Cameron Heyward heads to Sugar full of Buckeye lore

I got to feel the bitter coldness. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, but from Georgia to Ohio, it was a big change. You go from starting the season pretty warm, but by the end of October it’s basically freezing here.

At that game, I got to see the nice facilities and feel what it was like being part of that crowd. As a player, I don’t get to see the band “dot the i,” but I did see that during one visit here with my mom’s dad, Rufus Jordan. We thought it was great to see them have that kind of craft.

When you become a Buckeye, you know there are some die-hard people around here.

During Michigan week, the students jump in Mirror Lake. That’s basically 20 degrees. You’ve got to see it.

There’s a guy who comes to our games called Buckeye Man. He wears a cowboy hat. He has so many different costumes.

Another guy sent me a Facebook message with his costume dedicated to me. He had an Ironman mask on. It was pretty cool. I’ve grown accustomed to comparisons with my father [NFL star Craig “Ironhead” Heyward], and I embrace it.

I saw what guys have gone to do after going to Ohio State. It has one of the biggest alumni bases of any college. Since then I have talked to [NFL linebacker] James Laurinaitis and other great players. Even those who didn’t play in NFL, I could see, were still successful.

Our campus is big, but I do get recognized a lot. Some players mind, but I don’t at all. It’s nice to be recognized.

I have one quarter to go and will graduate this spring with a degree in education. This winter I will student teach for second- or third-graders in Ohio. I hope they won’t recognize me, and just see me as a regular person, not as a Buckeye.

-- Reported by Michelle Hiskey