The Tao of THE…(Ohio State University)

Buckeye Football As Eastern Philosophy

As summer’s sweltering grip begins to loosen and autumn whispers through the rustling leaves, there comes a familiar and electrifying charge in the air—the start of football season. 

In the heart of my birthplace of Columbus, Ohio, where scarlet and gray flags wave like banners of a medieval war, football is more than just a game; it's a communion of spirit, a dance of strategy, and a theater of ritual. 

For as long as I can remember, the smell of concession food, the echoing roar of the crowd, and a rhythmic pounding of drums have marked the rhythm of the Fall season. Ohio State football isn’t just a pastime; it’s a birthright, a calling passed down from father to child, from community to citizen, like a sacred trust. 

Yet, beneath the surface of this spectacle lies something ancient, something that Eastern philosophy has long considered—the art of conflict and harmony, strategy and spontaneity. 

In Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” in Lao Tzu’s poetic musings of the “Tao Te Ching,” and in the cryptic wisdom of the “I Ching,” we find a playbook not just for battle or enlightenment but perhaps for football itself.

The Art of War on the Gridiron

"All warfare is based on deception," writes Sun Tzu in "The Art of War." And is that not the essence of football? The faint, the misdirection, the hidden blitz—each play is a masterclass in making the enemy believe one thing while delivering another. 

Ohio State, my cherished Buckeyes, have a storied history of doing just that. When a nimble running back cuts back against the grain, or a quarterback fakes a handoff only to throw a long bomb, we see Sun Tzu's principles in motion. 

The huddle becomes a council of war, the field a map of strategy. Coaches speak in codes, players read the body language of their opponents, and every gesture is a calculated step in the dance of deception.

Sun Tzu might advise a football coach to “appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” How often have we seen an underdog rise, cloaked in humility and restraint, only to reveal their true strength at the perfect moment? 

Or a powerhouse like Ohio State feign conservatism to lull an opponent into complacency before unleashing a whirlwind offense that leaves the other team grasping for air? 

The Tao of the Game

But while "The Art of War" teaches cunning and strategy, the "Tao Te Ching" offers a more meditative approach. Laozi's teachings remind us to "be like water," to flow and adapt without rigid form. 

A successful football team, much like a master of the Tao, must embody this fluidity. Coaches and players alike need to find the balance between control and surrender—learning when to press an advantage and when to yield, allowing the energy of the game to flow through them rather than attempting to control every moment.

This is the Tao of football: a game where one moment can shift the momentum entirely, and the wise strategist must remain poised in uncertainty. 

The Taoist principles encourage us to find harmony amid chaos, and on any given Saturday, as the Ohio State marching band spells out "Script Ohio" and the crowd swells with the first notes of "Hang on Sloopy," there is a collective breath—a moment of stillness before the fury begins. It is in that pause, in that moment of anticipation, that we find the essence of the Tao.

Consulting the I Ching

Then there is the "I Ching," the Book of Changes, a text that speaks to the unpredictable nature of existence, much like the unpredictable bounce of a football. The "I Ching" might advise us to embrace uncertainty and be ready for change, as each game, each quarter, each play brings the unknown. In football, as in life, a tipped pass, a missed tackle, or a blocked kick can alter destinies. 

Hexagram 40, "Deliverance," speaks of a release after tension, a turning point that can lead to liberation or further entanglement. How often have we seen a game hinge on a single decision—a bold fourth-down attempt, a gutsy two-point conversion?

For Ohio State fans like myself, who have watched from the fifty-yard line, who have yelled until hoarse in camaraderie and competition, there is a knowing smile that comes with these moments. 

We have seen our share of triumphs and a few heartbreaks, and with each, there is wisdom to be gleaned. Sometimes the best strategy is to let go of what you cannot control, to play the game with the elegance of the Tao and the cunning of Sun Tzu.

Football as a Mirror of Life

Football, with its rituals and pageantry, its strategy and spontaneity, becomes a microcosm of life itself. It teaches us to prepare for conflict but remain adaptable, to be humble yet confident, to be like water in a world of stone. 

It is a space where both the Art of War and the Tao Te Ching dance together on autumn fields, where every yard is fought for, every moment is a lesson in presence.

And as we watch our teams take to the field this season, let us remember that the game is more than just a contest of points and yards. It is a stage where the ancient wisdom of Eastern philosophy plays out in real-time. 

It is a reminder that, whether in life or on the gridiron, we are all strategists and sages, seeking the path of least resistance, the harmony amid chaos, the liberation from the struggles we face. 

And in Columbus, as the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, we find ourselves, once again, drawn to that sacred ground. For it is there, with Ohio State football in our hearts, that we connect with something timeless—a dance of strategy and spirit, a game as old as conflict itself and as fresh as the first kickoff of the season.

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Since 2022, I, Diamond Michael Scott, aka The Chocolate Taoist, have delivered uncommon nomadic wisdom to help you live a more interconnected and expansive life. 

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