One of the many traditions related to Ohio State football and Michigan week, for whatever reason, is the Mirror Lake jump. I don’t know that I can remember a good explanation for it, but the OSU students annually go plopping into Mirror Lake late on the Thursday night before The Game. It’s supposed to be an exercise of good luck but turns into more of a drunken spectacle that anything.

One of the fun aspects of the jump is that it often brings out student-athletes, although most of them just to spectate. Unfortunately for the men’s basketball team – or perhaps fortunately – the Buckeyes are in New York City and will be facing North Carolina while people assemble by the “lake,” a man-made water structure just southwest of The Oval.

OSU guard/forward David Lighty said he’ll survive without the tradition.

“I’ve had my fair share of Michigan weeks, so as long as we win that will make the week even better,” said the Buckeye captain.

However, a few other prominent Buckeyes admitted going to see the carnage at Mirror Lake is a guilty pleasure.

When asked earlier this week if he planned to go to Mirror Lake on Thursday night, OSU strong safety Kurt Coleman nearly blushed and said coyly, “Maybe. Actually, I go every year. I like to stand in the background because sometimes people get into fights and whatnot.

“Actually, it’s a great scene. It’s something that you have to experience. I’m never going to jump in because I’m not that crazy, but it’s one of the best times in college. That’s part of the tradition at Ohio State to jump in right before Michigan.”

Team co-captain Doug Worthington also figured to be on hand.

“I’ll go,” Worthington said. “I’ll just watch. Seeing those fans out there, they’re getting after it; they’re jumping in the lake. It’s just a great college feel. It lets you know your fans are behind you and they take the game as serious as you do. We’ve got to do it for Buckeye Nation and for everyone in Columbus.”

While the football players view the act as a display of school spirit, the basketball players left for New York wondering if anyone would bother to see them play defending national champion North Carolina. The game started right around 9:30 p.m. Eastern.

“I hope they watch it,” junior guard Jon Diebler said. “I don’t even know what the weather is supposed to be. It was cold last year. I didn’t jump in but I went. No I did not. You will not catch me jumping in there. It is too cold.

“I was there watching everyone else jump in, though. It was funny. It’s a good time. I just can’t believe how everyone gets into that. It’s not really that big. It’s like a pond; it’s not even a lake. I enjoy it. It’s a good time. But I will not jump in. It’s way too cold for me.”