COLUMBUS, Ohio — There aren’t many people in Columbus that are Michigan fans, but the Boren family was among them. Interesting circumstances turned the family from Wolverines to Buckeyes.
What You Need To Know
- Mike Boren was a linebacker for the Wolverines in the '80s
- His oldest son, Justin, started playing for Michigan before transferring to OSU
- The two younger sons, Zach and Jacoby, both eventually committed to playing at OSU
- Now the family looks forward to the rivalry every year, cheering for the Bucks
Inside the Boren family home, you’ll find all of the football memorabilia from years past. It all started with Mike Boren, who played for Michigan in the '80s, but grew up here in Columbus a Buckeye fan.
“Basically, I didn’t have a choice because Ohio State didn’t recruit me," Mike said.
Mike made history at Michigan as a linebacker. He’s second all-time in season tackles. He met his wife Hope, a long jumper, at Michigan. And he raised his family of four kids to be Wolverine fans, right in the heart of Buckeye country.
“We grew up big Michigan fans," Justin Boren said.
Mike’s oldest son, Justin, got over 80 scholarship offers, but knew it would be between two schools.
“I liked being able to stay in Columbus," Justin said. "But at the end of the day, it was too much not to go up to Michigan.”
But the tides turned when Michigan coach Lloyd Carr retired after Justin’s sophomore season.
“Things changed in the program, the culture, and I just wasn’t having fun playing football anymore," Justin said. "And at the end, when I decided to make a change, it was kind of crazy, how can you even think about going to Ohio State? But when I was getting recruited it was going to be one of the two schools, I chose between those two. I was like 'it only makes sense that if it’s not going to work out at Michigan, then I’m going to go to Ohio State'.”
The transfer shocked the football world.
“I was nervous," Justin said. "I was more nervous going into that facility than I ever was as a freshman at Michigan.”
Justin’s move to OSU had a domino effect, his younger brother Zach committed to the Buckeyes shortly after.
“As soon as Justin kind of made the switch, I knew there was no way I was going to end up at Michigan," Zach said. "It’s one of those things where the blood runs thick in this rivalry and as soon as I knew my brother, who actually is my own blood, was switching sides and going to Ohio State (it) was really the only option for me.”
“I was so proud just watching them both play," Mike said. "It was a dream to have that happen.
And then the youngest Boren brother, Jacoby, completed the trifecta.
“I got offered by Ohio State my sophomore year, so pretty early, and committed fairly quickly as well," Jacoby said. "I knew Ohio State was where I wanted to go. Obviously, it makes it easier that Justin and Zach were there.”
While all three boys had their own accolades, Jacoby is the only Boren brother to win a national championship.
“They can go back and forth or we all can at family dinners and gatherings and everything else," Jacoby said. "So yeah that is the one item that I have that they will never be able to top.”
They all agreed the Michigan game was something they always looked forward to, including Zach's iconic picture over Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner after sacking him in the 2012 game.
“That moment, I just trusted my read, made the sack and obviously there’s so much emotion in that game that, you know, (I) gave him a little flex," Zach said.
“You want to win a Big Ten Championship, you want to win a National Championship," Jacoby said. "Those are the expectations at Ohio State. But if you win a Big Ten Championship and lose to Michigan for whatever reason, that’s not a successful season. That’s why you come to Ohio State, to play in this game.”
The Boren family is reminded of that rivalry every day with what’s on the walls here in the basement.
“Those are the actual helmets we wore in the Ohio State-Michigan game," Justin said. "This would have been the only game we wore these in.”
Justin was on the Maize and Blue side of things during the 2006 game of the century, something this year’s game is being compared to.
“Both teams were undefeated," Justin said. "I was actually playing for Michigan in this game when we were both, we were (ranked) one and two.”
Now, when the two teams face off, this family is all in on the Scarlet and Gray. Even if Mike has a hard time admitting it, his boys know where his heart is now.
“Every once in a while we have to remind Mike," Jacoby said. "He’s on board, he just needs a little bit of a poke every once in a while.”
“We’re cheering for the Buckeyes 100%," Justin said. "I know I am 110% and in the end Mike’s pulling for Ohio State.”
“I am, I am," Mike confirmed.