The Buckeye Offense and I had something in common last Saturday. Things could have gone a little better for them, and....well....there were a couple of things I could have done differently too.

It all started before the game. I was outside the press entrance on the west side and decided that I could use some crowd shots. It was right at that time when everyone was jamming in the walkway to get into the stadium and it was a perfect picture of a mass of OSU humanity. So I stopped on the edge of the walkway and was snapping away towards the north end of the Stadium, all the while the crowd pressing me more and more to the outside. Things were going great when suddenly, almost beneath me, I heard this fearsome growl and then "woof, woof, woof". Jumping about six feet in the air, I looked down to see that I had been leaning right against the "Danger - Police Dog - Do Not Approach" sign on a police car. Inside the Canine Officer was not happy! I got the heck out of there and thought, "Well I dodged that bullet."

It didn't start well, and shucks, it didn't end well either. In the fourth quarter, at the very end of the game, the sidelines get crowded. The writers, athletic department workers, and others come down and congregate...the writers heading to the press conference, the AD staff finished with their jobs for the day.

At the end of the game Saturday, I was snapping all kinds of odds and ends....stadium shots of various props that might be useful for the book. I shot things like the portal numbers, photographers, yard line markers, etc. I was getting a little bit of anything and everything, never knowing what one might need to use. I decided I needed some credential cards....those small placards on a string that hang around everyone's neck with their name on them. They say different things and are the bearer's ticket to access the different regions....field, press box, locker room, etc. I would say there are about 8 different kinds.

Anyway, about 6 feet away from me stood a guy...just an ordinary Joe.... with one around his neck. It stood out nicely on a solid color shirt. Without thinking, I just reached out with my zoom lens and snapped a few pictures of it. I even tilted my camera at an angle to get a little "artsy look"! Since I didn't take the person's face, I didn't even say anything to the individual.

It didn't take but a minute or two and the guy was right beside me. "Excuse me," he politely said, "Might I ask why you took a picture of my card?" Somewhat surprised, I explained that I was doing a book and that I was just gathering images of all kinds. I assured him I didn't take his face and didn't mean to offend him. Even handed him my business card!

"We'll, that's all well and good," he said, "But if you use it you're going to have to black out my name. I'm an undercover police officer!" After apologizing profusely, I assured him I would. And I will. Don't worry "Officer Whatwasyourname?" Your secret is safe with me.

Like I said...me and the offense....things started badly and went downhill.