The O on Lane, located at 352 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, OH on Nov. 14. Credit: Carly Damon | Asst. Photo Editor
“The Game” is not just a pivotal weekend for Ohio State’s football players or the fans who will fill up Ohio Stadium Nov. 30.
Even the restaurants and bars located around the university spend weeks preparing for one of the most renowned rivalries in all of college football.
One of those establishments is The O on Lane, formerly The O Patio and Pub, which originally opened in 1994. For owner Ed Gaughan, the rivalry runs far deeper than just the contest itself.
Gaughan said he feels honored to be a part of this legendary conflict as a local business owner.
”It’s great to be part of one of the biggest traditions in sports over the course of not only the last three years, but over the course of the last 30 years being on campus,” Gaughan said. “We’ve been able to be a part of the community, the tradition and culture that this game brings to the Columbus community and the alumni.”
Gaughan said the Michigan game is unlike any other game on Ohio State’s schedule, and The O on Lane begins preparing weeks in advance to guarantee it’s fully ready for game day.
“That game is like a holiday week for Columbus,” Gaughan said. “Preparation is everything, from ordering inventory, ensuring we have extra food and extra alcohol and making sure that there are extra employees since we are open for longer.”
Unlike most Saturdays — during which staffers arrive as early as 5 a.m. for the restaurant’s 11 a.m. opening — the Michigan matchup calls for an even more prompt arrival in the run-up to a 5:30 a.m. opening.
“Essentially, we’re open all but a couple hours from Friday till Sunday,” Gaughan said.
“We open at 5:30 a.m., but we have to have employees there by 4 a.m., kind of prepping and stuff like that.”
Though The O on Lane is known for its wood-fired pizza, Gaughan said for the rivalry game, the 5:30 a.m. opening time is partially attributed to special breakfast items that are served throughout the morning.
“Specifically for The Game, just opening up early and doing breakfast burritos and the egg specials would be the only difference between any other game,” Gaughan said. “So, we offer a breakfast item because normally for a noon game, people start rolling around at like 8:30 [a.m.], but for the Michigan game, it all starts around 5:30 [a.m.]”
As far as traditions go, The O on Lane takes part in the classic campus tradition of crossing out the letter “M” whenever possible, but Gaughan said it also has a few of its own.
“We have Michigan logo stickers in our bathroom toilets — every ‘M’ around our place, as well as around campus, is crossed out,” Gaughan said. “There’s no blue anything in the place, whether it is all the way down to a marker or someone’s shirt, and we take it as seriously as everyone else takes it.”
Abby Ravine, a bartender at The O on Lane who has worked for Gaughan since 2016, said when it comes to working the last Saturday in November, fans’ passion is what makes The Game singular.
“I think The Game, especially when it’s a home game, brings a lot of togetherness and excitement for Ohio State,” Ravine said. “Sharing in the rivalry and knowing how much this game means to our football team and fans, we just try to give them the best experience and make everyone excited about being there.”
Despite the amount of preparation put into making sure the establishment is ready for The Game, Gaughan said there are always difficulties, including unpredictable weather and being sufficiently staffed.
“You always have to bring in extra people to make sure you’re being more vigilant about any little thing that happens throughout the day, whether something breaks or something is not working properly,” Gaughan said.
When it comes to watching The Game and witnessing the community it brings together, Gaughan said it’s simply fun to be around people who share a common passion, and this year, he’s hoping the Buckeyes break the Wolverines’ three-game winning streak.
“It’s just fun being with everyone that’s happy about the same thing, passionate about the same thing and upset about the same thing when things don’t go our way,” Gaughan said. “But this year, we are hoping everything goes our way and everyone can celebrate together.”
