10th in 11 years (the 2010 win was vacated because of a scandalous tattoo coverup … although the tattoos weren’t actually covered, so it’s just weird to say it that way).
Gardner posted the letter on his Instagram account and commented that he was “very moved” by its receipt.
Fans can sometimes get too wrapped up in rivalries on the field and spill them out into everyday life. It’s great when a player in the heat of the battle can remember he’s a human being first and a football player second.
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