Is he a Buckeye or is he a Tiger?
That’s a burning question apparently in the state of Ohio when it comes to quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow, who is back in Ohio and plying his trade professionally for his home state Cincinnati Bengals, spent his formative college years in Columbus at Ohio State. He was a backup quarterback for the Buckeyes from 2015-17.
With no prospects to move up to a starting role before his college days were complete, Burrow entered the transfer portal after graduating in three years and found himself coveted in Baton Rouge at LSU. The rest, as they say, is history. Literally.
Burrow commanded and directed a historically-prolific offense at LSU, leading the Tigers to an undefeated season and a national championship and netting himself the Heisman Trophy.
Which then led to a return to Ohio when he was picked #1 overall by the Bengals in the NFL Draft.
This week, with the Bengals once again playing well under the steady hand of Burrow under center, Joey Franchise’s weekly chat with the press had its lighter moments, and he was asked whether Ohio State still claims him as an NFL product of their system.
“I don’t know,” he responded. “You’ll have to ask them.”
Burrow was then asked about the fans of the two schools and whether they argue over who he belongs to.
“I always say I went to school at Ohio State, and I played football at LSU,” Burrow answered.
Just the diplomatic response one might expect from a quarterback who has grown accustomed to navigating high-pressure quandaries.