Beyond the Game: Experiencing Football and Community at Ohio State

When I started my MBA journey at Fisher, I arrived in Columbus full of academic expectations and, honestly, a lot of curiosity. Coming from Peru—a country where sports are pure emotion but move to a different rhythm—I did not expect to find a community whose heartbeat seemed to sync with one single sport: football.

It did not take long to realize that here, the team is not just a team, it’s the city itself. The history of college football in Ohio runs deep, tracing back more than a century. From the early Ohio State games in the late 1890s to today’s massive traditions, this sport has shaped the identity of generations. Walking through campus, local cafés, or the neighborhoods around Columbus, I noticed that everyone speaks the same language of loyalty: the colors, the chants, the game-day traditions. 

From a leadership and management perspective, the Buckeye football program is a masterclass in building identity, loyalty, and social capital. But what struck me most was how that passion translates into real action. I have read stories of players supporting social causes and fans helping one another through tough times. It showed me that sports, at their best, can build a strong sense of community.

Ohio State taught me that connection is not built only in classrooms or offices, it is built in shared moments that unite people across neighborhoods, generations, and backgrounds. That unity carries a lesson I will take back to Peru: when passion meets purpose, it has the power to transform.

Here in Columbus, football feels like a mirror. It reflects what the city is and what it strives to become. For me, this journey has been about more than watching a game. It has been about discovering how community, leadership, and purpose can come together to build something that truly lasts.