Columbus Zoo Bucket List

Originally posted August 28, 2012. Updated May 23, 2014.

Whether you're making your first trip to the world's #1 zoo, or a season pass member like me, here are twenty-six things you must see on your next visit:

1. Heart of Africa: The newest attraction at the Columbus Zoo opens today and promises to be a major draw for years to come. The Heart of Africa offers visitors a unique look at 165 exotic animals that include lions, wildebeests and gazelles as well as hands-on features like camel rides and a giraffe-feeding tree-house station.
2. Polar Bears: Located in the back of the North America Region. Watch the polar bears dive for fish and play with floating water toys from above or below water via the underwater viewing area located under their icy pool.
3. Gibbons Monkeys: Located in the Australia Region. These monkeys have a huge outdoor exhibit with an island tree-house surrounded by a river. If you're lucky you'll even get to hear the gibbons "song".
4. Western Lowland Gorilla: Located in the African Forest Region. The gorillas can be seen in their expansive outdoor exhibit during good weather, generally late spring through fall. The outdoor area features multiple levels in a round structure featuring ropes, earthen mounds and other fixtures on which to climb, swing, and rest. Indoors, the gorillas have access to a 360 degree exhibit which "encloses" the visitors in the inside! Large artificial trees and climbing structures offer many horizontal and vertical challenges for the gorillas.
5. Baby Bonobos Monkey: Located in the African Forest Region. The bonobos are always extremely active, swinging and playing in their jungle-gym-like habitat. They even know how to turn on the water spicket and get a drink by themselves! And if you're lucky you'll get to the relationship between a mother and its baby.
6. Stingray Bay: Located in between the Zoo and Zoombezi Bay. This new "petting zoo" is a real treat for children. And even pretty cool for adults. Stand around the huge pool and touch the stingrays as they pass by.
7. Polar Grille. Located in the back of the North America Region near the polar bear habitat. This is hands down the best "shack" for food in the zoo. Try the chili cheese fries, amazing!
8. "Hank" the Elephant: Located in the Pachyderm building near the Asia Quest Region. This exhibit provides one of the largest indoor spaces for elephants and rhinos at any zoo. The size and configuration of the outdoor yards makes it possible for elephants to spend the night outdoors. And if you get a chance to see "Hank" (the biggest of the elephants) play in the pool of water out back you're in for a real treat!
9. Humboldt Penguins: Located in the Shores Region, the naturalistic Humboldt penguin exhibit allows guests to see the penguins swimming underwater in their semi-circular 9,000-gallon pool or burrowing holes for nesting in the artificial rock.
10. West Indian Manatees: Located in the Shores Region, in the Manatee Coast building. Manatee Coast is an immersion exhibit modeled after the 10,000 Islands region of Florida. Visitors walk down the pathway, along the acrylic tank which holds 190,000 gallons of water. From the side, visitors can observe the manatees swimming.
11. Australian Boat Ride: Located in the Voyage to Australia and the Islands. Take a "boat" ride on a lazy river that runs around the Gibbons monkey island and throughout Australia. It's the best way to see the monkeys and some of the other Australian exhibits. 
12. Tiger Cubs: Currently located near the entrance. The adults are located in the Asia Quest Region. The tiger's exhibit features a large pool with a heated and air conditioned area adjacent. This makes a comfortable place for the tigers to spend some time and also be close for visitors to see. They also have a large heated/air conditioned cave which is a favorite hang out spot! The covered viewing area offers information about tiger populations in the wild, both past and present. A conservation coin wall is nearby and rewards donors with special tiger sounds when they contribute. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this coin drop go to support conservation of animals in mainland Asia. But the cubs are the real attraction right now.
13. Brown/Grizzly Bears: Located in the forest section of the Zoo's North America Region, each animal has its own exhibit space with natural surroundings composed of rocks, logs to climb in and over and pools for the bears.
14. Red Kangaroos: Located in the Voyage to Australia and the Islands Region, Australia side. The red kangaroos can be found spring through fall in a walk through yard. Visitors must stay on the path but kangaroos can hop anywhere they please!
15. Bald Eagles: Located in the North America Region. This region depicts North American habitats of grasslands, forests and prairies. The bald eagle exhibit is found between the forest and wetland sections and has a large aviary with tree limbs placed strategically to assist the rehabilitated eagles in climbing to the upper levels of the space.
16. Giant Fruit Bats: Located inside the Asia Quest Region. These giant bats hang upside down from the caging above most of the day. I can only imagine what this cage is like at night. Either way, you won't believe the size of these creepy creatures. 
17. Carousel: Located just beyond the Shores Region. This old-fashioned carousel will cost you a little extra money to ride but its well worth it for the pictures you'll get of your kids.
18. Frozen Bananas: Also located in the back of the North America Region near the Polar Grille. This is hands down the best dessert/snack the zoo offers and incredibly perfect for a long hot summer day at the zoo.
19. Train Ride: Located in the middle of the North America Region. Pay a few extra dollars to take your kids on the train tour around "North America" and see some things you can't see on foot!
20. Bonnethead Shark: Located in the Shores Region, in Discovery Reef. Discovery Reef is a 110,000 gallon salt water tank depicting a coral atoll. 1,200 pieces of man-made coral and special wave-producing equipment combine for a beautiful and always captivating experience.
21. Pose with Statues: There are a handful of animal statues located around the zoo (polar bears, shark, elephant, and more) that are a perfect place for a family photo or new profile pic.
22. Yell in the Tunnel: Located in between the front half and back half of the zoo. This tunnel under the highway echoes loudly making it nearly impossible to not yell a quick yodel-ay-eee-oooo!
23. Leopard: Located in the African Forest Region. The African Forest Region immerses guests in the culture and environment of an African rainforest. Field journal entries from wildlife researchers also guide you along the journey. The leopards enjoy an outdoor exhibit with a large fallen tree, their favorite spot to stretch out and sleep! When you visit our leopards, see if you can spot the artificial duiker in the tree. This is an example of how leopards protect their food from other predators. 
24. Burmese Python: Located in the Shores Region, in the Reptile Building, one of the oldest buildings at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This building was opened in 1968 and renovated to be more interactive in 1998. Home of the Reptile Keeper Lab where you can learn about reptiles in an up-close encounter. Check for scheduled times on the zoo map when you arrive.
25. Wildlights aka Zoo Lights: If it wasn't for most of the animals being inside for the winter, this would be in the top 10 for sure. Staring in mid-November the entire zoo is decorated for the holidays. Don't miss one of the most amazing Christmas light exhibits you'll ever see!
26. Zoombezi Bay: And 6 months later make sure you check out the new waterpark!

Click here to download a map of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

And if I missed any of your favorites, feel free to add them in the comments below:

Top 10 Best Burgers in Columbus, OH

Craving a great burger in the Columbus area? Try one of these:

1.	Thurman Cafe
2.	Wolfgang Puck's
3.	Dublin Village Tavern
4.	Gahanna Grill
5.	Jack's find more great burgers here

Top 10 Best Things About TechColumbus

Besides "accelerating the growth of the innovation economy by providing vital resources and assistance to people and enterprises that depend on technology to achieve their business goals," TechColumbus is a great place because...

1.	...of Teresa and Tracy at the front desk
2.	...you get to have your very own key fob
3.	...the bathrooms have towels and blow-dryers

see the rest of the Top Ten here

Best Places to Visit (at least once) in Columbus, Ohio

If you are looking for some really cool places to see in Columbus, Ohio, check these out. Some are hidden gems, some are infamous locations. Have you been anywhere cooler?

1.	Ohio State Buckeyes football games at the Shoe
2.	Columbus BlueJackets game at Nationwide Arena
3.	Just outside Columbus, some wonderful hiking can be done in Hocking Hills
4.	Campus bars
5.	The Barn - at Edwards Communities (lagoon style swimming pool, live DJs on Saturdays, sand volleyball and shuffleboard courts, and bar)
6.	.... see the rest of the top 10 here...

Best Christmasy Things to Do in Columbus, OH

Here are some of ideas of things to do during the festive holiday season in Columbus, Ohio:

	Gahanna Parks & Recreation Winter Wonderland at Creekside Park - Stroll along Big Walnut Creek and view breathtaking light displays and festive holiday decorations inspired by Mother Nature. (free)
	Gingerbread Season at Herb N Ewe - Fascinate your child as you walk through Candyland escorted by a real gingerbread man and visit a full-size gingerbread cottage. Visit King Kandy’s enchanted candy shop and stop along the way to design your own gingerbread cookie. (free)
	Zoo in Lights - Christmas lights decorating the entire Columbus Zoo
	Spaghetti Warehouse's Mayhem & Mystery: A Holiday Harmony--Crooning with Scrooge - A Christmas party turns sober when holiday banter turns toward the deplorable treatment of the poor, and a certain Jacob Marley turns up missing in M&M's annual holiday production. ($24)
	Echoes in Time Theatre: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: An Evening with Clement Moore - Westerville's Ronald St. Pierre portrays the 19th-century author in a performance of Moore's life and thoughts on writing his well-known poem, T'was the Night Before Christmas. ($3 - $7)
	Holiday Fantasy of Lights - Halfway through the Holiday Fantasy of Lights is a shelter house you can stop at and shop. It’s filled with holiday goodies and tourist-type gifts. They have free cookies and cider also. The price per car is $10 Monday through Thursday running 5:30 to 9:30 and $15 Friday through Sunday, 5:30 to 10:30.
	Christmas Lights Set to Music Decoration - In Alum Creek, there is is a home with a magical light display set to music. Drive up, tune in to the FM station displayed, and watch for as long as you'd like.
	Drive past the Ohio Statehouse on Broad and High to see the huge lit holiday tree (and several smaller trees) along with the beautiful décor on the Statehouse itself.
	State Auto Insurance life-size nativity scene. It’s a beautiful and realistic recreation of the journey and events leading up to Jesus’ birth and Jesus at the manger with Joseph, Mary, angels, animals, shepherds and the Magi.
	Christmas Shopping at Easton - In the Town Square a 50 foot tree is illuminated with 500 thousand lights.

Where Can You Watch the OSU Football Games in Columbus?

By now, everyone knows that the Ohio State football games will not be on regular cable TV for many games this year (if not, how can you call yourself a fan?! but to summarize there is an issue with the new TV channel "Big Ten Network" and Time Warner, Comcast, etc., so DirectTV is the only one carrying it) - BUT DON'T WORRY, these local bars & restaurants in Columbus will be showing the game:

	The Library Bar - AN OSU CAMPUS TRADITION, SINCE 1972 IS SHOWING IT, IN HDTV. WE OPEN @ 10:00 AM. WE ARE LOCATED @ 2169 N. HIGH ST. PHONE # 614-299-3245. NO COVER CHARGE AND LOWER PRICES THAN ANY WHERE IN THE AREA!
	Damon's Grill (OSU) - 3025 OLENTANGY RIVER ROAD, 614-262-6208 HOURS:11AM-12AM WILL BE SHOWING THE GAME-GO BUCKS!
	Bier Stube North - located off 161 W Dublin Granvile Rd right next to the valvoline oil change. Over a dozen t.v's one of which is a giant Projector that is over 120 inches big. There is also a full kithcen serving great Pizza, wings and subs. The Bar will open at elven in the morning on saturday. So be here early if you want a good seat cause there is going to be tons of die hard buckeye fans here, rooting on the Buckeyes. If you have any questions please feel free to call 032-0214
	The Dub Pub - 5736 Frantz Road, Dublin.614.761.2728, dub-pub.com, myspace.com/thedubpub. Open at 11 A.M. Domestic bottles are only a buck-and-a-quarter. Voted best Sports Bar and Best Bar Staff in Central Ohio. Fills up early, so early arrival is recommended to get a seat. Two complete surround sound systems and good tv viewing angles all around.
	Studio 35 - located at 3055 Indianola Avenue. Pizza, wings and 15 beers on tap, free admission. Come watch the Buckeyes at the best place in town next to OSU Stadium.
	8 Ball Sports Bar & Billiards - WILL BE SHOWING ALL OHIO STATE GAMES. COME AND WATCH, PLAY POOL & CORNHOLE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. LOCATED IN THE MORSE CENTRE SHOPPING CENTER BESIDE GOODWILL AT 2100 MORSE RD. 614 436-2948 OPEN AT 11:00 WEAR OHIO STATE AND GET $5.00 DOMESTIC PITCHERS, 2 HOTDOGS & FRIES FO $1.99. A FULL SERVICE BAR AND RESTURANT FOR YOUR PLEASE. 2 OUTDOOR PATIOS, LOTS OF TV'S OPEN AT 11:00 THIS SATURDAY. COME AND SEE JESSE ONE OF THE FINEST BARTENDERS. GO BUCKS
	The Colony (in Texas) - I know that this place is not in Ohio. But, it is like being on High Street during game day. It is north of The Colony, which is located in Texas. The place is of course called "The Varsity Club". Of course named after the Varsity Club on High Street. The owner is an Ohio State Alum, and has decked the place out in the two best colors in the world, Scarlet and Gray. If you ever make to Texas, you need to check out this place. A little piece of campus and home, for all of us Buckeye fans not located in Central Ohio. I will be there come Saturday. GO BUCKS....
	Sportsmen's Billiard Club - 3965 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio (614) 279-5888. We will be showing ALL Ohio State games. We also have NFL Sunday Ticket from Directv. We have several TV's including 4 new 42" flat screens. We will also have a big screen TV located on our enclosed smoking patio for you smoking and viewing pleasure. GO BUCKS!!!
	Grandview Cafe - 1455 W 3rd Ave (Corner of W 3rd and Grandview Ave.) Open Saturday from 11AM - Midnight 14 HD TVs on 2 floors, special "Tailgate Menu" with 35 cent wings, deep-fried lasagna, foot-long coneys, etc. 486-CAFE. www.grandviewcafe.com
	VIP Lounge - 3650 Main Street in Hilliard! We will have all the Ohio State games and the NFL Sunday ticket! Big screen TV and 9 other TV's to watch your favorite games. Beer drink specials. Dont be the only one to miss it!!
	Kickstand Pub - has all the Buckeye and NFL games! We have six flat screen tv's and a very LARGE projection screen! We are south of Polaris Parkway on the southwest corner of Sancus and Lazelle Road in Worthington/Westerville. We open at 11:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays. More questions? Contact us at 614/436-4984. Otherwise, GO BUCKS!
	Polo's - on Bethel will be showing all Ohio State and NFL Games this fall. We have numerous Big-Screen Tv's and an excellent venue for watching all of your favorite sports. We are located at the corner of Bethel & GoDown Road in NW Columbus. 1375 Bethel Road Columbus, Ohio 43220 614-459-9987
	Beef 'O' Brady's - at 6340 Scioto Darby Creek Rd. and Cosgray Rd. in Hilliard is the place for Buckeye football. 16 High Def T.V.s!! There is not a bad seat in the house. Beer Specials every Saturday and Sunday. And a great happy hour Mon- Fri. Large Patio for the nice weather. Call for Carryout or Info at 614-529-WING Open Mon-Sat 11a-11p and Sun 11a-10p.
	Otie's Tavern and Grill - in Hilliard if you want to experience the original Buckeye Bar. We have been following the buckeyes for 43 years. Come watch the game on 11 televisions with surround sound, and enjoy some great pub food, including the World Famous Otie Baloney sandwich. GO BUCKS! Otie's Tavern & Grill 5344 Center Street Hilliard, OH (614) 876-6044
	Planks On Broadway - in Grove City. Just had DIRECTV installed last week and ready for everyone!!! Beer bucket specials during the games as well as half price pizza!!! If your lucky, you might even get one of Mary Jane's famous "Scarlet and Gray" shots!!! Corner of Park St. and Broadway in the heart of the town center. (614)875-7800 for more info!!! GO BUCKS!
	Debbie & Nebbie's Eldorados - 4968 NORTH HIGH STREET COL, OH 43214 614-785-0190 WE WILL BE SHOWING THE BUCKEYE'S HERE THIS SATURDAY. WE OPEN AT 9:00 A.M WE HAVE PLENTY OF TV'S TO WATCH THE GAME, BUCKET BEER SPECIALS AND DON'T FORGET TO TRY ONE OF SHERRY'S BLOODY MARY'S. ELDORADO'S HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GAME DAY HANG OUT !!! GO BUCKEYES !!!!! WE DO HAVE THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE AND THE NFL TICKET.
	Da Vinci's Market Pizzeria and Italian Cafe - 7897 Refugee Road, Pickerington. 614-834-3444, www.davincismarket.com. Open at 11:30AM with all-you-can-eat buffet. Bring the family and see OSU play in a family environment.
	Crowne Plaza Dublin - (I270/Rt33 Ex17A) Come watch the game in our newly renovated Lounge with 48" PLAMAS and a 72" BIG SCREEN TV. We open at 11:00am with great drink and food specials. GO BUCKS!! (614)764-2200 for directions
	Gameworks - IN COLUMBUS WILL AIR OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE GAME ON SEPTEMBER 1ST GameWorks in Columbus, Ohio (Easton Town Center) will be broadcasting the Ohio State vs. Youngstown State football game on Saturday. Great food- great drink specials and the best place in town for OSU fans to unite! GameWorks will open at 11 AM for fans! GameWorks, (www.gameworks.com) is the high-tech entertainment, restaurant and bar experience was named the Official Watch Party Location for The Ohio State Buckeyes for the third year in a row.
	Hot Spot Tavern - 5171 Sinclair Rd.(second traffic light north from Morse Rd. or south from 161)Open every day at 7:00AM! Drink specials and free food on game day. Enjoy watching the Buckeyes on widescreen TV with fabulous fans! 614-888-2727
	Honda Marysville - www.hondamarysville.com Tailgate party and OSU Game Saturday! Join us for food and fun from 9 to 6! CALL 866-645-4080 FOR DETAILS!!! We're CLOSER than you think!
	Towne Pub - 164 N Wilson Rd., Columbus, OH 614-274-7872. Opening 11:00 a.m. Come join us for $1.50 all domestic (during the game). Fun, Food and good people.
	Bob's Bar - The Cultural Hub of the Midwest. 4961 N. High St. Columbus. (614)888-9073. We will be opening at 11:00 AM Saturday and carrying the OSU game on the Big Ten Network. We will also be offering free food and drink specials!
	Rooster's - 376 South Hamilton Road in Whitehall, 614-759-7778, will be showing all of The Ohio State Games. Opens on Saturday at 11:00 AM
	The Filling Station Bar & Grill - 8765 Smoky Row Rd; 614-761-9766; Open 11:30AM-2:30AM; OSU football tickets given away every week during Buckeye games; Big Ten Network, College Football Gameplan; Voted Best Wings in Columbus! $10.50 Domestic Buckets!
	Signatures - at 94 Mill Street in Gahanna. We will be showing all of the OSU Football games this year, including the games that can only be seen on The Big Ten Network. Please feel free to give us a call at 614-475-2220 for info and directions. We have great drink and beer prices with the most extensive food menu that you will find anywhere, including Pizza, burgers, wings, salads, and awesome grilled sandwiches.
	Gressos - 961 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43206 (614) 444-0131 Saturday Hours: 11a.m. - 1a.m. We have 10 flat screen TVs on two floors. Head south on high, pass Whittier and we are on the right hand side before Greenlawn... Hope to see you there!
	Rackums Sportsbar - 2118 Stringtown Rd, Grove City,871-5164, doors open at 11:00am. "Opening Day special" with $1.25 domestic bottle beer and 35 cent wings (during game). Great hamburgers, subs, pizza and much more. Large room with 4 HDTV's and 6 other TV's.
	Digger & Finch Fine Scottish Grill & Pub - 6720 Riverside Dr Dublin, OH 43017 (614) 889-8585 17 TV's for your viewing pleasure Great Patio, Great Food & Cold beverages
	Buffalo Wings & Rings - 1574 Stringtown Road Grove City, Ohi 43213 614-801-0900 11:00 am -1:00 am Great wings, cold beer & lots of various sizes of TV's including (4) huge projections screens.
	Larry B's Sports Lounge - 5926 Westerville Rd. 891-5279 Open 10:30 AM
	Bernie's Distillery - 1896 N High St Across from the Wexner, just south of Lane
	Grandview Cafe - 1455 W 3rd Ave (Corner of W 3rd and Grandview Ave.) Open Saturday from 11AM - Midnight 14 HD TVs on 2 floors, special "Tailgate Menu" with 35 cent wings, deep-fried lasagna, foot-long coneys, etc. 223-CAFE

Browns or Bengals? A City Divided

Saturdays Versus Sundays: A City Divided

The benches rattled under the earthquake of stomping feet. Arms danced in the air, choreographed to the sounds of 64,000 screaming fans. “O.H…I.O…” Only the November wind pushed peoples’ hands back into their pockets. The aroma of hot dogs and beer lingered through the breeze. Numbers clashed on the frozen grass below.

Sean Durkin yelled to his peers around him more than the giants below that had been reduced to miniatures from the spectator’s great heights. He was wearing orange along with everyone else. And though they dressed alike and sung together, they were divided amongst themselves. Browns or Bengals? It was rare that a mutual force drew them together. A state divided by the fanaticism of professional football joined together to root for one collegiate team – The Ohio State (OSU) Buckeyes.

“Go Buckeyes! #1. F*** Michigan,” Sean Durkin read the banners that filled Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium on Nov. 17, 2002. On this day, the final score would be 27-20, the Browns over the Bengals. However, the only numbers many fans seemed to care about were 12 and 0, Ohio State’s record. There was also a mutual opponent that Sunday, the Michigan Wolverines, who would be coming into Columbus in six days to attempt to ruin the perfect season. Durkin, a student at OSU, made the drive from Columbus to his hometown of Cincinnati for this game with a few rival Browns fans he had become friends with at school – friends that typically became enemies on Autumn Sundays.

Cincinnati and Cleveland are separated by 243 miles and four hours of intrastate driving. Near the middle, Columbus can be found; a capital city rest stop located 100 miles from Cincinnati and 140 miles from Cleveland. This is the home of that unifying force. While on Saturday this power is compelling, come Sunday it’s rare to find such a story. Usually men, women and children in Columbus battle each other even when their teams are not.

The debate has snowballed over the years. Promising futures combined with the reputable histories make this intrastate rivalry as compelling as any other. A rivalry is nothing without its fans, however. And even the weight of a National Championship season for the Buckeyes cannot overshadow the differences and similarities between Browns’ and Bengals’ fans in Columbus. It is a city united on Saturdays but divided on Sundays.

A “fan” is defined in Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an enthusiastic devotee usually as a spectator.” This is different from the definition of “fanatic” which is “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.” This is an important recognition, as many people only occasionally follow and root for a team. Fanatics live and die with their team. They have emotional ties that often affect the fanatics own disposition. For football fanatics, Sundays often affect Mondays and in some cases the entire rest of the week.

“I’ve always been a Bengals’ fan and will till I die,” Chris Dexter said. This seems to be the consensus from both sides. Fandom begins at a young age and escalates through adulthood. It often manifests itself through the teachings of parents or is erected on the proximity of one to that city’s team.

“I am a Browns fan because I grew up close to Cleveland in a family of Browns’ fans,” Jesse Moore said.

Proximity to a team’s hometown is one of the chief driving forces behind becoming a fan. It takes opposing beliefs to push fans to fanaticism. The constant need to back one’s team and root for them raises interest, opinions and support. “Living in Columbus has increased my devotion towards the Bengals because on game day I am in proximity to more Browns fans than I was used to,” Dexter said. “This is new for me being from Cincinnati.”

As with all fanatics, both groups believe that their team either is, was, or will be the best team in the National Football League (NFL). The Browns have the more glamorous history. “Jim Brown alone gives us that,” Moore said.

The Cleveland Browns were born in 1944 when Arthur B. McBride acquired the team. His first order of business was to hire the great Paul Brown as head coach (whom Cincinnati’s stadium is now named after). The Browns’ first season was in 1946, in which they went 12-2. In 1950, they merged into the NFL and went 10-2. They’ve won four national championships and have an all-time record of 467-356-13.

“For the first 10 years of the team’s existence from 1946-1955, the Browns were oftentimes called ‘the New York Yankees of football’ winning more often than just about any team in the league,” said Jeff Walcoff, staff writer at ClevelandBrowns.com. “The team won league championships during its first five years of existence. In fact, from 1946-73 – a span of 28 years – the Browns had just one losing season.”

The Cincinnati Bengals first season was in 1968. And so the rivalry was born. There all-time record is 240-308-0. They have never won an NFL championship. Bengals’ fans can and should be optimistic though. Over the past three years there has been dramatic improvement in the team’s record – from two wins in 2002, to eight wins in 2003 and 2004. The Bengals already have eight wins this season heading into Week 13.

Like most fanatics, there is an almost arrogant confidence in their team. “The Bengals will definitely have a better season [than the Browns] this year and next,” said Durkin.

Even some die-hard browns fanatics can shamefully admit this. “Although it pains me to say it, the Kentucky Bungles will have a better season this year,” Zach Abrams said. “They have the better team and more talent. However, the Browns are making strides in the right direction and will be better in years to come.”

The Browns currently hold the edge in the all-time record against one another, 34-30 in the regular season, not once meeting in the post season. If the two teams ever do collide, Columbus may find itself even more divided between the two teams and on the brink of rioting and vandalism like that following the OSU/Michigan football game in November of 2002. Verbal and occasional physical disputes often can be seen around the campus streets over the football teams in the fall. Moore and friends already find themselves plotting to steal his neighbors’ Bengals flag.

There are some major discrepancies between the two groups of fans besides hometowns and records. Loyalty is an argument that seems to always resurface. It is an issue that is of great debate between the two groups. “Unlike the Kentucky Bungles’ fans, I have always liked the Browns,” Abrams said.

The issue of loyalty is often disputed by comparing their faithfulness to that of the rival team’s fans. “I feel like Bengals’ fans are [more loyal than Browns fans] since the last 15 years we have sucked, yet the stadium has always been packed on game days,” Dexter said. The Browns’ fans I know are pretty stubborn to the point of ignorance when it comes to a dispute between the teams.”

The Browns’ fans in Columbus have remarkably similar views, just flipped to accommodate their own interests. They believe that their fans are more loyal because they show up every Sunday and always show their support despite records. When the Browns were relocated to Baltimore in 1996, fans were devastated. Two years later the Browns were back in Cleveland under new ownership and fans rejoiced.

“Browns fans are by far more loyal,” Moore said. “Bengals’ fans were almost nonexistent when I got to Ohio State, and since they became decent they are all over the place. Meanwhile, Browns fans are Browns fans through good and bad.”

Neither group will listen to reason nor is there factual evidence to prove which teams’ fans are more loyal today. Fans have their own attitudes towards their team and the rivals. It’s not only the other team that fans loathe; in many instances it’s their fans as well. They have stereotypes and prejudices towards each other.

“Last year when the Browns beat the Bungles and I was driving back to Columbus I could only get Bungles call-in radio. All the Bungles fans called in and said how mean the Browns fans were, and how they would never take their kids to a game in Cleveland. I found myself proud to be a Browns fan after listening to this.”

As long as the two teams remain in Ohio, there will be a rivalry not just on the field between the players, but also for their fans. “Football is engrained in people’s lives,” Walcoff said. “Ohio is simply a football-centric universe, stemming from decades of rich history and tradition as deeply rooted in the area’s culture as hockey is in Canada.”

Central Ohio has become a frontline in the battle between Browns’ and Bengals’ fans. This October, Abrams found himself in Columbus amongst thousands of partying Halloweeners. As he was walked down the sidewalk in his Browns jersey with black eye paint under his eyes – despite it being 9 p.m. – chants came from two campus homes to his right. “Here we go Brownies, here we go.” Intermittent “who-dey’s” could be heard competing with the Browns chants. Abrams excitedly turned towards the loud, crowded porches. He joined in the argument on the Browns’ porch. The verbal war persisted from lighted deck to lighted deck across the dark side yard. An outspoken and opinionated person in general, Abrams made the porch his stage. He began his monologue that sounded as if it had been rehearsed, or at least well researched and from the heart. He wore a proud grin.

“Browns’ fans don't cheer for Kentucky sports. Browns’ fans show up regardless of record. Browns fans did not steal their cheer from another team - "Who-dey" was a Saints cheer. Browns fans have a rich tradition dating back to the inception of the Browns from Jim Brown to Bernie Kosar and the return of the Browns back to Cleveland - the Kentucky Bungles fans have no tradition and the Ickey Shuffle. We have the Dawg Pound, the Bungles have the Jungle - enough said. Browns fans tailgate at seven in the morning, Bungles fans get to the game at kick off.”

Abrams left the stage with showmanship, his point made, as Bungles fans started their rebuttal. “Hey, who won the last two times they met? Who’s got a better record?”