COLUMBUS, Ohio — With less than 24 hours to The Game, families of Buckeye players are gearing up to watch their sons play. But for one family, they’re coming from the state up north to cheer on the scarlet and gray.
What You Need To Know
- Cedric Saunders was a tight end at OSU from 1990-93
- Cedric’s two sons, Kai and Cayden, both play for the Buckeyes
- The Saunders boys grew up in Michigan, just a few miles from campus
- Cedric said his boys always cheered for OSU growing up, no matter what
Not only do the Saunders have two boys on the team, freshman wide receiver Kai and sophomore running back Cayden, but this family lives just mere minutes away from the University of Michigan.
Cedric Saunders, the boys’ dad, also played for Ohio State in the early 90s.
Cedric Saunders and his family at an Ohio State game. (Cedric Saunders)
Cedric said he hoped his boys would follow in his footsteps, and is proud to have them both at OSU. He raised his family in Michigan, and said his boys were massive Ohio State fans. They would go to Buckeye games and tailgates growing up, but would get a lot of flak for wearing scarlet and gray in the state up north.
The Saunders boys grew up Ohio State fans despite living in Michigan. (Cedric Saunders)
“They always got the ribbing in high school and middle school because they were always wearing their Ohio State gear and we’re in Michigan territory,” Cedric said. “They embraced it. They enjoyed it. But the fun part about it is we had beaten Michigan 10 years straight, so they were always on the winning side of it. But they always got ribbed because we’re in Michigan country and all these kids are being raised to be Wolverines and my kids were here in Michigan being raised Buckeyes.”
Cedric and his wife were able to come down this week to celebrate Thanksgiving with their sons, but he said it was all business.
The Saunders brothers on the sideline of an OSU game. (Cedric Saunders)
“I think this year with the focus on how good both teams are, us being ranked No. 2 and Michigan being ranked No. 3, it intensifies the rivalry just a little bit more in terms of being one of the biggest games of the season,” Cedric said. “I talked to both boys this week, and it was a short conversation — ‘hey dad we got to focus this week. We’ll see you on Thanksgiving and then we got to get ready for the game on Saturday.’”
Cedric actually never won against Michigan during his time at Ohio State. He said he’s hopeful his sons are able to get a few wins during their time at OSU, so they can give their old man a pair of gold pants, which is what each Buckeye player gets after beating Michigan.
